- Some students emerge from combat with scars, but not that many!
Io's body was littered with scars, and the nurse asked him how he had accumulated so many. However, his answer was limited to saying that he had no idea.
- What do you mean you don't know? It's your body!
- Yes, of course! But I simply can't remember anything...
The nurse looked at Io with great suspicion. She was looking at a new pupil who had appeared from nowhere, covered in scars. She walked over to him and took him in her arms.
- I like you, kid !
- Excuse me ?
Io was pressed up against his large chest, trying to pull himself out of it but to no avail. He raised his head in embarrassment but eventually came to his senses.
- I can't understand what you're going through, but know one thing: if you need to talk, I'm here.
As he lay in the nurse's arms, Io felt an immense warmth run through his body, a warmth that took him back through his forgotten memories. A woman slightly taller than him was beginning to embrace him. He couldn't see her face, and couldn't put a name to it, but the warmth she represented was that of someone he should care about. He stepped back as the nurse asked if everything was all right, but Io's smile was enough for him.
He put on his top and left the infirmary, thanking the nurse in the process. He opened the headmaster's letter to see where his next destination was: "The staff room". This word alone lost Io, so he stopped and looked at the clock on the wall, which read "12.30".
- I'm late!!!
As he passed, he came across several students from the school who were wondering who he was, after all, they didn't know him. But as he ran at full speed, a figure caught his eye. A woman with virile hair tinged with gold. Her beautiful brown eyes twisted to display an angry face.
- Hey you! Stop right there!
- I'm sorry, have I done something wrong ?
- No running in the corridors !
- I didn't know, I've only just arrived at this establishment, I'm late.
The girl asked him why he was in such a hurry. He replied that he had to hurry to find the staff room. "The staff room?" The girl burst out laughing. She took Io by the arm and started forward. On the way, she explained the location of various places, such as the canteen and the library. Io was fascinated to discover that there were so many things in one place.
- Tell me, if you don't mind my asking, why are you helping me?
- But that's perfectly normal for the president of the student council.
- The student council?
No sooner had he opened his mouth than he was cut off by the young girl.
- Look, we've arrived!
Io thanked the girl for her hospitality, but just as he was about to ask her name, the girl had already disappeared, shocked by her speed, and he stood there staring into space.
- Io, is that you?
- Sir!
Io went into the teachers' lounge and the headmaster, who was already there, introduced her to her main teacher.
- I'm Monsieur Charon, your head teacher, and I'm delighted to meet you, Io.
Monsieur Charon was a rather imposing man, not because of his great height but rather because of his very muscular physique, which made Io look like a match. He gave him his timetable and at the same moment the bell rang. The teacher asked him to follow him, which he did without asking too many questions.
They arrived in front of a classroom, the terminale C. Monsieur Charon asked Io to wait outside and opened the door. From outside, Io heard her teacher say that a new pupil would be joining the class from today.
- Come on in!
The young man entered the room and all the students looked up to see who it was. He placed his hand casually behind his head.
- Hello, I'm Io Andromeda, delighted to meet you!
All the girls in the class began to whisper to each other, and the teacher asked Io to go and sit at the back. As he passed between the students, he noticed a familiar face.
- Oh, we're in the same class!
- Hey there!
It was the girl who had taken her to see the headmaster. Io stepped forward and asked the girl's name.
- My name is Evergarden, but you can call me by my first name, Haru.
- Nice to meet you Haru.
- What's wrong?
- He knows the Empress, he even called her by her first name!
But at the back of the class, another girl who was lost in thought raised her head, stood up and pointed at Io, who turned in her direction.
- What the hell are you doing here?!
This time, it was Nova's turn to express her astonishment at the situation.
- Hey... er... it was your father who enrolled me in this establishment without my knowledge.
- Fucking father...
Nova's reaction amused Io, as he hadn't held back from having the same reaction earlier.
- Excuse me! The class has started. Would you like to settle your accounts at the bell ?
