With his rough hands leaning on the marble-like sink, with the cold water dripping from his short jet-black hair down his face, Aeon momentarily gazed at the miniature mirror reflecting his amethyst eyes.
His mind wandered, assessing his first day of school in a place where 'killing' was as ordinary as it could be, as long as it was executed by the royal students – the heirs of the Seven World Corporations – or, under any circumstances, by the nobles.
Of course, corresponding to the Summit Rules, their status alone made it so that any offense against them could become a justification to get rid of the transgressor, just like how Alina disposed of the garbage yesterday.
However, there was a reason why, despite the rampant of humans possessing extraordinary powers, this grand society managed to maintain its order.
Was it as cliché as the good versus evil?
…where godents on the good side overwhelmed those on the other side of morality in terms of manpower?
Or perhaps, it's when a greater evil ruled over the lesser ones to keep them in check so they wouldn't run amok, strangely enough?
Suddenly, as his intent gaze remained on his very being as if he was looking deep into his soul, Aeon remembered the subject of his protection, Alina Noxan Eurasia, who sought him out in the coldest regions of Antarctica around three months ago.
"What an adorably curious brat." He chuckled, recalling how Alina shared Yuridika's sentiment regarding his identity. If there's something different though, his seatmate seemed to be not right in the head.
After some time of tidying up, Aeon put on the student uniform, had a quick breakfast, and exited his assigned dormitory room, which was located in Room 3, Second Floor of the Northern Peak, Dormitory Area.
It was the very same floor where the room of the Goddess Manufacturer's heir was located. In the same way, other scholars of the third year were also living in these wide and neat premises, savoring the benefits provided to them as honorable Summit Academy students.
Click.
Just as Aeon arrived in front of the elevator at the end of the hallway, he heard a clicking sound nearby. Instinctively looking at the direction where it came from, he saw a familiar face…
A bruised one.
"Hey, let's go to class together." Spoke Aeon amicably.
It was Leo, whom Cain nitpicked after the Welcoming Ceremony just because the former just wanted to be friends. In the end, whether ordinary humans or godents, there was a clear line between nobility and commoners, the wealthy and the poor.
"Aeon?"
Approaching the elevator where Aeon waited, Leo took his strides calmly.
When Leo reached him, Aeon asked, "Are you all right? You were rough up yesterday. Quite surprising, isn't it?"
'What's with this nonchalant attitude? You got punched too.'
At least this was what Leo had in mind, seeing Aeon's carefree yet subtly stoic expression.
Nonetheless, he responded, "I'm fine. It'll heal in no time, anyway."
"I see. You're a godent huh? Well, there's no use in hiding it from everybody since everyone will be assessed two days before the Summit Banquet about the state of their body."
Godents, in general, possessed quicker natural regeneration compared to the ordinary human body.
"Wait a minute. What do you mean by I'm a godent? Isn't it obvious because we are in Class A?"
Hearing this, Aeon glanced at him, tilting his head as they walked into the elevator.
"Don't tell me… You don't know?"
"No, I don't. Hahaha! I thought being a scholar, at least in our case, is the main basis to be in Class A…"
Leo looked dumbfounded.
'What's with him? I can't see an ounce of seriousness in his face at all. Is he really here to study or to fuck around?'
As the elevator was gradually being filled by a few other students, silence pervaded the space. And until they arrived in the classroom, the two seemed to have their own thoughts, causing them to refuse to speak to each other like a pair of estranged fellows.
'This is awkward…' Leo somewhat felt bad.
***
Some time had passed.
With the arrival of almost everyone, including Class 3-A's morning professor, Professor Mia, the discussion about the Godent Theory started.
"Can anyone recall what we briefly discussed yesterday regarding the introduction of the Godent Theory?"
Looking around, Professor Mia saw a considerable number of students raised their hands, which was more than those who had not. It was quite a testament to being in Class A in terms of academic activeness.
"Yes, Airi, what is it?"
Everybody's attention, just like how the long white-haired, crimson-eyed gorgeous girl loved to have, was fixated on the world idol after Professor Mia called her.
Standing up with a cheerful expression, Airi Winter responded, her lips had an unusual smile to them, "Godent Theory begins with the question – 'why other humans are granted superpowers?' That being said, after someone transitioned from being a human to a godent by chance, why is that person now called 'godent?'
"According to this theory, godent means Goddess Entity. To make it clear, the letters G-O-D in the word 'godent' refer to the almighty Goddess, and the E-N-T in the same word means Entity. It suggests that the moment a human becomes a godent, he or she would be under the influence or possession of the Goddess—the sovereign provider of celestial power."
