18. Why is she here

Time had passed...

Zach walked along the across the halls Hands in his pocket.

He found himself getting used to the routine—even if it sucked nowadays.

He walked across the premises. Couldn't actually believe he'll be here for five whole years.

His boots crunched lightly against the gravel path.

Evey routine started just before the sun was fully up, the horns in each door would blast through the dorms like a punch to the face.

Zach could still remember the grueling feeling, his eardrums undergo thorough drills every morning.

He alone stayed in his four bunk dorm although he heard news that his roommates were arriving today.

He sighed, taking a corner in an alleyway. Then stopped.

"I think this is private enough.." he sighed, stretching out his hand.

"Aragot- Arghh" he groaned.

A blinding pain shot through his chest, were the knight had stabbed him.. .

[Soul weapon can't be summoned]

The golden words appeared.

He didn't quite know the reson but the blade doesn't seem to respond to his call anymore

Ever since that night, Zach couldn't summon the rainbow sword. He didn't know why but he thinks it was directly tied to the energy he absorbed from that unknown source at the last second.

But besides that his body brimmed with energy.

He felt stronger.

Zach clenched his fist, hitting a brick wall besides him.

His hand collided with the brick with a loud thud, cracks formed and Zach's knuckles didn't hurt at all.

Zach looked at his palm.

His pale skin had a slightly red bump where he hit the wall, apart from that he was fine.

"Hey punk.."

Zach heard a voice behind him. He turned to see two students walking towards him. This alleyway was quite isolated so no one would come here possibly by chance.

The two seniors both had two stars on their breat pocket, signalling that they were second years. Second years usually reside in their dorm, which Zach heard was far away from here.

What are these two hoodlum up too cornering him like this.

"Hello.. ?" Zach smiled, trying to play it cool as he stretched out his hand for a hand shake.

One of them looked at Zach's hand and scoffed.

"You think you're better than us kid..?".

The taller of the two, a thick set guy with a shaven head and a crooked nose smacked Zach's hand aside.

'oh my god another... guy who just wants to prove himself, I'm sick and tired of this...' Zach internally rilled his eyes still keeping a smile on the outside.

The shorter one with curlys hair and a nasty grin stepped forward into Zach's personal space.

"You are on the second years floor.." he said in a low tone.

Zach blinked, forcing a smile, "Really..?, I didn't know.. well I guess I'll get going".

Zach tried to take a detour but the tall baldy blocked him.

"I just got here man...".

Zach tried to appeal..

"I don't even know your names yet.. seriously I just came out for some air..' he said with a neutral tone.

"Too bad kid.." the bald one said cracking his fist.

"You should've paid more attention to the road..".

"Here we go again..."

Bam.*

A punch landed on Zach abdomen as he curled up. Wincing in pain.

The two seniors used their boots to pommel Zach to the floor the rough beneath of the boots scraping his.skin leaving small cuts that bled out.

One picked Zach up by the hair, Zach gritted his teeth, preparimg for impact as the duo laughed.

A punch landed on his face, another landed on his rib.

Zach crouched, groaning.

"Come on are you just gonna take the beating..." the curly haired grinned..

"Fight back dammit.." a kick to Zach stomach sent him tumbling down the alley in a large thud.

Zach remembered... that night in the hospital.

He was briefed of everything that happened.

If Zach hadn't fought those bandits, haruki wouldn't have come to the police station to pick him up, leading to him not being in that traffic the moment the rift opened, and if he had not been in the traffic, the news wouldn't have caught a glimpse of his figure allowing the paladins to find him.

HARUKI was right..

Zach was a tyrant that oppress at any given chance he gets...

So Zach wanted to change that.

"Ahh.. you're no fun.." the curly haired senior sighed in defeat, signalling for the bald brute to go.

Zach laid on the floor in the alleyway, his skin covered by bruises and cuts, his eyes swollen.

He carefully stood up, dusting all the debris off his uniform.

"Arrogant pricks.." he cursed.

Zach had tried to fight a senior once...

In the exact same condition as him.

Long story short he lack of an astra was the losing factor of that fight.

No matter how strong he was, he's soul weapon was the chef cornerstone in any fight what so ever.

Zach walked sluggishly through the alley, he spotted a white line in the distance, signalling the entrance to the second years territory.

He grimaced...

Those bastards lied about him trespassing, he wasn't even anywhere near the second years turf but they still picked on him.

Zach couldn't understand..

Was it to feel good?

To feel superior?

What benefits does watching other people suffer give?..

Zach would never understand the reason behind evil.

Classes were all done and dusted for today and all he had to do was to just rest in his dorm.

Some students pointed at him as he walked by, some giggled.

"Oh that's right.."

The inspector.had told Zach to change into his cadet uniform in front of the students.

They all called him one name now.

"Jolly freak.. "

Well.. the name doesn't sound too bad apart from the fact that it actually is.

Unfortunately Zach was wearing boxer shorts with the drawing of a kids tv show, which was the reason for this name.

"This is my second week in this academy, and I've been beaten and embarrassed more times than I can count.." Zach sighed shakund his head.

He got to a dorm, pulling out the key from his pocket and inserted it in the key whole. With a satisfying click the door opened.

The interior wast anything fancy

Just a cupboard, and a lamp in the middle of the room.

Two bunk bed lay on each corners and a small window above the lamp

The sound of running water filled the room as Zach eyes widened.

"Oh sh*t, did I leave the shower on?" Zach rushed to the bathroom and flughed the bathroom door wide open.

A sweet fragrance wafted past his nose—sweet and unfamiliar.

Mist surrounding the bath making it a bit difficult for Zach to see clearly.

He looked closer squinting.

His swollen eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as his brain caught on with what his eyes was seeing.

Smooth fair skin, curvy figure, water cascading down her smothe and jade like skin as her jet black hair stuck to her back.

Her purple eyes shot at the bathroom door towards Zach.

She too squinted her eyes and flinched as her brain finally caught on to what she was seeing, Zach was staring at her gritti.g his teeth.

"I-I.." words weren't able to come out.

He hurriedly jammed the door in front to of him.

Eyes wide.

"What the hell is she doing here..?"