On the second floor of the school, there were no signs of students. In fact, the corridor was completely empty. There were many doors and rooms, but Leox couldn't see what was going on inside them.
Meruvio took him down the wooden corridor, and eventually they arrived at a room larger than all the others. He knocked, and a stern voice soon came from the other side.
"Enter."
Meruvio stepped inside and Leox followed in afterwards.
They found themselves in what could only be a professor's office. There were hundreds of stacked books on shelves around the room. There was also artwork spread across the walls depicting events that Leox had no knowledge of.
Sitting at the far side of the room with a window behind him, was a man wearing glasses. His hair was black, and he was dressed in a black suit. His face was handsome and youthful, yet seemed cold.
There was a large book on the desk that he was reading, but had now been interrupted by them.
Sorry, Master Professor.
This man seemed to carry authority. Almost as much as Collector Meruvio... No, perhaps even more.
Leox tried to straighten himself up and make himself seem worthy, but it was of no use. His farmer's clothes and dirty appearance showed that he was a peasant.
"Meruvio, whilst it's an honour to have you here, I was not expecting you." The professor spoke in a deep voice.
Meruvio nodded his head. "I'm aware, but I have a student for you. He's not quite of age to enter the academy yet, but I'd like him to join the sixth year for extra preparation."
The cold professor looked Leox up and down. It seemed as though he was weighing him up.
Eventually, Leox noticed him jolt slightly. His guess was that he had noticed that Leox had awakened before becoming a teenager. Immediately he understood why Meruvio had brought Leox there.
He nodded his head and kept his straight face. "I'll sort out his papers and have him start as early as tomorrow. You can leave him with us."
"Good," Meruvio said, already turning towards the door. "I'll be returning in a few days to drop off some clothes for him... And a blade. He'll need a blade."
"He will indeed."
Afterwards, Meruvio nodded his head towards Leox, as if to say 'good luck'.
Then Leox was left alone in the room with the Master Professor.
"..."
Silence hung in the air for a few seconds. What was a twelve-year-old peasant supposed to say in such a situation?
Luckily the man eventually spoke after weighing Leox up with his eyes.
"My name is Professor Gabriel, the Master of the Preparation School. Whilst you're here, I will make sure that you're given the correct education to succeed at the Varadna Academy. Though, based on your... premature awakening, I'm sure you'll be fine."
It was then that Leox realised that despite the man's cold voice, he seemed... Kind?
Leox used that opportunity to ask a question he was too afraid to ask Meruvio.
"Master Professor Gabriel, is there a way for me to see the details of my awakening?"
"Hmm? Of course. Simply focus on the word 'Overview', and you should be granted access to it."
Is it really that simple?
Leox did as the man said. That was the first time it appeared.
[Awakening Overview]
[Leox Lether]
[Awakening Stage: First Rank]
[Awakening Stage Progress To Next Rank: 5%]
[Classes:]
> Grandmaster Immortal
>Novice Fire Mage
>Novice Water Mage
>Novice Wind Mage
>Novice Earth Mage
[Class Skills:]
Deathless Rebirth (Immortal Class Skill)
Weave Current (Water Mage Class Skill)
[Rank up for increased Overview complexity...]
---
Leox was overwhelmed the first time he read his Overview.
To be honest, there wasn't much for him to be surprised about. He knew nothing about the world of the awakened, so he wasn't sure whether to be impressed or disappointed with what he was seeing.
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One thing was clear, though: the Grandmaster Immortal class sounded unfair. Like a skill he shouldn't have.
Of course, Leox was already aware of this strange ability. However, seeing it written in his soul was a completely different thing.
And he seemed to even have the ability to control the core elements. He was aware of water, because he had used it to control the black sea when trying to save Ivy's life. But fire, wind, and earth? Wasn't that a bit too much? How could he access these abilities?
Professor Gabriel watched as Leox came to terms with his Overview. Then, he adjusted his glasses and sat up straighter.
"Now focus on my overview." The man said.
Leox did as he told him to. Looking at the man, Leox focused on the word and was eventually given another display.
This one was much less detailed. A lot of information was missing.
[Gabriel]
[Awakening Stage: Fourth Stage]
[Classes:]
Unknown
[Class Skills:]
Unknown
---
"Fourth Stage..." Leox couldn't help but mutter.
Gabriel heard this, and although he kept his face serious, Leox believed he was covering his smugness. He adjusted his glasses again and cleared his throat.
"The more you learn about someone, the more their Overview will reveal. It's a method used to gather truths. For example, if someone tells you that they're a fire mage, and you cannot see this information appear within their status, you know that they were lying, as your overview has not recognised it. For this reason, people keep much of their overview information secret, until they can no longer hide it."
Leox found himself amazed by the information he had just been given. He had only been in the school for a few minutes, and already felt as if he had learned so much. He bowed his head respectfully towards the Master Professor and gave him his deepest thanks.
"This information is all new to me. I really appreciate it, Professor Gabriel."
He returned the gesture by shrugging his shoulders, before rising to his feet. He was a tall man.
