Those In The Know

"What's the matter, instructor?" Neraxis asked, feigning ignorance about the situation that had just unfolded.

However, Magnus had other thoughts in mind. "Did you really win?"

"I guess? He fell, and I stood. Is there something I'm missing?"

At this point, he was just trying to get the conversation over with. He remembered Magnus not being such a nag.

"Listen..." Magnus paused for a moment before continuing, "He is extremely influential as well as powerful. If his family found out he lost, there would be trouble for both him and you."

"How does that work exactly?" Neraxis questioned with a tilt of his head.

There was always the possibility of going after his parents, but due to their influence as well as the academy's, strong guards were stationed around them at all times.

"That's how it is. Trust me, I don't mean to shame your accomplishment, I just wish to simply warn you. No good will come from being friends with him."

Neraxis's brows twitched as he nodded. "Understood. Can I go on my break now?"

"Don't be late," Magnus added, turning and walking back to the podium to begin sorting some documents.

I wonder if he's naturally that cautious and annoying, or if he's simply that afraid of Kael's family, Neraxis thought as he strode down the hallways.

There were a couple of locations he could visit; however, the most important one was the special class library.

If memory served him correctly, there were a couple of tomes here, some of which were hidden for the sole purpose of being found.

Those who uncovered them got a tiny head start on the other students.

And his main goal was to find at least one such tome. Each class had a private library, and even though the number of people in the special class wasn't a lot, they were not excluded.

Neraxis quickly arrived. It was as spacious as he imagined, being at least several times larger than the classroom he had just been in.

He spotted a few of his classmates strolling around, some just picking out random books and sitting down to read them.

However, there were others who were aware of the real objective behind why this library was in place.

Thankfully, the number of people in the know was limited to two: one scrawny-looking girl and another boy in glasses.

It was a wonder how they were part of the special class in the first place.

But Neraxis didn't need to wonder for long, as the scrawny girl suddenly lifted off the ground and flew to the second floor, continuing her search.

Meanwhile, the kid in glasses skimmed through each and every book within seconds.

It really was fierce competition.

I don't even know where to start... He sighed and proceeded to walk to a nearby shelf, picking up a book.

After only a few minutes, he put it back down. It was a dud. Just a simple history book.

However, as he was beginning to consider some search routes, Evangeline's nonchalant voice rang out inside his mind.

[Don't you see that glowing book there?]

What? Where? he asked, startled.

She manifested herself in her sword form and tapped on a particular book that was very close to him, one that looked just like any other book.

[Here, there are two more books like that here—one on the second floor and the other is hidden behind a shelf, it looks like.]

You can see them? Neraxis thought while picking up the book she had advised him to.

To his surprise, it was an actual tome. But what was even better was the fact that it was a green skill book.

Special class benefits... He chuckled and looked around, making sure no one noticed him before placing his hand on the skill book. After just a few moments, it completely disappeared.

And what met his eyes was a red system notification, signifying his success.

[Skill Obtained | 15 Minutes Until Assimilation]

Evangeline...

[Hm?]

You are my lucky charm... A faint smile appeared on his face before he began making his way to the second floor.

Since he had been given such an opportunity, and had a person who could help him, he would take all the benefits.

Where's the other one? Neraxis asked, and Evangeline immediately began calling out the direction.

In just a moment, he arrived at the second one; however, there was a bit of a problem.

The scrawny girl from earlier was right beside it, reaching directly for the book.

But before she could, he swooped in and acted as though he slipped, falling right onto her.

"Ugh, sorry!" Neraxis said clumsily. While blocking her vision with his body, he pocketed the book inside his sword tattoo.

Did you get it?

[Yep, you are a sly one.] Evangeline chuckled as he quickly returned his gaze to the girl below, reaching out his hand to pick her up.

In the meantime, he moved the nearby books and replaced them, reducing the chance of her finding out that he had switched them up.

"You sure are careless... Thank you," she said with a sigh before stretching out her hand to accept the help.

"Haha... yeah, sorry," Neraxis replied before slowly making his way to another area, while the girl returned her hand to the book she had been aiming for previously.

Or so she thought, but upon scanning it, she was only left with disappointment.

He inwardly snickered at the sight before finally arriving at a certain shelf, one that seemed a tad bit more pushed back than the others.

And without even wasting a second, Neraxis had Evangeline bring the book closer before grabbing it and putting it straight into his tattoo.

This really was a haul, wasn't it? He couldn't help but flash a smirk as he made his way to the first floor of the library and out of it.

There were a couple of individual training rooms made especially for the special class, and he decided to go to one of them.

According to the guidebook he had received, there was supposed to be a massive facility at the end of the hallway, and after walking for several minutes, he finally arrived.

It seemed like some sort of massive lab, with multiple white doors stretched across into the distance.

On the side was what looked like some sort of pod, and as he got closer, he was able to read what was written.

Virtual Assimilation Training? Neraxis read it in his mind before his eyes widened.

They finished the virtual reality machines!?

He spent a few moments admiring it before heading over to a white door. With the scan of his fingerprint, he entered inside.

Immediately, it displayed the local time, as well as the limit. It was exactly 30 minutes before he would be kicked out.

Taking out the two skill books, he looked at them—one was red while the other was blue.

And without wasting any time, he placed his hand on them, making them vanish.

But soon after, the red system notifications appeared.

[Skill Obtained | 10 Minutes Until Assimilation]

[Skill Obtained | 20 Minutes Until Assimilation]

Neraxis heaved out a sigh of relief and sat down.

It was time to wait.