Nero, engaged in conversation with the other three, felt a pair of eyes boring into him. Without needing to look back, he knew exactly who it was—Barak. He could easily anticipate what was going through Barak's mind; he must be seething, especially since he hadn't expected Nero to pass the academy tests. Not only had he passed, but he had also gone further, becoming a member of the Elite classroom, a fact that was undoubtedly hard for Barak to swallow.
There was another reason for Barak's glare. The way he had looked at Nero when he first entered the classroom hadn't been solely one of surprise; it was laced with hatred. It was clear why—Nero was sitting where Barak felt he should have been, and being with Lux, Adam, and Blake was a bitter pill for him to swallow.
'He'll probably try to make my life a living hell. Heh! A life without hardships would be boring. I'll play along and crush them one by one.' Nero smirked, already anticipating Barak's next moves.
"Let's exchange contact information at the end of class," Lux suggested, glancing at Nero.
"Sorry, I don't have a phone yet. I'll buy one later."
This revelation shocked the three of them. In this day and age, it was unthinkable for a young man not to own a phone. It wasn't just a trend; it was a necessity, given its many utilities. Hearing that someone their age didn't possess a smartphone hit them hard.
"Are you seriously saying you don't have a smartphone in this age?" Adam asked, bewildered. Blake, equally curious, stared at Nero with wide eyes.
"I really don't have one. I'll buy one when I have the money," Nero admitted, not hiding his financial struggles. It was then that they recalled his background, and it made sense that he didn't own a phone. Lux spoke not out of sympathy, but because he genuinely felt that Nero was his friend, and friends should help each other.
"Okay, I'll buy you one after class."
"I would have suggested it if you hadn't said anything," Adam added, having had the same thought, while Blake nodded silently in agreement.
Seeing their genuine desire to help him, Nero didn't refuse. He wouldn't turn down a helping hand.
"Alright, thank you in advance," Nero said with a small smile.
"You should smile more often," Lux suggested, and the other two nodded in agreement.
It was then that their teacher finally walked in—a lean man with a monocle on one eye, long gray hair, deep green eyes, and slightly elongated ears that hinted at his daemon heritage.
"I'm Aaron Taagal, your main teacher. I'll begin with the roll call."
He proceeded to call each cadet's name, and they responded in turn. Class was about to commence.
"As you know, the Glory Academy has been established to nurture the new generation to face the threat of monsters. Historically, monsters have been at odds with humanity. Like everything else, they have evolved, becoming more dangerous and cunning. Our goal is to impart every necessary piece of information to you and train you to confront these monsters. So, do not think that the two years you will spend here will be a walk in the park; only the strongest and the most iron-willed will survive," Aaron declared, his eyes resolute as he scanned the room. A palpable pressure emanated from him, causing the cadets to clench their teeth, yet no one showed any signs of backing down.
Satisfied with their resolve, Aaron withdrew his pressure and continued.
"I'll skip over the basics, but I will discuss professions. Professions are divided into two recognized types: Knight-type professions, which are the most popular, and the Mage profession, related to magic. Each profession can be further divided into subclasses. For instance, a Knight who wields a sword will have a subclass based on their weapon of choice, and similarly, there are different types of Mages, such as Healers and long-range Mages. Each of you has already selected a profession, and it is crucial that you understand it well to progress more rapidly."
This information was familiar to most of those present, but hearing it reiterated was still valuable. Nero, who wasn't well-versed in professions, greatly appreciated his teacher's explanation.
"My class will focus on general knowledge. Depending on your profession, you may choose a specialized class for additional lessons. Knights will attend knight-related classes, while Mages will go to magic-related courses."
"In the academy curriculum, practical lessons will accompany theory. These practical lessons will take the form of missions; for example, hunting a specific type of monster can count as passing a test, and you can earn merit points—credits, if you prefer. You can use these credits to purchase various equipment, rent a training room where primordial energy is most concentrated for faster training, or rent a Gravity room to enhance your physical strength. Each lesson is designed to make you stronger, strong enough to survive outside. Do not be deceived by the peaceful atmosphere outside; this fragile peace is maintained thanks to the graduates suffering on the frontlines. Do not take this for granted. Like your predecessors, you must do your utmost—if not more—to ensure an everlasting peace."
The cadets were moved by their teacher's words, many of them vowing to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors and, if possible, achieve what others could not: to eradicate the monsters once and for all.