Unexpected interaction
"NINETY NINE!.. ONE hundred!.." After a several minutes, the sword course examinees were finally done with their hundred swings. They were panting, but their breathing wasn't rough, they all have monstrous stamina and a decent breathing technique.
"Next, you'll be doing the strength qualification test. It is done one by one, give some space in the center. It'll be quick, don't worry." Yahto says, and the examinees dispersed, making a wide circle. Yahto walked to the center, placing pieces of paper on the stone ground, making a small square shape. "The instructions are simple. Stand next to the papers, and do a downward swing with one hand. If you want to step up and do it, tell me your name first. Who would like to go first?"
As the sword course examinees started the strength qualification test, the ones in the sidelines were utterly disappointed. It was totally unexpected but, Professor Yahto was more simple than they had thought. From what they know, entrance examinations are arranged by the new professors themselves, it's always different each year. Judging by the calm yet jolly personality of their professor, they expected something that would at least excite them, to give them a memory while they're still inside the academy.
A few moments have passed since they have started, and like the professor said, it was quick, now they were already down to the last two. Rufus ran to the center to take a proper look, and after rushing in between the other examinees, he saw a familiar white hair.
'Oh, it's Hades' turn now!'
Hades stood there, by the center of the circle and next to the papers, holding a wooden sword on his right hand. Unlike other examinees who went on first, his calmness was seen on his face. It wasn't arrogance, he just knows he can do it, and that's what amuses Professor Yahto the most. "You may start." Given the cue, Hades raised his right arm, standing firmly and unfazed.
And with a single swing, the papers, even dusts that lied on the ground, flew around due to the strong wind caused by Hades. Shocked and not expecting such a strong swing from a mere commoner, the examinees were unprepared, and were forced to shut their eyes and cover their nose and mouth.
'What the— How is this so strong?!' Almost all the examinees, including Rufus, had the same thought. The commotion attracted the attention of the examinees on the sidelines.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. Someone's finally interesting?"
"Is it the Imperial Prince?"
"No, it's that commoner! That white-haired guy!"
"Let's check it out!"
The clouds of dust were quickly dissolved, but the others were still uncomfortable and coughing. Not long they glanced back up to the unbothered man in the center, Hades. Professor Yahto catching a piece of paper that flew in his direction, smiles in amusement.
"You're not planning on holding back even a little, are you, young man?" He asked and walked to the center. Hades smiles back at him, glancing at him with unreadable eyes.
'It was just a simple swing with half my original strength', Hades thought to himself. "It is a strength test, Professor." Hades says, Yahto somewhat felt awkward with Hades now that he had a direct interaction with him.
'I should've guessed it already but he's so unreadable that I can't tell if he's taking this seriously, or he's just calm, or he's not', he thought to himself.
"Okay, okay, up to the next one. Second Imperial Prince Silver Grimes, you're the last one." Just as the professor had called for the young man, Silver had already made its way to the center, later walking pass Hades. Their eyes met for a moment, and their gazes were filled with competitiveness. Both weren't backing down.
Hades walked to Rufus who was waving his arm up. "You've made quite a rival, Hades." Rufus stated with a grin, Hades smiles at his comment.
"I know, who would've thought that he'd be in the sword course? I thought the Imperial Family preferred spears over swords." He replied.
Rufus simply shrugged his shoulders as Hades stood next to him, facing the center. "I guess he wouldn't want to be compared to his older brother, the Imperial Crown Prince. I hear he's quite skilled and an unrivaled spearman here in our kingdom." Hades fell silent for a moment at the mention of such person.
"But isn't the crown prince an alumnus of science and engineering department?" Hades asked and Rufus nodded.
"He is, but I heard he still learned using the spear from the Emperor."
"You may start." Hearing the voice of their professor, Hades and Rufus shifted their attention towards the center. The examinees subconsciously stepped back, making a wider circle. Witnessing such motion, Rufus contained his laugh.
'Oh gods, they're so obvious!' He thought. He could tell that they simply can't underestimate the Imperial Prince after what happened with the white haired commoner, Hades.
