"Don't gemme that crap!!" He snapped, his grin widening.
The cafeteria, once packed with hungry cadets, now felt like a graveyard.
Amy covered her face in shame, while Arthur hunched over his tray, buried his head head in his food and avoided Zach's gaze all together.
' You traitors..' , Zach's eyes darted between them.
Zach couldn't even gather his thoughts, an intimidating presence loomed in front of him. He hadn't even seen the cadet moved he was there, like a ghost.
"The way you were staring.., you seem to be cooking up some twisted fantasy in that blank skull of yours" he said, he's words echoing around the quiet warehouse.
Zach bit his lip.
"Umm..., well you see. I don't know what you're talking about, so please can I finish my meal in peace".
Gasps ripped around the silent hall as Zach said these words.
"Oh so you want to get back to eating right..?". The boy clicked his tongue mockingly.
"Josh.. that's enough.." Rei from her seat spoke.
Josh ignored her teasing Zach even more.
"I see what you're doing" he leaned in, his white hair dangling near Zach's forehead.
"You want to get noticed by her.. don't lie..." He smirked.
Zach closed his eyes sighing.
'ill just ignore him... that seems fine.. right?'.
He grabbed his spoon and took a spoon full of rice.
*Bam*
"Oh my.."
"Is he okay..?"
"He shouldn't have ignored him.."
Zach gritted his teeth, dangling helplessly in the air.
He gagged.. clutching josh's hand.
"Not so nonchalant now huh..?" Josh manical grin surfaced.
The surrounding students watched, no one dared to interrupt as Zach wiggled suspended on the air.
"Arghh" Zach gritted his teeth.
"Damm josh is at the curious stage of the sky rank, there's no possible way that noobie could even survive."
Zach's vision blurred, he's eyes began rolling backwards.
Then—
A hand covered in black gloves shot out, grabbing josh's wrist in a death grip.
Josh turned to the side to be met with Rei's cold gaze.
He's smile slowly faded as a cracking sound was heard.
I told you.." Rei's purple eyes glowed with an ominous light, "That's enough..".
Josh winced as he let go of Zach, clutching his wrist.
He looked at the gagging cadet scoffing as he walked back to his seat.
Zach breathed heavily as he looked up at Rei who didn't even spar him a glance already walking back to her seat.
The rest of the day zipped past like light as the occasional chattering of students filled the halls once again.
Zach's appetite for the food had completely disappeared, he just stared at the rice, in his hands.
Amy had tried to confront Zach but he wasn't having any of that crap.
He walked out of the warehouse building early dragging his feet, he was tired, he had to go to his dorm room.
His boots crunched under the gravel as he made his way to his residence.
Taking out his key, he slid it into the lock and with a click the door opened.
"So now.. you've stolen Rei's keys and attempted to break into her dorm"
Zach face snapped, it was still almost 4pm in the afternoon. He really doesn't have time for this.
Zach sighed.
"Who's is it..?" A groups of students walked out of different corners blocking Zach both ways in the corridors.
Zach lazily glanced around... "Oppressors.." he muttered under his breath.
"If you're gonna beat me up get on with it" Zach started flatly.
The groups of second years approach him.
"it's not our fault".
one of them said cracking his fingers.
"You just offended someone at the top" he paused, "and now you will suffer, please understand..".
*****
The day darkened.. each student grabbed each of Zach's arms as another student pounded him.
Zach groaned, he felt his ribs had broken, his eyes cloudy, his stomach screamed in pain as he coughed up blood.
"I think that's enough", one of the students panted.
Zach just knelt down quitely.
"Why.." he muttered.
The student left him as his lifeless body plopped to the floor.
" Why do people oppress others..? " he whimpered.
Blood flowing from his mouth, bruises and cuts evident on his body as he laid on the floor in front of his room.
This place is unlike normal schools has no curfews, students can be around training at night, to improve.
Zach pushed himself off the ground, staggering, his finger bent in unusual directions.
His trembling hand held one of his finger, and with a twist, clicked it into place.
"Aargh..." he grimaced.
He repeated this a few times, each time more painful than the last.
His bloodied hands grabbed the door handle, opening it.
Countless people walking by saw him being man-handled, and non of them even offered him a second glance.
Zach was brought to the harsh reality. The weak endure whilst the strong create the justice system.
Zach quickly showered, wincing any time the cold water touched his wounds.
He change to his night pajamas and plopped on the soft bed making sure to lock the doors. His mind drifted as he dozed off.
****
[Aragoth evolution complete..]
[Installing imprint 1...]
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[0.07% completed]
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[12.09% complete]
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[30% complete]
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[40% complete]
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[60% complete]
[90% complete]
..[imprint 1 fully installed]
[Calculating....]
[Second imprint detected.... installing imprint two]
[10% complete]
.....
[20 complete]
.....
[30% complete ]
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[40% complete]
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[50% complete]
...
[70% complete]
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[90% complete]
[Imprint 2 successfully installed]
The markings on Zach palm seemed to spread, stretching from his palm to his shoulder.
Zach rolled on the sheets, rubbing his temple.
The door clicked and slowly creaked open as Rei walked in, tipping her toe as if not to cause any disturbance.
She quickly showered, and rised to change her cloths, he sat on her bed.
And her eyes drifted to the sleeping Zach.
She squinted, Zach's body was covered in bruises and cuts, she had told Josh not to retaliate but that didn't stop his henchmen from jumping the poor boy.
Zach rolled on the bed sticking his arm out.
Rei's eyes caught something interesting, markings, some in ancient language, and some depicted different little drawings.
She placed her hands on her lip as she examined further.
"Child at the.. end of existence.." she muttered. Studying the astryx language all these years had paid off.
She couldn't believe that a noobie had already reach the stage of curiosity, her herself she was at that stage, but at the sky rank.
"How how did you get that.." she wondered plopping on the bed as she drifted.