1 The weird encounter

"Finn, you wanna hit up the arcade?" Hill, a young man with a mop of black hair and a slightly rotund figure, asked with a grin.

"Yeah, why not? It's the last day of our teenage years, after all. Let's make it count," Finn replied with a chuckle, already feeling the excitement building up within him.

Finn, a young man with jet-black hair and deep, obsidian eyes, concluded his farewells with his classmates, a warm smile gracing his lips.

As he slung his backpack over his shoulder and stepped out of the classroom, he couldn't help but cast a lingering glance back, feeling a twinge of nostalgia tugging at his heartstrings.

In this very school, Finn had endured his share of torment—bullying, harassment, and experiences he wished to erase from memory. As he reflected on his past, Finn couldn't help but feel a wave of gratitude wash over him for the peace his third year had provided from the trials of the previous ones

"Despite being just an average guy, I was fortunate to have classmates like them," Finn mused, his thoughts tinged with gratitude. "They never judged me for my ordinary appearance or my simple tastes in modern trends. I'm grateful that my third year of high school turned out to be much better than the second."

With a subtle shimmer of emotion in his eyes, Finn began to tread the familiar corridors, each step carrying him further away from the memories he had made.

Finn and his friends, whom he had met on the way, arrived at the arcade near the school, immersing themselves in games with unbridled enthusiasm as if there were no tomorrow.

As the evening progressed and curfew approached, the boys, having secured prior permission from their parents, continued their gaming spree without concern for the passing time. Yet, as the clock neared 8:30 PM, Finn, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling upon him, excused himself from the group and made his way to the arcade restroom to freshen up.

Intent on preserving the memory of his best year in high school, Finn approached the restroom, only to be intercepted by an elderly man, seemingly in his seventies, who called out to him with a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Hey, kid!" the old man's voice echoed in the arcade.

Finn turned to face the unexpected stranger, his guard instinctively raised by years of cautious interactions with unfamiliar individuals.

"Yes?" Finn replied, his tone tinged with wariness.

The old man's demeanor softened as he explained, "Are you sure you want to go in there?"

Finn's brow furrowed in confusion, unsure of the old man's intentions. Was he warning Finn about some illicit activity occurring in the restroom?

"Why do you ask?" Finn inquired cautiously.

With a chuckle, the old man reassured him, "Don't worry, there's nothing shady happening in there. I simply wanted to strike up a conversation with the younger generation."

Finn sighed inwardly, his skepticism momentarily mollified by the old man's explanation. However, his unease returned when the old man's tone shifted, his expression darkening with a cryptic warning.

"I suggest you proceed with caution," the old man advised solemnly. "The journey ahead of you is anything but ordinary. Stay low and avoid meddling in the natural course of events."

Finn was taken aback by the sudden change in tone, his mind racing with disbelief and uncertainty. Before he could respond, he glanced away momentarily, only to find the old man had vanished without a trace.

"What the heck was that?" Finn muttered to himself, rubbing his temples in frustration. The encounter had only added to the stress weighing heavily on his shoulders as he didn't get suufficient sleep due to the finished final exams.

"Whatever," Finn thought to himself as he entered the restroom, dismissing the encounter with the old man as just another addition to his growing collection of peculiar experiences with elderly strangers.

As he cautiously pushed open the rusted door and stepped inside, Finn scanned the empty restroom, ensuring he was alone. Satisfied, he approached the wash basin and met his reflection in the mirror with a skeptical gaze.

"What the hell was that old man spouting?" Finn muttered to himself, shaking his head in disbelief.

Deciding to put the encounter behind him, Finn resolved to focus on leading a happier, drama-free life. He made a silent promise to himself: to surround himself with good friends, steer clear of troublemakers, and above all, avoid the tangled mess of romantic entanglements.

With a determined exhale, Finn splashed cold water on his face, washing away the lingering doubts and uncertainties. As he straightened up, he expected to see himself in the mirror but what he saw was an unfamilair sight.

Finn found himself surrounded by a sea of people, each seated in luxurious chairs adorned with a symbol he recognized, though its significance eluded him in his state of bafflement and shock.

Turning his head in every possible direction, Finn struggled to comprehend his surroundings. He was seated in a vast auditorium, stretching out before him like a football field. Beads of sweat formed on his brow as he attempted to wipe them away, only to freeze in disbelief as his hand drew closer to his face.

He glanced down at himself, his heart pounding with a mixture of confusion and apprehension. The clothes he wore were unfamiliar, their fabric and style foreign to him. Panic surged within him as he grappled with the disorienting reality of his situation.

