Unexpected Reception

"Ohhh, Yeah. You are quite popular for a freshman...." A voice sounded behind him but he didn't notice the arrival of the person in question.

An old man with a noble bearing said as he stared right at James. This old man just happened to be the Dean of the North Institute, Michael.

"Oh. I doubt that. It was just an old friend trying to settle some scores. I didn't know we had anything to settle, but somehow he feels that way. " James shrugged as he replied to the Dean.

James couldn't quite put his finger on it, but the Dean had some kind of ethereal presence. The same could be said about Matthew, this presence somehow drew James closer to them. This explained his current relaxed state as he communicated with Dean.

"Hahaha, The quarrel between youths, so much energy. I heard a lot about you from Matthew. I didn't think that you will go for the In-college registration program. Well, either way, welcome to the college. I will see you later. Stay out of trouble and don't repeat today's incident." The Dean left once again without James noticing.

There was something that felt like he was in a trance when the Dean left. The dean's movement had nothing to do with his speed but it felt like time itself had paused for him to move. Even though Michael had a similar presence, he didn't affect James.

James unlike the others might have been able to notice it with his increased perception because he could start feeling some qualitative changes in his body earlier than the others.

"Huh? That was weird. I am sure even if I currently had the soul eyes I wouldn't be able to track him." James muttered as he thought about the mysterious Dean.

"What relationship does Matthew have with him?"

"Well, there isn't any use thinking of it. Next week, once I go to the club meeting I will just ask him what the deal is " James said as he headed out in search of Tabitha once again.

James intended to fulfill his promise to Matthew and he also thought he might learn a thing or two from the martial arts class.

In his previous life, he found the Unlimited Domination Sword Skills Book in an abandoned ruin. He just had the contents of the book memorized, he wasn't much of a swordsman in his previous since he focused more on magical abilities. This might prompt one to ask why then did James not focus purely on his Mage abilities in this life.

" Where could you be hiding, Tabitha" James muttered as he continued his search.

"Hey, James. Can I talk to you for a second?" Marcus called out as he spotted James.

" Of course, but that is big brother James to you." James replied to Marcus. This two were communicating as if nothing happened between them earlier.

James pretended that Marcus didn't strike him on his chest and Marcus pretended that James didn't hurt his best friend/ brother.

"Pssst. That is far below my magnificent self. Either way, we are both seventeen so I cannot call you" Big Brother" Marcus retorted back as he began to show his shameless and playful side.

As a kid growing up under the care of a man as influential as the Supreme Priest, whose even daily affairs were known, Marcus had to mature early and maintain his father's reputation.

Being the only child didn't serve to make that burden lighter, it just made it far heavier. Marcus could only laugh and talk when he was around Ryan.

Ryan's destructive nature and carefree spirit were what drew him to Marcus.

Marcus liked that feeling of cleaning up his mess even if he didn't need to, growing up become a self-reserved person not by choice but by the obligation to keep his father's prestige felt uncomfortable.

Even the process of moving to the Northway country far from home hit him very hard. He left his birth country at an early age just to benefit his father's cause of forming a partnership.

This was not definitive that his dad was a cruel person. Even growing up, the Supreme Priest might have had it tougher if his dad employed means such as early marriage, arranged marriages, and many others to further cement the position of their country on the world hierarchy.

Even though the Supreme Priest title was of religious background, it had nothing to do with the misconception whereby priests stay sacred and abstain from sexual relations.

This system was set up to continue the family lineage of the first-ever Supreme Priest of Rome

****

Marcus liked that feeling of cleaning up Ryan's mess even if he didn't need to, growing up become a self-reserved person not by choice but by the obligation to keep his father's prestige felt uncomfortable.

Therefore, Marcus had an innate attraction toward people who had such a carefree spirit.

This innate attraction allowed him to focus on such people and see for himself who they were.

This was the case with James.

Marcus never really liked Rebecca due to her selfish nature. He always warned Ryan from staying away from her but Ryan who was blinded by love decided to ignore his best friend.

Today, Rebecca's true nature was shown when she didn't even check up on Ryan after James beat him. This further reinforced Marcus' dislike for her.

"Oh! No. That is where you are wrong. I will be eighteen in a matter of weeks. As for you, I am sure you have a long time for that to happen" James said to him. After their encounter, James just continued hearing different tales about Marcus.

Marcus was the true definition of a popular guy. From all this information, James found out about his age and other personal stuff related to him.

" Hmph, it doesn't matter. Anyway, I wanted to apologize for Ryan's behavior today. He did all that because of Rebecca" Marcus apologized to James.

"Don't worry. I have completely forgotten about that. I had an idea that Rebecca will take revenge after our last meeting. I thought it was something that could threaten me but well imagine my disappointment when I saw a bunch of boys trying to jump me." James laughed out loud as he remembered the previous encounter with Ryan.

He truly expected something terrifying but well...

"You know if I had participated in that fight, you will lose right? Marcus said with a smirk on his face.

"Well, either way, I am standing here and your precious brother is in the hospital." James retorted back childishly.

"So did you come here only to apologize to me?" James asked as he saw through Marcus' hesitation, he felt that Marcus had something on his mind.

" I know this might come off as rude but why are you so irresponsible? I mean did you not come here because you have a dream course? Don't you want to have a professional career? Because most people work hard to get into this institute for that right?" Marcus asked James with caution.

" Well, I guess. Anyway just give me your caller ID. I have a quest we can complete. I will contact you before I start it in-game." James said as he ignored the earlier question.

He realized that Marcus had become more comfortable with him, and decided to capitalize on the situation to get his ID.

He couldn't go around telling everyone that he needed to build a faction as quickly as possible before the game world affects real life.

He never really wanted to tell Lisa this early but she needed to know to take this seriously and surprisingly she didn't freak out.

"After the quest run, you can decide to join my guild or not. I am yet to even create the guild." James sent out his invitation once again.

"Okay. I guess it won't hurt to just give it a try. Can I bring Ryan?" Marcus asked James

"No. He can only join after you have joined the guild."

"Okay, I guess." Marcus excused himself after handing his number to James.

' I guess that is one down seven more to go. I can't believe Andrews is one of the eight. I'll have to find someone else to replace him. I cannot trust him and let him join the guild.' James thought as he continued his search for Tabitha.

After about fifteen minutes of continuous searching, there she was. A seventeen-year-old girl with bright silver hair with curves in proportionate and appropriate places.

Those deep silver-colored eyes would put any man into a trance. There she was, with her back facing James, as she chatted with one of her classmates.

'Oh, Shit!! That's her. How should I open the conversation?' James thought as he stared at her back.

The shameless James for the first time was a bit nervous. After understanding the relationship between the previous James and Tabitha, James realized that what he had for Qing Xiaoru was lust instead of love.

The previous James somehow affected James emotionally, which allowed him to have some kind of connection to Tabitha. This connection was not too shallow and it also was not too deep.

Tabitha felt a gaze trained on her back and suddenly she turned only to meet his eyes. She will never forget those bright green eyes.

She knew who he was and she knew the impact he had on her life. As those memories flooded back in all the emotions she could have for him was pure unadulterated hate. She moved closer and did the unexpected.

Out of nowhere.

Paaaa!!

The handprint on James' face was the only proof that he had been slapped. Or else one will argue that this situation was not happening.

"What are doing here? I never hoped to see you again. I hate you with all my being....." Tabitha said as she tried to fight back her tears.

" I....." All the words James prepared, just disappeared as he stared at her in disbelief.