Arthur Reiss

Sitting alone as he waited on the old rustic wooden bench, the young man with pale skin and jaded eyes wearing a large smile wore a strangely unique outfit. He drank from a metal bottle as he enjoyed a morning snack. Unusually happy as he was, his unique appearance stood out, as many passersby smiled at his sight.

A white uniform, with the only outstanding decoration being the golden outlines around the shoulders and arms, and a golden sword entrusted in an insignia but nevertheless it established status.

No person would ever dare laugh at a child wearing such clothes.

After all, they represented an Aspect that would rise in the future.

The child, however, didn't mind the attention as he slowly enjoyed his morning breakfast. At the end of the day, this was his first day of high school.

"So sweet. I told my sister that she should stop adding so much sugar to her food."

Giving a disgusted look at the overly sweet food, the child nevertheless continued to eat. Sweet or not, it was at the end of the day, made by his sister whom he greatly loved.

Waiting patiently as he looked around, the child had a saddened look watching the nature surrounding him, as he knew that this was going to be a sight he wouldn't see for much longer. Not long after that, a bus arrived, getting inside, the child made his way to the back, where he sat as he reminisced about the past.

Following the empty bus, the fauna outside soon disappeared as futuristic technology took over the land. The child was saddened but he didn't really mind.

Passengers entered and left, and the child only worried as he wonder if he would make it, in time for his big day.

The journey went on, and it no time the bus drove through a shabby place, to call it a slum would be an understatement. Garbarge was found all over the area, and the homeless ran the streets, begging for anything they could get. It was a grim sight.

Catching the attention of the child, was someone wearing the same uniform as him. Surprised at the sight, the child jumped and asked, "Do you want to sit with me?". Although an odd request, especially on the empty bus, the other child didn't mind as he sat next to him without any bother.

"Hello, I'm Arthur Reiss"

"Ah, yeah, I'm Jack...Jack Whitlock"

Smiling as he head the name, the contrast between the two children couldn't be any different.

"I see, then Jack. Do you mind if we talk for a bit, I'm still nervous about the academy."

Jack, seeing as there was no harm in having a conversation, accepted the friendly request.

"I don't think, you really need to be nervous, students that enter the Aspect division of the Holy Academy don't even need to take a test."

"Haha, that might be so. But I wonder if I will do good enough and become an outstanding knight"

"...All the knights really do in reality, is go around doing dungeons and nothing more, even if all you can do is swing a sword around, as long as you hit something, it will be enough."

Arthur looked surprised at the fact, that Jack seemed to think so little of the knights. After all, for him, the knights were the heroes of humanity, standing at the top as they slayed all kinds of monsters and demons.

Being dazed at Jack's response, Arthur noticed that Jack had quickly moved on from the previous conversation, as he activated his hologram and started to read something while enjoying some canned coffee, and a cup of noodles that were still boiling hot.

"What are you reading?"

"...Some online novels."

"Online novels?"

"Yeah, they are surprisingly entertaining, I have been reading them for almost a year now."

*

The long ride, took a toll on Arthur's body, as he was not used to such long rides.

Arriving at the bus terminal station of the capital, Arthur followed Jack around, almost as if he was his guide.

Unlike his expectations, however, Jack seemed to be going in the opposite direction of the academy. Arthur was about to question Jack but the hunk of a car, interrupted his attempt. The black car window soon lowered itself, revealing a beautiful woman wearing some baggy pants and a buttoned-up shirt.

"Omg, you already made a friend? I thought this was going to be impossible."

Entering the car, Jack told Arthur to hurry as he stood idly around.

"So what's your friend's name, Jack?"

"Arthur Reiss"

Immediately stopping the car, in the middle of the road, both Jack and Arthur smacked their heads onto the front seat. Olivia, then immediately took a better look at the child. Blonde hair, and jade-colored eyes.

"You are that SS+ kid, aren't you?"

"Eh? Isn't that supposed to be classified?"

Due to Olivia's loose mouth, a whole ordeal happened in the car, as Arthur wondered if he was in danger, while Olivia tried her best to calm down the situation. All of this, while Jack read his novel in peace.

After the incident, the three of them started to go on their merry way, arriving in front of a long cue of cars trying to enter a fenced area in the middle of the capital.

Due to Olivia's status as an advisor, however, she easily skipped through the line. Finally making it inside of what seemed to be a large garden.

Looking ahead, Arthur was quickly mind-blown at the sheer size of the place. To say that a whole town could fit in this place wouldn't be a lie.

Jack who already knew the layout beforehand, was also quite surprised at the sheer size.

The academy consisted of three main buildings. The Aspect Hall, the Research Hall, and the Academic Hall.

Every single building came equipped with its own facilities. All of them possessed a dormitory to accommodate all of the students from each of the five grades. All of them also had their own club rooms and research areas for each grade. Every single one also has its own indoor gyms, outdoor fields, and other facilities for conditioning.

However, to keep the students of different divisions separated, the Holy Academy has been divided into three locations split apart by walls and guards, only allowing the conjunction of students for special events.

And even more surprising for its size, was the fact that middle school and high school were both separated.

The group then made their way onto the Aspect side of the academy, parking in Olivia's designated spot which she continuously bragged about as they were coming inside.

Stopping Jack before he left, Olivia decided to have a conversation with him beforehand.

"What is it?"

"Keep an eye on that kid, he will be targeted by many, but you can already see his cowardly and naive nature. Show him some maturity, like the bastard you are."

She said, with a slight jealousy inside her voice.

"...Is it a request by the headmaster?"

"Yes, in fact, he wants you to act as a guardian, I will send you the details later."

Not caring about the situation any longer, Jack pondered and developed an annoyed expression in seconds.

"...This wasn't a part of the deal."

"Just stay close to the S rankers, please"

Leaving without responding to Olivia's pleas, Jack met up with Arthur who waited at the front of the hall to the side of some glass doors. Making their way inside, they were guided by some teachers through a fancy hallway.

"How many students do you think there will be in this year?"

"Around two hundred"

"Wow, that's a lot."

The two of them continued following the teacher but Jack noticed the fact that they had already gone past the room that had been labeled as the auditorium. Instead, they continued until they reached a particular room with no signs labeling what was inside.

"Can I see your IDs please?"

Doing as asked, both Jack and Arthur showed their IDs to the teacher.

"I see, so Arthur Reiss an S ranker, and Jack an A+ Ranker...Then this should be your room, please go inside."

Before going inside, however, the man placed a badge on both Jack's and Arthur's uniforms, before finally opening the door for them. Jack and Arthur both slowly made their way inside, however unlike what they expected the room didn't seem to be welcoming them at all.

Entering the room, all eyes of those inside glared at them as both Jack and Arthur started to look around.

A large rectangular room, with nothing but white walls, with the exception of multiple racks of weapons placed all throughout the walls. Everyone inside was also wearing the unique blue badge, with many of the holding onto their weapons with the exception of a few.

'Magicians, huh?'

Wasting no time, Jack got a hold of two one-handed axes that were laying around, as Arthur on the other hand got a hold of a spear.

Seeing as how the others seemed to be waiting around, Jack decided to move onto an empty corner, as he waited for something to start. Instantly after Jack had taken a seat on the ground, a large screen appeared at the center of the room.

[Hello, hello, I am headmaster William, as many of you may know.]

The room started to murmur in surprise as many gasped at the sight of the old man, but Jack already knew him quite well, as he immediately prepared himself for combat.

[Skipping over the boring pleasantries, I believe many of you are confused as to what exactly is happening right now. So I should explain.]