During the lesson, the pupils talked amongst themselves: "He knows the princess too, but who is he?", "He's quite cute". He'd made a sensational entrance in less than 10 minutes, and even he was surprised. The lesson was going well, he was managing to keep up with him even though he couldn't remember his family... But he noticed that Nova's heavy gaze was cutting right through him.
At the end of the lesson, all the students gather around Io's table.
- Tell me, how do you know the Empress and the Princess?
- The empress ? The princess ?
- They're nicknames they give us... says a young girl as she enters the classroom.
- Well, well, well! I recognise you.
- Hi, there.
The president of the student council had come to see him to give him a little book containing all the school rules. He asked her name before she left: Rhéa, that's the name of this woman, a most surprising name.
- Don't you normally do sport?
- That's right, President, we're in the arena.
Io followed the rest of the students towards the arena. As he walked towards the arena, he was even more surprised to see an arena in a secondary school. He waited until all the students had finished getting ready before changing, not wanting to draw the attention of his classmates to his bruised body again. He left and arrived at the arena where all the students gathered. One of the teachers arrived with a mark sheet.
- Right, then. As we've got some newcomers, we're going to assess your skills, so get into pairs !
Groups began to form while Io gradually found himself alone. Turning his head to find another person alone, he noticed that Haru had suffered the same fate, and he started to move towards her when a hand came to rest on his shoulder, "I wouldn't recommend it". He turned round to see a young man with flaming hair and green eyes waving in greeting.
- I wouldn't recommend it, she's much more powerful than most of the students.
- What do you mean?
- She once sent a student to hospital just by hitting him with her fist... I'm Subaru, if you want we can get .together..
He didn't even have time to finish his sentence when Io was already running towards Haru: "Thanks for the advice, Subaru!" he shouted, raising his hand.
When he got halfway to the girl, he said:
- Tell me, Haru, do you fancy getting together?
The little girl turned her head, surprised to see someone asking her to team up with her. She lowered her head and said she wouldn't mind. Io came up to her out of breath and herlooked at , wondering: "How can such a little girl scare half the students?
- Tell me... are you thinking of something offensive?
- Why do you ask?" he said, looking away.
- I don't know... but the look on your face is getting on my nerves.
Io's eyes were squinting, staring intently at her. Vexed, Haru gently asked her to stop staring. Then he apologised. Since he knew nothing about the school system, he begged Haru to explain it to him.
- There are several classes:
[Knights] "They're soldiers who fight with all kinds of bladed weapons."
[Gunners] "Who fight with firearms
[Healers] "Healers, doctors in short..."
- OK, but can we have several classes?
- This is rare but not impossible.
- What do you mean "rare"?
Haru replied that firearms, like swords, are coated with magic when they are designed, and that they are assigned to their user at the entrance to the school, so that no one can use another person's weapon.
- Why are they coated in magic if you don't know how to use it ?
- It's more complicated than that, we humans don't feel magic, only a few exceptions do, like Healers, or those who have two magical weapons.
- And how do we know we can feel the magic ?
- - You'll take a test during the course and the teacher will take you aside.
- And you are ?
- Chevalier, like Nova.
She explained one last thing to him, to graduate you have to be recognised as being fit to be a good hunter: "A good hunter you say..." After explaining the high school system to him, Nova joined them. Given that he had lost all his memories, she was worried that he wouldn't know how to use a sword.
- Tell me, Haru, is he bothering you too much?
- It's OK, it's OK. I explained to him how high school works. What group are you in?
- I'm with Yota, even if I'd have liked to be with Io to explain.
- I feel sorry for you, always having someone behind you...
- He's not mean, just a bit intrusive.
In the distance, a pupil gritted his teeth: "Have you seen her constantly clinging on to the new boy? Do you think Nova is dating the new guy?" Io turned to the group of young men, who fell silent instantly. Annoyed, one of them approached Io.
- Hey newbie, I dare you !
- Who are you ?
- I'm Yota, Nova's childhood friend.
