The classroom was still, save for the occasional rustle of papers or the tapping of a pencil against the desk. The other students were already long gone, heading to the cafeteria for their much-needed break. But Zack remained, slouched in his seat, his gaze distant as he stared at the half-open window. The usual din of chatter and laughter from the cafeteria didn't reach him. His mind was elsewhere.
He sat in his usual seat at the back of the Rank E classroom, the same place he always chose when the other students left. There was no point in going to the cafeteria—no point in mingling with those who still had hope, who still had the naive belief that things could get better. Zack had given up on that long ago.
Instead, his thoughts drifted to the familiar patterns that had haunted him throughout his countless lifetimes in this world. He had seen it all before—the rising and falling of students, the conflicts between them, the heroes emerging from the ranks of the Academy. And yet, every time, the result was the same. The cycle always continued, with no end in sight.
Zack's hand absentmindedly drummed against the desk as he mentally counted down, just like he had done in every life before.
"One... two... three..."
He was used to it. This moment. This countdown. The exact point when everything would shift. It was always the same sequence of events, a pattern he knew all too well. He could predict what would happen next, what would break the monotony of his thoughts. And sure enough, as he muttered the final count under his breath, the door to the classroom burst open.
"Where is he?"
The voice rang through the classroom, loud and demanding.
Zack didn't flinch, didn't even look up. He had already anticipated this moment—Georgina, and the familiar, overly confident tone she carried with her. The door slammed open so forcefully that it rattled the walls, and there she was, standing with her usual defiant posture.
Behind her was Alixia Von Xavier, the granddaughter of the legendary grand swordmaster, Xavier. Alixia had the calm, collected demeanor of someone accustomed to greatness. Her cyan hair framed her face neatly, and her sharp yellow eyes scanned the room with a quiet intensity, as if looking for something—or someone.
Georgina, on the other hand, was all energy, her short white hair with a hint of blue standing out against the drab classroom. She wore a loose-fitting jacket that left her shoulders and part of her chest exposed, giving off the impression of someone who had no interest in formalities. Her confident swagger was almost palpable as she crossed the room and fixed her eyes on Zack.
The rest of the students in the classroom—who had been hoping for a bit of peace during the break—pointed toward Zack without hesitation.
"There," one of them said, voice barely above a whisper.
Zack didn't even bother to acknowledge their gaze. He just leaned back in his chair, uninterested, watching Georgina's every movement from the corner of his eye.
"Zack," Georgina said, her voice laced with arrogance as she sauntered over to his desk. Without waiting for an invitation, she placed her boots on the edge of his desk, her posture wide and confident, as if she owned the entire room. She looked down at him with a playful smirk. "Let's spar again."
Zack stared at her, his expression flat. He had seen this act so many times that it had lost its charm.
"No," he replied simply, his voice devoid of any emotion.
Georgina's smirk faltered, but only for a moment. She leaned forward, elbows on his desk, her face inches from his. "What, are you scared of me?" she taunted, her eyes glinting with mischief.
Zack didn't react. He simply reached for his textbook and placed it on his face, effectively blocking her view of his uninterested expression. He could feel the tension in the room, the energy that seemed to radiate from Georgina's presence. But he was beyond all that now. The games, the challenges, the fights—he had fought this same battle too many times to care.
"Come on, Zack!" Georgina said, her voice growing more insistent. "You know I can take you. Stop being such a bore."
She reached out to grab the book off his face, but just as her hand hovered over it, a calm, measured voice interrupted her.
"Georgina, that's enough."
Alixia Von Xavier's voice was like a cool breeze, cutting through the tension. She stepped forward, placing a hand on Georgina's shoulder and gently pulling her back.
"Let him be," Alixia said, her yellow eyes meeting Zack's for a moment, offering him a quiet nod of acknowledgment. "He's not interested, and you're only going to annoy him further."
Georgina scowled, but she relented, stepping back. She shot Zack a final, frustrated look, her lips curling into a pout. "Fine," she said, her voice dripping with annoyance. "But you better meet me at the arena tonight. I'm not done with you."
Zack didn't answer. He simply let out a small, almost imperceptible sigh, one that was drowned out by Georgina's huff as she turned away.
The two girls walked out of the classroom, and the door slammed shut behind them. The rest of the students in the room exchanged uneasy glances, no doubt wondering what had just happened.
Zack didn't care. He dropped his textbook and rested his head back against the chair, staring at the ceiling.
Another fight, another night. Another day, another cycle.
He had been through this before, in countless lives. And it was always the same. The battle with Georgina would take place, he would win or lose, and the cycle would continue. No matter how many times he fought, no matter how many times he tried, the result was always the same.
Zack didn't care about winning or losing anymore. He didn't care about anything, really. The cycle was set. And nothing would ever change.
For a long moment, he just sat there in silence, the weight of the world pressing down on him.