The bitc-

Sorry, "Melamir" - She gave us a smirk, tilting her head backward to look down on us, "I'd like to ask you, the Hero!" She brought one arm out, pointing to Mikael, "To become mine! So, what say you? I can pay you handsom-"

"I'm sorry... this really isn't my thing, y'know?"

"Hm?"

"I don't really want to be hired by anyone - was kind of the reason why I went to the academy in the first place."

I rose an eyebrow and looked at Mikael, "Free spirit?" He shrugged.

Melamir looked genuinely confused by his response, I thought it was for another reason but the actual reason was worse.

She clicked her tongue, "Why would a commoner ever reject a request like this!? Aren't they normally poor!?" She placed a hand on her breast, "They also can serve a beautiful flower such as I!"

I managed to stifle my laughter but she heard my struggle, whipping her head around with a comically angry expression.

"Who are you!?"

"I think you're supposed to introduce yourself first before demanding a name from someone," I comment.

"Huh!? Why should I!?"

"Never knew a noble to be as disrespectful as a commoner."

She stiffened up, screwing up her nose like a child before letting out a long sigh. This is something that is literally used to convince children to do your will and that it worked on a young woman like her is astonishing.

She gave a quaint little curtsy before introducing herself, "I am Melamir Francesca Charlemagne, and you?" She avoided eye contact the entire time.

"I am Math Arnottir."

Her expression suddenly grew cold, "So you choose not to bow in turn?"

I broke out into hysterics, "Why should I? Those stupid ass classism rules don't apply here!"

With a crack of her knuckles, flames appear out from one of her hands, throwing it out toward me.

Beatrice quickly blocked it with a hand, the flames quickly dissipating - hand, unscathed. I reeled back in shock as it all happened, Melamir quickly taking a step back to create distance.

Mikael looked like he was attempting to contain himself, eyes closed, arms crossed, "Why the hell should I work with someone who tries to burn my friend's face over a bow?"

"It is only proper he do so... plus, he disrespected a noble!"

"Did you not get the memo!? What the fuck did he just say!? He said that classes mean nothing here! Whether you're a noble or a pissant, we're equal."

"Aren't you naive!"

She cracked both of her knuckles flames peeking out from the finger, throwing both arms into a cross causing a wall to be formed in front of her. There was no way I'd stay there so I ran off to a safer part of the testing room. I saw as she used the fire as a smokescreen, moving to Mikael's side and attempting to strike him. Mikael's head whipped around, smacking Melamir across her jaw, causing her to reel back and fall to the ground.

"What rank are you even!?" Mikael screamed.

Tears welled up in her eyes before her form disappeared right in front of his eyes, Beatrice screaming for his attention behind him. Mikael spun around, a massive fireball slamming into him, sending him flying across the test site. His feet dug into the ground, stopping himself before getting slammed into the wall behind him by a massive ice shard, being cut apart, the two halves falling to the ground, Mikael, ready to attack. Beatrice moved in behind Melamir, a gauntlet materializing on her arm and with one wide swing, the ground from under them cracked and broke apart, Melamir disappearing once again. Beatrice looked up into the sky, watching as Melamir stood in the air, multiple magic missiles firing down upon both Mikael and Beatrice.

Beatrice managed to block the missiles with a shield while Mikael nullified them with a sword. Melamir materialized ice in one of her hands, using another hand to stretch the ice out before chucking it at Mikael. In one sweep of his sword, the ice shard disappeared mid-flight, turning into a cloud of mist. In an instant, Mikael closed the distance, meeting her in the air, swinging upwards into Melamir's body, seemingly cutting her in half.

She reeled back in fear before checking her own body and falling back onto the ground, her magic had been temporarily nullified. "Huh!?" She shouted.

Mikael fell back onto the ground, the sword gone, sweat dripping down his face.

"You okay?' Beatrice asked, approaching Mikael.

"I'm fine, that sword just uses a lot of mana."

I wish I had popcorn, what a shame.

