The Young Master and His Entourage

Aena sat at her desk, her fingers tapping impatiently on her new smartwatch.

She felt rather uncomfortable with the knowledge that there was a huge, gaping hole where her entryway was supposed to be. It made her feel vulnerable and exposed.

Aena hadn't seen anyone around, so privacy was not an issue, but she couldn't help but feel insecure. She knew that logically, there was nothing to worry about. There was no reason for anyone to bother her.

It was just one of her pet peeves: even slightly ajar openings unnerved her.

After holding her thumb to the smartwatch's smooth surface for a few seconds, the screen flashed on, and a holographic image materialized, accompanied by a genderless robotic voice.

[Hello. I am the Model 53XX Premium Startech Device, nicknamed PreStar for short. Would you like me to explain my features?]

Aena hesitated for a bit before replying.

"Yes," she said curtly.

[Great! I host an extensive scope of features to support your journey! I have an automatic and private synching with your other devices]

Aena frowned. She didn't want all this useless crap.

"What major features do you offer compared to a Generation 25 standard market bracelet," she inquired.

[The PreStar comes with enhanced security and protective measures including biometrics and is equipped with the latest AI technology.]

It seemed like this version wasn't much different than previous smartwatches. Industry designers had already developed all the major functionalities, and most of the more niche ones as well, so each new generation merely repackaged the same thing.

There were unique watches with special features like built-in weaponry, but of course, the academy wouldn't issue those without good reason.

Aena's new watch did however have protective measures, which meant if it detected a threat, it would deploy a protective barrier and inject repair nanobots into the user.

Aena finished setting up her personal information and configured her recognition settings, including face, voice, fingerprint, and retina verification. She also made sure to set the default mode without a hologram, since she valued her privacy.

The AI might be useful, but it wasn't necessarily something essential. She had gotten by just fine without one so far, so she had no plans to start relying on it now.

Finished with the process, she glanced at the stack of papers on her desk. They were exactly the papers that Instructor Rutherfield had given her earlier. She was going to have a long night.

…

The next morning.

Standing In the bathroom, Aena looked in the mirror, observing the weariness etched in her face. There were bags under her eyes, and her face was a bit pale. Whether that was from sleep deprivation or exercise she didn't know. Most likely both.

Aena had just returned from her morning exercise. Yes, even if she did stay up late, her sense of self-discipline prevented her from skipping.

She took a refreshing shower before heading over to classes. Today she had her general class with Instructor Rutherfield, the dreaded physical training class, and lastly spiritual attunement with Instructor Willowsage.

As a freshman, Aena had three classes every day, each lasting roughly two hours long. Each class was held every other day, so on the latter days, Aena took mutation physiology, equipment applications, and beginner magic theory.

The academy kept the freshman busy as they had a lot of essential fundamentals to cover, but in the coming years, they gave more freedom to their students. They could choose to spend the time at an internship or study under a professional instead of attending regular classes.

Aena arrived early to the class as usual and assumed her seat. Her back was straight and her head held high, but signs of her weariness were evident. Seeing her fatigued state, Emmy immediately rushed to her side.

"Aena!" The girl placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"You alright?"

Aena managed a weak smile.

"Yeah, fine. Fine," she murmured, waving Emmy's worries off. The girl continued to scrutinize Aena, her eyes filled with concern.

"You look like a half-dead skunk in a meth lab in July," she commented seriously.

"A what?" Aena asked dumbfounded by the colorful analogy. She never knew what that girl was saying. But she needed her help later, so she didn't retort for now.

Aena scrolled through the web as she withstood a verbose barrage by Emmy—need to say, a completely unsolicited one at that.

She was reading a very gripping literary classic about a short boy who wielded shadows when she felt a presence lingering in front of her.

She was just getting to the good part, so she snapped her head up, an annoyed expression across her face.

An unknown male was standing presumptuously in front of her with a wicked smile. He was flanked by two other guys standing a few steps behind with idiotic expressions adorning their faces. 'Definitely lackeys,' Aena deduced.

The gang head was of a rather average build and had at best mediocre looks. He gave off NPC vibes, so Aena hadn't bothered to remember his name. Her brain power was limited after all.

He had ignored her for the past few days, but Aena hadn't overlooked the looks of disdain he occasionally shot her, thinking no one would notice.

So it was time. Aena sighed. A confrontation was inevitable.

Just like those good ol' times back at her high school. It was time to beat up some arrogant young master and his underlings.

"Hey, peasant," he sneered.

"How dare such a lowly being such as you block my path," he grinned, thinking he was in a winning situation. How arrogance was pitiful.

'What the…' If he was going to come up with an excuse, he could've at least put some thought into it. His reasoning didn't even remotely make sense—he was the one who was disturbing her.

Aena looked around the classroom, taking note of the mixed reactions around her. A few she had talked to previously looked worried, and a few disgusted, but the majority of them just looked indifferent. They didn't want to get involved in something that had nothing to do with them. It wasn't merely a physical move, but also a political one.

Although the academy protected the students, they weren't obligated to mediate family rivalries unless they got extremely out of hand, in which case the academy had to step in only to preserve their image.

Although her classmates didn't morally condone the guy's supposed bullying, the incident was not one worth offending an opposing house over. The only ones in class 1-C with enough background to casually push around another noble house were Lance and Cassidy. Cassidy was not here, as she normally arrived late, and Lance… well he belonged to the last subgroup.

That subgroup contained the ones who looked almost downright gleeful at the situation. She even saw one guy whipping out a box of popcorn and enthusiastically sharing it with fellow drama enjoyers. Aena could understand it.

She liked drama too, but only if she wasn't involved in it… Lance was enthusiastically looking their way with a delighted smile on his face. She didn't expect such a polite guy to be like that.

A sigh escaped Aena's lips. She was alone, except for Emmy, who stayed by her side.

She wasn't really feeling it today after last night's homework grind, so she first tried to worm her way out of the situation. They couldn't complain later when they got messed up.

"Sorry, we'll move," she rose from her seat and gestured for Emmy to do the same.

Emmy's eyes flashed with defiance, but she begrudgingly followed Aena.

She turned to find a new spot, but the guy's irritating voice halted her in her tracks.

"Wait. Who said you could leave?" he declared haughtily.

Aena pivoted and calmly placed her tablet down on a nearby desk.

'Oh boy, It looks like I need to teach these brats a lesson.' She had a menacing scowl on her face as she squared off against the three opponents.