"The Queen is back," A voice echoed inside a hidden hall of an organisation called the Choir. The presumed followers of Jackson. The dim glow of violet lanterns lit the stone walls, casting long shadows beneath the ancient symbol of a bell etched above the, alter. Hooded figures circled it in silence, their whispers like echoes of a forgotten hymn."She must be brought here at once," another added. "The rebirth must begin as soon as possible.""Yes indeed let the world remember its rightful lord and saviour." He added. "Let her presence bless this world once more.""Let her awaken," a fourth intoned, eyes closed as if in trance. "The world will shift."Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed across the chamber floor.A tall figure emerged from the darkness, Headless.His presence silenced the room."No," he said firmly, his voice carrying a sharp finality. "Let her grow first. Let her believe she is free… only then will the chains become unbearable."The cloaked members shifted uncomfortably."I sent her to that school for a reason," Headless continued, walking slowly beneath the glowing bell symbol. "Let her walk among the pawns. Let her feel normal, safe let her feel… human."He paused, then added, "Crack her cage… piece by piece. She must break on her own, that's the only way she'll become who we need her to be."A few robed figures stepped forward, their voices rising."Silence, what makes you so certain she'll awaken at that school?" one demanded."Do you know where the school is and do you really believe an environment like that can unearth her true nature?" another asked sceptically.Headless didn't flinch."Don't worry. I've sent someone to make sure of it."Murmurs rippled through the room."You think just any person can trigger the awakening?" a member scoffed.A slow, unsettling smile crept onto Headless face."Oh, she's not just any person. She is my one and only successor."Gasps echoed around the circle. "You don't mean… surely not, that demon girl,""Bingo I've sent … Rika…"Silence fell. Even among the Choir, monsters, fanatics, killers, that name carried weight."Don't worry," Headless said turning his back to the crowd, "She's not gonna do anything stupid, well… not when he's there."Meanwhile, the classroom buzzed with low chatter as students settled into their seats. Sunlight filtered in through tall glass windows, casting geometric patterns across polished desks.The teacher walked in, adjusting the collar of her dark coat. Her voice rang out clearly."Today, we'll be diving into Monster Anatomy. Turn to chapter 68 in the textbooks on your tables."Blessing blinked. "Chapter 68?" He muttered under his breath, flipping open the thick black covered book.He glanced down at an illustration of a creature with exposed muscle tissue, layered with detailed annotations. Then with a wry look, he leaned back in his chair."Just a few days ago I was learning about X and Y chromosomes… and now I'm reading about how monsters digest souls?"He exhaled, half amused. "Things change pretty fast."Yuki, seated beside him, looked up with a grin."It's actually kinda fun though, right? Learning stuff no one else even knows exists?"Blessing tilted his head, watching her eyes light up."Fun might be a stretch," he said suppressing a small smile. "But yeah… it's not boring."Their quiet exchange felt oddly natural, like they'd known each other longer than they had. A short moment of ease in a world that rarely offered any.Meanwhile, in the back of the class, Kaito rested his chin on one hand, eyes glazed over as he stared at the board. His thoughts drifted."Normal school or this school… school's still annoying."He sighed, flipping to chapter 68 with a dull thud.Suddenly the teacher's voice echoed with sharp clarity as a holographic projector flared to life. "In this industry you face a lot of things but first you have to learn about monsters. See these creature are usually categorised into four primary groups, each with unique biology, strengths and weaknesses."She gestured and the first form lit up red."Beast, Brute strength, high endurance. Think claws fangs and relentless charge, weakness: low intelligence."The second figure shimmered into the view- lean, humanoid, with elongated limbs."Wraiths. These are incorporeal or semi physical. They phase through walls, manipulate shadows, weakness: light sound vibrations and certain alloys.The third one rose- wings outspread, body segmented like a serpent."Draconics." Before she finished her sentence she suddenly turned away from the holo-display. "That's enough theory for today," she said grabbing her tablet and coat. "Your assignment: research each monster type. List at least three confirmed weakness for each and how you would neutralize them in the field."She paused at the door, not even turning back."Due tomorrow. Good luck."And with that, she was gone, her heels echoing down the hallway.The moment the door shut, the class stirred into motion. Returning students immediately pulled out tablets, studying books flipping open monster field guides and muttering about tactics and previous reports. The new candidates, on the other hand, relaxed- some slouched, others scrolled casually through their devices or whispered about how cool the lesson was.Blessing blinked, confused by the sudden shift.He'd expected everyone to take the assignment lightly mainly because he thought there was still a lot of time left… but most of the older students were already studying like their live depended on it.But they did.Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the room."You new ones might want to take this seriously."A tall boy stood up- lean, with a scar running down his jaw and a tired look in his eyes. His uniform was slightly scorched at the sleeves."She does this every time," he said voice low but clear. "Gives us barely enough theory… and then throws us into a field without warning.Some of the new students froze."She won't help you if you're bleeding. She won't even flinch if something's chasing you. If you don't study, you die- or worse, someone else does because you didn't know where to strike.""No second chances, she's heartless."A tense silence followed- until a low chuckle came from the corner of the room.Another student leaned back in in his seat, arms behind his head, neatly combined black hair, a sharp jawline and thin silver-rimmed glasses that caught the light just right to obscure his eyes. His uniform was perfectly pressed, but his posture screamed arrogance."Tch," he scoffed. "Why bother warning them?"He adjusted his glasses with a finger, eyes glinting behind the lenses."The less trash out there… the better for the rest of us"A few veterans chuckled. Some nodded in silent agreement, like they'd heard this line before.The tall boy clenched his jaw."They might be trash now, Leon," he snapped "but they're still people."Leon- that was his name. Cold, calculating and top of nearly every combat simulation board, according to the academy rumors.Leon shrugged, unfazed. "Only if they live long enough to be useful."Leon's eyes scanned the room, already done with the conversation until they landed on Yuki.She sat quietly besides Blessing flipping through her notes with calm focus. Her blonde hair framed her face like silk and her expression was serene- almost too serene for that brutal place.Leon's smug grin returned. He slid out of his seat and casually strolled over."You're new," he said, lowering his voice just enough to sound smooth."But not like the others… You've got the look of someone worth surviving. What's your name?"Yuki looked up, blinking slowly, clearly unimpressed.Before she could respond, Blessing cut in, voice sharp. "She's not interested."Leon glanced at him like he'd just noticed a fly buzzing nearby."I don't talk to trash," he said flatly, dismissing him without a second glance.Blessing's blood boiled.Without a word, he stood up, walked calmly to the back of the room- and grabbed the nearest metal trash can.A few students noticed. Someone whispered, "No way…"He walked straight back to Leon, who had just turned back to Yuki – and without hesitation, dumped the entire contents of the trash can on his head.The room froze. Apple cores, wrappers, paper and a half sandwich slid down his perfectly ironed uniform.Blessing stared him dead in the eye. "Look – we're the same now."For a full second, no one spoke.Leon stood perfectly still, eyes hidden behind trash-speckled glasses his expression unreadable.But Blessing didn't care. He sat down, heart pounding but satisfied."Stand up." Leon said filled with anger.Two other boys stood up ready to beat up Blessing."I'm gonna….." "Do nothing."Kaito's voice echoed. "I'm tired of all the noise you guys are making, now sit down and study for the field test like good little weaklings."For a moment they did not move until Kaito expression completely changed. "I'm not going to repeat myself."With that Kaito aura quickly filled the classroom forcing the trio to sit down instinctively.Leon sat down quietly still filled with rage, as he kept reminding himself that "this is not over."The field test was tomorrow against monsters Blessing never faced and just like that he had also made himself some potential enemies.
