A Lesson

Phoenix "Wolfy! Killian! You guys okay??"

She asks, concerned as she rushes out of the building and to them. They both smile at her softly, trying to ease her anxious mind.

Wolf "Of course. It's us afterall."

Killian "Exactly!"

He says with a big smile as Phoenix sighs in relief. Nobody watches as Cole takes a seat, insisting he's fine. Yoko stares at them for a moment before looking at the body of the Grand Fracture and the missing upper half. 

Yoko "What happened to him?"

Nobody looks back for a moment before looking at Yoko.

Nobody "Nothing at all."

Yoko smirks an intense, excited smile.

Yoko "Cool."

Nobody "Alright everyone. Get back to your rooms and stay there for the night while we clean this up."

Octavia "We don't have any rooms yet."

Nobody "Right. Get back to your community area and stay there for the night while we clean this up."

He repeats. They roll their eyes as they do as they are told. Nobody watches them for a moment before turning his attention to the Grand Fracture's body on the ground outside. His eyes sharpen a bit before stepping out of the building. 

Phoenix "I'm so nervous.."

She says with a nervous smile on her face as the class walks together down the hall to their classroom for a new day.

Wolf "You sure it's not the withdrawal from caffeine? I haven't seen you have a coffee for the past, like, week."

She says with a teasing smirk. Phoenix pouts a bit.

Phoenix "Not my fault they don't have any here…"

Killian "That's too bad."

He says before sipping on a cup of warm coffee.

Killian "They totally do in the cafeteria."

Phoenix looks shocked.

Phoenix "No way! Why didn't you tell me??"

She shouts before grabbing his collar and shaking him around. They laugh as Tadashi smiles.

Tadashi "If I were you, I'd be more nervous about the Eval Tournament."

He says with a smile. Saika looks at him surprised.

Saika "Right! Isn't that tomorrow??"

He asks, a mix of excitement and worry on his face.

Phoenix sighs and droops a bit.

Phoenix "Right. The Eval Tournament…"

Wolf "Hey, come on, it'll be okay! With that show of power the other day, what do you have to be concerned about?"

Phoenix "I guess so but that's not my biggest concern. Honestly, I'm more concerned with the lack of structure this place has.. I mean, we still haven't been given a real lesson on powers, techniques or anything!"

Tadashi "Don't worry about it. Professor Nobody says he's gonna make sure we're properly prepared for the test."

Moshiro "Considering his approach thus far, I doubt it."

Angie "Hey, there's nothing wrong with some zest to an otherwise boring topic."

The tall, developed girl says to her.

Cole "Yes. I find his teachings rather engaging."

Wolf "Yeah, I bet you do, big head."

Cole "My head is not big!"

Yoko "Whatever humans! Big or small head, you can all be sure I'm coming out on top."

They say confidently stepping in front of them when Law looks at them and makes eye contact.

Law "On your knees."

She commands as Yoko's eyes widen and they do as told, getting on their knees in front of Law. She smirks before continuing down the hall. Yoko is shocked before getting an upset look and rushing after her.

Yoko "Hey! You human, how did you do that to me?? I demand you answer!"

Jeni sweats a bit.

Jeni "Guess they're not worried about a thing."

Killian laughs as Tadashi shakes his head.

They make it to the classroom and swing the door open only to get surprised looks.

Wolf "Huh? No one's in here?"

She inquires as they enter the classroom, looking around. They take their seats with confused looks.

Alston "Maybe he has a special plan for us today?"

Dante smirks and leans back in his chair.

Dante "Doubt it."

He says casually. Elsewhere in the academy, Nobody comes bolting down the hall, tying his tie and sweating.

Nobody "Shit shit shit! I overslept again! On the second day, what's wrong with me??"

He shouts as he slides around a corner, startling another teacher, before blasting down the hall to his classroom. In a moment, he comes flying through the door of his class, shocking the students.

Nobody "Good morning class! I'm here!"

He shouts before slamming onto the ground from the dive. He hits the ground with a crash and a grunt when he's suddenly laying on the ground, leaning on his elbow reading a book. 

Nobody "Okay class, let's start by opening up our textbooks to chapter 4."

He says, wearing a pair of reading glasses over his sunglasses. The class sweats.

Saika "Um, we don't have textbooks yet."

He gets up quickly, holding the book in one hand and his reading glasses in the other.

Nobody "No? Good, cause I don't know what language this is."

He says, tossing the book and glasses over his shoulders behind him. 

Phoenix "Are you okay, professor?"

She asks, concerned.

Nobody "Of course! I definitely didn't oversleep because I was up late making a device capable of transporting entire rooms into another dimension."

He says blatantly as some of the students sweat and droop while others get excited.

Wolf "Another dimension??"

Tadashi "That's possible?"

Nobody "Yeahyeahyeah but don't tell anyone I said that. Might get a little dicey if you do."

He winks with a finger over his mouth before clapping his hands together.