With permission, Silver raised his arm, and without another second wasted, he swings it down with full strength. The wind blew in all directions with little dust, as Hades mostly took care of everything. But they could tell that it was a stronger swing than Hades'.
'Hoh..? Not bad, that swing would be two-third my full strength', he thought to himself, indifferent. Rufus saw Hades' reaction and somewhat took a guess.
'If he's not impressed by this, then he definitely did not use his full strength earlier', Rufus thought on his own and sighs. Hades is definitely a suspicious individual, Rufus wonders why he can't part from him.
Just after the clouds of dust were cleared, Silver glanced to the direction of Hades, and eventually, their eyes met again. Although his expression was completely stoic, Silver's gaze were filled with competitiveness, and Hades simply smiles back. Rufus was speechless, because of how brave a commoner Hades is to look into an Imperial Prince's burning gaze, and simply smile.
Hades looked as if he was enjoying it too.
'Good. Feel threatened by me. That's the only way for you to not hold back against me…' is what Hades thought to himself. Since a peaceful academy life is beyond his reach to begin with, he should enjoy as much as he can. He thinks that having a rival won't be so bad, it'll make things exciting for him too.
Yahto stares at the Imperial Prince and the peculiar commoner. 'Both have great foundation and extreme strength, and already unusual, they would make great rivals', Yahto thought and grinned.
"Okay, okay. May I have your attention now, examinees? Let's proceed with the last qualification test for the sword course, the skill qualification test." Yahto turned away and walked back to the front, placing his papers aside and taking one wooden sword.
Yahto faced the sword course examinees with a wide smile. "By tens and without holding back, come at me." It was a bold statement that undeniably thrilled the examinees, but they looked somewhat reluctant. Although, that didn't seem to be the case for some examinees.
Silver immediately rushed in between the examinees to Yahto's direction, Hades was only a second late and was the farthest from Yahto. Granted, Yahto blocked Silver's first attack and was surprised by the impact of the strike. Since he let his guard down, he was pushed back until he felt the stage behind him.
What confused him is that Silver did not attacked again, but Yahto got his answer the next second. His eyes soon caught Hades rushing pass Silver with a calm expression.
'Hah! These brats seriously…!' Yahto shivered, feeling the adrenaline rush through his veins as he dodged Hades' attack and ran to the side. He clearly saw how competitive these two were with each other, but for the sake of the test, they started working together.
'It's annoying how composed they are', Rufus thought to himself as he stepped away from the grounds to the sidelines once again. Other examinees also stepped back, not intending to interfere with their battle, but like Yahto had said, they must attack by tens. Thus, a few players stepped in and tried as well…
…until all of them became exhausted.
Aside from a handful of examinees who were panting as if they had just ran a in a fifteen kilometer distance, all the others were knocked on their feet and are barely conscious enough to lift their own body up. Even the obvious stars, Hades and Silver, halted from attacking to catch their breath for a moment. Yahto wasn't unharmed, he had a few scratches from lucky hits because there are ten men trying to land a hit on him and among those ten are two who basically have the indifferent killing intent he's ever felt.
Although despite that, he didn't seem to look at least a bit tired, he was even indifferent.
"After taking on ten men simultaneously, he doesn't even look exhausted. What a monster." Hades commented as he panted, his hands holding on his wooden sword like a cane for support. Yahto was like the replica on his adoptive father, Grand Duke Novak. Hades actually felt nostalgic as he clashed swords with Yahto. The weight of the impact, his posture… everything about Yahto's fighting style somewhat reminded Hades of the Grand Duke.
"Tell me about it..." said Silver as he wiped his sweat off his chin. Hades became surprised at Silver talking back to him, and Silver noticed his reaction. "What, did you think I can't talk?" He arched a brow at him as he asked. Hades straightened his posture, stretching his arms up.
"No, it was just unexpected that you'd talk to me of all people." Hades responded.
Silver gave him a confused gaze. "Why not? Us conversing is unavoidable when we become classmates anyway." He says, and Hades stared at him. 'I heard he was an apathetic one who didn't like talking to others excluding his younger twin sister', he thought to himself and found himself smiling.
'For a member of the Imperial Family, he's not bad.'