As snippets from his soul began to dissipate, Void made his way back to Octavius. He found him standing alone in a corner, detached from the others. The remaining students, including Nadia, filed down the stairs to join them, gathering to hear the Mage's announcement.
[There's something you should know, ]
Void began, But Octavius quickly brushed him off, his eyes fixed on the Mage. "Not now," he whispered, his attention drawn to the Mage's impending announcement.
The Mage cleared his throat, and a proud smile settled on his lips."I applaud each and every one of you who gained acceptance into this esteemed Academy,"he began "Your accomplishments are truly remarkable, and the manner in which you've transformed this space speaks volumes about your character. Your dedication, perseverance, and teamwork are qualities to be admired."
The Mage's hands gestured elegantly as he continued, "However, might I add that although your efforts here have been commendable, they were, in fact, unwarranted."
With a flourish, the Mage announced, "I possess a unique talent myself, one that I've dubbed 'camouflage.'"
As he spoke, he twirled his hand through the air, and the Academy's surroundings began to transform before their very eyes. The space shifted, morphing into a more refined and elegant environment. While not as opulent as the main Academy, the new atmosphere was a beautiful, serene nothingness.
The students murmured amongst themselves, lamenting the time they had wasted cleaning, but soon let the matter drop – after all, what was done was done. The Mage continued, "Let it not surprise you when the building reverts to its original state unexpectedly, because this transformation is solely for your eyes and those of your teachers."
As the Mage turned, the door swung open, revealing two teachers standing in the entrance. Octavius's eyes widened in surprise, thinking to himself, "Just two teachers?"
Void, however, had a different reaction, his voice barely above a whisper: [What matters is that they're busty and hot.]
Emery continued, "This is Miss Wilmort and Miss Clarice, esteemed instructors from different factions. They have graciously offered to tutor you, helping you harness your talents more effectively. I implore you to make their sessions as productive as possible."
He paused, surveying the room before proceeding. "There is only one classroom, so I expect you all to be punctual and present when lessons commence. Beyond the classroom, the mansion offers various facilities, including the library, the boxing room, the dining hall, the training arena, and the recreational lounge. Familiarize yourselves with these areas, as they will play a significant role in your development during your time here."
"I must caution you: while gaining admission to the Academy was undoubtedly a challenge, the true test lies in persevering. You may not fully comprehend my words now, but when you do, I hope you possess the wisdom to navigate the difficulties ahead."
Emery's gaze flickered briefly to Marilyn before he looked away, continuing to address the group. "You will dine at the main Academy, but be aware that, unlike other factions, you are required to purchase your meals. I advise you to maintain a low profile during your visits. Your quarters are located in the hallway marked 'Student Dorm.' Please ensure you are properly attired before heading out for dinner. We might be the lowest ranked, but you don't have to be poorly dressed. Any additional information you need to know will be communicated to you through your teachers."
____________
As the dinner bell rang out, the group filed out of the mansion, making their way to the main Academy. The cafeteria was easily located, its entrance clearly marked with a prominent inscription on one of the buildings.
As soon as they entered the grand dining hall, all eyes turned towards them, the weight of the other students' gazes settling upon the group like a palpable force. The air was thick with the murmur of conversations, the clinking of utensils, and the savory aromas wafting from the kitchen. Erick, seemingly impervious to the attention, took the lead, heading to the counter to place his order. Octavius followed closely, his eyes scanning the room with a mix of curiosity and wariness, while the others trailed behind them, their faces a blend of excitement and nervousness.
Once all ten of them had received their food, Erick began to make his way towards a table already occupied by students from the top three factions. The table was a hub of laughter and conversation, with students from the esteemed factions of Conjurer, Levithan, and Healer gathered around it. Octavius watched Erick go, his gaze locking onto the familiar faces seated at the table.
A surge of emotions welled up within him as he recognized some of the individuals who had brutally killed his sister – their faces etched in his memory like scars.
Octavius decided to follow Erick, thinking that maybe if he did, and managed to befriend all of them, he could exact his revenge efficiently. But as he attempted to move there, Void asked him.
[What are you doing?]
"I'll follow Erick," Octavius thought to himself. "I need to get closer to him somehow, and this seems like the perfect opportunity to pretend to want to be friends with them."
But before he could take another step, Void's voice echoed in his mind. [I get that, but don't. Trust me, you don't want to subject yourself to that level. Make them come to you instead.]
"How do I do that? By inviting them over to my table?" he thought skeptically.
[Let me take control of your body and show you.]
Octavius hesitated, unsure if he wanted to relinquish control to Void. He didn't want Void to ruin things for him by doing something reckless. Yet, his curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to let Void take the reins.
