( chapter 1) First Day of school

I sat back in one of the bus seats and watched the buildings, cars and other vehicles pass by. The bus stopped for the next passengers, one of which was a girl who walked towards me. Looking at her uniform she was a student of G.E. High like me. She had long, strikingly dark blue hair with gradient red eyes that briefly made contact with my own before sitting down in the seat diagonally to me. Thinking nothing of it I closed my eyes and began to think.

Seeing the uniform reminded me that I'm a transfer student meaning I'm gonna have to introduce myself in front of the whole of my class. Being 16 years old and turning 17 in 2 months, I'm transferring quite late into the 7 year stay at G.E. High meaning groups and friendships have already been established so I'll need to make a good first impression. Especially because I don't think my classmates will be pleased to have someone like me in their class.

Let's see. I thought. Hi, my name is Nova and it's my honour to… no. If I say it like that I'll come across as a pushover. Hmm… Hi, my name is Nova and I know what you are thinking but don't try and start something with me ok… No. I'll look like a real asshole if I say that.

"Hey, you mind if could borrow your phone quickly."

I was interrupted from my thoughts and opened my eyes to see an elderly woman ask one of the many other students in uniform if they could borrow their phone.

"Sorry lady but mine just ran out of battery and I'm going to use it when it's recharged." The student said pulling a portable charger out of his pocket.

Well, that's just not true. The chance of teenager not having their mobile phone fully charged at the beginning of a day at school is practically zero, plus I saw them on their phone when they got on the bus

"Is they're anyone else who wouldn't me borrowing their phone?" the elderly woman asked.

I'm surprised this woman chose to get on this bus in the first place. Sure, this is a public bus, but it was very clearly primarily meant to be used by the students going to school. Plus, no offense lady, but you probably have grandkids, right? Do they ever allow you to use their phone, if not why would some random teenager?

Unsurprisingly there was a long silence while no one offered up their own phone. I suddenly found myself looking over at the girl with the gradient red eyes wondering what she would do. She looked like student council president material. She had a commanding aura around her, not to mention the fact that she was also very attractive looking.

I then spotted the badge on her shoulder.

And judging by the symbol of a dragon head in the centre of the badge she is also apparently very powerful.

Aged 16-17 and already at the Rank of Dragon I thought. Well, G.E. is meant to be one the best Ethation school in both the human world and Valhalla.

The girl also did nothing, and the long silence continued.

"Here you can borrow mine." Said a younger looking female student, finally breaking the silence and passed her phone to the old woman.

As this happened the girl, I had been looking at turned around, catching me looking at her as I was turning to face the bus window. I felt her gaze for a few more seconds before she turned back round herself.

I was beginning to think that I probably shouldn't have wondered what she would do and stare at her at the same time.

Let's just hope we're not in the same class I thought to myself as I closed my eyes again to return to my thoughts on what to say when I introduce to myself.

I stood outside the school as all the students passed me heading inside while I could hear the bus drive off. The school looked pretty normal. In fact, it was surprising how average it looked for supposedly one of the greatest Ethation Schools out there… Then again.

THIS SCHOOL IS MASSIVE!!! I thought practically screaming in my head even though none of my surprise registered on my face. Like how can the school have such an average looking aesthetic but then be as big as the castles you read about in Fantasy Novels.

"Hey Lion Rank."

Considering that all the students that had passed through the school gates and I was the only one still standing outside I'm guessing that voice is referring to me.

"Hm?" I murmured as I turned round to find that girl on the bus with the gradient red eyes.

Now I'm not ugly but neither would I say I'm an extremely attractive person by society's standards. I'd say I'm a little over above average when it comes it good looks with me being 6ft in height while also having a lean build and blue eyes. Because I'm a little above average and I try to keep a low profile not many people come up to talk to me especially people who look similar to a super model like this girl here.

"Is there something I can help you with?" I said blankly.

The girl stared at me with her gradient red eyes boring into my own trying to intimidate me.

"Why were you staring at me on the bus earlier?" she said bluntly getting straight to the point.

"You want to know that?"

She nodded.

"To be blunt you look like someone who could be a student council president and was wondering if you were or not. If you went to give you phone to the lady, I would think there's a high probability that you would be the student council president."

"Because the student council president is meant to set an example?"

I nodded.

"Well, you're wrong" she said bluntly. "even if I was the president why should I give my phone to someone who was careless and didn'tbring their own on a bus"

Interesting I thought to myself.

"Anyway, I could ask you the same thing. Why didn't you give your phone?"

"Simple reason" I said. "Firstly, I agree with what you said about being careless."

She raised an eyebrow as I said that.

"Secondly I like to keep a low profile so me offering my phone in that specific scenario would draw an amount of attention that I would rather not have."