In the center of the stage, amidst the opulent array of chairs that resembled kingly thrones, Finn's gaze fixated on ten particularly grandiose seats painted in regal red. They exuded an aura of authority and power, reminiscent of the thrones he had only ever seen in movies and novel illustrations.

Despite his efforts to quell his rising panic, Finn's attempts to pinch himself into reality proved futile. Beads of sweat continued to cascade down his forehead, his sense of unease growing with each passing moment.

"Hey buddy, you okay?" a voice beside him inquired, breaking through Finn's tumultuous thoughts.

Finn couldn't bring himself to meet the gaze of the person beside him, his mind consumed with the urgent need to escape this perplexing reality.

Before the conversation could progress further, a crackling noise echoed through the auditorium, emanating from the floating microphone on the stage. Finn's heart leaped in his chest as he scanned the room in fear, searching in vain for the source of the mysterious sound. The absence of visible speakers only added to the eerie atmosphere, heightening Finn's sense of foreboding.

"Wait, what's even weirder is that the freaking microphone is floating!" Finn's mind raced as he widened his eyes in disbelief.

"Good morning! Hope you guys are awake enough to listen to me!" a deep male voice boomed through the auditorium, sending shivers down Finn's spine.

Despite his shock, Finn couldn't help but notice the seemingly nonchalant reactions of the crowd. Laughter rippled through the audience briefly before subsiding into an uneasy silence.

"Why are these people taking it so calmly?" Finn muttered to himself, his gaze fixed on the stage as he forced himself to confront the surreal scene unfolding before him. His eyes darted to the floating microphone, but his attention was soon drawn to a figure emerging into view.

It was a man with fiery red hair and piercing black eyes, his handsome features framed by a black windbreaker and jeans. Adorned with golden badges on his chest, the man exuded an air of authority that commanded attention.

"Well, I don't particularly care if you guys are awake or not. I just want to get through this boring speech and go hunt monsters," the man declared with a bored yawn, his words sending a chill down Finn's spine.

Finn strained to make out the details of the badges from his vantage point near the back of the auditorium, his mind reeling with confusion and fear.

"Wait, did he say monsters?" Finn's thoughts raced as he stared at the man in disbelief. The sense of dread gnawed at him, urging him to flee the auditorium, but the darkness that shrouded the audience prevented him from discerning anyone's reactions, leaving him feeling isolated and vulnerable.

"Listen up! You're all students of the prestigious Winchester Academy now," the man's voice boomed through the auditorium, commanding attention. "A place where you learn to survive in this damned world. I don't care how you got here—corruption, bribery, blah blah blah—I couldn't care less. What matters here is talent and hard work. If you can't handle the atmosphere here, you might as well say goodbye to surviving in this dreaded world."

His words hung heavy in the air, echoing off the walls of the vast auditorium as a collective sense of unease settled over the audience. Finn's heart pounded in his chest, the gravity of the situation sinking in as he realized the enormity of what lay ahead.

"This academy is a place where talent and hard work are recognized," the man continued, his voice laced with impatience. "If any of you are bullied, I couldn't care less. Solve it on your own. I'm tired of junior students coming to me and expecting me to solve their petty quarrels. Do you think your insignificant problems are the academy's top priority!?"

His words struck a nerve, sending a chill down Finn's spine as he realized the harsh reality of the environment he had unwittingly been thrust into. 

"Your classes will commence four days from now. If any of you fail to attend the first class, you might as well pack your things and get the hell out of here," the man's voice boomed, his tone uncompromising. "Your achievements in this academy will prove invaluable in securing reputable jobs in the future. Be attentive, disciplined, and above all, resilient."

"Classes will be assigned according to ranks ranging from 1 to... what was the strength again? 7000 something... Okay, I couldn't care less," the man declared dismissively, his indifference palpable. "You will each receive academy currencies known as 'Wel,' which you can use to purchase items in the academy's store."

"You will also be issued a smartwatch, which will be essential for your daily academy life," the man continued, his voice carrying a note of practicality. "If you lose it, I couldn't care less. It will only make things harder for you, since daily information regarding classes will be communicated through the watches."

The man concluded his speech, leaving a heavy silence to settle over the auditorium. Then, breaking the quiet, he spoke again, his words sending a chill down Finn's spine.

"I suppose I have to say it to you mongrels, I guess," the man remarked sarcastically.

"Welcome to Winchester Acadamy,"