The crowd fell silent as a commanding voice echoed through the vast expanse of the academy. All eyes turned toward the source, a man clad in a pristine military uniform, his presence exuding authority and discipline. His sharp features and steely gaze left no room for doubt, this was a man accustomed to command.
"I am Vasra Dallas, the dean of this academy," he announced, his tone brooking no argument. "From this day forward, you are students of Dawn Academy, the future of humanity, the chosen ones. However, remember this, we have one and only one rule and that is you will follow my commands without question."
A murmur spread among the assembled students, many of whom were nobles unaccustomed to such directness. Some exchanged glances, their expressions betraying discomfort and disdain. Yet, Dean Dallas remained unfazed, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with calculated indifference.
"The students in this academy will be divided into three batches," he continued. "Those below the age of ten will reside in Block D to the south, accompanied by their assigned servants. Ages eleven to fifteen will share rooms in groups of three and will be responsible for all household chores of the academy. The remaining students will be tasked with food gathering and hunting."
A wave of discontent rippled through the hall. Voices rose in protest, some students shouting that they had come to learn, not to work.
Suddenly, a deep, resonant voice echoed from above, "Silence! The dean is speaking." The students looked up, their eyes widening in terror as they beheld a colossal creature looming above the village. It was a monstrous mass of flesh, covered entirely in eyes and mouths that whispered and muttered incessantly. The sheer presence of the being was overwhelming.
Panic ensued. Some students screamed, others fainted, and a few even lost control of their bladders. Amidst the chaos, seven students stood firm, their expressions stoic and unflinching. The dean's lips curled into a rare smile at the sight of their composure.
Kaelen, however, was among the first to faint, the terror too much for him to bear.
---
The Next Morning
Kaelen awoke in an unfamiliar room, the events of the previous day flooding back into his mind. He sat up abruptly, his heart pounding.
"Good morning, young master," a familiar voice greeted him.
Kaelen turned to see his assigned servant standing by the bedside with a gentle smile on his face. And relief washed over him.
"Young master. How did you sleep?"
Kaelen, without hesitation, shouted, "Take me home!. I'm scared. There are monsters, bad monsters!."
The servant chuckled softly. "It's okay. The monster won't hurt you... unless you break the rules." He laughed heartily, trying to lighten the mood.
Surprisingly, Kaelen joined in the laughter. "Then I have no fear," he declared.
The servant raised an eyebrow, amused by the child's sudden change in demeanor. "You're an odd one, young master."
"So, what's your name, dude?" Kaelen inquired.
"You can call me Galore," the man replied.
"Okay, Gal," Kaelen said cheerfully.
Galore sighed internally and corrected Kaelen. "It's Galore, not Gal."
"But it's too long," Kaelen insisted.
Galore smirked. "Then I'll call you Master Gay."
"Gay? What's that?" Kaelen asked, puzzled.
"Never mind," Galore said quickly, changing the subject. "Here's your school uniform. Classes will start soon."
"No! I just woke up. I won't go!" Kaelen protested.
Galor leaned in, whispering, "Remember the monster?"
Kaelen's eyes widened. "Of course! I'm a very good boy!" He began dressing hurriedly, struggling with the unfamiliar attire.
Galore assisted him, and once dressed, Kaelen rushed to the door, only to pause. "Can you guide me there? I don't know the way."
"Of course, young master. It's my pleasure," Galore replied, leading him toward the center of the village.
The village buzzed with activity as students roamed, many still shaken by the previous day's events. Most kept a wary eye on the sky, fearing another appearance of the monstrous being. Unbeknownst to them, the creature was constantly monitoring every student.
---
At the Classroom
Kaelen stood before a modest building, anxiety knotting his stomach. Thoughts of making new friends and facing the unknown filled his mind.
Galore led him to a room and bid him farewell, as servants were not permitted inside classrooms.
Kaelen entered to find two boys engaged in conversation. Upon noticing him, they greeted each other warmly.
"Hello, I'm Alex, and this is Jered. What's your name?"
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kaelen," he replied. "But why are there only two of you? Where are the rest?"
"Most kids are too scared to leave their rooms after yesterday," Jered explained.
"Aren't they afraid the monster will come for them if they disobey the rules?" Kaelen asked.
Alex and Jered laughed. "That's not a monster. It's an epic-rank familiar of the dean."
"They never said that. How do you know?" Kaelen inquired, surprised.
"Because we're Dallas. The dean is our big brother," they revealed with pride.
Kaelen's eyes widened in astonishment. "You're his brothers?"
"Yep," they confirmed with a grin.
The three boys continued chatting, when the door suddenly opened and an old man walked in.