Chapter 6: Development

Barbados never reached the chambers. Instead he went into the main academy library to research the time he had wasted. There was no one in there, except for himself and his thoughts. Book after book, he began wondering if something was wrong. "Could the books have been changed? Did somebody alter history?" he thought to himself. Barbatos refused to believe that but the proof to justify that was in his hands. The same recurring design style. The same culture and even the same names being used in different time periods. Moments of history he never experienced while stuck in his prison. The thoughts worsened to ideas of questioning reality. With the quick slam of the book, he dropped on the table and tried to regain his already shattered mentality. He looked at the book and whispered to himself "Was there truly an upper being that saw the bloodshed that took place? If so, why hadn't they interfered?"

He took another look at the book to see if he was hallucinating, but he wasn't. The same words from before, the same picture but much clearer this time. This bothered him even more. He took a book named 'History of Land' and shuffled to a map of the present world. He then drew out what he remembered the mortal realm to look like. They looked the exact same. Same borders. Same countries. Same names. This was no coincidence, this was truly something bigger than him. As Barbados walked to the older books section, a black and stiff leather spine caught his attention. A book hidden away from light and secluded to the point that dust had built a container around it. He went to pick it up, but dropped it quickly after feeling the leather. Barbados was a master artisan and knew the texture of everything and could recognise it to 100%. His hands started shivering as he knew exactly what that book was created from, the skin of a demon.

****

Grog was looking for Barbados but couldn't find him anywhere in the staff office. Only Okia was inside, and when they saw Grog they waved and went back to work. He knew Barbados had class in the morning, but he still had 2 hours before they started, so he maybe still hadn't arrived. As they were about to leave, Okia suddenly appeared beside him and spoke in their normal quiet tone.

"If you are looking for Barbados, I saw him slowly walk towards the gymnasium while holding a strange black book with a look of hatred on his face. You might want to check on him." Grog wasn't shocked by the sudden conversation, he was used to it.

"Ok, thank you Okia," he said, but quickly added, "Good luck with my class today." to get a reaction from them, which was a shadowy dagger that zoomed right past his head. He left satisfied and made his way towards the colosseum. A few students were in early revising for their upcoming exams or for clubs. He saw both doors open. He peeked inside and saw who he expected, but didn't expect what he was doing.

Barbados's face was covered in rage and his mouth was foaming with insanity. He wielded a brilliantly white sword shaped like a needle and was striking like an animal at a dummy. Just like Okia mentioned, the black book was on the ground. The dummy seemed to regenerate after each hit, but in a last strike while yelling at the top of his lungs, Barbados slashed the training dummy, sending an air slash that struck the back wall of the gym, leaving a smooth indent. Barbados was on the other side of the gym. His strike traversed through 90 metres of air and managed to hit the wall. Grog stood in shock. "If a child happened to walk through there, they would have instantly been killed. Hell, if an experienced mana user walked through there, they would have died" he thought. Barbados was going to strike again at the fallen dummy with a greathammer. Imagining the worst, he shouted his name.

"Barbado! Are you feeling ok?" Barbados was shocked to see his friend in the doorway.

"To tell you the truth, no. I am angry, feel wronged and overall confused."

The two sat down on the benches and just stared at the mess Barbados had caused.

"You were acting like an angered child. What's wrong?" asked Grog unknowingly as Barbados placed the book in his hands.

"Try guessing what that book is made from. Give me your wildest guess." Grog was hesitant at first but complied.

"Dragon?"

"No. Guess again." Barbados's voice sounded empty.

"I don't know. It has to be a black creature but I don't think any animal on earth has such a shade. Maybe a Titan?

"Titans still exist?" asked Barbados with genuine intrigue. "Oh and no."

"No, titans were wiped out during the war that gave us mana. Is it a flesh hunter?"

"No, also that sounds disgusting. No, that book is made from the skin of a demon."

