Chapter 12- The World Beyond’s Soul Academy

Malice was taken aback by Cipher's words. Blinking in shock, he pointed at himself. "My own death?"

"It's not for certain, but that's what I can imagine it could mean. Either way, it isn't a pleasant future, kid." He said with a serious tone.

The answer made Malice freeze for a second as he looked down. A weird feeling welled up in his heart that he could not understand at all. What did it mean for someone to hear that they were going to die? Perhaps it meant that they should be sad, anxiously waiting for the moment of their demise. Like a chronically ill patient on their deathbed, watching the time tick by as they felt their lives seep out of their bodies… Very slowly, and very painfully.

However, in Malice's case, it didn't feel quite like that. This was after still just a theory Cipher made up as they were speaking. It could be as wrong as it could be right and that was what Malice wanted to believe.

'That couldn't be it, right? I mean, I have been chosen by the Shard Of Hatred or whatever, wasn't I? It could've not really chosen me just to kill me soon after, right? And besides, there is no specific time of death. Everyone is going to die at some point, so this could just be a whole, quite suspenseful yet dumb prediction.' Putting his hand on his long hair, he tried to keep his calm.

His heart was racing at the idea of his life ending short, but he still had enough logic in his head to find faults in the idea itself. Even then, however, there was still this bitter taste in his mouth that he couldn't get rid of.

'Death, huh… I have never really thought about it much before.' He mused.

When Malice found his dad sprawled on the apartment floor the day he died, he felt something weird. Seeing that empty look in his dad's eyes as he frothed from his mouth hit him hard. But, not in a sad kind of way as that man was horrible by all means.

He just realized that… Death was really that close, after all. He had lived his entire life too worried about how to survive without actually contemplating the concept of death itself. What if death was a good thing? A sweet release from the shackles of this horrible life he was living? Perhaps he would even be compensated for this horrible time by some kind of higher deity in the afterlife?

In all honesty, he never stopped for a second to actually think about it. His instinct always pushed him to seek survival and fight to see another day. Suicide rates in the slums were naturally high as people lost hope one by one.

However, weirdly enough, Malice never felt this urge to die. He felt miserable and sad, true. But, never contemplated suicide, not even for a second.

'I'm really trying to sound optimistic now, am I not? Sigh, not like me at all.' Shaking his head with a bitter look, he lifted his head.

Cipher watched the slow change in Malice's expression with a stoic look on his face. 

"Well, if that's what it's about, then I can't do much there. Still, since I have been fortunate enough to be Marked, then I will take my chances. Bad or not." He said.

He didn't utter those words with a profound will to defy fate and survive. He simply had no other choice. Either go back to the slums and continue the cycle of monotony he had been living for his entire life, or give this new opportunity a try, at least if he died, he wouldn't be the same person he despised this entire time.

It was really just a calculated decision.

"..." Cipher squinted his eyes for a moment before he looked away. "I see… Well, I hope you keep that idea in mind. The World Beyond can be way worse than death in many instances. It's not the paradise many think it is. After all, behind that veil of stardom you see in the news, there are countless piles of corpses resting in unknown places, completely forgotten. Some people are still alive even to this day, being tortured alive by some kind of abominations that live in that world. It's really messed up."

"... Yeah, I figured that much on my own." Still, Malice frowned hard.

"Good, that makes it easier for me to explain. Since you are still in on the entire thing, I will still help you get ready for the future. Consider this a part of our deal."

"What is going to happen, sir?" Malice asked as he blinked.

"Very simple. I'm going to train you and make you stronger. Then, you are going to leave this city and join kids your age to learn everything you need to know about the World Beyond. After that, you're on your own. Whatever you decide to do is up to you."

Malice raised an eyebrow. "Wait a second, sir. Join kids my age? In what?" 

However, Cipher didn't reply immediately as he walked toward one of the monitors and tapped on the keyboard a few times. Immediately, three words appeared.

"The World Beyond's Soul Academy or WBSA for short. It's an institution built specifically for the younger generation to learn about the World Beyond and get stronger in preparation for it. Almost every single Marked one goes there to learn and it has birthed quite an impressive line-up of individuals across its long history. In other words, if you really want to have a chance at succeeding, this is where you should go."

'WBSA…' Reading the name a few times, Malice fell into deep thought. He could vaguely remember hearing the name before but never actually knew what it was.

'An institution that raised Marked Ones… That sounds perfect but…'

"I really have no qualifications whatsoever, sir. I don't even know how to read or write. Doesn't such a place require a level of knowledge?"

'It's not all about strength, is it?' 

From what he heard, kids are required to enroll in schools from a young age to learn many things, including reading and writing. But, since he was completely illiterate, he doubted such a prestigious institution that accepted Marked Nobles would actually accept him no matter how strong he was.

"Of course, in your current state, you are basically nothing. That is why for the next year, I'm going to teach you everything you need to learn. Luckily for you, the WBSA starts accepting new students exactly a year from today… Wait, how old are you again?"

"... 14 years old… I think…" Malice replied. He never actually cared about his birthday nor did he count his years but he at least knew that he would hit 15 next summer.

"Perfect, the first years are 15 years old. You still have time. What an interesting coincidence, I would say." Cipher said with a thoughtful look.

"... Yeah, very much so," Malice murmured, still in deep thought about this WBSA place. For some reason, something inside him told him that he had to go there, even though he had no idea what this place was or what it would even give him.

"But, I will say this. I am not going to go easy on you. You are at least 8 years behind in terms of power level and 10 years behind in terms of knowledge compared to kids your age. If you really want to cut that distance short, we will have to do some serious, intensive work on all fronts. If I see that you can't keep up with me, then I'm going to kick you. As simple as that."

Cipher made sure to utter every word with harsh coldness to make Malice realize how important it was for him to keep up. A year might sound like a long time, but with the amount of things Malice lacked, it really wasn't. 

'I will probably not even reach their level in a year's time.' He thought to himself as he sighed.

"Yes, I understand. I will try my best to keep up." He said tiredly. In reality, he didn't feel that confident in actually doing good. If anything, he started mentally readying himself to go back to the slums. "But, can I ask why you are going this far to help me, sir?"

"Why? Hm, I wonder why. I already said that I wanted to learn more about the rare cases of mundane humans being chosen the World Beyond."

"That isn't the entire reason, is it?" Malice asked with a raised eyebrow.

He could see that Cipher was just trying to find a logical reason behind his actions and failing to do so. 

"..." Squinting his eyes, the blonde man thought for a moment. "Well, other than that, it's probably just a feeling. My gut feeling told me that you are a little different from usual. I'm even more convinced now after seeing the Skull Mark on your hand."

'... And then there is this weird halo around his body… I cannot see it, but I can feel it. Something is off about this kid and I can't figure it out yet.' Staring at the boy, Cipher could almost see a translucent yet dark aura surrounding Malice's body. Every time he tried to stare at it, he would feel an unpleasant sensation in his heart.

"I see…" The boy muttered. "I understand. When do we start then?" He asked.

"What do you mean when? Of course, it's now! You need to start from the bare basics!"