๐ฟ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: ๐ป๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฟ๐๐ (๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฑ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐)
๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐๐ 1: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ ๐ด?
โค ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐๐ 2
โฌ ๐น๐๐๐๐ โญ
Warm sunlight tickled her eyelids, gently coaxing them open.
??? : This isn't my pillow... I guess it wasn't all a dream after all.
Naomi sighs, rolling over the bed with a disappointed look in her face. Last night was very overwhelming to her and had to take a moment for herself to calm down and try to understand her current situation.
The body she is in is named MC and was unfortunate to be cursed by an anomaly called the Kyklos and in her timeline where Naomi came from, she didn't found the way to break the curse so she became the very anomaly that cursed her being like this. But it doesn't change the fact the female ghoul had found herself possessing the body of the MC when she was still human but cursed and is in her past, with her Stigma currently sealed so she is unable to use her power and doesn't have her artifact with her.
Possessing the memories of MC did gave Naomi a lot of vital and critical information about the place she's in and how she will plan her actions based on it. She may not have the high intelligence and cunning mind of her two seniors but she is great at acting in the shadows and avoiding troubles as much as she can as long as no one see her.
She hears the noise outside the window. She slowly sat up, her body feeling heavy with lead and peered through the window.
๐น๐๐๐๐: The weather's so nice... Normally, I would be going to my class with Ellie at this time...
๐น๐๐๐๐: This is the second floor but that cat sounds really close... Maybe it's on the roof?
She tries to open the window but it was jammed shut.
๐น๐๐๐๐: It's not locked. It must not be fitted well.
๐น๐๐๐๐: Whoa!
She is startled by the sight of a yellow cat wearing a cap and carrying a blue bag on its back.
The cat pulled two red and blue screwdrivers with their paws with a smile before doing something under the window panes.
๐น๐๐๐๐: Um, are you going to fix the window?
The cat taps at the window. She blinks.
๐น๐๐๐๐: You want me to push it?
She opens the window freely, letting the soft breeze blow inside.
๐น๐๐๐๐: It opened!
Naomi is impressed. These cats are very reliable and do their jobs properly. They remind her of the ones back at Lightias Academy except they didn't have cats doing this kind of thing for them.
๐น๐๐๐๐: Thank you so muโ
Before she can thank the cat, the cat suddenly jumps inside the room, ignoring her words.
๐น๐๐๐๐: (It's hard to believe I'm in Tokyo. The school MC didn't have a choice to enroll because of her curse is something I have never heard before and my seniors never mentioned this school either.)
Darkwick Academy. That name sounds new and she hasn't heard anything about that school for her entire life. Not even when she was in Lightias Academy has their teachers there not once mentioned another school that also specialize in handling anomalies and another Institution aside from their own organization that sponsors their academy. Not to mention, Darkwick Academy is stationed here in Tokyo where everyone knows their existence but to Naomi who was born and raised in the same country never knew about them.
๐น๐๐๐๐: (What I don't understand is how did the MC ended up as the honor student of such an elite school?! She is cursed so wouldn't it be better if she silently enrolled as a normal student but secretly monitoring her condition instead of letting her have a such an important role even though she barely knew anything about anomalies and suddenly thrusted her into a position she isn't sure she can handle?!)
Naomi sighs, rubbing the temples of her forehead. Even if the MC can enhance the Stigma of a Ghoul due to the Sage's Ring, the ring itself doesn't seem like it has any other functions aside from enhancement. Although she is curious if the ghouls of this academy are just as powerful as her seniors and friends or they have a different system determining the ghouls' level of power.
๐น๐๐๐๐: (I better get ready. The Chancellor gave MC a phone yesterday... There it is.)
She found the phone in her table and check the time in the screen.
๐น๐๐๐๐: (Good, it's only 6:30. I just have to get class by 9.)
Back in Lightias Academy, she has to wake up early to get to her first period of class around 7:00am.
๐น๐๐๐๐: (The Chancellor said I should have pretty much everything I needed here. I guess I should take a look around.)
Naomi descended the staircase from the attic and emerged into a hallway lined with solemn statues. She passed in front of them with a look of wonder in her face, admiring them a bit and place her hand in the heavy door in front of her.
๐น๐๐๐๐: Wow... Is this a church? The whole place is completely wrecked though...
Sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows, casting glittering rainbows all around the room. It was like a scene from a fairy tale. She would have appreciated the scene if the place wasn't badly damaged and she wondered what could have happened here.
