Can't Cope Up

Class A-

"And this sums up today's last lecture... your homeroom teacher will be coming shortly, so don't go to your dorms yet"

"Phew! man it was a long day. Spell crafting classes always get over my head"

"you are just dumb.."

After the spellweaving teacher leaves the class, Layn lets out a huge sigh and starts to complain about his classes. Gen who is sitting right besides him replied. Both of them are sitting on the 3rd lane of seats middle row, with Mallen and Assen right behind them.

"We got a dumbass and bookworm with us haha! look at Assen, never separated by his book"

"What is that book even?"

Mallen mocks both Layn and Assen, but none got irritated by it. The group knows that Mallen is a stubborn guy so no one really gets insulted by his mockery. Layn out of curiosity asks Assen about his book, but the homeroom teacher, Miss Flauros.

"Alright class maintain silence, I got some important news to convey"

All the 12 students in the class sat on their chairs and were listening with interest. "what now?" were the questions arising from them all.

"It has been a week since you got enrolled here, now let me tell you the situation about the new house wars and semester the school came up with."

Now everyone's attention was caught.

Apparently there will be 2 house wars conducted over the whole session, i.e. in these 11 months. along with the house war 2 semester exams will be held before each house war. In 3 months the 1st semester exam will be held, which will be followed by the 1st house war in the 4th month. The first half of the session will end after the house war with a 1 month holiday break.

Now the second half of the session will start from the 6th month, and will follow the same trend. The second semester exam will be held on the 9th month, followed by the 2nd house wars, and finally concluding the whole session on the 10th month.

"And that concludes it mostly. More details about the house wars will be given later, probably right before the 1st semester exam. But for now prepare for your exam, not the house wars."

The whole class went "oh" at the end of Miss Flauros's explanation. Gossips and whispers started right after that as usual, and with a sigh Flauros left the classroom.

"We still don't have enough information about the house wars.."

says Gen

"On top of that, shouldn't house wars take priority? why do we have to focus on the exam? its not like we cant give a test-"

Assen wanted to complete his sentence but looks over at Layn and Mallen, and stops. Both Mallen and Layn had huge '?' on top of their heads, trying to figure out what Assen meant.

"I agree, but it seems people like them need more attention at the exam."

"Hey what do you mean! I am brilliant at studies!"

Mallen starts to shout again.

"Well we can think about it tomorrow and maybe ask Miss Flauros again, for now lets get back to our rooms"

Says Layn and then a girl with round glasses comes towards the group. She had girl's uniform with skirt and a shirt, purple stripe on her left sleeve. In fact even she was a half-blood like Layn, having those dark-red eyes.

"uhm... I was wondering if I could tag over with you guys to the dorms.."

All four friends look at each other wondering who is going to respond to her, and then the whole group laughs and they reply

"Sure Kisa why not, you must be scared of those class b students huh?"

"Its not that !"

The group had a good laugh and Kisa was pouting while blushing out of embarrassment. They then leave their class and talk during their way.

"Nicon huh? I didn't thought we would have another half-blood in our group"

"I- I am part of your group?"

Gen starts the conversation by stating Kisa was now part of their group and everybody nodded in acknowledgment, making Kisa smile and chuckle in joy. But Layn has been quiet for a long time and Assen asks-

"Is something bothering you Layn?"

"hmm.."

Layn does not respond but was thinking something. After he didn't respond to Assen the group looked at each other finding if someone knew what was up. Then Layn responded-

"I have been wondering how we will prepare for House wars.. I mean, coordination is a must in this test right? or will we be separated from each other? and the upcoming semester exam... I just don't get all these studies.. and-"

Layn was interrupted by Mallen

"I get it! you need some help from me right!"

"I-"

"Calm down Layn, don't get excited before the action even begins."

Mallen and Gen calmed Layn down, and after realising he has been over thinking for no reason, he himself gives out a smile out of relief.

"I know what to do! why don't we discuss about our strength tomorrow morning!"

"Great idea, we can get closure to each other which will help in the future house war"

"I don't mind too..."

Everyone agrees with Mallen and by the time this conversation was over, they reached their dorm rooms.

"well then, meet you guys tomorrow"

Layn moves into his room after an exhausting day and lays on his bed. He looks at his right palm, at those weird symbols that still confuses him up till this date. He even forgot when he got these, by birth maybe? do they even serve any purpose?

"My strength huh... I wonder what should I tell them"

and then Layn falls asleep.

Next morning~

Layn wakes up unusually early today. His room was a total mess though, clothes, books and stuff lying everywhere. Layn goes to his washroom, brushes his teeth, wears his uniform and gets ready for his day. But then Layn notices it is quite noisy outside the corridor.

"What's the commotion for?"

Layn opens the door and peeks outside to see Mallen and Kisa holding Gen down while Assen is smirking at him.

"Wait what's going on?"

"Nice timing Gen! help us calm these two down!"

So apparently early in the morning way before Layn woke up, Assen blew a hole in Gen's room. Assen was practicing some spells and somehow ended up blowing the wall next to him, which connected to Gen's. In return Gen tried to burn Assen's gospel but failed, and that is why he is growling.

"What..."

After a while Miss Flauros was called and she took care of the situation. They both were scolded but surprisingly nothing serious happened, they got away with a warning. Though it seems the relationship between them is all tangled up. The whole day Gen ignored Assen. He tried to apologize but Gen didn't even look at him.

"Gen you should forgive Assen right? after all we are friend.."

"Tsk, he blew a hole on my wall."

"His own wall too.."

During a lecture in the class Layn tried to convince Gen but to no fruit. It will take a long time before they both get on each other's good side. And then Mallen from behind shouts

"Lets tell each other our powers!"

"..."

The whole class looks at him. Even the 'physiology' teacher (who mostly teaches the physiology of beasts and monsters) stared at Mallen and with a sigh says

"Mallen please sit down, don't make a scene similar to the dorms that happened today"

Everybody chuckles on that and Mallen sits down embarrassed. Assen and Layn were trying their hardest to hold their laugh, and even Gen was smiling.

After the class was over and everyone was getting ready to leave for dinner and to their dorms, the four of them, actually counting Kisa five of them sat together and were going to discuss something

"Alright everyone, we know what we going to talk about"

says Mallen, everyone nodded but Layn didn't seem to be confident

"Lets start with me"