"Haha sure it is." But when Grog looked at Barbados, he wasn't laughing, his face was dead and empty of the joy he had when they both met. "No way. Seriously?" He yelled in a childish manner and dropped the taboo book.

"Grog, I have to admit something. My true name is Sansar. That wasn't my father's name, but mine."

"I kinda guessed that already. Just never brought it up."

"Really? Was I really that readable?"

"No, I just have an above average intuition. Also, I don't like where this conversation is going."

"I'm going to leave the academy. Probably the entire country. I need to figure some things out." Grog felt a tear brew in his eye, but held his composure.

"Is it to do with this book?"

"Not the sole reason, but a major part of why." Barbados spoke somberly. The Sinborn's very existence was shaking. It broke Grog to see his friend in such an unstable state.

"Could you at least stay until the end of the year? There's only 2 months left until the students go on summer break. I'll help you with whatever you will need during that time." Barbados was going to deny it, but he knew, deep down, this was all just s horrible attempt to leave his job.

"I am just worried for the student's safety. Who knows when I will snap and go berserk." Grog looked down at Barbados and reassured that he would be there to help him.

"How about a cup of coffee? My treat."

"Yeah. Sounds nice. Question. Who's going to fix that?"

"I can get a stonemason to come and fix that. You're not the first person here to destroy a building."

As they began to leave, Barbados took the acursed book and stored it away in a separate space from the earthly realm. Grog stared in awe, but reminded himself that in front of his eyes was a godly creature that transcended human knowledge. Outside were some students who had gathered at the sudden disturbance in the peaceful silence. Barbados greeted them and carried on walking off, still holding the dull weapon he took to test. It only took a few slashes to create disastrous cracks that would be the deciding factor in a fight. He followed Grog, and to his surprise, they left the Academy and walked towards the shopping district. They entered a small cafe on the left. The Sinborn was shocked to see such a unique building in the crowded city. Grog ordered the drinks, taking into account Barbados's open dislike for bitterness, ordered him a dessert-like drink.

"I like this place. They have stools that make it possible for me to actually sit down. But don't you have to take a morning call for Jorvik's class?"

"We have enough time. The two trouble makers will probably be late anyway, so the most damage the class can do is smash a table or two."

"You say that as if it's a thing that happens often" Barbados responded reluctantly.

"More than I wanted." Grog sighed. "Oh, here are the drinks."

The creamy texture mixed with the sweet caramel substance danced on Barbados's tongue. The reaction was the same as ecstacy. Drinking it made him feel much better, a lot happier and energetic. He did, however, feel the bells of death as he kept drinking the sugar mixture.

"This cannot be good for my body." he exclaimed after finishing.

"You'll feel the effects tomorrow. But that is an issue for your future self." The two went back to being silent as Grog was taking his time drinking.

"Grog, I want to pry into your personal life. It's only fair after I opened up to you."

"Sure," he replied without hesitation, "what would you like to know?"

"I have seen people around here that look awfully similar to you, but they all had more prominent goat features. Are you by any chance experiencing your race's equivalent of middle age balding?"

The question was stupid. Stupid to the point that Grog almost choked on his drink. He burst out laughing.

"Come one, I was genuinely curious."

"No. I'm not balding. I'm similar to you actually. I'm a half-breed. My dad was a subspecies of the Wendigos that lived in snowy mountains and my mom was a human. My dad raped my mom and 9 months later, I popped out. Wonderful family huh." He spoke without a hint of regret, as if he had fully moved on and was more bothered by the present time.

"And I thought my family was fucked."

"I was going to actually ask about that. Is it true that there are only 7 Sinborn that have ever been born?"

"Yep. And I'll tell you now they all had an equally shit life. You'd expect Angels to act as they look, kind and innocent. But that's all a facade. They are the worst race to have ever walked across the Universe. Committing heinous crimes for the simple reason that it's what Perfection seeks."

"Who's this Perfection?"