"You will learn all this and more in the Varadna Academy. For now, you'll be focusing on educating yourself sufficiently, and going through basic physical training."
The man made his way over to his coat rack and put on a long red coat that reached his knees. Then he placed his hands in his pockets casually.
"Come with me. I will show you to your room."
---
The academy was built around a giant grass field with hedges and flowers spread across it, as well as a statue fountain spraying water at its centre. It was the most beautiful place Leox had ever seen in his life.
As he followed Professor Gabriel through the field, he explained to Leox the layout of the academy.
"There are 120 students in this school, 20 for each year group. This means that there is only one class for each year group. A lot less than the academy. Each year group has their own designated living quarters, as well as a classroom for lessons. They all use this field for physical lessons."
They then reached what could only be the dorm rooms. It was a hallway with six different doors leading to different areas. They entered the one that said 'Sixth Year', and this was the first time that Leox saw other students.
Before reaching the rooms, there was a lounge area where the students could hang out, read books, or generally relax.
Sitting by a table, playing a game of chess were two students, a boy and a girl roughly the same age as Leox. When they entered, the girl looked at Leox.
She had black hair tied into a high bun and wore a black school uniform. She was well put together, and clearly knew that she was attractive.
She looked him up and down as if he were less than her.
I think I hate her already.
The boy seemed much more laid back. He had orange, messy hair, and a scar over one of his eyes, sealing it shut. He was also dressed in a school uniform.
From the look on his face, he was clearly losing the board game. He grabbed a handful of his hair and growled, not even noticing Leox yet.
"Arghhh! Again. Let's go again!"
Only afterwards did he notice them. He turned to Leox with a raised brow.
"Huh, Professor Gabriel. Who's this?"
The girl spoke before the professor could answer. "Farmers are allowed in prep school?"
Yep. I definitely hate her already.
Professor Gabriel adjusted his glasses.
"This is Leox Lether. He will be joining you in your final year of school as the twentieth student. Treat him as you would any other student."
The orange-haired boy with the scar rose to his feet and saluted as if he were speaking to an army general.
"Yes sir! This humble soldier will treat Leox as my own brother, whether he is a farmer or not." He said playfully.
Leox already found himself liking him. He was completely different from what he heard students of the capital were like.
Leox tried to focus on the two students' Overviews, but neither of them had one.
It seems that awakening truly is a rare case for twelve-year-olds, even in the city. How did he get that scar?
The girl with the high bun didn't say anything. In fact, she had already turned her attention back to setting up a new chess game.
Leaving the two students, Professor Gabriel led Leox to one of the doors with the number twenty above it and used a key to get inside. The room was three times larger than his back home. It had a softer, bigger bed, a shelf full of books, and even its own bathroom.
"This is where you'll be sleeping. There should be a spare uniform for you on one of those shelves. Tomorrow you'll be woken up by the Sixth Year professor and he will guide you through your day. As long as you follow his orders, you will be fine for this year. Especially with Collector Meruvio looking over you."
It was a lot to take in. Leox had never lived in such an institution before. And yet he was excited for where this would take him.
After telling him a few more minor details that he might need to know, Professor Gabriel left Leox alone in his room.
The first thing Leox did was head to the bathroom, where they somehow had a system that sent warm water straight to a tub in his room. He used it to clean himself up before finding the school uniform and trying it on.
...
It was the cleanest he had ever looked. White collared shirt with a black jumper over it, paired with black pants and brown smart shoes. They were a bit tight, since he was taller than average, but this only made the clothes hug his lean body.
As he looked in the mirror, he used his hands to brush his hair out of his face. He was still nothing but the twelve-year-old Leox, but he looked much different now.
If only Ivy could see me like this.
Creak..
Suddenly, his door opened. No one had knocked, so whoever it was that entered had some nerves.
Leox turned to the door and saw a boy standing there.
Being in a school filled with students aged 6-12, Leox had an expectation in mind of what they might look like.
Everyone who wore this uniform should have looked like innocent children who had yet to see the horrors of the world.
So why was there now a boy with the look of murder on his face, standing at Leox's doorstep with a sword in his hand?
Leox's heart froze.
His straight hair was black, and styled in a bowl cut that covered the top half of his eyes. He also stood taller than Leox, which was already a surprise in itself. Though he was much slimmer.
This boy can't be twelve years old.
There's no way!
As the boy's eyes landed on Leox, he lowered his sword. Then, he sniffed.
"My bad, you reek of death. I feared that the apocalypse had already arrived in the school walls."
His voice was calm, as though he hadn't just drawn a sword on a fellow human. It was like he had done it before.
Leox tried to search for what to say. Who the hell was this guy, and why did he seem so prepared to kill him?
Without waiting for him to respond, the boy turned to exit the room. But before he left, Leox quickly had to confirm something.
He focused on the word 'Overview'
---
[Unknown]
[Awakening Stage: First Stage]
[Classes:]
Unknown
[Class Skills:]
Unknown
---
Leox's hunch was right. It seemed that he wasn't the only student who had prematurely awakened. And for some reason, this awakened was able to smell death on him.
