First Step [7]

"Class 1-A, line up!"

After the welcoming ceremony had ended, we had all been divided into four different classes, all of which were supposed to contain 20 students. However, since some people had been expelled when they ran away during the Principal's 'speech', there weren't more than 15 students in my class, and I assumed it to be the same with the other classes.

Our class was currently gathered outside on a dirt-covered field with a track-and-field track around it, clearly meant for physical activities. 

Looking up while covering my eyes from the scorching sun, I sought to find some relief from the clear blue sky. 

'This day has been so long already...'

It couldn't be helped that I was exhausted. Trying to come to terms with everything that was happening around me was one thing, but since everything also felt so incredibly slow to me, I had a hard time keeping my energy up. But it did help a bit knowing that I had somehow gotten placed in the same class as Cerus, who was standing proudly and taking his place in the front-most spot in the line.

'At least I've gotten a bit used to how slowly people talk...'

With every struggle came improvement, even if it sometimes was small, but I was never one to ignore even the smallest bits of progress. If I didn't, I don't think I would make it far in this world. So with those thoughts permeating my mind, I also got in line with the other students in my class, farthest away from our teacher. 

Our teacher, who was a very military-looking man, contrasted our black uniforms with a white one and had an impressive build that even eclipsed Cerus, which in itself could be said to be an impressive feat. His head was bald like that of the Principal's, adorned with two bushy brows and a scar running down his cheek. 

To me, it was an obvious fact that he was likely very strong, not just because he had the credentials to become an instructor in the academy, but because the way he carried himself was an act of someone powerful. However...

'He doesn't carry the scent of a champion...'

Just because someone was strong didn't mean they were qualified to be a champion. To become a champion you naturally had to be strong, but just because you were strong didn't mean you could become a champion. Power was just one part of it. 

The red-haired in front of the teacher, though...

'His sense of responsibility is different.'

All I had was speculation, but if there was one thing I trusted, it was my instincts. No... I trusted my eyes. The small, minuscule movement of their muscles was all I needed to be certain that they weren't the same. While Cerus legs were always ready to take a step forward, our teacher's feet were rooted in place, like a guardian who would stand his ground to the end to defend what was precious to him. And that was a crucial difference in my eyes. 

"Listen up! Normally we would be voting for whom should be the class president right now, but we all know who is the most suited for that position! Cerus!"

Our classmate took a step forward without hesitation, showing his broad back to the ones behind him.

"Yes, sir!"

"You are the class president, got it?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Good! Now, let's continue with the lesson! For our first..."

Nodding, our teacher looked quite content with Cerus' response. Content enough to simply move on without delay. Or at least he tried, when a bright voice suddenly cut through the air, insistent on catching his attention. 

"Sir! Don't we need a vice-president?"

The voice came from a girl behind Cerus, her brown hair quickly reminding me of the name that she had told me in the assembly hall. It was Celine, the rude girl who had run to Cerus' side when he was talking to me, persistently trying to drag him away as if she thought that I was a good-for-nothing.

Our teacher didn't seem all too happy about the sudden interruption of his lesson, and although Celine had come out swinging with confidence, it was pretty clear that the sharp eyes of our teacher were quickly tearing that confidence down. 

"A vice president... why?"

"B-because... it's part of the protocol... every class is supposed to have a president as well as a vice..."

"Why?"

Despite her efforts to explain herself, our teacher wouldn't budge, still standing his ground and once again asking the same question. This time, however, Celine couldn't even try to give a good answer, as she was seemingly aware that her answer wouldn't be enough to convince him. 

'Can't be helped, can it?'

Therefore, I stepped up, as I as well knew the importance of...

"It's about the balance of power, sir. A vice president is a necessary link in the chain of command to make sure the president doesn't become corrupt or complacent. If a vice president didn't exist, the president would attain too much power for one individual in the context of a group."

...or not. 

Before I had the chance to step up to the plate, another girl stepped up. She was a bit taller than Celine and had a bit of a more mature air around her, although she was a bit lacking in the "womanly" departments. Another part of the mature air she let out was the neatly put-up ponytail that fell down her back like a tail. 

'She was... Fry? Froy? Fray?'

As we had already been role-called back at the assembly hall, I knew that I had heard her name before, but it was still difficult for me to remember everyone. Luckily for me, our teacher had a better grasp of everyone's names than I had. 

"Frey, was it? Good answer. So, Frey, who do you think should be the vice president?"

"...huh?"

"I said, you can choose who should be the vice president."

A bit stumped by the teacher's brash approach, Frey took a step backward, and although her face didn't show it much, it was obvious that she felt like she was caught with her hand in the cookie jar. She hadn't been prepared for this at all, and therefore she wasn't sure how to react either.

"Tch! This is why you youngsters are too immature!"

Our teacher shook his head, disappointed that despite Frey's good answer she didn't have the guts to follow through. Then, he crossed his arms and looked at all of us with ice that could freeze the air. 

"All of you, listen carefully to what I'm about to say. I have no idea how all of you have been raised, nor do I care about it. If you were hailed as a genius in your former schools or if you were someone who struggled with all their might to get here, I don't give a damn! Words are useless without action!"

'Agreed... but shouldn't that much be obvious?'

I knew that he was probably expecting all of us to dwell on his words for a bit, as he imparted some of his hard-earned wisdom upon us, but truthfully, I already knew that. So it couldn't be helped that I had a hard time joining the other students in their grim and deep contemplation. 

*Yaaawn!*

Ultimately, my exhaustion got the upper hand for a second, forcing out a small yawn while the other students were still staring down at the dirt below our feet. Unfortunately for me, there was someone close by who didn't know about my particular dilemma. 

"...are my words not of interest to you?"

As I had still not allowed our teacher out of my sight, both as a sign of respect but also as I wanted to consume as much information about him as possible, it couldn't be helped that me staring straight at him while yawning might be interpreted as a slight sign of disrespect.

It also didn't take long for my classmates to shift their focus from the ground and lay their eyes on me, their eyes showing me just how stupid they thought I was. Ultimately, I knew that excuses were just that, excuses, and therefore I simply spoke with honesty. 

"They aren't."

The crossed arms were now clenched down hard, the veins on his hands popping out in salute to the muscles underneath that had been activated. Nevertheless I continued, as I had more than enough time to carry on before our teacher tore me a new one, as everything was still so slow to me. 

"Those words are wasted on me. Because I had never thought that I would be able to survive by using my words and more importantly... I would never achieve my goals by using words."

He released a small breath in conjunction with my words, his tense body showing some small signs of relaxing, which in turn also made me relax a bit. 

'Fue... I'm glad that he understood...'

"Let's spar. Let me see you back those words of you up as proof of your conviction."