The girl took a step closer towards me making it so we were only a few inches away from each other as she looked up into my eyes as if she was trying to figure out if I'm lying.

"What's your name?"

"Nova." I answered causing her to raise an eyebrow again.

"What's your surname?"

"Laos."

There was a pause before she nodded like she was satisfied before then walking past me towards the school gates.

"What's your name?" I asked stopping her.

"Why should I tell you."

"Because I told you mine."

"Fair enough" she shrugged her shoulders. "It's Shion Marble."

She then walked straight through the gates and out of view.

I paused for a moment as I processed everything.

Why do I get the feeling I'm going to be seeing her a lot? I thought

I shrugged my shoulders before walking through the gates an into the school and thus began my new life.

After walking for a bit through the school I came across seemingly two separate buildings that looked like they were designated for different students.

Well, this is could not possibly result in students entering the wrong class by accident.

I took out a note from my pocket that would supposedly tell me where to go.

Let's see. I thought to myself. Enter the building titled Upper and attend Class 1 – S.

I looked at the two buildings and found the one titled Upper on the left. I looked at my note again and shrugged my shoulders.

Seems to be accurate.

I entered through the doors and came across a very typical school layout with multiple corridors and lockers on the walls all filled with students talking with one another. I walked down the corridors passing all the students most not even noticing my presence like I hoped however a few spotted me and narrowed their eyes along with other unwelcoming expressions.

Class 3 – A, Class 2 – A, Class 1 – A, Class 3 thought myself as I passed the different classrooms counting them down as I seemed like I was on the right path.

"Take that!"

I turned round after hearing a shout and a crash.

A male student collapsed to the ground clutching their stomach as a big brute of a student, at least 6'4, with bulging muscles stood over him.

"Come now you said you'd have the money." He snarled with a grin. "Time to cough it up."

Yeah, if I wanna keep my low profile I should avoid that.

I turned back around and headed towards my class.

"Class 1 – S…" I muttered to myself as students passed behind me while I looked up the sign above the door. "Seems like the one."

I put the note back into my pocket and pushed open the door. The classroom looked like your average classroom with multiple desks and chairs laid out with the larger teacher's desk right in the middle at the front with a large chalkboard behind it. All the students were either sitting down minding their own business or standing and talking with their friends.

I counted 20 students in total, with all of them being fairly powerful for their age. Most of them had a symbol of a many headed, serpent like creature (A Hydra) or had the symbol of Dragon head within their badge.

"Come along now class quiet down."

Who I assumed was the teacher, passed me and told the class to be quiet and sit down. She wore a very professional suit, had long black hair that was tied in a high ponytail with bright green eyes.

I began to walk down the classroom and the students finally noticed my presence and wore expressions of confusion while others wore expressions of contempt and glared at me. I sat down at the only free desk and chair which was in the right corner all the way at the back of the classroom next to a window.

It was quite the coincidence that the person sitting at the next to mine was none other than the girl on the bus, Shion Marble.

I get the feeling she doesn't like me that much considering the look in her eyes when I sat down next to her.

"For someone who says they want to keep a low profile you have a funny way going about it." She whispered while glancing down at the Lion symbol in the middle of the badge that I wore on my shoulder.

I knew this was going to happen but this going to get tedious and become much harder to lay low as time passes.

I ignored her and looked through the large window beside me and stared off into space.

The teacher slammed the multiple books she was carrying down onto her desk immediately catching everyone's attention causing her to grin slightly.

"Welcome everyone I'm sure you haven't missed school, but you came of your own volition so now you have to deal withit for 7 years in total."

Everyone gave a mixed reaction of groans and giggles however I noticed that Shion made now reaction whatsoever.

She seems like quite the serious character.

"Now this break you had was a long one. A whole 6 months so even though I know you guys already know this but it's standard procedure to go through this after every break."

The students moaned and sighed while some even protest, but the teacher waved them off.

"Ok let's start things off." She said and began to write on the large board behind her.

"As we all know an Ethereal gets all their powers from abilities called Skills. They can be acquired through a multitude of ways but the main two ways of attaining them are through birth while also being able meet certain conditions before attaining one."

She paused and turned to face the whole class.

"Question." She said aiming the chalk at the students. "Are all Skills the same?"

A female student with short brown hair raised her hand and answered when the teacher gave her the go.

"No there are a variety different types of Skills." She said with confidence.

"Correct." The teacher replied returning to the chalkboard. "There are a total of 6 different types of Skills. Active Skills, Passive Skills, Topic Skills, Unique Skills and Incarnation Skills."

She glanced back at her students with a sly grin.

"I'm going to explain all of these so pay attention and write this all down, I don't like to repeat myself."

