NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 18: First Time in Class
Fast-forward a few days to the first day of school. Having used their time wisely, Alex and his friends had learned everything they could about their new world - from the Academy's culture and upcoming classes to the intricacies of their different bloodlines.
Standing near the door of their dorm room, the three boys psyched themselves up for what would become the start of their new life.
"You guys ready?" Alex asked, turning back to his friends.
"Ready as I'll ever be," Randy replied, nervousness evident in his voice.
"Don't worry - as long as we have each other, we should be good," Max reassured them.
"Yeah, yeah, you keep saying that. While it helps, you can tone it down a bit, dude," Randy complained, adjusting his collar.
"I wouldn't have to say it so much if you weren't such a worry wart," Max teased, playfully shaking Randy's shoulders.
"Relax, dude. I was just saying maybe find a new one-liner or something, jeez," Randy grumbled as he straightened his uniform.
"Quit it, both of you. We've got class at 10, and I don't need a headache before we even start," Alex warned.
"Sir, yes, sir, Captain!" they replied in unison, mock-saluting their friend.
Shaking his head, Alex opened the door and led them out of the dorm room. As they made their way down to the lecture halls, the group felt the palpable excitement in the air. Students bustled about, many eager for the school year to begin. Some, having just arrived yesterday, conversed animatedly with their classmates about summer activities - discussing new rituals they'd mastered, quests they'd undertaken, or vacations they'd enjoyed. Through it all ran a current of youthful innocence, everyone caught up in the moment, seemingly untouched by worries from home or the grand schemes of the world.
Upon reaching Class 1C, Alex, Randy, and Max pushed open the double doors leading to the lecture hall. Inside, they found six rows of twelve seats each, ascending from the ground floor to the back of the room. In front of the classroom a large black board with also a podium for the teacher. Off to one side, another door led to what Alex knew must be the training facilities - a space reserved for one-on-one instruction with their professor.
Being among the first to arrive, the three boys chose seats two rows up in the middle section. The position was strategic - not too close to the front, yet near enough to read the board clearly and easily. As they made their way through the room to their selected spots, they noticed the few present students watching them intently. Among the observers was one familiar face - Stella.
Seeing Alex look at her, Stella tilts her head, offering a warm smile and friendly wave. Alex, not one to shy away, returns the gesture with a slight wave of his own.
'I should thank her later for helping us,' Alex thinks as he takes his seat.
Looking around the room, Alex studies his new classmates. In one corner, he notices a group of five vampires - clearly the only ones in the class. Their apparent leader sits slightly apart, the others gathered around him like satellites orbiting a dark star.
The vampire leader cuts an imposing figure with his messy white hair blending against his pale skin, the black and red uniform hugging his frame with elegant precision.
Absent mindedly, the vampire's gaze drifts across the room. His eyes meet Alex's, and a subtle smile plays across his features before he turns back to answer a question from one of his companions.
Alex ponders the unexpected smile, but his attention quickly shifts as three unwelcome figures stride through the double doors - Derek and his lackeys, walking as if they own the world. Spotting Alex, Derek scoffs before leading his followers to their chosen spot in the room.
As the two groups pass each other, tension crackles in the air between them. Yet, mindful of causing trouble on the first day, neither side escalates beyond heated glares, leaving the six boys to stew in their mutual loathing.
As the rest of the class files in, the three boys sit quietly, their nervousness keeping them from their usual banter. Alex observes the different faction affiliations displayed by his classmates. While many remain unaffiliated like themselves, several proudly wear their chosen allegiances - the Zenith Order and Vampire Circle among them.
One student in particular catches Alex's eye - a striking blonde with a mature bearing and commanding presence. Her tall frame carries a uniform of deep purple, its edges adorned with yellow embroidery that sparkles like stars against a night sky. On her shoulders, spiraling black roses mark her as a member of the Umbral Veil, the elite faction that accepts only the strongest and most brilliant warriors of Terra.
'She must be the class representative, unless there's someone even more talented,' Alex muses as he watches her take the front desk directly below where he sits with his friends.
Her Umbral Veil emblem draws murmurs from the other students, even causing the typically aloof vampires to take notice. Their surprised glances suggest her presence here is unexpected.
The chatter dies down as Professor Bain, a familiar face to the three boys, strides through the double doors.
"Good morning, class," he announces from his podium. "Today marks the beginning of your journey at the Academy - a journey of forging friendships, meeting legendary figures, and growing stronger than you've ever dreamed possible. The opportunities before you are limitless. As your teacher, I'll guide you along this path, helping each of you reach your highest potential. And speaking of potential - having already demonstrated remarkable promise before classes even began - let me introduce your class representative, Emma Everbloom."
Emma Everbloom rises gracefully from her seat in front of Alex, approaching the podium with measured steps. "Thank you, Professor, for your kind words," she says, her voice carrying clear and confident through the classroom. Taking her position at the podium, she surveys her classmates with an assured gaze.
"Hello, fellow classmates. I am Emma Everbloom. As your class representative, I aim to guide our collective growth into respected leaders of tomorrow. While some might assume I stand here merely due to the pedigree of my family name, let me be clear - it is not just my heritage, but the weight of responsibility I willingly bear that allows me to withstand the pressures of this position."
Gesturing to the emblem on her uniform, Emma continues her speech. "Let it be known that while I stand here now, any one of you could take this position through dedication and effort. As we all know, the class rankings are the true measure of who earns the right to stand here." Concluding her address, Emma bows respectfully to Professor Bain before returning to her seat.
"Thank you, Emma, for that lovely speech," Professor Bain says. "Now, let's proceed with the day."
Professor Bain begins with roll call, followed by a light lecture on their upcoming classes. "Now that you understand what to expect in your courses, let's explore where you'll be training. Please rise and follow me - I'll show you Class 1C's training facility."
The students follow Professor Bain through a door opposite the classroom entrance, traversing a hallway before reaching their destination. The training facility opens before them - an expansive space with dojo-like flooring and training mannequins positioned along its edges. The walls display an impressive arsenal of weapons, from tridents to polearms to simple swords, creating a comprehensive collection of combat tools.
'Wow,' Alex thinks, taking in the impressive sight. He and his friends explore the room, eventually approaching one of the mannequins to study its features. Mindful of potential magical triggers, Alex keeps his hands to himself while examining the intricate details of the training dummy.
"The automatons you see along the walls are sophisticated training devices," Professor Bain explains. "For instance, during hand-to-hand combat practice, these mannequins can serve as sparring partners for specific techniques, helping you perfect your form. While you'll primarily train against fellow students to experience the unpredictability of real combat, these robots excel at drilling particular skills and scenarios, allowing you to integrate complex combinations into your fighting style."