Chapter 21: The class

***Steve P.O.V.

" Wasn't the toppers at the entrance exams supposed to give a speech too?" I asked Liam as we entered the classroom. It felt like I entered a chatterbox.

" Yeah, I wonder what happened. " We chose to sit in the middle where there were still some seats remaining side by side.

I could already see groups forming in the students. Since the teacher was not here right now, my classmates made small groups of their own to interact with each other.

The dynamics of this school didn't depend on how you look. Instead, it depended on how did you perform in your exams.

Everyone liked to interact with people that performed as well as them or were better than them. Though there were exceptions to that too.

For one, people that performed exceptionally well then all of us could choose to remain alone if they like. On the other side, some people either didn't perform well at all or suffered from the thinking that made them uncomfortable in the groups.

It could be because they were introverts or they had self-esteem issues because they didn't look good enough according to them.

" Hey, I'm Stella. Nice to meet you." Stella was like a pixie in terms of height as well as the cheery atmosphere that she carried around her.

She appeared to already make acquaintances with the students around us before we came here.

" Hello, Stella. A pleasure to meet you too. By the way, I'm Steve and this is Liam. It looks like we would be seating together." I shook her hand as we all took seats.

" Well, sorry to drop water on it but it's only for today. I just heard from a girl that we would be assigned seats in the evening that we must follow for the entire month. Make sure to check out your message box. " She told me while shaking hands with Liam.

" So, do you guys know each other from before?" She looked at us both before leaning a bit forward.

" You could say that we became fast friends just recently. " Liam replied.

" That's great, I wish I had friends from before too in the class." She smiled wilfully.

" Well, with your personality friends will be the last thing you would be missing in the class. " I remarked as I looked around the class.

The room was fairly large that I don't feel cramped with 100 people in the same room. Plus the rows were arranged like stairs so people from behind could also see the podium clearly without problems.

Before we could chat some more, the class teacher finally entered the room.

" Morning young hero aspirants. Please kindly returned to your seats so we could begin. " The noise quickly died down as the students returned to their seats as instructed.

" That's professor Dumbbell. A new but very popular teacher in the academy. Humor is that he quit his work as a monster hunter so he could teach in the academy. " Stella whispered.

" Was he very promising?" I asked back as I look at the man in his late 20s. Ashen brown hair neatly combed to the neck, brown eyes, and a confident smile as he looked at all the students.

" He was well respected and still is by the guilds. Apparently, he wants to raise the next generation of heroes for our society which is why he joined the academy. A man that likes to follow his passion." She replied before Liam kicked our legs to make us stop talking.

" Since this is the first day, we would not be having a regular session. Oh and I am most of you are already aware but still, I liked to inform you that your seating arrangement would be decided by us and you would be informed by the evening about it so sure to check your messages." He walked around on the podium with grace as he spoke.

His voice was imbued with mana because even students on the last row could hear him clearly while the front row students didn't look uncomfortable because of the loud voice. It was clearly flowing equally in the air.

'What precise mana control.' I felt amazed by his skills as well inspired by them. I could use this as training to improve my own mana control.

Because of the high disparity between my capabilities in mana sensitivity and mana control. I could feel hundreds of mana frequencies at the same time without trying which had grown to be a curse recently.

I couldn't control my senses which lead me to be ultra-sensitive to even small things around me.

I had been trying to improve my mana control as soon as I could and this could be a wonderful activity for that. I couldn't wait to try it when I get some alone time.

" My name is Dumbbell Rivia. I would be your class teacher for this year if things go according to plans. I expect that you guys grow as human beings too while learning to be better warriors."

He smiled during his whole introduction before raising a finger as he bowed a little bit while pressing his lips a bit."Now I would have liked it if you all start to introduce yourself one by one from the front but first, Steve!!"

He looked at me just to make sure that I didn't misinterpret that he was talking to some other Steve.

I tried to not react too much as I calmly stood up," Yes, Professor. " I wanted to try using the sound technique that he displayed just now but I refrained because it would likely to be failed during the first try and I didn't want more attention than I already got.

*** Daisy P.O.V.

The guy from before became a point of attention once he stood up.

" This will be fun," Isabel whispered with an excited tone.

" He looks nervous. " Ash commented who chose to sit with us for some reason.

" Well, dah. Every normal person would be if you become the center of attention of the whole class in the first 5 minutes unless you are used to receiving attention like us. " I agree with Isabel.

" Could you make sure to keep an eye on your companion? " Professor Dumbbell waved his right hand that covered in blue fog like mana and suddenly a kitten rose from the inside of his desks shadow and floating near his right hand.

" Cute" I couldn't stop myself from commenting as the kitten struggled to free itself from the air.

" Meow"

" Didn't you say the only special thing about it is that it is pleasing to the eye?" Isabel asked as she leaned a bit forward to enjoy the sight of the kitten swinging its arms around.

" I'm sorry, Professor. I didn't realize when she reached there. I would be more careful next time." Steve appeared to finally get out of his shock.

The professor smiled gently before he released his control on the kitten. In the next moment, it disappeared in thin air and appeared on Steve's shoulder.

She hissed at the professor before Steve picked her up and made her disappear inside his desk.

" Quite an agile one, isn't she?" Professor remarked cheerfully. " I haven't seen many that could utilize artifacts with such proficiency. While it is allowed to keep your beast companion with you if you could accommodate them without disturbing others, you have to make sure that they don't wander around. "

" Try to communicate with her via your contract bond to make her understand. "

" Thank you for the advice, sir. " Professor Dumbbell nodded before waving for him to sit down.

" Okay, then let's start from the left side." Professor smiled as he addressed the front row to start the introductions.

" An artifact, huh?" Isabel muttered.

" Must be restrictions on the usage if he let his contracted beast use it. Artifacts are not cheap, especially ones that could let the user travel via different dimensions. " Ash gave his two cents as he looked at the front.