All the students either rolled their eyes or got out their books and pencils.

"I'll start of with Active Skills and Passive Skills as these are the most simple and basic Skills. Majority of Skills fall into one of these 2 categories. Active Skills, like the name suggests, are Skills that need to be activated and like most Skills, need to be fuelled with Ethos in order to be used. Contrary to Active Skills, Passive Skills are active at all times and don't need to be activated to be used, while they also don't consume Ethos in the way that Active Skills do and drain the user of their power."

I noticed most people writing this down furiously especially Shion who was filled with concentration.

"Topic Skills are a fairly simple but a little more complex than the previous. These Skills act like a folder that house multiple Skills in one with all the Skills being connected/related to the theme of the Topic Skill in question."

What she was saying was true. Topic Skills are incredibly useful as you essentially have atwo for one deal only sometimes it could even be a 8 for one deal.

"You!" The Teacher said whipping round and pointing at a male student. "Explain to me what a Class is when relating to Ethereals."

The Student immediately stood up and explained.

"There are 3 Classes in total. Tanker, Assassin and Mage. A Class is given to all Ethereals at birth and dictates the way an Ethereal fight by automatically giving them a set of Skills that become the user's most primarily used Skills."

"Correct." Said the Teacher. "These Skills given to an Ethereal by their Class are dubbed Class based Skills and can only be permanently acquired by if the Ethereal is of that specific Class. Can someone tell me what all the Class Specific Skills are?"

The teacher turned and surveyed the class before picking Shion Marble to answer her question. Shion stood up and answered.

"The Tanker Skills are:

Wall: An active Skill that Allows the user to harden their body making them very durable.

Enchantment Magic: An Active Skill that Allows the user to enhance a subjects properties. This could be a weapon or enhancing the user's as well as another person's certain skills or physical abilities.

The Assassin Skills are:

Ultra Stealth: An Active Skill that completely hides the user's presence.

Flash: An Active Skill that massively increases user's reflexes and overall speed of taking in visual information User can also move at superhuman speeds.

Eagle Eyes: An Active Skill that allows the user to see distances that could be hundreds of miles in extreme detail.

And lastly is the Mage Class which has a natural affinity for Skills based in Magic. The actual Class Specific Skills are:

Solar Magic: A Topic Skill that holds the following Skills.

Solar Harness: can harness the power/energy of the Sun and light to manipulate it into almost anything like weapons, shields weapons and energy-based attacks almost as hot as the Sun.

Light Speed: Can move at the speed of light as well gain the ability to fly.

Light Recovery: Gives user an extremely powerful healing factor.

Lunar Magic: A Topic Skill that holds the following Skills.

Lunar Harness: can harness the power/energy and of the Moon and Darkness to manipulate it into almost anything like weapons, shields weapons and energy-based attacks.

Gravity Master: An Active Skill that gives the user complete control over gravity.

Dark Travel: Can create portals out of shadows that take them anywhere they have been before.

Fire Magic: A Topic Skill that holds the following Skills.

Fire Manipulation: An Active Skill that allows the user to manipulate fire into anything like weapons, blasts, aura's, shields etc.

Thermal Negate: A Passive Skill that grants immunity to all heat based/related Skills that are 9th tier or below

Dragonification: An Active Skill that allows the user to take on the physical traits of a dragon like, wings, fire breath, scales, claws, etc. An incredibly hard Skill to use that only masterful Fire based Ethereal Mages can use.

Air Magic: A Topic Skill that holds the following Skills.

Air Manipulation: An Active Skill that can manipulate air into anything like barriers, shockwaves, razor sharp gusts of wind, make the user fly, etc.

Storm: An Active Skill that allows the user to create/manifest different types of storms like, Tornadoes, Hurricanes and even thunder/lightning storms.

Earth Magic: An Active Skill that allows the user to manipulate earth in any way they wish.

Water Magic: An Active Skill that allows the user to manipulate water in any way they wish.

Underworld: A Topic Skill that holds the following Skills.

Hellfire: An Active Skill that gives the user access to a type of Fire that is almost if not hotter than the Heat produced from the Solar Element. Hellfire is said to burn the opponents very soul.

Afterlife: An Active Skill that allows the user to open a portal to one of the many different underworlds in mythology.

A Mage Class Ethereal however will not own all the Mage Class specific Skills and it is incredibly rare for an Ethereal to wield both Solar Magic and Lunar Magic because of the opposing nature of the two Skills."

I raised an eyebrow after Shion finished. Colour me impressed. That is quite a hefty amount of knowledge to know off by heart. The other students rolled their eyes leading me to believe Shion was probably the A Star student of the class.

The Teacher grinned.

"Well done Shion as to be expected." She said before returning to the board.

