Leacher Act 64.

The welcome ceremony was about to begin, and all first-years trooped into the large theater chosen for the event. Most students came through the door in small groups or cliques.

Even reapers were scrambling to belong and avoid discrimination.

Deckra walked through the doors, followed by a fairly large group of students.

He scanned through the grand theatre, the students barely occupied twenty percent of the seats though their numbers exceeded a hundred.

Adjusting his tie, he threaded down the stairs to meet the others at the very front. The stage had been transformed into a high table section yet no notable personnel were present.

The light in the theatre suddenly dimmed, leaving only the stage light. By this time all students were seated except for two, actually.

→ → →

"Now the principal will give his closing remarks!"

The duo fell through the theatre door, panting excessively as they looked towards the stage.

“We— made it.” Shade bent over, hands on his thighs as he forced air in and out of his lungs.

"I told you we’d be late if we kept at it." Dark barked, but also almost as quiet as a mime.

"Sorry, but you were the one who seemed most keen, you couldn't even look away from the record books until I had closed them." Shade forced himself straight as his breathing grew steady.

Dark looked at the man who approached the microphone.

There were no cameras, no people around for a long time, yet he didn't make a single hostile move. I wasn’t stabbed in the back— or stabbed at all. That's really weird.

Dark furrowed his brows, his thoughts conflicting.

They both took seats at the very last row in the same column as the other students, leaving a massive crater between them.

Pretty stupid for trying not to draw attention.

"I won't say much. Just remember that out of thousands of applications, you were chosen above all others to lead the next generation. Don't fall short of the expectations your family, as well as society, has set for you." The principal’s cracked voice echoed across the hall.

"I hope you’re ready to learn, teaching starts tomorrow. Do your best."

"Yes sir!" The majority chorused.

The principal made his way back to the high table with the first years sending him off with a round of applause— or at least most of them did.

At the edge of the high table, four students sat, their uniforms looked different, darker, and more serious.

"The Sapphire will now give his welcome speech!"

One of them rose up and walked toward the microphone.

He was tall, his stature firm, and his body of a moderate build. His icy blue hair rhymed with his cold grey eyes; the reading glasses he had didn't deceive anyone.

"The Sapphire,” Dark whispered, eyes fixed on the puissant student taking hold of the mic.

He let out a slight grin.

This student was at the pinnacle of his current addiction, the number one student in the entire academy.

His smirk instantly faded, eyes still locked on.

'What better way to start— than from the top?'

↑→↓←↑→

"This is Light Slumber Prestige, you must learn to bow." The student started, hands in his pockets as he leaned into the microphone.

The first years looked at each other, shocked by he words they just heard.

"You must bow not out of respect but out of obligation. You must stay in my shadow, follow my rules, and submit your very essence to me. Why?—" he went on.

"Because I'm number one, not you."

"That's all that matters." He glared past each student as if they were nothing.

The first years frowned.

"Despite your background and social status outside these walls, you're all given an equal opportunity to stand where I am now. If you can't utilize this opportunity then you are indeed trash with honourable surnames."

He scanned through the audience of first years from end to end; most bent their heads immediately, others averted their eyes, while very few remained calm and kept their heads up.

"I look forward to working with your respective heads of classes which would be assigned later on."

"That's all for now. Do your best." He turned away from the microphone, took a step, and then rotated back around.

"Just to remind you of our very special rule, you are to pay strict adherence to The Leacher Act 64."

"Seriously, man." A faint male voice emerged from the seated first years.

Dark smirked, looking at the Sapphire who glared past the entire first years.

His eyes grew blurry, everything he saw appeared in pairs.

Not again, he shut his eyes.

"This is one of our golden rules here at LSP. Punishment for acting contrary to it is total banishment from the school's premises as well as the stripping of whatever social class you may possess in society."

Dark opened his eyes, and it immediately fell in line with the Sapphire's even though so very far away.

Both parties didn't disengage; they rested in the glare even.

"What's he talking about?" Dark nudged his roommate, looking away from the number one student.

"He's talking about the Leacher Act 64." Shade replied without even a change of expression, as if it was not something to be taught, but Dark's clueless gaze made him succumb.

"It's a law that states the agreement between the School authority and the general Leacher Eradication Unit. It entitles any student of this school the right to kill or manipulate any Leacher we come across with immediate effect. It's a golden law that has been around for decades. Basically like shooting on sight." Shade enlightened his ignorant companion, waving his wrist like a lecturer.

Dark lowered his gaze, his head bent slightly.

"You are now a Leacher" Lion's words echoed in his head, swaying his thinking.

"Leachers?" He hummed, staring clueless at Shade who just sighed while shaking his head.

"A Leacher is also known as a false reaper, they're spirits who were turned into reapers through the sharing of their creator's core energy. This action is very much illegal." Shade explained with dull eyes.

Dark gulped hard,

How could that bastard put me in a death zone, I'll be dead within seconds if my true identity gets figured out!

"Hey, you alright?" Shade raised a brow as he watched his friend.

Dark clenched his fists, trying to get a grip on his vibrating body,

"Yeah," he replied.

"Do all Leachers really become something monstrous?" he faked a smile.

"They're just natural beasts, mostly stronger than any average reaper. They only turn out as their master desires,"

Shade scoffed as he rolled his eyes.

"No one wants to admit that it's dirty reapers that make most Leachers what they are."

Dark turned forward towards the stage, most sounds slowly faded out. To him, the Sapphire's words became muffled and smashed beyond reasoning.

I'm being hunted, by people I don't know. Now this place — there's no hiding for me.

Dark gnashed his teeth.

"I'm the ace assassin, I shouldn't be killed. That's the whole point."

He took deep, slow breaths.

"Last I checked, I was the only one permitted to speak— you two," the Sapphire beaconed, scowling straight at Dark and his companion all the way at the back.

Dark locked his eyes with the Sapphire, delivering a cold, spiralling glint.

Everyone else—

Is just noise.