๐น๐๐๐๐: (The benches, the pipe organ... Everything is damaged and dusty...)
It was a shame that the place became like this. It would have been nice if the Chancellor had repaired the church before the MC came or anyone possibly wanting a quiet place for a nice change of pace. This serene sight would be something some of her friends and seniors would appreciate.
๐น๐๐๐๐: (I think Aiya will like to sing here. She does complain how the animals in her house can't let her focus make new songs. Whoa!)
Naomi quickly pulled out her foot beneath the floor board in surprise, stepping back from the small hole with her heart pondering against her chest.
๐น๐๐๐๐: (That scared me! My foot went straight through the floorboard...)
She looks down at the broken floorboards beneath her with a trouble look in her face.
๐น๐๐๐๐: (The Chancellor did warn me to watch my step. I guess this is what he meant.)
< ๐ฑ๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐ >
๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: This is the Cathรฉdrale Terminale. It was vacated quite recently. It's a little big for one person but you'll find everything you need to live comfortably. Oh but there's a little damage in some places so watch where you step. I'll get someone on the repairs as soon as possible.
< ๐ฑ๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐ >
๐น๐๐๐๐: (The statues in the hallway were damaged, too... And that table over there is smashed in two...)
Naomi frowns, a hand on her chin as she ponders over her thoughts.
๐น๐๐๐๐: (It's almost like something went on a rampage in here... I wonder what happened?)
Based on her experiences going through several missions with her seniors, whenever she encountered a place that was ravaged like this, it usually meant something serious and bad happened here.
Naomi closed her eyes and try to focus collecting the memories she received from MC. According to her memories, there was a certain event that occured in Darkwick Academy last year before the MC arrived and caused a lot of troubles for all the houses involved including a case that remained unsolved to this day.
She has a feeling she needs to investigate matters relating to the academy and find out a way how to return back to her timeline and the truth of the MC.
โฌ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ โญ
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: Ahem... Oh, MC, is that you? Good morning! Fancy meeting you here! Oh, right. This is where you live now, isn't it?!
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: Fancy meeting you here is a bit of a reach... Wait, I'm supposed to be showing her around. It's totally normal for me to pick her up.
Kaito tries again, coughing his throat a little.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: Ahem. Morning. Did you sleep well? Alright, let's go with that. She must be nervous about her first day. I should show her how generous I canโ
๐ฐ๐๐๐๐: Kaito-kun?
Kaito was completely taken by surprise at the MC's sudden voice, almost jumping in react to her.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: Ahh!! Mo-Mo-Morning!! Sleep! Well, did you?!
Ellie blinks, wondering why he was startled but answered nonetheless.
๐ฐ๐๐๐๐: Oh, um, yes. Thank you for your help yesterday. I still haven't quite processed everything that happened, to be honest.
Elise didn't want to act like her usual self as Elise and decided to act like what the MC did in her memories, having already memorized the actions and words MC would normally and usually say and do last night without rest. It's better for her to act this way to retrace the steps of this body's owner's past and find out more in person because relying on the memories isn't enough to investigate.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: I totally get that. Being dragged here out of the blue is pretty shocking, right? It was really tough for me at the start, too. There's a lot to get used to but I've got you! If you need anything, just ask! I could come pick you up like this everyโ
๐ท๐๐๐: Kaito, there you are.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: AAAAAARRRGHHHH!
At the sudden voice of Luca, Kaito shrieked as if he saw a ghost or something, momentarily surprising Elise by his action and couldn't help but mentally chuckle at his reaction, finding it a bit funny to see.
๐ท๐๐๐: What's wrong? Is there an anomaly?!
Before Elise can answer, Kaito replied back to him.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: You're the anomaly, dude! Don't sneak up on me like that! Geez, you're as bad as Romeo...
Luca looks confused, wondering what the blonde meant by that but Elise caught the familiar name mentioned by Kaito and briefly remembered the gray-haired man who was chasing after him with his rifle gun, something about a debt he needed to pay or else he won't show him mercy.
๐ท๐๐๐: I'm Luca. I'm not your enemy. Have you forgotten already?
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: I know who you are! What are you introducing yourself with your full name anyway? Didn't you tell us to call you Luca?
๐ท๐๐๐: You remembered. I'm impressed.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: What? Let's just move on. What are you doing here, Luca?
Kaito asks, crossing his arms with a small frown.
๐ท๐๐๐: I was just pulling your leg. Today is my first day of classes since transferring here. I thought I'd have a better chance of making it there without getting lost if I went with you.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: Right, of course you did! Why do you have to be so on the ball at a time like this, huh?!