"We are not finished yet. Similar Class Specific Skills are Unique Skills. Unique Skills are very special Skills as they are all different andexclusive to the user. They don't apply to the rules that the other Skills do and therefore can be a fusion of all of them or be something else entirely. Each Ethereal only has one Unique Skill and it is impossible to get more than one."

Unique Skills are usually what makes or breaks an Ethereal and decides if they will become successful or not.

"Now we move to the final and rarest of Skills. Can someone tell me what they are called?"

A girl who wore glasses, had dark blue eyes and short red hair stood up.

"Incarnation Skills, Miss." She said like it had taken a bit of courage from leading me to believe she was socially awkward or had something like stage fright.

"Correct Lazuli." The teacher said. "The Incarnation Skill, as the same suggests, is exclusive power that belongs to an Incarnation Ethereal and the power in question will relate to the mythological being that the Ethereal is the Incarnation of. These Skills are very rare as they are only owned by Incarnations who are already a rare occurrence in the first place. I'd say only 5 exist within this school."

I was the only one who seemed to notice that number of students glanced at Shion immediately leading me to believe that she was an Incarnation. Well, well, well aren't we full of surprises.

"This leads me to the Skill Tiering System. Skills are ranked through Tiers by the rarity and strength of the Skills ranging from a 1st Tier Skill, as the weakest and most common, to a 10th Tier Skill as the rarest and strongest. This system ranks the base/starting point of Skills as all Skills can be strengthened/upgraded to higher Tiers if used enough. Obviously, this upgrading of Skills peaks at the 10th Tier however owning a Skill at this Level by the means of upgrading is incredibly hard, making a Skill that has been upgraded to 10th Tier an even rarer phenomena than acquiring a 10th Tier Skill in the first place."

The teacher then stopped writing and took a breath.

"I'll let you guys finish writing the information as well as let it sink in before continuing."

Everyone continued to write while I stared at the outside through the window listening to everything that was going on. I could feel gazes burning holes into my back as well as some comments like "why is he here?", "this is disgrace to the class not the school" and "if something isn't done then I'll do it myself."

Man, I knew I wasn't going to be welcome, but this is brutal. Eh not like I actual care about what people think of me in the first place, just as long as none of them get physical I couldn't care less.

"Ok class that's plenty of time," said the teacher probably sensing the growing hostility. "Let's move onto Ranks."

I glanced over at the teacher beginning write on the board after that comment. This should be good.

"As you all know, Ethereals are not all on thesame level of power and the great Viro Cosmos saw this as well. So not only did he create Valhalla and Ethereal Society as we know it but also the Ranking System. This system ranks an Ethereal's power by giving an Ethereal a Rank. A Rank refers to the titles given to an Ethereal as a unit of measurement to quantify the level of power of that specific Ethereal. There are 7 Ranks in total, listen carefully as I will list them from weakest to strongest.

Wolf - Wolf Ranked beings are the weakest Ethereals but are much stronger than normal humans and can perform feats that are clearly superhuman when compared to any normal human as well match the power of a standard normal military unit.

Lion - Lion Ranked beings are the average Rank when it comes to Ethereals. They are in a different league when it comes to normal Humans and can take down an entire military unit on their own.

Cerberus - Cerberus Ranked beings are considerably more powerful than Lion Ranked beings. Cerberus Ranked Ethereals are strong enough to match the fire power a nuclear bomb.

Hydra - Hydra Ranked beings are the limit an entire nation can deal with as they match the power of many nuclear bombs combined. They are the elite when it comes to Ethereals.

Dragon - Dragon Ranked beings are beyond the capabilities of normal humans to fight and can pose a significant threat to a planet, star. Some of the strongest can even pose a threat to galaxies. No normal manmade weapons can contend with them only other Ethereals can beat them making them the elite of the elite.

Demon - Demon Ranked beings are those who are considered as 'living catastrophes. These beings easily have enough power to destroy a planet. They have enough power to erase many galaxies with ease can even destroy the universe. Demon Ranks and the strongest and rarest beings to exist as there are only 6 in the world.

Omni - Omni Ranked beings are beyond powerful and are godlike. They have enough power to destroy the very fabric of the universe, space and time. Only one exists and he's the reason why humans and Ethereal's don't go to war as both sides fear him. Viro Cosmos.

At the Ethation Schools we make sure the students know each other's Rank by having you all where badges on your shoulders with the symbol of the animal that represents your Rank in the centre of the badge."

She turned round to face the class looing slightly withered with a drop of sweat running down her head.

"I don't like repeating this every year so please write this down and remember it because I will not repeat this again today."

After she had finished, I instantly felt what must have been the entire class's gaze on me, burning holes into the back of my head as looked at the badge, with the symbol of a Lion, on my shoulder.

