The next morning, the class was half full when three unknown students of the second-year, barged in quite rudely. They assessed the class with disdainful gazes before one of them spoke up.
"So these are the new Class-E?"
Another one smirked, "They are more shitty than the previous ones."
Liam, feeling the rising discomfort of his classmates, rose from his seat and faced them.
"Sorry for being rude, but your badmouthing our class is unacceptable."
"Huh?" A senior with spiky yellow hair said with a stunned look. He hadn't expected this junior to be bold enough to talk back.
The first one to speak looked amused, but said nothing. Meanwhile the last one, who had said nothing at all, moved directly before the class. His gaze was sharp, like that of a wizened sage who had witnessed the true horror of the world.
"You must be new, so you don't know how the school runs. This academy does not nurture the weak. If you cannot keep up, you will die. Consider this… a reminder." He said with a harmless smile, though the scar running down the side of his face ruined it.
"There's no need to be wary. I'm just doing my job."
Saying that, he made his way towards the door only to stop a step from leaving. Looking at the class again, he realized everyone was looking at him with various emotions. Some rage, some amusement, confusion, irritation and some calmness. Everyone except one boy with distinct blue hair. The boy seemed even unaware of his presence in the class as he was concentrated on a book in his hands.
Feeling annoyed, the senior uncapped a pen and flung the cover with chilling accuracy towards the boy's head.
To his utter shock, the boy calmly tilted his head, dodging the cover as it struck the wall hard.
'H-how?'
For once, the boy, Kaiser, never raised his head from the book to glance at his attacker.
'Looks like I have underestimated these gremlins.'
With a cold smile, he left the class with his entourage, leaving behind a group of confused freshers.
Hazel's calm gaze rippled as she turned her head away from the door to the cover on the floor behind Kaiser. Not once had the boy's eyes left the book page.
'This guy,' She thought 'Is he stronger than me?'
No, it wasn't possible. During the evaluation, he was just like any other normal student, nothing remarkable.
"No comment?" She asked without looking at him, maintaining an aura of aloofness.
At first, he seemed to ignore her for a few seconds, until he finally spoke.
"No."
"Guessed so," She replied. "But their information is quite unnerving, isn't it?"
"It is." He said as he closed the book. Raising his head, he calmly regarded the murmurs around him before closing his eyes.
"Though that's not the main point. Is it?" He added.
Hazel finally turned her brown eyes towards him. "Why didn't you retaliate?"
"Goodness gracious… I don't have to respond to every motion, no?"
Kaiser's blunt reply left her mind reeling in confusion.
'Not respond to? Does that mean he has no urge to retaliate?' She thought in confusion. He was too strange, too mysterious.
"So you're the slothful type." She realized.
"If necessary." Kaiser nodded. This was another quality that made the Clan Elders dislike him.
Sigh… she really disliked lazy men. Hazel was starting to feel exasperated, when someone approached them. Kaiser paused slightly, contemplating whether to disregard or regard the presence of the new person.
Finally, he looked up at the girl with blonde hair and green eyes. Her face was illuminated by a soft sacred light, and her eyes shone brightly.
"Hi, I'm Ysabella Wayne."
Hazel, unfazed by the girl's angelic aura, glanced at her briefly. "I know."
Ysabella's smile stiffened momentarily, before she nodded awkwardly. "Yes. I was collecting the contacts of students in our class when I realized I didn't have yours."
Hazel thought briefly. "For what reason would you require my contact?"
Although quiet and reserved, she wasn't the one to simply cooperate or listen to a person's request.
Ysabella waved lightly, a light smile on her lips. "Nothing to be tense about. I just want to get closer to everyone. Also, it's so I can add you to the class group."
Hazel glanced at Kaiser briefly, realizing he had secluded himself in his novel, then tapped the table.
"No need. I'm not here to make friends. This isn't a playground." She paused, letting the words sink in. "You can exclude me from the class group."
Her reply stunned Ysabella and those eavesdropping. Wasn't this level of seriousness too much? Even if one became an Awakened, that didn't mean their everyday life was to be without fun. Also, Ysabella was someone liked by the majority of the class; Hazel rejecting her caused some to dislike her.
"She seems bitchy…" Jose muttered, glancing at Hazel with unconcealed displeasure. The other males who had been captivated by Ysabella also shared this sentiment.
Even though Hazel heard the murmurs, she didn't react, only radiating a cold aura that made her unapproachable.
And with this behavior, she was lumped alongside Mordica Nerth and Sebastian Hemsworth; the two weirdos in the class.
At that moment, Ariel Hilton, who was sitting in front her, turned back and spoke.
"Your attitude is disadvantageous."
Hazel turned sharply, annoyed. "That is none of your business."
Saying that, she ignored him, immersing herself in her books m
Ariel's green eyes seemed to analyze her in silence.
'She deliberately built a wall around herself. And the way she retorts, it seems like a controlled response. Definitely designed according to some specific standards. Quite a rough but useful tool.'
Without saying anything, Ariel Hilton turned away, his judgmental gaze sweeping across the class.
Just then, the door creaked open and Instructor Rina walked in, her steps steady and measured.
Instantly, the class quietened.
All eyes turned to her as she took to the stage, gaze scanning the class. Some bold students stared at her curves, appreciating the mature beauty.
"Good morning, students." Her voice echoed softly. "Seeing your faces, I understand that you've begun to enjoy the benefits of this academy."
She smiled coolly, yet everyone felt a chill as soon as they saw that smile. The students shifted slightly under her gaze. Even Kaiser felt uneasy because the smile was somehow similar to his uncle's cunning smile.
'Goodness gracious… there's definitely something going on.'
"Without further ado, let's delve into today's lessons. I'll be taking you through Modern Era History..."
With that, she turned away from them and began operating her tablet. The class board lit up with a flash, displaying the teaching manual. Using this, Instructor Rina finally started teaching.