“Hmm….Certainly not bad.”
I was now standing in the room I was assigned to. With the increase in my school ranking, I was now given a better room than my previous one.
If, at first, it was a simple room with only a small library and a table to study, now it was a lot bigger and fresher.
The facilities weren’t that different, but even it being more spacious alone made it better than everything.
‘But, that Trevor bastard. What is his goal?’
After Maya had left, I trained until evening. But something had been bothering me.
It was evident that Trevor was targeting me; I had confirmed it with my own eyes. But, the reason remained unknown.
‘What could possibly have made him target me?’
Now, was there a need to understand why he was targeting me, you might ask? Of course, there wasn’t. After all, the moment he decided to target me, he became my enemy.
And he was also a villain in the game, meaning he was already possibly inclined to be evil.
‘He even leaked his intent.’
Killing intent or murderous intent of a Hunter would form eventually. After all, those who had wandered on the border of death would become accustomed to it naturally.
However, even then, there were different types of murderous intents, and from those types, one would be able to tell what kind of person the owner was.
For instance, those who had fought with monsters all the time would have had a more savage intent since it represented the enemies and foes they fought and killed.
But at the same time, those who had fought and killed humans would have a different type of intent.
It wouldn’t be as savage but would be something more hideous.
‘I could feel the difference even on myself.’
The moment I had killed a human, be it demonic or not, I knew something had changed inside me. Such a change had never occurred whenever I fought with monsters or killed them.
‘Talk about hypocrisy.’
Just because they didn’t talk in the same way as we did or looked in the same way, none of us felt the guilt of taking a life. Of course, that didn’t mean what we did was wrong. This is a battle of survival, and nature never cares about how one feels.
In any case, at the end of the day, if a person kills humans, they change, and that becomes evident the more they do it.
You can argue that it takes a toll on their consciousness, or they lose their conscience slowly, but in the end, they change.
‘And I am certain that Trevor is on the latter side.’
From his intent and dark aura oozing from him alone, I could easily say he killed people before.
‘I even felt like I had sensed Demonic Energy from him.’
I wasn’t sure about that, but something inside me was telling me that Trevor was already associated with Demonic Humans.
‘If that is the case, should I just kill him?’
And, if he was associated with demons, that meant he needed to die.
‘But, it won’t be easy.’
He was inside the academy, and even though he wasn’t the first rank, he was still a senior with a high ranking.
That meant his stats were probably above the normal. Adding the fact of the possible negative results that would come after I killed him, it wouldn’t be a good idea right now.
‘I need proof.’
If I had just killed someone just because they decided to spread bad rumors about me and targeted me for some reason, then I would become a random murderer out there.
A murderer who killed others out of his own pleasure. If possible, I wanted to avoid that the most since that wouldn’t make me any different.
‘Let’s see what you are planning, Trevor Philips.’
What was going to happen with his life now depended on his future actions and my judgment.
‘In any case, now is not the time to focus on this guy.’
After all, with the curriculum changing, everything became a mess, and the future became a lot harder to predict, which meant one simple thing.
‘I need to be ready for any possible changes to the story.’
Just like that, I slowly left my room and made my way to the training grounds once again.
*******
SWOOSH! BOOM!
Inside the place reserved for the academy cadets who wanted to train against monsters, a young girl could be seen blasting a bunch of artificial monsters.
Irate flames danced at the tips of Irina’s fingers as she unleashed her anger upon the artificial monsters in the training room.
BOOM! SMASH!
The air crackled with the intensity of her magic, and each blast from her hands sent the mechanical creatures flying.
“Frustrating idiots!” Irina muttered through gritted teeth, her fiery hair swirling with each forceful motion. She attacked with a ferocity that seemed to defy the very nature of the training room, leaving behind a trail of scorched marks on the floor.
BOOM!
Another burst of flames erupted, reducing a group of monsters to smoldering debris. The training room echoed with the sounds of Irina’s relentless assault, the artificial monsters unable to withstand the fury of her magical onslaught.
“How dare you post something like that?”
SMASH!
From the start of the day, her mood had been a worse one. After the rankings were announced, she learned she stayed on the same rank, so she decided to blow some steam off while hanging around with others.
The last week had already been suffocating enough, and she needed to relax. But, while they were hanging around, she looked at her watch and checked the school forums.
And now she wished she hadn’t done that.
The comment on the school forums had struck a nerve, a raw nerve that had been building tension throughout the day.
In the dimly lit training room, her fiery hair swirled around her like a tempest as she continued to unleash her magical fury. The comparison to Seraphina Frostborne, her rival, felt like a personal affront. The shadows cast by her flames danced on the walls, mimicking the tumult within her.
The post had insinuated that Irina was somehow inferior because of her ranking and many other things. It was as if someone finally found the courage to speak badly about her and posted something like this.
“How dare you say I have a trash personality, huh?”
Another blast of flames erupted, disintegrating a group of artificial monsters, but it did little to assuage Irina’s anger.
