.
*Tring* *Tring*
The alarm blared in my ear, dragging me out of sleep. I groaned, slapped the button to silence it, and sat up—only to find Sammy standing there, phone in hand, laughing like a devil.
"…"
"Hahaaaaaahaaaa… Look at this man drooling all over the bed!" Sammy laughed, shaking his phone like it was the funniest thing in the world.
"I swear to god, delete that recording or I'll break your phone in half!" I snapped, jumping out of bed to chase him.
"You can't catch me even if you wanted to!" he shouted, dashing toward the door.
I stopped him with one sentence. "Today's physical endurance class."
The moment the words left my mouth, I swear his soul left his body.
"No… no, this can't be happening. Please, I don't want to go to the academy today," Sammy pleaded as his eyes was filled with despair.
"Ohhh… YOU WILL HAVE TO GO," I said, my voice dripping with villainy.
"No, I'm pregnant," Sammy declared dramatically.
"Okay, so what? Pregnant ones also cook and clean the house," I shot back.
"You're not understanding, man."
"What am I not understanding, you fucking idiot?"
"The professor of the endurance classes… the legendary Sir Arnold. The man who led humanity to victory in the Great Mumbai War a century ago."
"Ohhh, so what? Don't be such a wuss. Be a man for once," I said, dragging him toward his clothes.
"Don't be so rough with me, I'll get hurt!" Sammy whined.
"You… YOU SON OF A *!"
---
Later that morning, the announcement came.
"Good morning, everyone. Today will be your first physical endurance class. Also, some of you will be reassigned to new classrooms. For those staying, it's been fun. For those leaving, take care. Now, I'll read the names of those who remain."
Kevin Ross
Ren Dover.
…
"Shit. Why am I not in the same class as before?" I muttered, walking with Sammy toward our new assignment.
"Yo, who do you think our new teacher will be?" Sammy asked, clearly excited.
"Hope the teacher looks good," I said casually.
"Such a simple-minded idiot. Shut up," Sammy replied with a disgusted face.
"What? It's not wrong to think about such things," I protested.
"Oh shut up, man," he snapped, his mood ruined.
We reached Class 1-A.
"Okay, why do I feel like a protagonist all of a sudden?" I muttered.
"Ohhh, I feel so much aura… Shut up, man. Are you on your period or what?" Sammy groaned.
We stepped inside. Immediately, the room's atmosphere shifted. Dozens of eyes turned toward me, whispers flowing like water.
"See, he's the lucky guy."
"Lucky bastard."
"Go die."
I sighed, ignoring them, and sat at the last bench. Sammy dropped into the seat beside me, whispering, "Don't pay attention."
The classroom was massive, built to hold nearly a hundred students. The blackboard stood at the center, seats arranged in a semicircle so every gaze would inevitably fall forward.
"When's the teacher coming?" I yawned.
Just then, two figures entered—Adam and Sophie. Both striking, both commanding attention.
"Hello everyone. My name is Adam, and this is Sophie. We'll be your homeroom teachers for your entire stay at the academy."
Sammy nudged me, smirking. "Looks like your wish got fulfilled, huh?"
I rolled my eyes, but before I could respond, Adam strode toward us.
"So you're the famous adopted guy," he said, staring straight at Sammy.
"What? No, I'm not adopted! Where did you even hear that?" Sammy stammered.
"Madam Augusta."
"You… Rudra! YOU WERE THE ONE WHO SPREAD THIS, YOU BASTARD!" Sammy screamed at me.
The class erupted in laughter. Adam's gaze shifted to me.
"You must be the only person with no divine power… no mana."
The laughter grew louder, sharper.
"Orphan."
"Worthless."
"Go die."
The words cut deep, but before I could react, Sophie's voice sliced through the noise.
"This is why students don't like you, Adam," she said, slapping him lightly on the back.
Her eyes swept across the class, blazing. "And for everyone laughing at Rudra—remember this. Despite everything he's faced, he still managed to place first, tied with Amanda. So laugh at yourselves instead."
Silence fell. Adam lowered his head. "Rudra, I'm sorry. I was just… excited to meet you. Madam Augusta spoke highly of you, and I didn't know how to express myself properly. I'm sorry."
"That's how you do it," Sophie said firmly. Then she turned, spotting Amanda at the doorway.
"Oh, hello Amanda. Where were you?"
"Nothing, ma'am. Just doing some work for the headmaster."
"Alright, come sit."
Amanda walked past her assigned seat, stopping beside me. "Can I sit here?" she asked calmly.
"Y-yeah, sure," I said, stunned.
As she sat, I couldn't help but wonder why. Did she have some hidden intention?
"No," Amanda said softly, as if reading my thoughts. "I have no intention behind it."
"Then why sit next to me?" I asked, trying not to sound rude.
"Just because."
"Ohhh…" I muttered, baffled.
Before I could push further, Sophie spoke again. "Alright, everyone. Form a line. We're heading to the gymnasium for physical endurance class."
---
Half an hour later…
"Fuck… Just kill me, man," I groaned, staring at the brutal scene unfolding before me