Nobody "Okay! In that case, why don't we go over a few basics of the ASA and the Soul before throwing you into the Eval Tournament, shall we?"

Phoenix sighs in relief.

Phoenix "Finally, some proper education."

Nobody "Who said anything about proper?"

He says as Wolf and Alston laugh while Phoenix sweats a bit. 

Nobody "Let's start with your abilities. Who can tell me how many Types there are?"

Tadashi raises his hand.

Tadashi "There's 8 Types, sir."

Nobody "Wrong but let's go with that."

Tadashi sweats at his response as Moshiro looks confused and frustrated.

Moshiro "What is he talking about?.. There are only 8 Types anyone can be. And it's not like you can mix or blend them or anything."

Nobody "Correct. Each and every Soul can only possess one Type power, if any. There is no gaining, switching or developing any other powers let alone a different Type. Now who can name each one?" 

Cole raises his hand. 

Nobody "Yes, you, the bald one."

Cole gets an upset look.

Cole "I am not bald… Anyway, the 8 Types are Myth, Elemental, Flow, Death, Energy, Forge, Meta, and Body."

Nobody "Good job! You get a cookie."

He says playfully as he looks confused but appreciative. 

Nobody "The Types all together compose different parts of our Universe. Each being largely different from the other yet some possessing eerily similar abilities. As unspecial as these powers might be, they are not exactly common place, especially here."

Angie "I figured this place would have more powers walking around than anything…"

Nobody "I'm sure Ms. Nazuna has taught you about how to develop your powers if you have them and how they might come about so I'll leave all that for her. Now this part is especially important for those of you who don't have a Type power. Base Reception is far more important."

Some of their eyes light up, being introduced to a new idea.

Nobody "Base Reception is something each and every one of us have inside our Souls. And it levels the playing field for those who are weaker than others. So if you ever are lost and unsure what to train, you better train BR because that is what might change your life one day."

Moshiro specifically pays closer attention with hope in her eyes.

Nobody "Now there's a rough understanding of how powers work. Let's move on."

Class 'That's it??'

They all think in shock.

Nobody "Now it's time to explain what the Eval Tournament is all about."

He says with a smirk.

Nobody "Years ago, along with Teach, the old windbag, I helped create the idea of the Eval Tournament so I hope you understand why I'm so enthusiastic about it. Creating a more thorough system to figure out your classifications was pivotal to creating a better system of powerful people."

He says happily as he leans against his podium.

Nobody "What are the classifications here at the academy?"

Moshiro "There are only two. Hunter and Vanguard."

Nobody "Exactly. Can anyone tell me the difference between the two? And why it's so important to be properly classified?"

Galen "Hunters are usually more strategic in the pair. They generally aren't as strong and focus more on technique and support in the partnership. Vanguard as the other side of that coin. They are the strength of the operation. They go in and cause a mess, blasting damage and executing the Hunter's plans."

Nobody "I'm glad to see my class has done their homework. Now the importance?"

Dante "It's so you don't die."

He says with a casual smirk as Nobody smirks intensely back.

Nobody "Exactly."

He says while getting up and walking down the center of the classroom.

Nobody "We partner one Hunter to one Vanguard in an attempt to ensure the safety of our agents, especially the low Tier ones. Ideally, the partnership creates a rounded team that can handle any mission our students are sent on. Tiers 4 and 5 are allowed to handle missions on their own due to their power and experience but any Tier below, like the Tier 1s you all are, must be accompanied by their partners to go on any mission for the ASA."

He turns around and lifts a finger to the class.

Nobody "And that is what the Eval Tournament is all about."

He says as it fades to a stone path cutting through the thin forest around the ASA leading to a large complex.

Nobody "In the Eval Tournament, all of your skills will be put to the test. We will push you harder than you've ever been pushed to see how you operate and how you react. Based upon your demonstrations, we will determine your classifications and assign you partners making you officially full fledged academy students."

Teach "Now remember, this isn't a test."

Nazuna "Even though this is a test, you have nothing to worry about. It is only to figure out your classification! You can't possibly fail!"

Nobody "You can totally fail this test so give it your all or else."

Phoenix droops a bit as she walks along the path.

Phoenix "All these mixed signals are only stressing me out more…"

Dante "Hey, keep your head up Pho. I think you're thinking about this way too much."

He says with one eye closed and a smirk.

Dante "Ain't that right Wolf?"

Wolf "She is so good at overthinking things."

She teases with a smile as Phoenix blushes a little with a soft smile in return. As they walk, Cole stares at her with an analyzing glare.

Cole 'How annoying… Yesterday after class…'

He thinks back to the day before.

The class gets up and gathers to leave but as they do, Nobody speaks, leaning on his desk.

Nobody "Anderson. A word please."

He says as Wolf looks at him, surprised but stays behind. Cole stares at them for a moment, a look of frustration and subtle jealousy on his face as the door closes behind him.

Cole 'Nobody had something particular to say to that mutt. Just what could it have been?'

He thinks as the class approaches the entrance to the large complex where two teachers wait.