With a subtle shift in demeanor, Void took control of Octavius's body, his presence evident in the newfound confidence that radiated from Octavius's very being. Void guided Octavius to a lone table, where he sat down with an air of quiet assurance.
As he did so, he noticed Nadia, Marilyn, and Otto gravitating towards him to eat with him. They took seats around the table, still looking around with curiosity and caution. Ambrose, however, was nowhere to be seen, and Void surmised that he must have found a seat elsewhere in the dining hall.
[Stop looking around, ] Void said, addressing the ladies. [If you're searching for someone more beautiful than you both, trust me, you won't find them.]
Marilyn's cheeks flushed a deep shade of crimson, while Nadia's eyes widened in shock, her gaze fixed on Octavius as if he had suddenly sprouted two heads. Otto, on the other hand, let out a low chuckle, muttering "True, true" under his breath.
Octavius was already regretting his decision to hand over control to Void. He pushed aside his concerns for the moment, his attention drawn to the table where he had last seen Erick. But to his surprise, Erick was nowhere to be found. Instead, Octavius noticed two individuals from that table rising from their seats, and he assumed they were heading for the exit. That was until he realized they were making a beeline for his table.
"Void, they're coming here—" Octavius warned.
However, Void didn't flinch or even bother to glance in their direction, despite the fact that Nadia, Marilyn, and Otto were all watching the approaching duo. Void seemed entirely comfortable, his nonchalance a stark contrast to Octavius's growing apprehension.
"Look what we have here... the bottom dwellers who somehow managed to scrape their way onto the list," one of the individuals sneered, his voice dripping with condescension as he plopped himself down on the table, his foot resting arrogantly on the chair.
Void responded with a matching level of disdain.
[Not now, mate. We're not exactly in the business of handing out autographs. Maybe if you're lucky, you'll catch us around, but no promises.]
Void didn't even bother to glance up, to see their reaction afterwards.
The room fell silent, with only a few murmurs breaking the stillness. Void, however, seemed entirely unfazed, calmly taking a sip of water to quench his thirst before resuming his meal.
Just then, Erick sauntered into the scene, a smirk plastered on his face. "Let's not waste our time on these losers, guys," he said, placing a condescending hand on the shoulder of one of the males.
The male's reaction was swift and aggressive, as he shoved Erick's hand away. "Don't you dare touch me, you're the biggest loser of them all," he spat, his eyes blazing with hostility.
The male's gaze then shifted to Octavius/Void, a sneer twisting his features. "Let's see how tough you are tomorrow."
Void, unsure of what was scheduled for the next day, refused to back down or appear intimidated. With a nonchalant tone, he retorted, [Make sure your buddy accompanies you, just like he is now. You wouldn't want to be left devastated with no shoulder to cry on, would you?]
Out of annoyance, the male attempted to throw Octavius's food in his face, but Void was too quick. He deftly moved his plate forward, causing the male's hand to miss its mark.
Undeterred, the male's face twisted in rage, but before he could react further, Void produced a marker from nowhere and grabbed the male's hand, holding it firmly in place. [Fine, since you want a signature so badly, here's one, ] Void said with a smirk, beginning to scribble on the male's hand.
He started to write "Vo-", but then realized his mistake and began to correct himself, [Oh, wrong spelling.]
The male struggled to free his hand from Octavius's grip, but Void held firm. With a flourish, he wrote "Fan of Ed" in bold letters, before pushing the male's hand away forcefully, sending him stumbling backward.
The other male, emboldened by his companion's actions, attempted to pick a fight with Void. However, Void was prepared. He swiftly grabbed the male's hand and said.
[You want one too, fine…]
Void began to scribble on the second male's hand. The male attempted to retaliate, trying to hit Void with his free hand, but Void swiftly pressed his head down onto the table, restricting his movement.
"Don't cause trouble. We could be expelled," Octavius cautioned from behind Void, his voice a gentle reminder to defuse the situation.
Void finally released his grip on the male, who rubbed his sore hand, his face twisted in anger.
[Come on, girls], Void said, standing up and gesturing to Nadia, and Marilyn.
"And Otto," Octavius reminded him.
[And Otto, ] Void added. Even though he would have just preferred being alone with the girls.
[Let's go somewhere with more refined company.]" They all got up and grabbed whatever that was left of their food, and began to walk away, leaving Erick and the two males to seethe in frustration.
"That was good," Octavius said as they all made their way out.
[In no time, the bad bitches we left behind, would think so too and will all be mine.]
Octavius rolled his eyes and with a mental push, he cast Void out of his body and reasserted control.