“If I find you, I will show you what it means to have a trash personality.”
Of course, it wasn’t only about personality. The post also said how Seraphina was a lot more beautiful with her long silver hair or how lady-like she was, and Irina looked more like a little child throwing tantrums every time.
It was evident that the post was made so that it could anger Irina, and she knew that as well. But she still couldn’t help but get angry.
BOOM! BOOM!
As Irina continued her fiery onslaught on the artificial monsters, the door to the training room slid open.
WRR!
A figure entered, her presence exuding an air of serene elegance that contrasted sharply with the chaotic display of magic.
A lady with her long silver hair cascading down her back stepped into the room.
Her cold blue eyes surveyed the scene, taking in the remnants of destroyed monsters and the blazing inferno of Irina’s magic. Unlike the fiery redhead, the newcomer seemed untouched by the commotion, her expression stoic and composed.
“Quite the spectacle,” she remarked in a calm, measured tone, her gaze finally settling on Irina.
Her tranquil eyes locked on the fiery gaze, but a silent acknowledgment could be seen if looked at with caution.
Irina, in the midst of her blazing display, turned to face her rival. The flames that danced around her momentarily flickered as their eyes met. The contrast between their personalities was palpable—fire meeting ice.
“What brings you here, Seraphina?” Irina asked, her voice sharp with a mixture of anger and irritation. The tension in the room seemed to intensify as the two formidable mages of opposite elements faced each other in the training room.
Even though none of them were using any magic, the clash of their auras was enough to disturb the mana around them.
“Why wouldn’t I be here?” Seraphina responded calmly, her gaze unwavering. “We both have the right to use the training chamber, given our rankings. It’s not exclusive to fiery personalities alone.”
Irina scowled, her frustration evident. The mention of their rankings added another layer to the simmering tension. The training room, designated for the top-ranked students, symbolized the competitive atmosphere that surrounded them.
Seraphina continued, her voice maintaining its composure. “I come here to train, not to engage in pointless comparisons. You should focus on mastering your magic rather than being bothered by online provocations.”
“So, you have seen that post.”
“I have.”
“I thought you said you wouldn’t waste your time with posts made by a bunch of random students. What made you change your mind?”
“I was arrogant back then. In the tapestry of the every day, hidden within the threads of routine, there are moments that sparkle like gems, reminding us that even in the ordinary, extraordinary beauty can be found.”
Irina couldn’t help but narrow her eyes at Seraphina’s cryptic response. The contrast between their personalities seemed to extend even to their perspectives on the world.
“That post was just blabbering of a person with no future and drowning in the jealousy directed at people like us.” Seraphina continued, her voice unwavering. “Besides, I find it amusing to witness your fiery rage in person. It’s a rare sight.”
‘For some reason, this feels familiar.’
Irina didn’t interact with Seraphina that much. Even though they shared the same dormitory and trained, most of the time, they both preferred using elemental chambers. However, now that they were talking, Irina felt like she had been having similar conversations with someone.
‘Right, that guy talks like that, too.’
Remembering that this talk was going in the same direction, she felt like she knew what to say right now.
With her frustration bubbled to the surface, she couldn’t resist a sarcastic retort. “Oh, how fortunate for you to find amusement in my moments of ‘fiery rage.’ It must be such a delight for you, the epitome of composure and calmness.”
Seraphina’s response was an arched eyebrow, an almost imperceptible smirk playing on her lips. The room crackled with the underlying tension, the clash of their personalities manifesting in their verbal sparring.
“But do enlighten me, Seraphina,” Irina said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “What gems did you discover in the tapestry of your day that led you to grace this training room with your presence? Or was it merely a routine reminder of your unmatched skills?”
Seraphina shook her head ever so slightly as if dismissing a trivial thought. “I don’t need confirmations from a bunch of lesser beings. I’m well aware of my own value, and I don’t seek validation from online forums or meaningless comparisons.”
Irina’s eyes flashed with a mixture of irritation and defiance. “Well, forgive me for not reaching the heights of serenity and self-awareness that you have, Frostborne. Some of us are still navigating the tumultuous journey of personal growth.”
A subtle smirk curved Seraphina’s lips, and for a moment, her calm facade seemed to crack with the hint of amusement. “Indeed, Emberheart. The journey can be quite tumultuous, especially for those fueled by fire.”
Irina’s frustration reached its peak, and with a sharp exhale, she declared, “Well, I’m no longer in the mood for talking to ice queens.” The flames around her flared for a moment, accentuating her retort. “Enjoy your serene journey, Frostborne.”
Without waiting for a response, Irina turned on her heel, making her way toward the exit, leaving the girl alone in the training room.
CHUCKLE
A soft, melodic chuckle escaped Seraphina’s lips as she watched Irina’s retreating figure.
“Irina, the untamed flame,” she mused to herself, her eyes thoughtful. “Curious… what might have caused this subtle change in the usual inferno of my rival? Maybe I should also look for that.”