Chapter 6: Lesson

Chris looked out of his room window and watched the other kids enjoy every places in Charm Academia's premises.

It's been eight days after being admitted in this mystic academy and surprisingly enough, no restrictions were placed. It's like a heavenly paradise for the kids his age where they have the right and power to do everything they want.

Most girls are enjoying lavishly eating high end cookies and pastries. They hoarded beauty products and every merchandises that they find cute, beautiful, or elegant.

The boys were no better than them, gluttonnously eating to their fill with different types of protein sources. They have lesser wants and needs but their lust for women gave them the reason to use their contribution points unnecessarily.

With the ten thousand contribution points given to them as a starter perks, everyone seem to have forgotten that contribution points will not be given after a month.

So far, one hundred contribution points has been used already in Chris' account. This is him buying the most cheapest food available in the dining hall and nothing else.

He remembered going outside the academy and roaming around the nearest town. He was fascinated that they also use the contribution points as their monetary system.

He was able to find there parts of what seems to be a humongous beast that they butchers and sold for hefty sum of points.

This information that he gathered led him to a certain fact that this so called Charm Academia is just another place for a dog-eat-dog world.

'At first, they will let us do whatever we want. They won't bother us even if we don't go to the lectures of any courses to show that freedom of choice is very welcomed. However, once the month passed already, they will for sure indiscriminately treat us like trash and throw us off the moment we show nothing of value to keep us.'

Summarizing his hypothesis in a piece of parchment, Chris casually went outside his room and walked towards the lecture hall.

He knocked on the door and entered the room. To his surprise, there are four additional students inside. They all looked at him with interest which he ignored as he sat on his usual sit at the middle.

"I believe you're also surprised at this sudden change in numbers, Chris." The professor whose watching this spectacle laughed slightly.

This comment promt to the others though that Chris has been attending the lectures for quite some time now, given the fact that the professor seems to be familiar with him already.

"Alright, let me first introduce once again for these new company we have..." He cleared his throat and smiled charmingly.

"Everyone, I am Professor Buckley and will be your proctor for Mystic Beast Arcana. With this session, you will come to know the different types of mystic beast that you might possibly encounter during your mission and also hopefully learn how to counter or survive in the face of these mystic beasts."

Professor Buckley walked towards the black board and stuck a huge picture depicting a small humanoid monster.

It has sharp claws and it's teeth almost akin to a saw, jagged and razor sharp. It has a long whip like tail and it's red vertical eyes shows its wild and demonic behaviour.

"Anyone can tell me what this might be?"

Professor Buckley gave them an intrigued smile as he asked the question. The other students who just recently joined the lecture looked towards Chris but the latter just kept his silence.

"Anyone? Maybe in folklores or stories that you encountered? Maybe heard from the gossiping townsfolk?"

This time, the girl sitting at the left side of the lecture hall raised her hand with skeptic behaviour.

"Yes? Please stand up, young lady!"

Professor Buckley smiled and pointed towards the girl. The young lady stood up and smiled at the professor.

"What's your name?"

"I...uh..I'm Alisson, professor!" Stuttering, Alisson fixed her monocle and looked at the picture.

"I only heard some stories from the Outer City... There are rumours going on that a demonic baby made a catastrophe inside the house of a family of five. From their words, they seem to call it a Chianak."

Clap!

Professor Buckley smiled widely and clapped his hands once to signal the stop. He thanked Alisson and the latter smiled gleefully.

"Thank you for that, Alisson! That is correct, this mystic entity is what we call a Chianak. For reference, the well known professor Albert here in Charm Academia is attuned with such creature. It's origin is from the resentment of hundreds or thousands of unborn infants who were discarded and not buried properly."

"It's a very common example of a demonic mystic beast and also very tricky to handle. It's a nocturnal beast and it disguises itself as a normal baby that was left in the front door."

"Now, the question is how can you handle this beast without alerting it?"

He looked at each of his students waiting for their opinion and perspective regarding the topic.

"Can't we just kill it?" Asked Leon

"You have to strategize first, you know? It's not like it's as easy as pie." Frida retorted while rolling her eyes

"We can kill it while it's still in disguise!" Alisson excitedly joined the heated discussion.

Professor Buckley smiled at his enthusiastic students and looked at the other new comer whose keeping silent.

The latter looked back at him knowing that the professor is probing him. He sighed and casually diverted his attention towards the quiet Chris who seems to have no intention to show off.

"We should first know the pattern of behaviour. We must observe the surroundings and also gather information from the neighbourhood."

"That's stupid, Edzel! There's no need to do such menial task if we can just eliminate it." Leon smirked as if winning the debate.

"In the recent year's data, there's an ascending rate of abortion in Manila due to unwanted pregnancy. The highest and most humane way of disposing the unwanted baby is through legal adoption or improperly leaving it in someone's house. This is also an act that the Chianak mimics and in order to disguise itself further, I believe that it will chose a place where numbers of such cases occurs."

Edzel retorted in a matter of fact tone making Leon's smirk vanish and replace it with his gritted teeth.

Nodding continuously, professor Buckley smiled with more energy. He was happy and elated knowing that these new comers are rowdy and opinionated which makes his discussion more interesting.

"What you said is indeed correct, Edzel... However, my question is how you can deal with the Chianak without alerting it. You are on the right path and will make a good strategist in your future group but you need to broaden your mind."

This time, professor Buckley looked at Chris with intense passion. He's already quite acquainted with the latter and knows for certain that this kid who attended his class much more earlier than others is an experienced hunter.

But before he could ask the kid, the small clock at the back made a loud ringing sound, indicating the end of period.

He sighed in defeat and turned back, cleaning up his teaching materials. The other kids who he got to know today also stood and and bid him farewell as he left the room.

Silence soon pervaded the room as the five student inside kept their mouth shut while observing their peers.

Alisson who was just stuttering and fidgeting a while back soon changed her demeanor. Her eyes are more serious and even exuding sharpness.

The rowdy duo Frida and Leon who was just bickering also changed their demeanor. They seem to have turned into poisonous existence, ready to strangle someone at any moment.

Edzel found their changes amusing as he observed each and every one of their behaviour.

Chris however is not that alerted at the sudden change. He was just quietly taking note of some details that was tackled a while ago, not bothered by the piercing gaze directed towars him.