Fateful Encounter

'My name is Aiden Santa, and today is my first day of school after my short vacation.'

"Aiden where were you? I didn't see you at all on the vacation."

Said a cute girl of the same age as me.

We were going to school together as usual.

She was wearing a short skirt, a white shirt with a red tie, and a brown coat. These were the uniforms of our school.

Navigating the familiar path to school, Aiden couldn't help but notice the occasional attention he garnered from random admirers. With a face like his, charm seemed inevitable.

'It's not a rare occasion for a random cute girls to come and flirt with me, with a face like mine no girl could resist. . . I don't even know her name.'

Said Aiden in his mind.

"Hey do you know about the new hero? The one with the white mask?"

Said Aiden with confidence as he asked about his hero persona.

"Oh you mean the short creep?"

Said the girl with a disgusted face.

"HE IS NOT A CREEP"

Screamed Aiden with anger on his face.

They chatted more until they got to the school gates.

At the gate were Torao, Naomi, Andrew, and Ashley waiting for Aiden.

'And this is the time when. . .'

Said Aiden as he turned to his right and saw that the girl had run away from him.

'*sigh* As usual, they run the moment they see Torao and company.'

Said Aiden with an annoyed face.

"Good morning-"

Greated Aiden.

"Dont Good morning me. Why did you not answer my texts?"

Asked Torao with a slightly angry face.

"Well i had some work to do. . . Soryy."

Apologized Aiden.

"Was it that woman?"

Asked Torao referring to Aria.

"Kinda. . . but don't get the wrong idea. We arent dating at all."

Said Aiden with a blush on his face just like every loser MC in harem manga.

"I didnt ask that."

Said Torao with an annoyed expression.

"Anyway, let's go. The classes will start soon.

Said Torao as they all started going towards their classes.

IN CLASS 1-A

'Ah just like I was saying I am also prodigy and genius in everything I do.'

Aiden thought to himself as he examined his test papers on his desk.

'. . . I haven't picked A in a while. . .'

Aiden said as he was clearly trying to guess the results.

IN THE HALLWAY AFTER CLASSES

Aiden read the dashboard displaying his results.

]Aiden Santa - 0 points: Ranking 200[

Aiden read the dashboard with his results in it.

'. . . well I am rich anyway.'

Said Aiden with a drool coming from his mouth.

"Ha ha Mineta it seems like you should try to study a little harder."

Andrew taunted with a mocking expression.

"You are only one place above me fatass."

Aiden snapped back in an angry tone.

]D̶e̶k̶u̶ Andrew Santa - 1 points: Ranking 199th[

"Tsk. At least I know how to write my name."

Andrew said as he clicked his young.

"MY NAME IS NOT MINETA."

Said Aiden in an angry tone.

"Deku, you have to do better if you want to be at the same level as me."

Said Ashley out of nowhere.

"Tsk as if you are any better."

Said Aiden.

]O̶c̶h̶a̶k̶o̶ Ashley Quinlan - 2 Points: Ranking 197th[

"Fuck you gnome."

Said Ashley in tears.

As they were insulting each other on the left side of the board, a girl was staring at the board with expressionless eyes.

]Naomi Hoga - 192 points: Ranking 7th[

"It's not even close. . ."

Said Naomi as she was shaking.

"*sigh* Its gets easier every year."

Torao commented with a disappointed expression.

]Torao Takabe - 200 points: Ranking 1st[

'BASTARD'

Echoed in everyone's mind.

Outside Of School

In the midst of the city's hustle and bustle, the group of friends strolled towards the train station, their chatter blending with the urban symphony around them. However, as they approached the station entrance, Aiden abruptly halted a serious expression clouding his face.

"Hey, guys, I've got something I need to take care of. Go ahead without me,"

Aiden stated, his tone carrying a sense of urgency.

With that, he diverged from the group, disappearing into the city and leaving his friends to continue going home without him.

"Aria wake up."

Aiden murmured, directing his words toward the small white keychain hanging from his backpack.

"I am awake, Master."

Replied the keychain

Aiden strowed around the city, searching for trouble.

This is exactly what he did for a week now.

There were reports on his site about abuse and assaults close to the place he was now investigating.

"You demons!"

The furious cry echoed through the narrow alley, reverberating off the cold brick walls. Aiden turned his attention toward the source, spotting a young man with tear-streaked cheeks and an enraged expression.

The young man had raven dark hair and eyes glowing in red.

His eyes were fixed on a defenseless girl, trembling against the harsh brick backdrop.

The girl, cowering under the weight of the man's accusations, managed to muster a feeble defense.

"How can you and your brother do something like that to my sister? She was no more than 12 years old."

The man accused, his voice quivering with a mixture of anger and despair.

