The students stood in chattering rows and columns.
One thousand rows by four hundred columns, over four hundred students in attendance and yet Theo's awkward figure at the first five rows stood out like a sore thumb.
Nobles and commoners were separated within these rows they stood at. By the pristine white uniforms and the plain brown uniforms.
Everyone, rich or poor, obtained a single coloured slash on their sleeves that gave different meanings.
The grey coloured slash indicated one's status as a collateral and a large portion of the commoners had one.
The other colour, the red slash, was a colour that indicated a normal student status and was a colour which every noble had, except one, obviously.
One noble noticed at first, then another, and then another and then the conversation spilled into the commoner lines.
Which student didn't love some juicy gist like this?
A noble becoming a collateral, how divine such a fruit looked to students with journalist spirits!
Pictures were handed out to the next person, showing Theo's awkward position on screen.
Many group chats were born, dedicated to him.
"Why's he wearing a mask?"
"Shame maybe, lol."
"The kid looks real punchable for real."
"I was just about to type that lmao!"
The name calling started.
"How about Viscount to Discount?"
"For once you cooked with name calling!"
"The Discount, lol."
Eventually, it all spilled into the internet. InstaSmash, YouTV, TingDing and many other social media platforms had Theo's figure trending.
At the epicenter of this all, Theo closed his eyes, seriously trying to put down all the dark thoughts overflowing within his mind.
Just a day ago, he was preparing to enter the final endgame battle in the [War of The Seventh Blade] where he was a world-renown player with tons of achievements under his belt.
Then he got scammed and died from the game end boss who became real.
His breathing was barely stable, his every action under scrutiny and the noise, the kids weren't even quiet about all their gossip so he could hear everything.
At some point he was seriously considering following what the dark part of his mind suggested.
Suddenly, most the chatter at the front rows stopped as someone walked onto the stage in a dark green janitor's uniform.
It was an old man with a bald head and twin gray eyes.
His back was bent at an angle as he slowly walked forward and surveyed the students, most of them battering their screens and laughing boisterously.
Theo watched curiously, temporarily forgetting all the stares he was getting.
"What's his de–"
He couldn't complete the sentence as a sudden pressuring force pushed him down.
No one had expected it and most were even unaware of this man's presence.
Theo landed awkwardly on his left arm and crushed it under his weight. A scream tore his mouth open as a piece of his tongue was taken off by his own teeth.
The pressure stopped the chatter but Theo's screams along with many others in the hall pushed away any form of silence.
Theo closed his mouth hurriedly but soon spat out a full mouthful of blood on his mask and removed it.
His arm was bent the wrong way around, his tongue was bleeding and his head – aching – as he had hit it on the tiled floor with dangerous impact.
A few nobles stood up, relatively fine but blazing inwardly, the rest were snickering as they didn't even flinch when the pressure came.
The old man had disappeared soon after he had messed the place up.
Theo stood up weakly and his watch vibrated, so did every other student's.
He watched, whimpering weakly as he watched the number {100} which was previously displayed on it plummet to a measly {19}.
Everyone had been issued this same watch. It would be used to determine their rankings and would increase or decrease based on different evaluation tests.
What no one had expected – except a few – this so called assembly would be one of such evaluation tests and Theo... had just failed woefully at it.
The screen changed.
{Welcome to Wail Academy, student Theodorel Von Ayzrel!
Please proceed to your issued dormitory room or apartment and remain there till morning.
Classes start by [8:10 am]!
Your assigned homeroom is Class 1-7A.
Your assigned homeroom teacher – Miss Elizabeth Von Rechrent}
As they were done with reading, students started to leave the hall one by one, some crying in pain, many laughing, others looking grim.
A few kids just 'accidentally' swerved and crashed into Theo's bad arm, sending him rolling on the floor in pain.
Most of the students had left the hall where Theo still lay in pain with more injuries than before.
His toes were a muddled mess within his shoes, his stomach refused to rest as he had taken-in a few blows.
His golden eyes turned dull.
He didn't expect it when a pair of cold, soft hands took hold of his face for a few moments and left.
Theo still refused to get up, even fully knowing that his toes were healed.
His left arm remained bent, his tongue still oozed out some blood.
Just then, a harsh voice spoke.
"You are given a chance and won't even take it. That's why you'll remain a pitiful rat at the bottom of the well for the rest of your life."
Footsteps started and grew faint as whoever had decided to heal him left.
'Oh, spare me the anime main character talk. I'm no main character, I'm just a lonesome kid thrown into this place... this hell.'
His mindset remained unchanged by the harsh words which were directed to him.
The mind cover he placed on himself to feel unaffected by what others said about him was working a little too much... and he didn't notice it himself.
·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·A/N.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.
Am I rushing? Am I too slow? Is it okay?
Am I messing this story up?
Please let me read your comments and improve on my weak areas. Writing isn't a lone journey, it's me and my readers.
Thanks for the support!