As Mr. Arcturus flipped through the records once more, he stumbled upon a profile of a male student that caught his attention. This guy had eyebrows that were thick and dark, almost like coal, and his hair was as black as a night without stars. But it wasn’t just his appearance that stood out. There was something about him that reminded Mr. Arcturus of an eagle. You know how eagles are, right? They’re strong and fearless. They soar high above the clouds, never backing down, always ready to face whatever comes their way. That’s the kind of vibe this guy gave off. He seemed like someone who wouldn’t back down from a challenge, someone who was determined to reach his goals, no matter what.

Mr. Arcturus felt a mix of admiration and sympathy as he looked at the student profiles. These students were charming and attractive, but they were also isolated in their own classroom amd it’s kind of depressing to hear. It seemed like they chose to be alone, maybe for personal reasons. The reason for their isolation was unclear, but it seemed more like a choice than something forced on them. As Mr. Arcturus thought about why they might choose to be alone, he realized that maybe they preferred it that way. Maybe they liked being away from the rest of the students and the complications that come with social interactions. Their isolation seemed like a safe space they created for themselves, a choice that kept them separate from the rest of the class. Mr. Arcturus had seen students like this before, but he still felt sorry after seeing them secluded in this environment. Therefore, he had determined that a genuine educator should not abandon their students in such a state. If no other teacher was prepared to help them, he would step up and strive to be the teacher that does what’s best for them.

Upon observing them further, there was something that Mr. Arcturus had realized about the students. They seemed to enjoy teasing him and while they appeared friendly with each other, their bond wasn’t deep. Mr. Arcturus had a knack for discerning the truth, and he found it irresistible to analyze people’s behaviors. The students gave away many clues, leading Mr. Arcturus to believe that they were pretending with each other. It seemed as though they liked their classmates, but in truth, they didn’t. It was as if circumstances forced them to tolerate each other. The school’s harsh treatment left them with only one another for support. Isolation can drive people to madness, so these students, despite not showing signs of distress or perhaps having no choice but to adapt, had to confront this reality of theirs.

As their teacher, Mr. Arcturus knew he couldn’t interfere too much in their lives as they were their own to lead. His role as their teacher was to make this academic year as enjoyable as possible for them. To achieve this, he was willing to make necessary changes, whether it involved the class structure or his own principles. His sole goal was to help the students escape from this school.

All of a sudden, a forceful shove landed on Mr. Arcturus’ left shoulder, catching him off guard and causing him to stagger back a couple of steps. As he turned to face the student, he found himself looking into the deep, dark-blue eyes of a boy, whose lips were as vibrant as the roses. The boy stood there, his eyebrows raised, his fists clenched at the side, and his body tensed, ready to stand his ground against the teacher.

At that moment, Mr. Arcturus’ eyes flicked back and forth between the paper he was holding and the defiant boy in front of him. It hit him then — the boy challenging him was Zyair Kitzler, 15 years old, the very student he was reading about in the paper.

"So you're Zyair?" declared the teacher, feigning excitement as he scanned the page once more.

A smattering of students snickered and their eyes brimming with disdain as they glanced at Mr. Arcturus. Some, on the other hand, wore expressions of worry, concerned about the potential of Zyair getting into a dispute with him. They feared that Zyair might sully his hands dealing with such an undeserving opponent. Nobody wanted to squander their time on an outsider like him. He was never going to be accepted into their class, and neither would anyone else.

Zyair’s fists clenched, his irritation palpable as though he was on the verge of lashing out. One fellow student next to him stepped in after noticing and spoke to the teacher with a composed caution, attempting to prevent Zyair from striking, “Mr. So-and-so, I’d like to point out that the door is wide open and beckoning for your departure.” The student gestured towards the damaged door, as if suggesting Mr. Arcturus to exit.

Reacting promptly to the warning, Mr. Arcturus made a beeline for his records and rummaged through it to locate the student standing next to Zyair. His search culminated in the discovery of an entry labeled Arvid Doukas, a lad of 15 years. As the teacher pored over the information, he scrutinized Arvid with a penetrating look, absorbing the sight of a youth whose eyes mirrored the cunning of a fox and whose dark, auburn locks flowed in soft ripples. Arvid’s presence was not that of a typical fox, but rather evoked the characteristics of the Canidae family that radiated an indomitable strength and sly intelligence.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Doukas. I’d like to exp—" Mr. Arcturus was cut off mid-sentence as he found himself captivated by one of his students while he was surveying the class. This particular student, despite merely standing in place, gave off a strong countenance of authority that Mr. Arcturus couldn’t ignore. The student’s silent observation of the teacher was a tactic that Mr. Arcturus recognized it as something only an intellectual student would employ. He hypothesized that this student might be the ringleader who had the power to influence the class, planning that intimidation strategy against the teachers. While the rest of the class was engaged in whispers, hostile stares, and derogatory comments about their teacher, this student was quietly analyzing Mr. Arcturus. As a result, the teacher flipped through the pages of his portfolio once more, keen to identify this impressive young man. 

When one first looked at the student’s picture in the records, there was an immediate sense of inherent brilliance that seemed to radiate from himself. His eyes, akin to a dolphin’s, glowed with an inborn sharpness, exhibiting a visual keenness that reflected the precision of underwater vision, even in the absence of glasses. His hair, softly curled and imbued with a brownish-tan color, reflected the light in a manner that gave him an almost otherworldly presence. The records disclosed his name as Zora Faure, a 16-year-old male student.

When Zora fixed him with a gaze that seemed to pierce through him, as though he had mentally assaulted and slain him multiple times, Mr. Arcturus couldn’t help but notice a similar sentiment reflected in the eyes of the other students. Was it a sense of threat they felt? Or perhaps fear? The exact emotion was hard to pinpoint. All that was clear was their collective desire for him to disappear from their sight. However, their initial strategy had not succeeded, so what would be their next move? This uncertainty filled Mr. Arcturus with concern, and he felt a strong urge to offer them some form of reassurance.

"Class, I know it’s your first time seeing me but please know that I’m here to—” Before Mr. Arcturus could utter another word, Zyair made a sudden move towards him, gripping his collar tightly and staring intensely into his eyes.

“Someone as worthless as you has no right to speak in our presence. Withdraw at once, or I'll compel you to,” his eyes emitted a stern, intimidating glare as he spoke directly to him. The class was initially startled but soon slipped back into their usual disinterest. This always happened, and they shouldn’t be startled if Zyair would throw punches at the teacher.