"I am sorry, but i didnt do anything to your sister."

she replied, her voice barely audible against the backdrop of the dark alley. The flickering light from a nearby lamppost painted a scene of tension and fear as Aiden observed the unfolding drama.

"It was always like that for trash like you. I no longer care, eye for an eye, sister for sister."

The angry man declared, his body pulsating with a fierce surge of white mana.

In the blink of an eye, a makeshift blade crafted from a piece of glass materialized in the man's hand. Pouring all his energy into the makeshift weapon, he aimed to swing it at the defenseless girl, driven by a desperate desire to kill the woman.

However, the trajectory of the blade was suddenly halted as it collided with a majestic silver sword. Using his mana, Aiden leapt in front of the girl to shield her from harm. Yet, the battle proved more challenging than he anticipated.

The weight of the confrontation pressed heavily on Aiden as he struggled against the overpowering force of the man's attack. Each passing second added to the burden on his body, threatening to overwhelm him.

'Who is this?'

The man wondered, perplexed by the unexpected resistance as it became evident that he hadn't exerted his full strength on the blade.

Aiden, realizing the impending defeat in the physical clash, decided to shift his strategy. He infused his blade with a substantial amount of flaming mana, aiming to not only defend against the man but also to inflict harm with the power of Aetherian Radiance. However, this unexpected retaliation only fueled the man's anger.

"How dare you stop me with such a cold flame,"

Roared the man, his rage intensifying. The mana emanating from him grew even more ominous, shrouding the surroundings in a silver aura. Simultaneously, the weight of his blade increased, making the ongoing struggle even more challenging for Aiden. The clash between their contrasting powers created a spectacle of conflicting energies in the narrow alley.

Feeling the overwhelming force of the opponent's blade, Aiden swiftly adjusted his stance and skillfully redirected the trajectory of the incoming attack. The blade clashed against a nearby building, causing a destructive impact that shattered the wall. Debris scattered in all directions, creating a chaotic scene in the narrow alley.

As the haze lingered, a trembling Aiden was reluctantly revealed, standing protectively with the woman now shielded behind him. His eyes betrayed a mix of terror and uncertainty, a stark departure from his usual confident demeanour. The situation had thrust him into an unexpected confrontation, and fear had taken a firm hold on the reluctant hero.

Aiden winced in pain, his hands throbbing from the intense clash. The force of the collision had reverberated through Aetherian Radiance, sending shockwaves of discomfort up his arms. Gritting his teeth, he fought to maintain his composure, but the physical toll was evident.

"MASTER, THIS IS DANGEROUS! HE IS A REAL SORCERER FROM A NOBLE LINEAGE. HE IS NOT SOMEONE YOU CAN FIGHT!"

Aria's scream echoed through Aiden's consciousness.

Aiden, feeling a surge of terror, stammered.

"H... how can I run away?"

"My name is Chikara Takabe. What's your name, dead man?"

The handsome yet menacing man asked.

"Huh?"

Confused, Chikara realized that Aiden and the young woman had mysteriously vanished, leaving the alley empty and silent.

Chikara concentrated all his mana into his eyes, allowing him to perceive the magical energies around him.

Scanning the area, he identified a potent mana source in the distance. As he surveyed his surroundings, he noticed absolutely no life energy.

With a sense of urgency, he channelled all his mana into his legs and swiftly dashed towards the mysterious energy.

AFTER 2 MINUTES

Aiden and the young woman materialized, reappearing from their concealed position on the wall. "cough**cough Damn."

Aiden, now holding a silver shield in his hand, and the girl were both caught in fits of coughing, their lungs protesting from the prolonged breath-holding. The sudden escape had taken its toll, leaving them breathless and disoriented.

As Aiden wrestled with his own feelings of powerlessness, a shiver of fear ran through him.

'He was so scary. . . If it wasn't for Aria, I would've already. . .'

The realization cut deep, prompting a renewed determination within Aiden.

"I need to become str-"

He began, but his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the young woman's questioning gaze.

"What did you do? Why did that person not see us?"

Asked the woman.

Aiden took a good look at the woman.

The woman possessed an alluring figure that seamlessly accentuated her beauty. Her black hair framed a face adorned with captivating features—expressive eyes, a perfectly sculpted nose, and luscious lips. The dress she wore elegantly outlined her curves, revealing a slender waist and well-defined hips. The overall effect was a woman whose attractiveness and body left a lasting impression on everyone in her vicinity.

Aiden, momentarily forgetting the feeling of fear, he mustered a confident smile.

Completely eradicating any chance for character development.

"I can't tell you. It's a top secret only talented 6-foot rich mages like me can know about."

Said Aiden as he was clearly trying to flirt with the girl.