Field Trip - Part 5: Friend or Foe?

"Thank you, Rin... but we'll get into the neat and gritty later as I'm sure everyone must be famished by now. So please do not let me hold you all up any longer," Niko stated with a smile as he stood up and spread his arms, finally allowing everyone the chance to dig in.

Leading to a flood of silver cloches being thrown into the air revealing the delicious meals hidden underneath them. Which sparkled in the sunlight from the few rays that seeped through the curtains, casting a glow upon the feast before them as steam swirled around the dining hall.

"S... s-sir, are you sure this is all for us?" A chubby student named Billy exclaimed with a stutter as his eyes glowed brightly like two lanterns at midnight, as he inspected the feast before them with drool causing the dining hall to get unbearably hot suddenly.

As if they were sitting in a sauna cranked to the max unannouncedly, fortunately, they only had to bear with it for a few minutes. Or else a couple of the students would have turned into ash after being exposed to the flame aura of a dormant crow unknowingly which is both a blessing and a curse.

"Yes, Billy so, by all means, enjoy yourself," replied Niko with a chuckle as he dispelled the heat exuded by Billy's body, a phenomenon that occurs whenever he gets overly excited or loses a grip on his emotions.

'Hmm, interesting it seems our efforts weren't in vain after all?' Ezekiel muttered with a smile as he lightly chuckled remembering the promise, he made with an old acquaintance long ago before the Beast Clans turned against each other and the Millennium War of the Divine even occurred.

Yet it was as if it was only yesterday when we were chatting happily about our past adventures, Jinx. Before that accursed being awoken and ruined everything leading to the second reset.

'Sigh... it seems the older I get the more I realize just how sad it is to be immortal, an unkillable entity that has the tenacity of a cockroach yet is still bound by the Laws we try so hard to break from. Regardless of where we go, we are deemed demons striking fear in both ally and foe, even though we are the same ones who laid down our lives for the survival of the Cosmos. Just so the persisting embers of our races can continue to burn brightly.' Ezekiel whispered in a trance as he silently cried letting out all the griefs of his heart from the last thousand years as he pounded his fist against the walls of Rin's Soul Palace repeatedly.

Wishing and hoping that things will be different this time around compared to previous attempts. Which all ended miserably at the very last step, a step that could have changed everything or nothing at all.

But what if it could, would we truly be able to kill her this time and claim the throne? Or would everything fail yet again, and our lives would be for naught?

'Is something the matter Ezekiel?' Rin asked worriedly as he could feel that Ezekiel was in an emotionally unstable state as his Soul Palace shook ever so lightly like a pebble thrown into a pond.

'... *sniff* Sorry, about that I am just a bit sentimental is all. But on a serious note, *sniff*could you do something for me, kid?' asked Ezekiel as swiped away the tears and returned to his usual stoic self.

'Sure, as long as it's within my capabilities.'

'I assure you it will not be anything crazy or potentially dangerous, Rin, I just want you to protect the descendant of an old friend of mine.'

'And would that be?' asked Rin as he took a good glance at fellow first-year students.

'Billy.'

'Hmm... did not expect that but I guess I could, hopefully, he does not turn out to be a magnet for trouble.' replied Rin with a yawn as he glanced at Billy peculiarly.

'Thanks, kid you do not know how much that warms my heart, but I will be glad if you just keep a close watch on him and help him when you can. As I am sure his family will not let him fall into such a situation.' Ezekiel said with a smile, 'Sorry I couldn't save you back then Jinx, but I assure you I'll at least try to protect and safeguard your descendants.'

'Okay, so now that you have calmed down, what is so special about this kid? As he seems normal to me except for that strange burst of heat that left his body awhile.'

'Sorry, but it's better you learn that one on your own, however, the lineage he belongs to is unique, so I would advise you to develop a good relationship with him, Rin. But for now, I would try and function as usual as it seems a few people have already noticed its scent.'

"Is there something on my face?" Billy asked curiously as he saw Rin looking at him weirdly, just as was about to pick up a grilled drumstick.

"Huh? Oh, sorry about that I was lost in the clouds for a moment there," replied Rin smoothly without batting an eye.

"Oh, we'll dig in as it seems we'll be here for a while," Billy smiled before staring in shock after noticing Rin's plate was still empty, "Hey, um not to be weird or anything, but is it cool if I make a plate for you?"

He asked but after not receiving a response, he just began to assemble Rin's plate.

'Wait, wait what scent? The food aroma all around us or Jessica's perfume?' Rin asked confused at what Ezekiel was referring to and the fact that someone outside of his family offered to make a plate for him, "Sigh, well this is new."

"What you never had someone make a plate for you before?" Jessica asked with a giggle.

"I have it's just usually by the opposite gender." Rin replied as he switched the subject, "So why aren't you eating, Ms. Evergreen?"

"I already ate before I came here so, no need to worry about me, Stink, but the better question is are you finally going to accept my offer?" Jessica asked excitedly at the prospect as she leaned closer to Rin and whispered seductively.

'The former as each Bird of Paradise… tsk, that is beside the point, Rin as we have more a pressing matter to worry about like the safety of Billy.' Pharaoh uttered with annoyance as he said more than he was supposed to after failing to see through Rin's scheme sooner.

"If you're referring to the next lifetime then yes, but for now that's a negative." Rin replied sharply, 'Sigh, who would have thought Billy would be a descendant of one of the Legendary Trinity, huh? So how much time do we have before everything goes left?'

'Less than five minutes.' Replied Pharaoh.

"Sigh, and here, I thought you finally came to your senses and realized the opportunity of a lifetime you are about to lose," muttered Jessica with a pout as she glared at Rin.

"Tsk, that isn't an opportunity but a slave contract," Rin muttered with disgust, 'Troublesome, but manageable so what was that about not knowing Billy's specific lineage?'

"How is marrying a beautiful young lady such as me a slave contract? When all you must do is take care of me and shower me with gifts and presents regularly." wondered Jessica as most guys she talked to would agree to this proposal automatically without hesitation.

'Rin, some things are better left unsaid, so for now put the matter behind you, until you are strong enough to uncover such information on your own.'

'Tsk, stingy bastard, never willing to share the good things.'

"I think it has to do with the fact that Rin values freedom above all else, Jessica," Bill interjected as he handed Rin the plate, he made for him which consisted of chocolate waffles, strawberries, bacon, cheesy eggs, potatoes, toast, and sausages.

"Thanks, Billy!"

"No, problem, and hope you enjoy it!" He said after giving him his plate and began devouring his food with relish.

"Freedom? Billy, you do know for the first ten years of his life he was living the life of a free man. Doing nothing but watching Anime and idling in his room like a psychopath." Jessica berated as she side-eye Billy.

"Oh... well, then I guess maybe he just doesn't like overly beautiful women."

"Huh? Now that I think of it, you might just be right, Billy."

"Billy... please shut up and Jessica, I don't want to marry you because for one, I value my seeds and two you're not my type. So, please stop pestering me about it," Rin stated as he looked Jessica in the eye and laid it all out on the table for her.

"Sigh, I know Rin, but you can't stop a gal from trying right?"

"Sometimes I truly wonder why you even broke up with Bryan, when he was everything, you wanted in a man."

"Don't even start, Rin as I'm..."

CREAK! BOOM! THUD!

"Sorry, for the intrusion but you're coming with us kid! Now!" An individual covered in black and silver garments commanded as their cognac eyes focused upon Billy.