After waking up the next morning, Leox got dressed before heading out. It was time to return to the schedule provided to all first-year students of the academy, which meant he would start his day with breakfast. Recently, all class one students had been busy with their assignments and preparation, so it was rare that all of them would be in the cafeteria at the same time.

  That still seemed to be the case now. With less than an hour left, some of the students were probably still out there, searching for a fallen saint.

  Surprisingly, Laughter was not one of these students. The orange-haired jester grabbed a plate of food before making his way over to Leox's table and sitting opposite him. It felt like it had been ages since they had seen each other.

  "So, did you get a heart?" Leox asked immediately, curious about whether Laughter was capable enough to pull off the task.

  The boy smiled at him before nodding. "Of course not. We aren't all legends like you, Astra and that other kid with the crown tattoo on his face. Have you seen his muscles by the way? I swear, there's no way he's thirteen."

  Leox laughed, as he realised that perhaps he shouldn't have been surprised. That didn't mean that he was still wasn't extremely curious about how strong Laughter actually was. Still, he wouldn't pry, as he knew he wouldn't want the boy doing the same to him.

  "Aren't you worried about what Professor Gutaru will do for those who didn't pass?" Leox asked before shovelling a spoonful of porridge into his mouth.

  "Nope. My guess is that he expected us all to fail anyway. I've heard that even the Holy Knights struggle against fallen saints. What did he expect us to do?"

  I guess he's right. The demon did kill me after all... Twice.

  ...

  After the pair finished their meals, the clock struck twelve, which meant it was time for their first lesson of the week. Alongside all the other class one students, who wore depressed looks on their faces, they made their way inside the classroom and hesitantly found their seats.

  Gutaru sat by his desk on the platform, looking the same as he always did. Unbothered. Once all the students were seated and silent, the man reached underneath his desk and placed a golden demon heart on the table, then another, then another, then another. Four hearts were lined up on the table by the time he was done.

  Four hearts?

  Leox looked around the room at Astra, and the boy with the crown tattoo. He was certain that those two were the ones who had found two of the other hearts. But what about the last one?

  "Well done to the following students for slaying a grade-two demon. Astra, who took only 23 hours. Samson, who took 68. Marybetha, who took 70. Leox, who took 141. As for the rest of you... I expected nothing more."

  Leox looked around the room, searching for the student named Marybetha. Judging from the looks on everyone's faces, he suspected that it was the girl in the front row, who earned herself glares from a few other students.

  She had a stern look to her face, and her shor,t straight hair was a faint, unnatural green shade, and glasses sat on her face, giving her a studious look. Marybetha had her arms folded and didn't seem to care for the professor's praises.

  She looks like she's ready to fight another demon already...

  Leox checked the girls' overview, as well as the boy with the crown tattoo on his face, whom he had learned was named Samson. Both students were of the second stage in their awakening, making them the only four who were above the first stage.

  "Now then," Gutaru continued, "for those of you with any smarts, you would have already visited the academy library and touched up on your knowledge about skills, progression, awakening, and demons. For those of you who aren't so smart, today's lesson will be dedicated towards learning the basics of the Fourth World. After lunch, we will be out in the field getting physical."

  So, I would be considered one of the smart ones.

  From the looks of embarrassment on the faces around the room, Leox guessed that the majority of class one were somewhere in the other category.

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  ---

  The lesson was spent going over the bare bones basics of the overview, most of which Leox had already learned through experience and reading in the academy.

  Children can awaken once they reach the age of thirteen, depending on their upbringing, which also affects which classes they would awaken. Some were hereditary, whilst others were through embodiment. The Overview could be strengthened through what was called "stages", the highest being unknown to humans, though the current Emperor Alom had recently broken through to a new high, reaching awakening stage seven.

  What Leox did not know was that after reaching the second stage, it became much harder to progress. Based on what he understood, if he tried to simply practise Overheat continuously alone in his room, it would take years for him to advance to stage three. This was why the majority of students remained in stage two, even by the time they reached the third year. The truly talented would break through stage three, and prodigies might reach stage four.

