Awakening #1

Arthur yawned in his palm, tired and weary. "Man, we overdid it yesterday-- My body aches all over!"

Turning on his bed, he lazily rolled off of it and onto his feet. The sun was barely up in the visible sky, its rays reflecting off the clouds. "Another day..."

Going through the boring morning routine and trying to wake the two sleepyheads, Arthur groaned with his arms spread over the bench and his neck resting on the backrest.

"Ahh..."

The sky was now bright and shining, clouds blocking most of the sun from reaching his face. the air was clear and fresh with the scent of morning dew. 

"Well, that's that. I need to be productive, actually, I wonder how well I did on the exams." Arthur wonders, making his way toward the main road.

On the same road, he met the Villainess, every day for the last three weeks. In the distance, was the old butler and the raven-haired beauty. In her hands, was a newspaper, spread wide for her to read while simultaneously walking. 

Arthur waved at the old butler, and he nodded back in return. "Good morning, Arthur."

"Good morning to you too. How about you, Ellis, was your morning good?"

[ Ellis Simmons' favorability: +00.01 ] [ 1.23% / 100.00% ]

The lady just hummed, dragging it out until it faded into silence. "Mhmm..."

Arthur and Francis share a glance before he sighed. The old butler motioned to the newspaper with his eyes, and Arthur nodded.

"C'mon, stop reading while walking-- you'll trip."

"H-Hey!" She protested in indignation. "Return it to me!" Ellis demanded, her voice commanding and serious. If his eyes weren't deceiving him, Arthur could see a faint layer of fire around her.

"Later, I will," Arthur smirked, unfazed, earning him an acknowledging nod from Francis. "Now what were you so focused on?"

Arthur opened the newspaper, immediately noticing the large box, taking over two sheets of paper. The title was in bold letters, clearly reading--

"Mysterious Group of Vigilantes Rescues Captured Prisoners from a Human Trafficking Operation, in the Inner City-- whoa, that's a mouthful."

Arthur completely disregarded his own advice, and read the article columns. 

"You hypocrite." Ellis huffed, annoyed, much to his amusement. "Your actions are the complete opposite of your words."

Arthur skimmed through the newspaper with great interest. He closed the paper, and returned to Ellis, just as they entered the surprisingly crowded lobby.

The two, wide staircases placed on both sides of the stadium-sized lobby were packed with students of all grades, all looking up at the staffmen and technicians suspended from the ceiling with harnesses. 

"Nah, It just caught my eyes is all." Arthur huffed, taking a gander at the incredibly full lobby. 

The technicians were assisting a levitating roll of thick cloth, being transported by a team of five wind mages. The students watched with curiosity and anxiousness as the large roll was fastened.

"So that's how they build large buildings, castles, and other stuff. With levitating magic, what's the point of cranes?"

The team checked the locks and pulleys once more, before unclipping the locks, making the large item unroll with majestic splendor.

On a large banner, hung from the tall ceiling, were the first exam's test results. The banner had seven columns, all labeled with the student's grade.

"Ah, so that's how they display the test results. Fancy." Arthur whistled, squinting his eyes from the glimmer of lights reflecting off the golden embroidery. "And hey, What do you know-- I'm top one." 

Ellis turn slightly pale as she looked up at the banner. Indeed, in the first year's column, the person labeled in white gold, read "Arthur Haile." 

"I- I- have no words." She muttered, looking for her name. "Ellis Simmons, 3rd place," Ellis said, showing little emotion in her words.

Perhaps Arthur was loud, as much of the attention turned to him in an instant. They shift their attention from the banner to the student in question, one of low-born origins at that.

Each member of high society turned to their vassals, friends, and close associates to ponder his enigmatic existence.

"Is that him?"

"That's him from the rumors."

"How did he get first place?"

However, Arthur himself did not notice or care. The ambiance of the lobby changed, turning from rowdy, to hostile.

"Interesting, Ellis managed to snag third place, just one point behind--" Arthur paused, taking a long sigh. "Theodore Miller, the royal guard's resident nerd. He was one of the hardest love interests to woo and by far the most excruciating one to listen to by far. His condescending attitude was a headache-inducing pain in the-- actually, never mind that, I don't want to ruin a good morning."

Arthur massaged his temples before turning away from the lobby, in the direction of his classrooms. He entered it, clearly hearing nothing but nervous chatter dying down at the very sight of his presence. 

"Whoa! it's him!"

They whisper and gossip somewhat loudly, earning a slightly irritated eyebrow from Arthur, who tried to get to his seat in peace. Just as his bag landed on his seat, a second-year walked into the classroom.

Arthur and the second-year lock gazes, clashing with their glares, creating proverbial sparks. 

The older boy's physique was large, his stature towering at six foot four, his shoulders boulder-like, and his arms and legs thick like old tree branches. The second-year's uniform was similar to the first-year's, except for the shoulder insignia with the roman numeral two.

"Are you Arthur?" He asked, putting his hands heavily on the table, and looking down at a nonchalant Arthur.

"Who's asking?" Arthur replied, glaring back with no change in his expression. "Look at this cocky-sonovabitch."

The second year's hands bulge with veins. "Someone asked me to call for you." 

"I'll have to refuse, I'm busy since my schedule is full," Arthur replied, putting his hands behind his head and leaning back on his chair.

The older gentleman leaned over, his face even more hostile. "Then when are you free?"

Arthur opened his eyes, smirking from ear to ear, further antagonizing the second year. He reached into his pocket, pretending to fumble and search for something.

The older student watched him remove his hand from his jacket, pretending to hold a book. licking his thumb, he pretended to flip through pages, before smirking at the unimpressed upperclassman. 

"How about...." He paused. "the sixty-ninth of never, specifically, the holiday of ain't-never gonna-happen? How does that sound?" Arthur yawned, throwing away the pretend book.

throughout the heating interaction, the classroom started to become full, providing more witnesses to the utter disrespect Arthur had for the intimidating upperclassman. 

"...Are you mocking me?!" The man loudly yelled, his palms imprinting on the hard mahogany desk. His short hair swayed with magic power, and his eyes exuded murderous intent.

"Oi." 

Sharp words interrupted the man's episode, snapping him back to reality. To everyone's surprise, the reply to his show of power was an even greater display of ability.

Arthur was on his feet, eyes glaring straight into the upperclassman. "Lower your eyes."

Retracting from his aggressive stance at the situation, the upperclassman involuntarily gasped. "M-Magic power?!? He's still a first-year!"

Synchronously, not only were the ones present in the room able to witness the historical significance of that awakening but the other two watching by their familiars; the one owned by the Principal, and the other used by the Kingdom's Secret Service.