Zain and Ria (4)

It was the end of winter and the beginning of spring, and the air smelled of blooming flowers and melting snow. Due to the drastic changes in Earth's ecosystem, many flowers went extinct. However, through the dedicated efforts of scientists and botanists, several species were saved and nurtured back to life.

Ria sat at her desk, waiting for class to begin. Her seat was at the back of the classroom, near the window, offering the best view of the campus garden. She gazed at the vibrant flowers as they slowly bloomed under the warm rays of the sun.

As always, people occasionally passed by to greet her, though she barely glanced at most of them. Her responses were curt, typically consisting of a polite but detached acknowledgment.

While Ria's eyes were fixed on the flowers, a boy entered the classroom. He was tall and dressed in a black uniform, its intricate embroidery matching the design of Ria's own. A white badge with the letter A prominently displayed on it was pinned to his chest. Behind him, a small entourage of upper-class students followed, their movements synchronized as if rehearsed.

The boy's well-defined physique and commanding presence exuded charisma that seemed to effortlessly charm both boys and girls alike. His confident stride brought him to Ria's desk, where he stopped and cleared his throat.

Ria, however, paid no attention to his attempt to draw her focus.

"Excuse me, Lady Ria," he said, his voice firm yet courteous.

Slowly, Ria turned her head, her expression as cold and detached as always. Her demeanor belied her age—Ria was only fourteen, though she appeared far more composed and mature in public.

"I am Seth of Clan Blackstone. I am an A-rank and a second-year student," he introduced himself formally, his gaze fixed intently on her.

Ria studied him for a few moments before replying in her usual calm tone, "How may I help you, Seth of Clan Blackstone?"

Seth maintained eye contact, his confidence unwavering. "My lady, I would like to go on a date with you."

His words sent a wave of shock through the room. The students, who had been pretending to focus on their own tasks, were now blatantly eavesdropping.

Ria remained silent, her piercing gaze locked on Seth. After what felt like an eternity of tension, she finally spoke.

"I will let you know," she said simply.

Seth smiled, bowing slightly. "I will be waiting, then."

As he turned and walked away, he thought to himself, Ria, I will wait as long as you want, because you are simply too beautiful.

The classroom erupted in hushed whispers as soon as he left. The students were stunned by what they had just witnessed. The heir of a great clan had been told to wait for a date by another scion of equal status.

Clan Blackstone was the third most powerful clan in the world. They governed Europe and were renowned for producing the finest equipment for combating monsters. In this ravaged world, where many nations had fallen, the few remaining relied on Rankers to keep the monstrous threats at bay. Most Rankers emerged from either the Scavenger Association or the powerful clans. Even so, the clans required the Scavenger Association's verification to officially induct new Rankers.

Among the clans, Clan Bing stood at the pinnacle of power, safeguarding all of Asia. With over ten thousand Rankers under its banner, it boasted the highest population of S-rank humans. Clan Bing also held the title of the world's leading producer of naturally grown food, a rare commodity in a world where most soil was barren. Asia's fertile lands were a stark contrast to the devastated landscapes of other continents.

Ria sighed softly, her gaze returning to the garden. Thoughts of home crept into her mind as she wondered whether the roses she had planted were blooming as beautifully as those in the garden.

The shrill sound of the siren signaling the start of class interrupted her thoughts, and the teacher walked in.

He was a tall man dressed in cowboy attire, complete with a pair of revolvers holstered on his belt. His name was Mr. Slinger, and his presence commanded attention.

"Good morning, class," Mr. Slinger greeted with a wide smile. "Spring is here, and that means field training has officially begun. As Rankers, you'll be assigned to various missions. Not all of them will involve lab work or transcribing lost information. Some of these missions will test your survival skills in real-world conditions."

He paused, scanning the room to ensure he had everyone's attention.

"Take note: during this year, you will be assigned field missions that will contribute to your annual scores. Some missions will be safe, requiring you to exterminate monsters. Others will be dangerous, where your objective will be to retrieve your target and retreat immediately. Understood?"

The students responded with a collective, "Yes, sir!"

Mr. Slinger grinned. "Good. Let's get started."