1 Chapter 1
Curio City's second academy
A student was sitting alone at their desk while reading a book. If he stood up he'd reach around 5'11, though he was quite skinny only seeming to be around 140 pounds. He had a head full of silver hair with black streaks of hair hidden in between. He had a pair of black almond shaped eyes that were half opened as he flipped through the book in his hands.The book in his hands was titled "Smithing for beginners" a book meant for those who were interested in the smithing profession or those that had the class of a blacksmith.
SMACK
A loud smack came from his desk jolted him from his half-awake state and he looked at the person that had just slapped his desk. The person standing there had his hand on the desk while wearing a scowl. He was at least 6'5 and was quite muscular.The top of his head supported fiery red hair while the sides and back were shaved, he had a pair of piercing vulture like eyes that were not helped by the scowl on his face currently. His name was Rayner Bourne, the leader of the school delinquents.
"Oi Rougue, didn't I tell you to get me some sandwiches from the cafeteria?"
Rougue stared at Rayner for a few seconds before getting up from his seat, placing his book down and staring at Rayner again. Rayner tensed up for a few seconds but then relaxed again.
'What could he do to me? He doesn't even seem like he could fight.'
"Did you? It seems I forgot, I'll go get them now."
Ryner didn't respond verbally but instead snorted at him and kicked him out of the classroom. Rougue waited until the door closed behind before getting up and brushing himself off and walling calmly down the illuminated hallways.
'Damn Ryner, just you wait until the ceremony then I'll show you who beats who'
The ceremony. It was something that was founded over three hundred years ago. One would enter a room with a statue of the God of Creation, Velurez. They would then kneel and be imparted with a class and skill that they were destined with. The most powerful class that has been seen so far has been the [Hero] class, it was a warrior class that had many support skills from other classes in it. This was class that every boy in his adolescence dreamed of, to be Hero and slay monsters and demons. Of course Rougue and Ryner were also included in there.
After walking for a few minutes and heading down a flight of stairs he arrived at the cafeteria in which he bought a total of 4 sandwiches. When he returned to the class he saw Ryner sitting in his chair with his feet on his desk. He clenched the hand that didn't carry the sandwiches and then slowly released it, after which he walked up to Ryner.
"I-I got the sandwiches for you."
Rougue began to stutter and slightly wobbled his legs after approaching Ryner. Of course all of this was him acting, so as to appease Ryner and inflate his ego.
Ryner snorted once again and snatched the bag out of his hands. He then opened it and began to eat the sandwiches within. Rougue stared at him for a few moments and then began to speak.
"R-Ryner, y-you're in my s-seat."
"Hm? Did you grow a stutter since the last time I saw you?"
"N-No!"
"Really? 'Cause it sure does seem like it."
Ryner rose from his seat and loomed over Rougue who was a good head shorter than him.
"Y'know, I really don't like it when people try to suck up to me by acting scared."
'Seems like he's got some brains then and not just muscles'
Rougue stopped shaking and then stood tall while facing Ryner. Meanwhile, the other students in his class gathered around them seemingly expecting a fight to happen.
Knock,Knock,Knock
Soft knocking sounds came from the door and everyone who was standing up instantly ran to their seats and then sat down Ryner included. The only one left standing was Rougue. The door slowly opened and man that was as big as a gorilla appeared. He sat at a solid 7'6 and had a very robust and muscular appearance. He had a sharp pair of eyes that sank into his skull slightly, and he had hair, but it seemed to only grow on the sides of his head and chin. He was Warwick Penton, the instructor of the combat class.
After entering the room he slowly walked to the podium that was at the front of the classroom and scanned the classroom. He stopped after noticing that Rougue was still standing. He grinned and then took a breath.
"STUDENT ROUGUE GORLAN, WHY AREN'T YOU IN YOUR SEAT?"
Everyone the class covered their ears and closed their eyes. This was Warwicks skill <Sonic Scream>, it allowed the user to make anything they say into a loud scream that could cause physical damage as well as destroy ones eardrums. Of course he toned the level of skill considerably otherwise the 15 year olds in this class wouldn't be here anymore and would instead be in a grave somewhere.
After recovering from the scream Rougue once again stood straight and then began speaking.
"I wasn't in my seat because I was just returning from the bathroom Instructor Warwick."
The instructor grinned once again. He closely scanned the students once again, he noticed that there was a sandwich package on Rougues desk and that were crumbs left around Ryners mouth. His grin extended even further than it did before. He began to speak once again but didn't use his skill this time.
"Student Rougue, why is there still food left on your desk? I think the lunch period gives you plenty of time to eat."
Rougue glared at Ryner and then a thought appeared in his mind. He grinned and responded.
"Instructor Warwick, it wasn't that I was eating at my desk, but rather it was another student."
