Chapter 1: LEVEL UP

"Good morning class."

His stride was tall and sure. Each step was one of confidence and stability. He was clearly a man of professionalism, having donned a pair of black slacks and a white button up, complimented by a pair black-framed glasses.

Despite his trim and proper attire, he still managed to seem unruly. Swirls of ink as dark as night crawled across his skin, nailed into his body.

The swirls met to form an unknown language; they appeared to be placed randomly, and yet naturally— perfectly.

"Today there will be cameras within the classroom, recording. Despite this, nothing will change. Instead, I hope you all choose to do you best. Remember that this footage will be placed under public scrutiny. You do not want to establish a bad image before you even graduate."

The man's voice was deep and even. His words were without a hint of emotion and blunt, but there was not a single student from the crowd in front of him that put forth any protest.

Each student drank in his words carefully, savoring the memory silently.

The black-haired golden-eyes man in front of them was the highest level professor in the academy. Only the best of the best received the opportunity to be taught by this man.

Despite their determination to focus, a silent buzz echoed through the room.

The cameras had been set up and were running, hidden from them in unknown corners and crevices.

For the next week, these cameras would continue to record their day. This was to establish sufficient footage to create an episode of one of the most watched shows across the world: LEVEL UP.

In the highly reputed series LEVEL UP, famous stars from around the world would visit equally famous schools, academies, and colleges for a period of time.

The filming period could range from a few days to a whole year.

And this time, the academy featured by LEVEL UP was their very own Everish Academy.

Nobody knew who the star was going to be, and nobody knew how long they would be staying.

But it would take only one more week before it was all revealed.

And nobody in that room had stronger feelings regarding this matter then the man behind the podium.

Mr. Avastalyn, as the students know him, was silently screaming inside.

Despite his stone-cold and uncaring appearance, he was incredibly frustrated about the whole situation.

He never would have agreed to the filming of LEVEL UP in his classroom if he had any say in it.

The appearance of a celebrity would be nothing but a distraction for the students, and would be nothing but a hassle to him.

Their grades would start to slip, their abilities would become rusty, and they would stop cultivating.

Instead, they would spend their time gossiping, covering their faces in too many layers of colored pastes and powders, and grooming their tails.

Nothing good would come of this.

He didn't understand why the director had been so insistent on it.

And most of all, he didn't like how the director had looked at him ever since they got the offer.

That sparkle in her eyes…

Avastalyn had long known it meant she was up to no good.

- - - - -

Dear Avastalyn,

Today I happily inform you of the Everish Academy's decision to participate in the hit-series LEVEL UP. In acknowledgement of your outstanding abilities, commitment to your position, and dedication to your students, you have been selected as LEVEL UP's highlight host.

Have fun :)

~DIRECTOR EVERISH

- - - - -

Why did she even bother to make it sound professional if she was going to put a smiley face at the end and then send it to him as a text?

All it did was enrage him further.

Maybe that was the whole point.

No.

It was definitely the point.

She had always loved to tease him, even when he was little…

Ugh.

Pushing the memory to the deepest, darkest crevice of his mind, he continued to address the students.

"Please register your presence now."

The students simultaneously pressed a button on the side of their desks, watching as the screens lit up with a pale blue hue.

The first thing they did was place their right hand on the holographic blue palm in front of them.

Their screens flashed a brighter blue before switching.

The same pale blue light did a retina scan before a password prompt appeared.

The students were not the only ones who went through this process. Their teacher did as well.

At Everish Academy, all personal was required to long into the system at the start of every day.

After typing in the password, the desk's blue light faded back into its surface.

"We will be working on Endurance for the first 3 hours of our time together. Then you will have a 20 minute break followed by a 2 hour long guided meditation session. Proceeding lunch will be a lecture, flexibility training, sparring, guided combat, specialized sparring, and meditation. You will be reviewing home work."

As always, the level-toned professor laid the day bare before them and the pupils silently arranged a rough outline of their schedule in their minds.

"If you have any question regarding last night's homework or would like to discuss something of importance, you may see me during your break time, lunch, or after class has ended. Now please gather your things and follow me."

Without another moment of hesitation, Avastalyn walked out of the room.

The kids in the room instantly relaxed and began to chatter quietly, but their was a swift steadiness to their movements as they routinely put all of their things away and pressed a button on the other side of their desks.

With a flash of blue light each teen was left with a customized accessory in their hands.

For some it was an earring, for others a bracelet, a necklace, or a small tattoo behind their ear.

Walking over to their friends, they left the classroom and hurried in their teachers wake.