Oh boy this too much attention with this type being especially unwanted.

"Looks like you've made number of enemies Lion Rank." Shion whispered to me with a sly smile. I couldn't quite tell if she was mocking me or not, so I just looked at her with a blank expression my face. I then saw on the other side of the classroom was a male student staring daggers at me.

Is that a tinge of jealousy in his eyes? Don't tell me he hates me because of a stupid reason like the prettiest girl in the class whispers to the transfer student. How petty can you be? Come on man.

The male student stood up drawing the attention of everyone in the class including the Teacher.

"Miss since we are on the topic of Ranks, I'm going to be the only one who seems to have the balls to point out the elephant in the room." He said sounding incredibly furious and frustrated causing the teacher to cross her arms in amusement.

"Miss with all due respect but is this building and or area of the school meant only to house Cerberus Ranked students or higher with this class being the top class where only Hydra Ranked Ethereals or higher are meant to be taught?"

"Everything you said is true Xander." Said the teacher nodding.

"So" said Xander practically yelling and pointed directly at me. "Why is a Lion Ranked student sitting down in this classroom like he owns the place!?"

Great now everyone's attention is on me now. Thank you Xander what a wonderful and petty person you are.

The teacher giggled slightly swept her hair back.

"That's a simple answer. While it is true that the school entrance program labelled him, a Lion Rank the school staff as a collective decided it would be better if he attended the top class of the school."

"Why!?" Xander shouted.

The teacher looked over at me as if asking for confirmation.

Hmm telling them wouldn't draw any more attention that hasn't been drawn already so I might as well. I thought

I gave her a nod giving her the ok for what she was asking, and she nodded, still smiling, before turning back to face Xander again.

"If you must know, Nova here is has become the 5th Incarnation at this school. He is the Incarnation of Zeus the Greek God of the sky/lightning and combing this with his other Skills he's got quite the amount of potential so we thought it would be best that he would join this Class 1 – S."

"No offence Miss, but I don't sense much Ethos coming from him and I doubt he's even well invested with much of the general knowledge of Ethereal culture."

The teacher looked at me.

"It is true that all you have done today Nova, is stare out of that window so would you mind if you could explain to everyone who the 6 Demon Ranked Ethereals are and order them form weakest to strongest."

She was grinning like a Hyena.

"Your first name is the same as one of them after all."

I looked at the teacher. I looked at Shion, who didn't seem to register my presence, and I looked at the rest of the class. I rolled my eyes and heaved a heavy sigh.

"Fine. Weakest to strongest right? Ok." I said standing up.

"Off you go." The teacher said sitting down in her chair as I began to answer her request.

"The Six Demon Ranked Ethereals, better known as the Six Demon Ranks, are the Ethereals that lead/govern Ethereal society as we know it. Besides Viro Cosmos they are currently the strongest Ethereals to exist with the strongest three being the actual children of Viro Cosmos himself. Each member of the Six Demon Ranks is capable of destroying the universe with some being able to do it many times over."

I paused took a deep breath before continuing.

"Starting off with the weakest of the group is Ariel High who is a Tanker Class and has been given the nickname The Devil Ape as she is the Incarnation of Sun Wukong, The Monkey King from Chinese mythology.

The next is Vide Blackstone who is an Assassin Class and is nicknamed The Beast King since his Unique Skill, Animal Kingdom, allows him to use the powers, attributes as well as transform into all creatures that are real and from mythology.

Eclipsis Hyde is the next one and is nicknamed The Shadow Tyrant as her Unique Skill allows her to turn the dead into Shadow Soldiers which she can summon to fight for her. She is also a Mage Class

The next three are the children of Viro Cosmos and are the 3 strongest Ethereals besides their father.

The first of the three children and 3rd strongest of the Six Demon Ranks is Diablo Cosmos. He is immensely powerful and owns the nickname The Hybrid Mage. He has this Nickname as he is the only Ethereal in existence to have the Class, Hybrid which acts like a Topic Skill and gives the user 2 different Classes. The two he owns being Mage and Assassin.

The next is a Mage Class and is the eldest of the Cosmos children being the older sister and her name is Kara Cosmos. Her nickname is The Sin Empress as she is the Incarnation of Lucifer which has made her the only one to own and master all the Seven Deadly Sins Skills, every one of them being 10th Tier."

I paused as I let everyone absorb the information.

"Don't tell me your done?" muttered Shion sarcastically while reading a book with her eyebrow raised before I continued.

"The final one is the twin of Diablo Cosmos and is the strongest Ethereal beaten only by his father. His name is Nova Cosmos, better known as The Yin – Yang King because of his complete and utter mastery of the Topic Skills Solar Magic and Lunar Magic, upgrading them to 10th Tier even though they start out as 4th Tier Skills also making him the mostpowerful Mage Class Ethereal.

