"Student Azrael, you have caused so much trouble on the very first day," Barton Everglade spoke while staring into Azrael's eyes. "In the allotment test, you have killed Instructor Hermon's Golem, blew up the testing machine.
Theoretical combat teacher Uphiar mentioned that you lack terrible control over your power that you have caused the death of your teammates. Now, you have broken the auditorium's ceiling."
Azzy replied with a simple question, "Am I being expelled?"
He doesn't care whether he will be expelled or not. It was only out of obligation towards his grandpa and grandma did he accept the proposal to go into the academy. Or else, he would happily go into the wild and be a rogue Arcana Master, training on his own. The Reaper is there to help him out.
Contrary to his thoughts, the Principal smiled, "no, quite opposite. I would like to teach you personally. I think you have the potential to get a seeded position in the world league, representing our nation."
Azzy, who didn't know what World League is, now connected the dots. He quickly understood it. It is probably a grand international competition between nations and every nation must have a seeded spot that's probably earned by some other methods like recommendations, national tournaments, etc…
"With two and a half years of training, I believe top 10 wouldn't be a dream, anymore."
He then became silent, waiting for Azzy's reply.
"My master told me that a person can only take one master in their life," Azzy replied in an emotionless tone.
Barton was taken aback by his words and especially the way of his speaking. While he was wondering whether Azzy meant he was too weak to be considered as his master, Azzy's next words made him understand the point.
"I already have a Master. Despite not being able to learn a single thing from her, she's still considered my master."
"I see…" Barton was disappointed a little bit and thought it was normal that a genius like him would have already caught someone's attention.
But then, something clicked in his mind. He wondered whether that lady might have either tricked this naïve little fellow or she might from a powerful clan.
The latter is unlikely or else, how can one explain his lack of control at this age with such a high soul power.
Barton then explained, "Actually, those were the customs of the ancient era. We don't practice them in modern times anymore.
To take one as their master, and live with their master or the clan compound, such methods have long been disappeared.
Nowadays, you can become a disciple of any number of Masters just like how Masters took a lot of disciples.
If a disciple has more than one master, he/she needs to consider one of them as his Prime Master and the rest of them will be secondary masters. There's a ritual for that but you don't need to know of it, right now.
Anyway, once you have assigned a person as your Prime Master, you cannot take anyone else as your Master and you cannot change the position of Prime Master in life.
These are the current rules of the Master-disciple relationship that everyone follows but then again, everyone is free to follow their own rule… It's just a matter of whether others will like your methods or not."
Upon hearing the explanation, Azzy understood that his grandpa might have told him that because the Death clan is an ancient hidden clan that has its own set of rules.
He wondered whether his grandpa always knew that the Death clan will come and take him away. Maybe, that's why he wished for him to awaken a healing Arcana.
The next day;
After the morning classes are over, Azzy went to the cafeteria for lunch.
From grade-3 to grade-10, the students belong to the Elite division are lining up with their trays at the counter and getting their seats.
The dining hall is massive that even if a student chose to eat alone, they can find a separate table with chairs.
Except for two tables that are filled with a mixture of grade 9 and grade 10 students, similar to the seating arrangement in his classroom, Azzy saw almost everyone is eating solo like the previous day.
At first, he thought it might because the divisions keep changing and they are new to each other but now, he understood that most of the Elite division students are considered loners.
"Hey, look who's here. It's that guy from yesterday who blow up the ceiling…" Someone from the grade-10 spoke to Leonard.
Leonard turned around and frowned, looking at him. Naturally, the students around him also heard his words and turned their heads towards the door.
Meanwhile, Azzy felt many gazes were on him but they are filled with more hatefulness than the previous day.
"You really have the nerve to show your face after messing up…" An older student who was sitting in Leon's group suddenly flared up. Perhaps he wants to impress the Prince or he is genuinely unhappy with Azzy. Who knows…
The lower grade students turned their attention towards the direction where he was pointing.
They wondered what's going on.
The seven of the grade-8 students halted in surprise.
Supporting him, a grade-9 student who was linking her arms with Leo spoke in a sweet tone, "isn't the student council's job is to discipline the troublemakers? To repair the auditorium, the school management has to allocate some funds, right? Should he be left off as if nothing happened?"
Zona who heard her words from a nearby table narrowed her eyes, 'this b***h trying to cause trouble once again…'
*tap*Tap*
Amid the gazes, as if he wasn't talking to him, Azzy left the group and walked towards the counter, and took the tray before standing at the back of the line.
"You…" Getting ignored by Azzy made the older student angrier.
Azzy saw the students before him and the girls in the other line are staring at him. He didn't speak a word. They turned around.
"hahaha…" Another grade-10 student laughed as he grabbed the shoulder of this idiot who blabbered his mouth and got ignored, "Very bold. I like this junior's personality…"
Getting the food, Azzy turned around and found an empty table. He went and sat down.
Just as Gideon was about to follow him, his arm was grabbed by Lark, "don't…"
He gestured with his eyes. Gideon glanced around. He saw the Prince was silently staring at Azzy. Others are also staring at him.
"So…" Gideon swats away his arm, "if you want to abandon your classmate, feel free. I won't…"
Lark saw Gideon's expression was cold.
"Fine… Dig your grave, then…" Gideon might not care but Lark comes from a lower noble house. He can't go against someone from the royal family or else his family will suffer.
"Hey…" Gideon greeted Azzy before taking his seat opposite to him, sharing the table.
Azzy was surprised about his action. As a smart person, he already expected he'll be alienated soon but didn't think this deskmate would stick with him instead of leaving him alone.
Maybe, it's because he's from the Crescent Clan?
Or is it because he pities Azzy?
Or maybe, he realized that his Arcana is of platinum grade?
Or did he find out about the allotment test…
Azzy wondered about Gideon's reasoning but he didn't say anything. He simply ate his lunch while listening to Gideon's blabber about this and that.
Even though he was unclear of Gideon's intentions, he felt happy inside.