I crossed over to them, stopping halfway, confused by everyone's inaction.

A teacher approached - an older man with long black hair tied in a messy bun, dull grey eyes peeking out from under his eyebrows, both earlobes stretched with black plugs inside. He clumsily adjusted his suit as he approached.

"Aye..." He put one hand in the air, showing his scarred palm.

The second, third, and fourth-year students respond in kind, "Aye!"

Mikael and Beatrice cleared the way for the teacher, Melamir staying where she was.

He stood in the middle of the three, chuckling, his height-raising slightly.

"So... mind explaining?" He looked at me.

"She attacked first."

He gave an impressed expression before laughing, "Sorry... I entertain myself sometimes."

"What?"

He clapped twice, "Okay, okay!" He paused, "Well, duels are allowed here, and it ended peacefully so I won't make much a fuss, but we can't have things like this happen too often, y'hear?"

""""Aye!""""

"Aye..." He waved as he left.

I approached Mikael and Beatrice, "So... who was that?"

Mikael shrugged and Freyja approached us, bowing to us, "He is the chairman." She pointed to him.

"That's the chairman?"

She nodded, "Joklaim Faux, SSS Rank."

My eyes widened, "What!?"

"He is a chairman for a reason," She looked to Mikael, "In reality, he only let you both off due to your status."

Mikael pressed his lips together, "That kinda makes me sad, it was because my class was Hero?"

"Indeed, you are the savior after all." She bowed again, walking away.

"Mr. Hero got approached by a beaut," I commented, focusing on her hair as she walked away, "Weird..."

"This class stuff is really annoying..."

"There is more than one class thing."

"Both."

I nodded, pursing my lips.

After that I left - didn't really bother figuring out what they were gonna do with Melamir after the fight, kinda just wanted to sleep everything off from the day.

I headed straight to the Men's Dorm, speaking with the person at the counter and getting the key to my room. Lucky for me, it was a single room and I wouldn't have to deal with any dorm mates or anything like that. Would prefer being alone since a weak guy attempting push-ups and failing is quite embarrassing. (I do it quite a lot...)

I feel... obsessed, y'know?

Well, I went to my room, (on the third floor of the dorm) and got myself situated.

There wouldn't be a better time than now, but I've been having peculiar dreams.

A man with a deep voice speaking to me, watching their teeth move up and down amidst darkness. Those have been my dreams but... I have no idea what it's saying - what this man is saying. The teeth are massive too, at least ten times the size of my body.

The smell too... it's so vivid.

I try to do push-ups again, failing of course, and fall asleep.

As I was expecting, it was there, he was. Teeth clacking in a hallway but this time... it felt clearer?

"Finally."

It spoke.

I flinched, I could feel my body, it wasn't that normal floaty feeling you get when you're asleep no, I feel everything. Cold hard ground, rocks... this is a cave.

"It's taking a while for you to process, yes?"

I froze, fear had stricken me.

"HAHAHAHA!" It laughed, the teeth were raised into the air before being lowered back into position.

I looked behind me, watching the flames atop torches flicker before looking back to the void that greeted me with a smile.

"I am... Gluttony incarnate... who are you?" It chuckled, "Well... I already know who you are... but introductions are in order."

I couldn't respond, it felt like a knot was in my throat... it felt like I was choking.

"You still can't fathom it?"

I turn back around, met by a door, I run to it, attempting to pry it open for it had no handle. FUCK FUCK, LET ME IN! I screamed in my mind, violently digging the tips of my fingers inside, slipping out from within, scratching the stone door, scraping my fingers against it, desperately, over and over, frequently glancing over my shoulder. it just sat there, waiting for me to stop.

"Are you done?"

I dropped to the ground, pressing my back against the door, "I'm Math..."

"Nice to meet thou," Its face slowly crept into the light.

A faceless thing, scales running up and across its body, a toothy grin, a long winding tongue greasing its teeth for its lack of lips. Two nostrils hidden under scales blow out steam, "Greetings..." It spoke once more.