  They also touched on the history of the overview, which was said to have appeared during the time of the Second World as a gift from the Allfather to the current Emperor of the time. This was still speculation, with many tales and legends surrounding the event.

  ...

  After lunch, their next lesson arrived, which was outside in the field. The sun beat down on them from above, and a cool breeze blew through the air as the students of a handful of classes were sectioned throughout the giant space, each with their designated professors.

  Leox stood beside the twenty-nine other students of Class One, with Professor Gutaru at their head, standing before them with both hands resting casually in his pockets. The usual look of indifference spread across his face.

  Several wooden chests had been brought out into the field, and when Gutaru opened one, an array of different blunted weapons lay inside.

  "To become strong, you must awaken a physical class. Swordsman, archer, axeman, spearman. In situations where your mana is running low, or your opponent has classes that directly combat yours, physical strikes will become your best friend, as they only rely on stamina."

  He gestured towards the contents of the chest.

  "Step forward and collect yourself a weapon of your choice that you do not yet have a class for. Afterwards, partner up. We'll keep the sparring light today."

  Many of the students' eyes lit up as they took turns reaching into the chest and choosing their preferred weapon. Leox spotted a variety of different swords that looked appealing to him, but since he already had the Swordsman class, he reached for something else. The Greataxe.

  The brown length of the handle was half his height, and the rustic silver head was twice the size of a human skull. As he held it in his hand, he found it hard to control the distribution of its weight. It felt much different from his sword.

  "Would you like to partner up?"

  Leox turned towards the voice that came from beside him. There he saw Astra, staring up at him with a smile on his face, and a spear in his hands.

  Leox returned his smile. If someone hadn't reached him first, he planned on seeking out the Astrologer. He was always told that the strong would strengthen the strong. If not Astra, then he would have sought out the boy Samson. A quick glance around, and he found that Samson, who was wielding a greatsword almost the same height as him, was now partnered up with Laughter, who held a tiny dagger in his hand.

  "Sure, let's partner up." He responded to Astra before holding out his hand. "I'm Leox Lether. You're Astra, right?"

  Astra shook his hand. "That's right. Astra Helios. I knew your name already. I've been following your journey since you joined the academy."

  "Is that so?" Leox raised a brow.

  "Yes, the strong recognise the strong. I believe that's why you knew my name already."

  Just as their conversation was getting interesting, they were cut off by Gutaru clearing his throat. All the other students in the class were now partnered up and ready to spar. But before they got started, a tall blonde-haired girl named Judith raised her hand.

  "Professor Gutaru, will we still be able to progress our Overviews whilst fighting in your... Trial realm?" She asked, uncertain of what to call the Judge's skill.

  Gutaru looked at her, confused. "What do you mean? This sparring will take place here, in the Fourth World. How else will you learn to combat danger?"

  Judith's face went red with fear.

  "Now then, begin, and do not stop until I order it. Try not to kill each other, and hold your blows. The infirmary medics have enough work as is."

  "..."

  At first, the students all hesitated in their steps. It was true that almost all of them had faced danger from the demons, and all of them had already taken the lives of others in the Judge's Trial, but this was entirely different. To raise your sword against a fellow human in the real world felt like a crime, even if the weapons were blunted.

  Though some, seemed to be less bothered by this than others.

  "Raghhh!"

  Samson roared from across the field as he swung his greatsword in a downwards cleave that was aimed to split Laughter in half. The boy's singular eye went wide as he leapt to the side, diving onto the grass and just barely dodging the arc of the strike. The blade of the weapon was stuck in the dirt and had to be yanked free by the muscular student.

  Laughter rolled to his feet and made a sucking noise with his teeth.

  "Hey now, that's not fair. I wasn't ready."

  Samson lifted his sword and held it in front of him, preparing to strike again.

  "The demons will not wait for you to be ready. Consider this preparation."

  Then, he swung again.

  The sight of the two boys fighting seemed to spark fire in the bellies of the others. Leox turned his gaze back to Astra, who still had a smile on his face, even as he twirled his spear flawlessly.

  "I guess we should get started too then." He said whilst squinting his eyes.

  Leox lifted the greataxe in front of him, slightly overheating his arms to help him manage the weight.

  "I guess we should."