Chapter 3: Welcome to the Bottom
"Finally... I made it to the Academy." Zin wheeled his bicycle into the parking lot, wincing with every step. His back throbbed from the crash. "Strange... why'd that doctor bolt to the bathroom right after healing me?" He shrugged, limping toward the entrance. "Whatever. Saved me 2 BRICS!"
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~Fire and Ice Academy. Housing over ten thousand Awakeners. Home to some of the greatest Top-Rank heroes in the world.
~And here we are... discrimination at its peak.
~White uniforms for B-Rank and above. Black uniforms for everyone below.
~Shitty spaghetti system. I never liked it.
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"Oi! Are you Zin, by any chance?"
A red-haired guy stepped into his path. Wider frame—maybe fat, maybe just built thick. He had a bag of snacks in one hand, already chewing. "I'm Tobi Reem. D-Rank." He grinned, walking alongside Zin without asking. "I heard about Markous—he's the Top-Rank in our year. And you—lowest rank in the Academy. No offense!"
Zin's eye twitched. "It doesn't change that I'm E-Rank... and what do you want?" His voice came out sharper than intended, still raw from everything that happened with Diva. "I'm not interested in you!"
"Ughh—" Tobi choked on his snack, coughing violently. "Hey, don't get it wrong! I just wanna be friends!" He pulled a water bottle from his pocket, chugging it. "Wouldn't it be better to stick to one extreme, right? Like, we're both weirdos in our own way!"
"Whatever..." Zin started walking faster.
Tobi matched his pace.
Zin sped up.
Tobi jogged.
Zin ran—and Tobi sprinted after him.
Finally, Zin stopped abruptly, spinning around. "What the hell do you want?!"
Both of them doubled over, gasping for air.
"We're... in the same class... so..." Tobi wheezed. "1E2, right?"
Zin groaned internally. 'What do I do with this guy?' He glanced at Tobi sideways. 'Maybe I can use him to help me get a girl... I'll figure out that plan later.'
"Oii, what're your powers?" Zin asked, trying to blow a signboard with a gust of wind. The metal plate barely budged.
"Fire Brawler." Tobi held up his half-eaten burger, and flames flickered from his palm, toasting it golden-brown. He took a bite. "You've only got mild wind magic, right?"
"...Yeah." Zin started walking faster again—then his back spasmed. "Yhickk!" Pain shot up his spine. He froze, abandoning the idea of running. "Strangely... there's hardly anyone outside the classrooms today. Where is everyone?"
∆ "Probably already inside, blud," Holy Monkey's voice echoed lazily in Zin's head but Zin couldn't hear ."You're late for class. Shocking, I know."
15 mins later.....
They reached the door to 1E2 and stepped inside.
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The classroom was massive. Rows of desks stretched back in neat lines, filled with students—maybe sixty, seventy, eighty of them. Conversations buzzed in clusters. Some students glanced at the door as Zin and Tobi entered.
At the front of the room stood a woman.
She had EXCELLENT curves. Black hair pulled into a sleek ponytail. Sharp black eyes. White button-up shirt tucked into fitted black slacks. She commanded the room without even trying.
"So, kids..." Her voice was smooth, confident. "You know which magic element is most effective against Ice Serpents, right?"
Zin felt heat rush to his face. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to look at the blackboard instead.
"Here comes the Ultra Ranker... ha... ha!" someone whispered from the back row.
Snickers rippled through the class.
"Silence." The teacher's voice cut through the noise like a blade.
Her gaze landed on Zin. "You're Zin Lein, right?"
Zin blinked. "Umm... yeah!" He bowed quickly. 'Why does she recognize me? Was she... looking for me?' His heart pounded. 'Keep calm... I got this... hehe...'
He and Tobi shuffled to a pair of empty seats near the middle.
"It's Electric elements that are most effective against Ice Serpents."
The voice came from the front row. A girl with wolf ears and a tail. Blue tribal markings traced her cheekbones. Her uniform was crisp, her posture rigid. She didn't look back at the class.
'I'm gonna become stronger than all these scums,' she thought, her jaw tight.
"That's right, Aira!" The teacher smiled warmly. "And as you all know, I'm a Commoner." She placed a hand over her chest, nodding to the class. "But even so, this class has been very sincere. You're all going to become stronger—I'm sure of it." She bowed respectfully. "Alright, everyone. Break time!"
"Huh?" Zin muttered, slumping in his seat. "I literally just got here and—"
Suddenly, Tobi's face was inches from his.
"GHOSTTT!" Zin yelped, nearly toppling backward out of his chair.
"Oii, what do you want?!" Zin clutched his chest, trying to calm his racing heart. He noticed a group of guys nearby—three of them, leaning against desks, watching him with smug grins. They weren't moving yet, but the intent was clear.
Bullying radar: ACTIVATED.
"Ummm..." Tobi leaned in conspiratorially, ignoring the tension. "Why'd Teacher Julie recognize you?"
Zin shrugged, still eyeing the group. "How should I know?"
Tobi's gaze drifted toward the front row—toward Aira, who sat reading a thick textbook, completely unbothered by the chaos around her. "Hey... wanna try merging wind and fire? See what happens?"
Zin blinked. "What?"
"Like, your wind. My fire." Tobi's eyes lit up. "Could be cool, right?"
Zin followed Tobi's gaze. Aira turned a page, her wolf ears twitching slightly.
"...You're staring at her, aren't you?"
Tobi's face flushed. "No! I just—she's—SHUT UP!"
Zin smirked despite himself. 'Maybe this guy isn't so bad.'
The group of bullies shifted, whispering among themselves. One of them cracked his knuckles.
Not today. But soon.
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[End of Chapter 3]