Chapter 9

"Let there be war."

"Look, this is your first class today, and try not to get in too much trouble. This is Auditorium 4; it'll be your class for the year," Elara said, leaving him in the first-year building. "I hope he doesn't mess around with the teachers," she thought to herself as she walked away.

As Erick entered the classroom, he was greeted by a vast room with ascending chairs, each with a computer seamlessly integrated into the surface of the tables. The first thing he noticed was choosing the right seat—not too far to either side of the room, nor in the first or last row.

He finally settled on a seat in the middle row, near the center. It provided a perfect vantage point for both the front of the classroom and the exits, allowing him to observe everything without drawing too much attention. As he sat down, other students started to fill the room, chattering excitedly about the new year.

As he observed the vast new people pouring in he noticed the same girl, which he assumed was definitely a noble girl came in, as the previously swallowed insult surfaced he kept calm. He started to notice that not all the students were similar most nobility or which he presumed were had a similar feature with either deep dark, Silver, golden yellow hair, taller than the average of their peers and with surprising blue or purple eyes for which he found odd seeing that him and his sister have heterochromatic eyes.

Everyone took their places as a teacher, slim like a tiger and sturdy as a lion, walked in with a serious face that warned everyone not to try anything.

"I'm Captain Professor Olivia Angel," she announced, her voice commanding the room. Olivia is considered a well formed Amazonian woman with jet black hair that shimmer when the light comes down on it,with surprisingly deep dark eyes and pale milky skin that of a person who grew up in a very snowy climate and smile that's more predatory than pleasant. The moment she stood in front of the class and spoke her name giving them a look a lion would give to a mouse, almost everyone got the goosebumps.

" I'll be your homeroom teacher. Let's get the niceties out of the way. Anyone who wishes to test me, come forward now. Otherwise, from today onward, test my patience or resolve and see what happens. Whether you're a noble or a normal person, I don't care. I'll expel you myself. I have power granted to me by His Highness, Emperor Julian."

She paused, letting her words sink in. "Raise your hand if you want to ask me a question or if you want to answer one. Respect each other because you'll be together for a long time."

"This year will be challenging, but it will also be rewarding if you are willing to put in the effort. You will be tested in ways you never imagined, and only those who rise to the challenge will succeed." Said the professor with serious tone in her voice. Erick could feel the weight of her words. This was no ordinary school, and he was no ordinary student. He was here for a reason, and he was determined to make the most of it.

As Olivia glanced at this year's student, she asked them to introduce themselves to the rest of their classmates.

When it was Erick's turn, he stood up, his gaze steady as he looked around the classroom holding their gazes for the necessary time trying to see their reactions. "My name is Erick," he said simply, his voice calm and firm.

"Just Erick young man, no family name?" Asked Olivia intrigued, noticing that he's neither enhanced nor improved like the other children of wealthy families do, not even a basic genome editing. She looked down at her pad for his file and it was sealed with the highest clearance level.

" You don't appear to be a Celestia born." Asked the teacher hoping to make him talk more. Knowing her attempt to pray information out of him.

" I'm just a transfer from the country side."replied Erick meeting her gaze.

Some of the students gotten a little intrigued that a nobody had actually managed to get in.

"I'm assuming that you took a basic course on self defence and weapon training then?"

"Yes, swords,daggers,the bow, handgun and variety of fighting styles." Replied Erick flatly hoping to sit down fast.

Olivia gave him a scrutinizing look before addressing the class again."I'll be your officer training instructor under General Colthorn, the first year will consist of 12hrs theoretical studies involving the regular school lessons, afterwards 4hrs of combat training. You will be pushed to your limits and more, those who don't break before the end of the year will pass and get to enjoy the freedom to pursue their field of study." Olivia took her time to see if the students had been properly intimidated and they were except for few students who stood out.

"Now since today is an orientation of sorts don't worry have fun because it'll be your last."said Olivia dismissing them all.

As Erick started to head out he encountered an obstacle, as he glanced at the door he saw what appeares to be a bunch of new years from the other auditorium blocking the entrance. At first he didn't take them seriously as he got down from the sitting area and approached the hord of teenage boys.

"Everyone move aside and make way for lady Margret." Said a blond haired feminine looking boy. As he saw everyone except Erick move aside, he became furious at this nobody. As he glanced at one of his friends on his side,"what is his problem is he slow or something ?" He asked his campanion.