"The angel equivalent of deity. I'll tell you the rest later, I need to work out what I'm going to do with my class. I need to get them better weapons but I don't have access to my forge right now. We should hurry so we aren't late." Grog finished his drink and tipped the cute waitress that had served them.

They got there just in time and before going to his class, Barbados greeted the class that drained the vitality from Grog. Barbados was feeling rather excited, juxtaposing his morning self, as he was going to teach a Year 4 Blossoms class. "Those brats should be an easy bunch to teach. They're old enough to be responsible." he thought. Truth be told, they weren't. Not even close. The class he was going to teach was considered to be the rowdiest and hectic class since the educational system reform. But also the strongest. Barbados checked his register and was surprised to see only 7 students in the class. However, as he slowly approached the secluded classroom, he could feel vast vibrations disturbing the tranquil air. Sounds of clashing metal encompassed and drowned out the sound of nature. In front of Barbados was a vicious fight with both contestants going all out, utilising high grade weapons with mana while wearing no armour, not that it would protect them even if they did wear it. One of them was using a trident and the other a halberd. The Sinborn sighed as he could easily guess what this fight was about: which weapon was superior.

"Hello class. My name is Barbados." He clasped his hands and smiled gently. "Some points of advice, you on the left fix your posture. You on the right, what kind of stance is that, it's atrocious. A trident should be held tightly with the weapon held close to the body. Continue the fight."

What a bad idea that was. As soon as he told them to continue, both fighters used mana and brought up a cloud of dust. Sparks of flame flew from the constant clashes and the wooden handles of both weapons started smoking from the intense friction. Those weapons weren't made with the safety of the wielder in mind. They were pouring out their hearts in each strike. They started speeding up and it all came to a halt when Barbados intervened between the two. Holding out his palms, the weapons broke as they struck his skin. Their last attack would have killed at least one of the two.

"This match ends here. It came to a draw. Now let me welcome you all to …" Barbados talked about his lesson and wanting to see what they all individually had achieved and if there were any parts they needed to fix. There was one boy in the group that looked lost in thought as Barbados talked, but he refrained from putting him on the spot.

"Alright. Say present when I call out your name. Aisha.

"Present."

"Dranim."

"Present." Barbados paused before saying the next name.

"Ch,Chloutarg? Am I saying that right?"

"Present. Yes you said it right." It was a male Orc. "Interesting, " he thought, "he may also be a half-breed as the distinct green skin of the orc was lighter."

"Marten."

"Present." said the boy wielding the halberd.

"Porfan."

"Presen." said the boy who looked lost in his dream.

"Minteen."

"Present."

"A druid girl in a human-dominated school. The present truly is better than the past. And lastly, Unim.

"Present." It was the boy with the trident.

"Have you ever considered using a bident? It's really similar to a trident but only has 2 blades rather than 3. That's the register done. I want-" but before he could finish, Dranim engaged in battle with the orc and the druid was fighting Aisha. Two men that fought before were at it again while Porfan stared at his dagger. Barbados wasn't known for his patience cause he never had any. A vein pulsated and he picked up 6 stones.

Using a small portion of his power, he hit each fighting student and caused them to be knocked back. They all lost their balance and fell to the ground. Dranim yelled at Barbados.

"What was that for?"

"Not listening." But they still didn't listen. As if they all had a brain shared between them all, they attacked him in perfect sync, but none of their weapons injured him. Quite the opposite. The wooden handles had shattered and the metal smashed to shrapnel. The students weren't injured, but their weapons were done for.

"Now," spoke the Sinborn, "do I have your attention." Porfan had snuck up behind and tried to strike him with precision at what he considered to be the weak point, but the blade of the dagger had bent and created a U in the middle. Barbados turned to look at him with his eyes closed and a smile on his face.

"So?" he asked.

"Oops." the student responded.

"Oops indeed." he said back, ending it with a pebble straight to the head. Porfan spun in the air before landing back on the ground.

"Does anyone else want to eat pebbles?" All the students replied in an exhausted 'no'.