Unlike the rest of the Six Demon Ranks, the three children of Viro Cosmos have hidden their identity, so we only know their names and what some of their powers are. They reinforce this by wearing masks every time they make a public appearance."

I paused as a silence momentarily captured the atmosphere.

"I should probably take this time to formally introduce myself." I continued. "My name is Nova Laos and yes I'm well aware of the connection between my name and The Yin-Yang King but that is it I don't know any of the Cosmos family personally so don't ask me about them. Also, I may have been labelled a Lion Rank however do not underestimate me. I want to keep as low as a profile as I can at this school but I'm no pushover either. If you get physical with me, I will happily get physical with you. You can say all you want that doesn't bother me but don't start a fight with me."

I turned to face the teacher and stared into her eyes.

"I think that sums everything up teach." I said as I sat back down, Shion still paying me no mind and continuing to read her book.

The teacher grinned and gave a little clap.

"It certainly does, and I should also introduce myself to you Nova as this is the first time we've met, and I'll be teaching you for the next few years. I'm Vana Skyline but please call me Miss Skyline or Miss for short. I look forward to see what you will do in the future." Vana Skyline said before turning to face Xander who was still standing up.

"Does that answer your question Xander?"

Xander looked at Miss Skyline and then looked at me with angry but defeated expression on his face.

"Y-yes Miss." He said wearily before sitting back down.

"Very good." Said Miss Skyline standing back up. "This concludes the lesson for today. Since it's the first day back you all have an extended Lunch period but before you go there's something important you need to know."

She took something out of one of the drawers in her desk and threw it into the air. It then exploded into dozens of envelopes with a student's name in each one.

"Starting from this year onwards you will be living at the school until you graduate with a roommate. You'll specifically be living in one of the rooms with your roommate in the great apartment complex on the outskirts of the school's area, inside the envelope with your name on will be your room number and key card to let you in or out of set rooms. By the way the roommates are not split by genders and are completely randomised however any perverted behaviour by anyone will result in being expelled instantly from the school. Do I make myself clear?" She said staring at the boys of the class specifically.

"Yes Miss." Everyone said simultaneously.

"Very good take your envelope as you leave the class, and I will see you all tomorrow." She said before taking a bite out of an apple shepulled out her pocket.

"Class dismissed."

I sat on my own in the lunch hall eating some rather delicious food which consisted of breaded chicken and chips with a variety of vegetables and pineapple juice in a carton for a drink.

Since when school food actually taste good. Maybe the next few years of my life here won't be as tedious as I first thought I mean if it's got good food, you can't say they're not treating you right. There's light at the end of the tunnel after all.

Perhaps I spoke too soon. I thought as I saw Xander beginning to approach me as I was leaving the table. I pretended I didn't notice him and left the hall at brisk pace.

Maybe he isn't a psycho and won't stalk me.

As I turned a corner in the school hallway, I just barely noticed him clearly following me.

This dude must crazy. Like is he seriously that mad at me? What a petty guy.

I continued along the school hallways, walking in the longest and most complex route I could think of that would lead to my destination, outside, and hopefully lose him in the process. Luckily the final stretch leading outside was very crowded and as soon as I entered it, I ran as quickly as possible running, straight outside and speedily hid behind the outer wall of the building. I snook a peek to see Xander at the front of the entrance looking confused and scratching his head in frustration.

Now is the time I run to the apartment complex to move into my room.

As soon as I began walking away, Xander seemingly materialised in front me in a burst of blue smoke, stopping me in my tracks.

"Teleportation huh?" I said blankly my eyes widening in surprise slightly. "That's a 7th Tier Skill. A Hydra Rank attaining a Skill like that is impressive unless you're an Incarnation, but I doubt that."

A vein on Xander's forehead looked like it was about to burst as his face turned bright red while it contorted with anger.

"As you know" He snarled. "Killing isn't really punished here unless its needless murder but even then, the punishment wouldn't be any more than a month suspension."

He then got into a fighting stance as small chunks of the ground rose up into the air and turned into blades.

"You're a Mage?" I said dropping my bag.

"So, because punishment is so tame" he continued as the blades began to rotate in the air.

He can't be serious I thought

"I'm going to kill you right here and now!" Xander yelled and lunged forward in attack.

"Room 215." I muttered to myself as I looked at the note and key card from the envelope with my name on it. I looked up at the door which had the same numbers on it. "Yep, this the place."

Please let my roommate be someone either who will be nice or ignore me. I don't care which.

I opened the door stepped inside.

"This is um… bigger than I expected." I mumbled to myself slightly in awe.