Nova stood in front of Yota and asked him why he had come when she had kindly asked him to wait for her. Yota smiled, pointed at Io and challenged him to a duel, and everyone in the arena came towards them. Nova started to move towards Yota, but Haru stopped her.
- We have no idea what he's capable of, so now's the time to find out more about him, don't you think?
Nova wanted to stop them but Haru had come up with an interesting idea, so she stepped aside. Subaru explained how Yota fights: "He uses a double-bladed axe and a halberd. He has extraordinary strength". Io turned his head, disconcerted, towards Subaru and shouted:
- But I don't want to, I don't see the point!
Yota laughed.
- Nobody has the right to talk to Nova without my permission!
A wry smile appeared on Io's face as he put his finger on something. He put his hand in front of his mouth as if to stop himself laughing.
- Tell me, just because you're in love with Nova doesn't mean we can't talk to her without your permission.
Nova and the other teenagers looked at Yota, who was gritting his teeth. As for Nova, she started to blush and looked at Yota, who looked Io in the eyes and said.
- Of course I do, and that's why I'm knocking them all out, and now I've got a good reason to make you the next on my list!
- Well, if that's what you want...
The two teenagers stood face to face as a student raised his hand. Subaru approached Io and asked him why he had provoked him.
- Listen, get me a pistol and a sword, and I'll explain after the fight.
He complied and her wished good luck.
- 3... 2... 1...
As the tension mounted, Io watched the moment fly by as the rain began to fall.
- Off you go!
Yota started running towards Io, and in a second he was in front of him, ready to strike a blow. Io placed his sword to parry the blow. When the axe and sword clashed, a thud echoed throughout the arena. The blow was so violent that Io's hands trembled, and when he looked at his sword he noticed that it had been cut in two.
- So this is a sword coated with magic... exclaimed the young man, his hand trembling.
I have to attack...
As he prepared to attack Yota, the mountain of muscle was already in front of him. Io narrowly dodged his blow, swinging the axe through the air in front of his head, leaving a high-pitched noise behind. Io drew her pistol and fired three bullets at Yota, who placed her blade in front of her face to parry them. A smile spread across Yota's face as he watched Io try to survive as best she could.
- I'm impressed! Your agility is foolproof!
- Are you congratulating me?
- No, I simply want you to believe that there is no gulf between us.
Yota moved towards Io, who was trying to find a way out.
I'm not in trouble here. I can't see any opening to attack, not the slightest sign of weakness...
He looks up at the sight of Yota's huge axe bearing down on him as he tries to think of a strategy.
- Shit, I've been careless
- It's all over now!
He landed a blow just after. Io flew up and hit the wall, creating a cloud of dust around him. Nova finally reacted and started shouting at her, telling her to stop, but the young boy was determined to make her understand who was in charge. She wanted to jump over the barrier but a premonition stopped her. Yota burst out laughing.
- So you can't even withstand a single blow, Io Andromeda?
All the students looked away as they saw the macabre spectacle unfolding before them: how far was Yota prepared to go to stop anyone getting close to Nova? Nova gritted her teeth.
In Io's unconscious mind, there he was in the infinite void that is his memory. A voice spoke to him, echoing in his head as if speaking telepathically.
- Wow, you're really expensive !
- Who... who are you? Where are you, where are you?!
- Right behind you...
In an instant, a person appeared behind him as if teleported. Io turned his head but the person put his finger on his cheek. The young man's eyes widened; the man standing behind him was identical to him, everything except for the haircut, only his fringes were tied back and the colour of his hair was comparable to ash. What drew his attention the most were his two red eyes and that dead stare that kept staring at Io.
- Who are you?" shouted the frightened young man.
The man put his finger to his mouth, signalling her to be quiet.
- Call me, LaVoix, I can't reveal my identity yet, but instead I have a deal to offer you.
- A market?
- Oh, I see I've got your attention... Here's what I suggest: let me have your body!
- I beg your pardon?