"Oh?"
Th instructor lifted a brow and continued to grin.
"In fact I haven't even eaten this entire period. The reason for this is because of fellow student Ryner."
"Continue."
Ryner was glaring daggers at Rougue. If a stare could kill just Ryner could have killed him a hundred times. He grinned even more and responded once again.
"I went to the cafeteria to buy food but who knew that once I returned, fellow student Ryner would be sitting at my desk. Not only was he sitting at my desk but proceeded to grab the food I had bought for myself and then ate for himself. When i returned from the cafeteria there wasn't much time left to go back and grab anymore food."
The instructor listened to his explanation and after he finished the instructor began to laugh. After he finished laughing he pointed a Ryner and the Rougue.
"you two will join after school for some Special Training"
Everyone involuntarily shivered at the thought of Instructor Warwicks special training. It couldn't even be called training, it was simply torture. He would make you do intense exercises until you either couldn't continue or simply lost consciousness.
Ryner and Rougue both paled and glared at each other. Rougue cleaned his desk off and sat down. He listened to the instructor give his lesson on the fundamentals of combat. Evading, Blocking, Feints, Parrying, Etc. these were all covered in the basics. They had all learned these hundreds of times before but no one dared to sleep in Instructor Warwicks class. The reason for this is because the last time someone did they were "Trained" by the Instructor, after the "training" they were hospitalized for a few days.
The class slowly passed by and eventually ended. This was their last class of the day, Rougue quickly collected his books and then proceeded to leave the classroom. Before he could actually leave an arm shot across the doorway "blocking" his way and of course, it was Ryner.
Ryner opened his mouth but before he could say anything a surprising scene occurred. Rougue simply walked under the arm "blocking"the doorway and went down the hall way before heading down a flight of stairs. A commotion instantly started among the students who ere still in the class.
"Did you just see that?"
"He completely ignored Ryner!"
Accompanied by their claims were a few people laughing. Ryner began to shake furiously and then looked at the people in the class with rage in his eyes. Everyone who was talking about what happened and those who ere laughing all shut up and backed away slowly.
Ryner took a few deep breaths and then calmed himself. He took his bag and walked out of the classroom. The students who were once silenced began to talk and laugh again.
'Wait until the Ceremony Rougue, I will absolutely crush you!'
Since school just ended Rougue had to go to the "Training" that instructor Warwick had given him. He sluggishly walked towards the gym building and soon found Instructor there with Ryner. Ryner saw Rougue and once again glared at him.
"Since your both here now, let's do some training!"
The training consisted of:
Running 5 miles as a warm up
100 push ups
100 sit ups
100 pull ups
Squat 10 sets of 10 reps of at least 100 pounds
Bench press 10 sets of 10 reps of at least 100 pounds
Run another 5 miles
By the end of the training both of them were completely exhausted and could barely breath without their bodies hurting. Meanwhile, the Instructor was barely even sweating. He began to laugh as he saw the state of the two.
"Haha! You two did excellent!"
'Excellent my ass!'
Both Ryner and Rougue were both exhausted mentally and physically. Ryner was the first to recover and go home first. Rougue recovered a few minutes after him and then began to leave. However before he could the instructor blocked his path.
'How many people are going to block my path today?'
"Is there something you need Instructor?"
The instructor grinned and placed his hand on Rougues shoulder before speaking.
"Student Rougue would you like to join me in my training for the next few months?"
"What?"
Rougue stood there confused about why he was asked such a question.
"Why me? Wouldn't Ryner be better?"
"Haha! Student Rougue, do you think I honestly have no idea that the school has delinquents?"
"I would rather teach someone like you who barely has any stamina than someone who just use their strength to bully those weaker than themselves!"
The instructor seemed proud of what he just said while Rougue stood with eyes wide at the instructors statement.
"Are you sure you'd train me?"
"But of course! but don't think it will be easy."
"I'll join you then!"
One reason why Rougue wasn't even the slightest suspicious was because the trainer was an upright and honest man that would almost always speak his mind.
The other reason he accepted the instructors training was because he was simply too weak. He could barely even lift a hundred pounds, not to mention the hundred pound bench press that he had to put down to 75 just to barely scrape by.
After the Instructor patted his shoulder while laughing a few times he sent Rougue on his way. Rougue eventually reached his home around 10:30 PM if you could even call it a home. It was worn down wooden building with a structure jutting off the side of it, the house itself was rotting in many areas and seemed like it would collapse at any moment, while the structure on the side was made out of multiple pieces of sheet metal being bolted together.
He opened the door to the worn down house and immediately fell onto a worn out mattress. Although most people wouldn't even consider sitting on it this was currently the most comfortable thing he had done all day. His eyes slowly closed as he fell asleep.