The room seemed to be as big as a house with a massive window for a wall that showed a beautiful view of the school way up 200 floors in the air. There was kitchen and a living room with a TV seemingly in one area with a staircase that presumably led to the two bedrooms.

"You know what" I said dropping by bag and jumping onto the sofa looking at the view through the wall of a window. "This ain't so bad at all."

To my right a door opened. It became very clear it led to the bathroom as outstepped a person along with a huge amount of steam. The person had towel wrapped over everything from their chest down covering their naked body. It was very clear that this person was a girl, considering how the towel was just managing to cover her well-endowed chest and her figure in general. She had very familiar looking gradient red eyes and strikingly long dark blue hair that was even darker now after being soaked in the hot water presumably from a bath.

It was very clear that the person standing in front of me was none other than Shion Marble.

Ooooooh shit! I thought.

We stood completely still, staring at each other quite surprised because I don't think either of us were expecting to be roommates nor expecting that I would ever see Shion, just barely covered up by a towel, basically butt naked.

After a long while it was as if Shion registered what was happening as her face transformed into one of horror while also turn bright red. I didn't need to look at her face however as I immediately felt an immeasurable amount of murderous intent coming from her.

"In my defence" I said raising a finger. "You were the one who was careless enough to take a bath run the risk of meeting your roommate in this look of yours. The roommate also having an equal risk of being a boy."

I probably shouldn't have said that as she raised her hand and aimed right in front of me. The room got notably hotter as what looked like a mini sun the size of a tennis ball formed in her hand.

She's a Mage that can use Solar Magic I thought very surprised that she also seemed to be using quite skilfully as well.

"SUNLIGHT BURST!" Shion yelled and fired the tennis ball sized blast at me.

I quickly leapt behind the sofa, the blast missing and slamming straight into the wall below the staircase. Somehow the wall did not blow up in an explosion of splinters and was only charred a little bit.

"You know trying to burn your roommate to ash isn't the best first impression." I called behind the sofa.

I looked up and saw another mini sun hovering in the air above my head.

"You have got to be kidding me."

I jumped out the way before the sun crashed into the ground before then sprinting behind Shion at speed that from her perceptive, would seem almost instantaneous and faster than her eyes could follow.

"Look let's talk about this!" I muttered behind her.

Shion whipped round but I grabbed her hand.

"Look it was a simple accident calm down I was not spying on you and we are roommates." I said blankly. "If you don't believe me, you can check the note from my envelope, next to my bag on the sofa."

Shion seemed to calm down as she saw the note lying next to my bag exactly where I said it was. The rage and embarrassment disappearing from her eyes.

"Ok I've calmed down; you can let go of my hand now." She said looking down at her feet as I complied with her request.

"I'm going upstairs to get changed, we'll talk after."

I watched her turn round and walk up the stairs and into through the door first door on the landing before closing it behind her.

I breathed a heavy sigh before falling onto the armchair beside the sofa.

First that Xander guy and now Shion I thought. Why is everything forcing me to do the opposite of keeping a low profile.

After a couple of minutes Shion came back downstairs wearing some casual clothes and went into the kitchen area of the room.

"How are you with coffee?" She called from it.

"Coffee's fine with me don't mind what kind it is either." I replied.

"Black coffee it is." I heard her mumble to herself.

After waiting another few minutes or so she returned holding two cups of coffee, handing me one before sitting on the sofa next to me.

"Think of this as my apology." She said getting comfortable before taking a sip. She looked very professional.

"I hot drink apology for a nearly hot death. Sounds about right." I said taking a sip of my own.

"You're an Assassin Class, aren't you?"

I nearly spat out all the coffee in my mouth.

"How'd you know that?" I asked recovering my composure.

"I didn't." She said rather smugly. "It was a suspicion that you've now confirmed."

"Got me there. How did you get that suspicion then?"

"You speed." She said glancing at my legs. "The Assassin Class is designed for stealth and speed in order to make quick kills with as little trouble as possible. If you had a knife and we where fighting to the death just then."

She stared directly into my eyes.

"You could have slit my throat before I even blinked."

I laid back into the armchair placing my drink on the side table, ignoring the morbidity of the comment she just said.

"I've met many Assassin Class Ethereal's in my life and you're definitely the second fastest I've seen."

"The fastest being The Beast King, Vide Blackstone, I'm assuming."

"Correct you are." She said taking another sip from her cup.

"You said you've met many Assassin Class's before. I'm guessing you either have a lot of connections or are quite well known, maybe even both." I said.

It was Shion's turn to nearly spit out her coffee before then turning to look at me surprised.

"You don't know me!?" She seemed quite exasperated.

"Does the nickname The Phantom Mage ring a bell?" She asked.