In this sense, the theory stated that godents were entities belonging to the Goddess, the mysterious comet that landed on Earth hundreds of years ago and became the main reason for numerous wars throughout the already dying earth at that time.
Of course, it was roughly the basic of the basics of this theory, like an ice breaker before delving into the unknown.
"That's correct." Professor Mia nodded to Airi, who then seated with a satisfied expression.
From that moment, the discussion went smoothly. As time flew by, the Class 3-A was left with a single-question homework.
|| "How did humans come up with the idea that godents are possessions of the Goddess? ||
And before the professor proceeded to her next class, her parting words resonated with everyone,
"By the way, someone looks for Cain. It's only the second day, and he has already vanished into thin air."
***
In one of the cafeterias open for both nobles and commoners.
"Do they know each other?"
"Well, they're both under the academy's scholarship. I guess that's the common ground."
"What nonsense. Miss Yuridika is an heir of the Goddess Manufacturer. From that standpoint, there's no need to go through such an arduous process."
"What the hell do we even know?"
"But looking at him, isn't he good-looking?"
With a silver tray filled with delectable in her grasp, Yuridika sat across from an annoyingly familiar face.
Looking around and witnessing the crowd of hungry students, Aeon, who was savoring a piece of fried shrimp dipped in a white sauce, appeared confused at the sudden unexpected presence.
Before he could consume the delicacy in his mouth, Yuridika spoke, "How did you become Alina's bodyguard? I don't see any qualification at all aside from your well-toned body."
Reaching for a glass of cold water, as some eyes intermittently landed in their direction due to Yuridika's unusual presence, Aeon took a few sips before replying to her frank query, "…Terrible. Ha!"
"…What?" Yuridika, who seemed to forget that a bunch of food was in front of her, appeared conflicted.
"I said… you are terrible at initiating conversations, aren't you? There's not even a Hi, Hello, or any form of proper greeting. I guess you haven't had adequate experience in socializing considering your nature."
"Your mouth surely talks crap, Aeon. But-"
"Don't worry. It's not like I'll refuse to answer what you are curious about."
At that moment, Yuridika's sky-colored eyes squinted. She couldn't grasp what was running in this person's mind. At first, she wanted to test the waters, having received the information about Aeon from her right-hand woman, Raven, of the Goddess Manufacturer.
Even that was completely ambiguous, to say the least.
But now, hearing him say casually that he would answer a question in connection with Alina was genuinely surprising.
'Is he even allowed to disclose this?' She thought in anticipation.
"Because I'm qualified, isn't that why I was hired to protect her?" Said Aeon in a low voice.
Yuridika snorted. "Of course, I shouldn't have expected a proper answer, bastard." Shaking her head, she began to pay attention to her warm lunch.
After a few seconds, Aeon continued, "My bad. I should have phrased it in a way you people would easily understand…"
Letting out a sigh, he added,
"It's because I'm strong."
Yuridika's ears perked up, her one hand holding a spoon stopped in front of her mouth.
She recalled what had transpired yesterday… how it took Aeon no effort to dodge the incoming silver scissors aimed at his shoulder.
"…Interesting… But your joke isn't funny at all." Yuridika chuckled. Inwardly, and subconsciously so, she was confident in the outcome of a fight between her and her seatmate.
Meanwhile, as their gazes met and stayed that way for an awkward three seconds, Aeon burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! I don't think you'd believe it anyway! Seriously, I didn't think my job application would be accepted. I guess everyone's mind in this place has some sort of screw loose in them, yeah?"
"Are you referring to me?" An icy tone reached Aeon's ears.
"…Why are you even talking about yourself? It just makes you appear guilty." Aeon responded, continuing his lunch without a care in the world.
Yuridika fell silent.
Her gaze remained on him as she recalled the email sent by Raven containing the information about Aeon.
[ According to our sources, he has a seventy-four-year-old grandmother and a seven-year-old little sister. Other than that, the only important thing we found is that he's a lone mercenary, though there is no official record of him at all in the mercenary world. ]
[ I may be stepping out of line here, Young Miss Yuridika, but I advise you to be careful. The Eurasia Grand Agency wouldn't just accept someone to work for them. ]
As Yuridika contemplated, she saw Aeon take out his cell phone.
"I wonder what it is this time…" He mumbled.
***
Ignoring the intense gaze of the cold princess seated in front of him, Aeon read a text message from the same number who texted him during his first day in this prestigious academy.
[ Oppa, Oppa! Do you know why Cain is absent? Hehe. :) ]
However, unlike the first time he had received it, which he just ignored, Aeon's fingers slowly moved.
This time around, he sent a reply.