"Margret, my dear, are you and your friends ready to head out?" the silver-haired boy called out, his voice smooth but carrying an edge of arrogance.

Erick turned around to see for whom the door was obstructed, and there she was—the one person who had made it onto his list of enemies on the first day. As the people parted to give her and her friends way, Erick found himself standing in the middle of the room, right in their path.

The silver-haired boy's eyes narrowed as he looked at Erick.

"Move aside, commoner," he said, his tone dripping with contempt.

Erick stood his ground, his fists clenched, heart racing like a raging comet, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation."Why is it that whenever I try to avoid trouble, someone always has to push my buttons?" He said aimed at no one in particular.Margret's haughty expression turned into a sneer as she approached him, her entourage following closely.

Margret and the silver-haired boy exchanged a look of disdain. "Do you know who you're speaking to?" the boy demanded, stepping closer. "I am Klaus, head of the noble faction. You will show respect."

Erick's eyes remained steady. "Respect is earned, not given. And so far, I haven't seen anything worth respecting."

Klaus's expression darkened. "How dare you," he growled, signaling one of his henchmen to step forward.

The henchman, a large, muscular boy, approached Erick with a menacing look. "Apologize to Lord Klaus and Lady Margret, or you'll regret it."

Erick didn't flinch. Instead, he slid his hands into his pockets, gripping the iron knuckles. "I'm done with threats," he said, his voice low and cold.

The henchman lunged at Erick, but Erick was ready. In a swift motion, he pulled out the iron knuckles and threw a left hook, connecting solidly with the henchman's jaw, following his right hand landed a heavy blow to his diaphragm . The boy staggered back, eyes wide in shock, in pain and lack of air in his lungs, before crumpling to the ground. Which was then followed by uncountable kicks and punches to his vitals that Olivia which was observing from the back of the class was shocked how quick it was.

The room went silent, everyone frozen in place, stunned by the unexpected turn of events. Klaus's face twisted with rage. "You dare attack my men?" he spat, stepping closer to Erick.

Erick stood his ground, his eyes locked on Klaus. "I defend myself. If you want to fight, then fight. But don't expect me to back down." Erick couldn't believe his first real fight was this exciting and empowering moment that made him realize that he had a real talent for this.

Before Klaus could respond,Professor Olivia Angel's voice rang out. "What is going on here?" She stepped into the room, her presence immediately commanding attention. She took in the scene: the fallen boy, Erick with his iron knuckles, and the shocked expressions on everyone's faces.

"Erick, what happened?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the situation.

Erick kept his gaze steady, his voice calm. "I was provoked, Captain. I defended myself, I could have broken more than his nose but since this is the school i can't give the administration a reason to expel me."

Olivia looked at Klaus and Margret, who were still fuming.

"Is that true?"

"He attacked us!" Klaus shouted, pointing at Erick.

"He assaulted my friend unprovoked!"

As the crowd began to break up, Olivia gave Erick a pointed look.

"My office, now."

Erick nodded and unwillingly, following her out of the room. As they walked down the corridor, Olivia spoke without looking at him. "You handled yourself well, but you need to be careful. You're under a microscope here, Erick. Any misstep could have serious consequences."

"I understand," Erick replied. "But I won't stand by and let them walk all over me. I know you are concerned about what they would retaliate with, but any over-the-top actions, I'll handle it."

With that, she continued down the hallway, Erick following closely behind, his mind racing with the implications of what had just happened. He knew he had made an enemy of Margret and her kind, but he also knew he couldn't afford to back down. This was just the beginning, and he needed to stay sharp and ruthless if he was going to be feared.

The Ivory Lodge is a long standing five story building solely built and maintained by the empire's elite, a place where the old nobility hoped to have their children meet and foster relationships but in this day the head of this lodge young lord Klaus and his top subordinate's were having a hard time getting lady Margret to calm down,

"What happened today Margret is an insult to every highborn, and we shall answer this defiance with a heavy hand." Said klaus with fire in his eyes.

"Inform everyone that we are to press and remind everyone that we are not that the low class could oppose."

" He defied me, embarrassed me in front of the whole class. Our dignity was trashed now that the whole school heard of this incident, they will start to have some ideas". Said Margret mirroring Klaus.

"We need to make use of the arena?" Told Klaus to one of his subordinate. With a node of his head everyone started to make some preparations.