"Should it?" I replied raising an eyebrow. If I did why would I have asked for your name at the bus."

"That's a fair point."

"I'm one of the Top Dragon Ranked Mage Class Ethereal's in the world and have been given the nickname The Phantom Mage because of the lack of people to land even a single attack on me."

"Scary." I said causing Shion to roll her eyes.

"I'm the Incarnation of the Lernaean Hydra which allows to me regenerate from most injuries ranging up to lost limbs. I also have one of the Seven Deadly Sin Skills, Gluttony which is an Active Skill that allows the user to absorb the power of any non-physical attack that is below the user's rank and temporarily stores/stacks it onto the user's own power, plus I have my Unique Skill Spectre."

"The name of that Unique Skill does seem familiar." I said looking up with my fingers on my chin.

"At least you know of something that I own." Shion said with a sigh. "It's a Skill that makes me intangible with anything passing right through as if I was made of air."

"What's the time limit?"

"Hm?" Shion raised an eyebrow.

"A Skill like that is very complex and would use up a substantial amount of Ethos meaning it would have time limit and presumably cool down which would be of similar length of period as the time limit itself." I explained.

Shion smiled.

"Let's say what you said is correct, I wouldn't tell you anyway." She said. "An Ethereal should always keep their special cards close to their chest."

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Can't disagree with you there. It's a smart thing to do however didn't you just tell me some of your other Skills?" I replied a faint smile appearing on my face.

"I'm not so arrogant to think that I'm the only Ethereal to have the Skill Gluttony. I'm sure there are many others who have the Skill as well plus there are other regenerative/self-healing Skills out there." She said bluntly, standing up and walking towards the wall of a window looking at the evening sky now starting to turn orange. "Note that I didn't tell any of the weaknesses of the Skills either."

"Also, true." I responded taking another sip from my coffee.

"By the way" Shion said turning around. "how powerful are you exactly?"

"Why do you ask."

"Tomorrow we'll are being taking part in duels."

"That should be obvious if you look at my shoulder." I said shrugging my shoulders.

Shion was suddenly an inch away from my face, her red eyes trying to peer into my soul. I stared straight back with my own blue eyes, not even flinching, and continued to drink my coffee.

"Don't be smart with me Lion Rank." Shion said in a deadly voice. "You've got a secret. You are labelled a Lion Rank yet you're in the top class of the school. That doesn't just happen."

"Your right. It doesn't but I'm pretty sure teach explained why I am in that class though."

"I don't buy that." She said her face completely blank. "Why are you really in that class."

There was a long silence as we did nothing but stare into each other's eyes. If one of us decided to, we could literally move only an inch closer, and we'd kiss.

"Fine ok I'll tell you." I said putting my cup of coffee down. "Could you move back a bit. A girl being this close to a boy could very well lead to certain activities."

Shion blushed slightly as she realised just how close she was to my face and put some distance between each other.

"Teach wasn't lying with what she said." I explained. "That is the reason the other is that I'm from Valhalla."

Shion raised an eyebrow at that.

"You transferred from Valhalla huh?"

"Yes. And the principle of G.E. High essentially wants me to compare the top students of this Ethation School to the top students from the Ethation Schools in Valhalla."

"I see. Ethation Schools are usually much better and house more powerful Ethereals than the schools in this world. If you can claim that your school produces stronger Ethereals than the schools in Valhalla, then you get more students wanting to come to this school and in turn make more profit."

Shion said this while pacing back and forth like a concerned mother.

"I'm a spy basically."

Shion looked at me for a few more seconds before nodding in satisfaction.

"That clears things up. One more question." She said as she walked up the stairs before pausing halfway up.

"You seem to never run out of them." I sniggered slightly

"You don't have a Skill that fluctuates your power throughout the day, do you? I swear you were stronger in class than you are currently."

I narrowed my eyes.

"No. I don't possess such a skill." I said bluntly. "You were imagining things likely because of your suspicions of me which are now cleared up."

"Yeah, your probably right." Shion said starting to walk up the stairs again. "A Skill which increases and decreases your power throughout the day would be incredibly powerful and complex. Only Dragon Ranked Ethereals or high would be able to have a Skill like that."

She closed the door of her room behind her, leaving me sitting on the armchair with the evening sky in now full form.

Shion Marble. She sure is interesting. I'll need to keep an eye on her as she could either be an asset or a significant threat to my goals.

The topic of the duels tomorrow suddenly popped into my head.

That could be trouble I thought. The one thing that I hate more than unwanted attention is losing.

I looked up at the ceiling and closed my eyes.

Why does my highest priority contradict the one below it? I'm gonna have to think of some excuse to not take part in the duels.

I looked at the bright orange sky before taking one more sip of coffee before walking up the stairs to my room.