The academy was built around a giant grass field with hedges and flowers spread across it, as well as a statue fountain spraying water at its centre.
It was the most beautiful place I had ever seen in my life.
As I followed Professor Gabriel through the field, he explained to me the layout of the academy.
"There are 120 students in this school, 20 for each year group. This means that there is only one class for each year group. A lot less than the academy. Each year group has their own designated living quarters, as well as a classroom for lessons. They all use this field for physical lessons."
---
We then reached what could only be the dorm rooms. It was a hallway with six different doors leading to different areas.
We entered the one that said 'Sixth Year', and this was the first time that I saw other students.
Before reaching the rooms, there was a lounge area where the students could hang out, read books, or generally relax.
Sitting by a table, playing a game of chess were two students, a boy and a girl roughly the same age as me.
When we entered, the girl looked at me.
She had black hair tied into a high bun and wore a black school uniform. She was well put together, and clearly knew that she was attractive.
She looked me up and down as if I were less than her. I hated her already.
The boy seemed much more laid back. He had orange, messy hair, and a scar over one of his eyes, sealing it shut. He was also dressed in a school uniform.
From the look on his face, he was clearly losing the board game. He grabbed a handful of his hair and growled, not even noticing me yet.
"Arghhh, fuck! Again. Let's go again!"
Only afterwards did he notice us. He turned to me with a raised brow.
"Huh, Professor Gabriel. Who's this?"
The girl spoke before the professor could answer. "Farmers are allowed in prep school?"
Yep. I definitely hated her already.
Professor Gabriel adjusted his glasses.
"This is Leox Lether. He will be joining you in your final year of school as the twentieth student. Treat him as you would any other student."
The orange-haired boy with the scar rose to his feet and saluted as if he were speaking to an army general.
"Yes sir! This humble soldier will treat Leox as my own brother, whether he is a farmer or not." He said playfully.
I already found myself liking him. He was completely different from what I heard students of the capital were like.
I tried to focus on the two students' Overviews, but neither of them had one.
It seemed that awakening truly was a rare case for twelve-year-olds, even in the city.
But how did he get that scar?
The girl with the high bun didn't say anything. In fact, she had already turned her attention back to setting up a new chess game.
Leaving the two students, Professor Gabriel led me to one of the doors with the number twenty above it and used a key to get inside.
The room was three times larger than mine back home. It had a softer, bigger bed, a shelf full of books, and even its own bathroom.
"This is where you'll be sleeping. There should be a spare uniform for you on one of those shelves. Tomorrow you'll be woken up by the Sixth Year professor and he will guide you through your day. As long as you follow his orders, you will be fine for this year. Especially with Collector Meruvio looking over you."
It was a lot to take in. I had never lived in such an institution before.
And yet I was excited for where this would take me.
After telling me a few more minor details that I might need to know, Professor Gabriel left me alone in my room.
The first thing I did was head to the bathroom, where they somehow had a system that sent warm water straight to a tub in my room.
I used it to clean myself up before finding the school uniform and trying it on.
...
It was the cleanest I had ever looked.
White collared shirt with a black jumper over it, paired with black pants and brown smart shoes.
They were a bit tight, since I was taller than average, but this only made the clothes hug my lean body.
As I looked in the mirror, I used my hands to brush my hair out of my face.
I was still nothing but the twelve-year-old Leox, but I looked much different now.
I wished that Ivy could see me like this.
Creak...
Suddenly, my door opened. No one had knocked, so whoever it was that entered had some nerves.
I turned to the door and saw a boy standing there.
Being in a school filled with students aged 6-12, I had an expectation in mind of what they might look like.
Everyone who wore this uniform should have looked like innocent children who had yet to see the horrors of the world.
So why was there now a boy with the look of murder on his face, standing at my doorstep with a sword in his hand?
My heart froze.
His straight hair was black, and styled in a bowl cut that covered the top half of his eyes. He also stood taller than me, which was already a surprise in itself. Though he was much slimmer.
This boy could not be twelve years old. There was no way.
As the boy's eyes landed on me, he lowered his sword. Then, he sniffed.
"My bad, you reek of death. I feared that the apocalypse had arrived in the school walls."
His voice was calm, as though he hadn't just drawn a sword on a fellow human. It was like he had done it before.
I tried to search for what to say. Who the hell was this guy, and why did he seem so prepared to kill me?
Without waiting for me to respond, the boy turned to exit the room.
But before he left, I quickly had to confirm something.
I focused on the word 'Overview'.
[Unknown]
[Awakening Stage: First Stage]
[Classes:]
> Unknown
[Class Skills:]
> Unknown
My hunch was right. It seemed that I wasn't the only student who had prematurely awakened.
And for some reason, this awakened was able to smell death on me.