๐ท๐๐๐: No one's ever said that about me before.
Luca glance to see the MC and smile kindly to her, startling Elise.
๐ท๐๐๐: Oh, good morning, MC! That uniform suits you well.
Elise smiles back at him.
๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ (๐ธ๐ฎ): Thank you. Yours suit you too, Luca.
At their exchange in front of him, Kaito burst again in his reaction.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: Hey!! That's exactly what I'm talking about!
๐ฐ๐๐๐๐: (Luca remembered MC's name. He seemed kind of distant when he parted ways with the MC so I was wondering if she had upset him. I guess that was her imagination.)
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: Shoot. We don't have time to stand around talking. This campus is stupidly big so the classrooms are pretty far from here. We should get going.
๐ท๐๐๐: Good idea. Let's go. Could you show us the way, Kaito?
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: Are you living in that huge cathedral all by yourself, MC? You're so lucky! What does that place look like inside anyway? What's your room like?
Kaito asks curiously as the three of them walk in the road to head to their classrooms.
๐ท๐๐๐: The room they prepared for me is similar to my room back home, so it's quite comfortable.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: Yeah, yeah. We get it, rich boy. If something off-brand was discovered in Frostheim, the students would probably faint from shock. And here's me lying in that double bed missing my futon. I might as well be from a different planet. And I was asking MC, not you!
๐ท๐๐๐: Don't you find it tiring to be so irritable this early in the day? Perhaps you need to burn off some of your excess energy.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: You're the one who's making me irritable!
Elise sweatdrops, feeling how irritated Kaito is so she decided to change the topic.
๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ (๐ธ๐ฎ): Um... So the houses are all pretty different, then?
Kaito quickly answers her.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: Yeah, totally different! Not just the buildings and furniture either. The grounds around them and even the climates are all over the place.
Elise raise her brows slightly in surprise, blinking.
๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ (๐ธ๐ฎ): The climates? On the same campus?
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: Yeah, apparently the weather in Jabberwock changes all the time.
Weather that changes all the time? That sounds similar to one of her school's houses except the weather there in that house changes together with the four seasons outside their campus together for the habitats of the animals there either for migration or hibernation. From the memories of MC, there used to be ten houses in Darkwick but the current timeline she's in has seven houses at present so this must be the first timeline.
๐ท๐๐๐: I am curious as to why you were placed in Frostheim, Kaito. Somewhere with rustic charm like Jabberwock would suit you better, wouldn't it?
Elise actually agrees with Luca. Kaito obviously doesn't look like someone who came from a rich and influential family so it would have been better for him to go to another house instead of enduring the harassment from his fellow members in Frostheim for not having a role in their high society. But if he was in Aspen House - her house from her school -, he would be treated there with respect and kindness because Elise's senior made it very clear that those who don't have important family backgrounds to show off in society or came from ordinary familiies should still be treated fairly and they should not use their family names to threaten them just because they are of lower class or anything of the sort. To her senior, just because you're from a wealthy and established family doesn't mean you have the right to belittle others for not having been borned in a noble lineage.
Although her senior has the most powerful and noblest lineage than anyone at Lightias Academy despite her words but she made sure everyone whose families came from society would not harm or harass other members of the house who are born from normal families because it's utterly disgusting for her senior to see them bullying the weak and helpless just because of their families who don't have anything to flaunt. Just like her close friend who is born in a happy and ordinary family that doesn't need money that much to make a huge contribution to show off to high-ranking people and her attitude made people around her feel attracted with fondness instead of disgusted by her mere commoner's presence. It's one of things Elise really liked about her.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: Are you being serious right now?! I wouldn't wear that tragic jumpsuit if they paid me!
Barring the fact they were walking through the place that defied natural laws, their exchange seem so ordinary that Elise wanted to smile of how the two men looked good together as friends.
๐ฐ๐๐๐๐: (The MC was pretty scared when she was told she couldn't leave campus...)
It was natural for the girl to be scared, unable to come back to her own family and friends who may have been waiting for her and worried sick of her sudden disappearance.
๐ฐ๐๐๐๐: (But hopefully I can at least enjoy being a temporary student here until I can break the curse and find a way back home to my own timeline.)
Elise will have to find some reliable sources of how to return back to her timeline after finding the truth of MC's past and before that, she needs to find a way how to unlock her Stigma and see if she can still summon her bonded partner, a Pegasus named Astraeus. She can faintly feel her Stigma within her but in a locked state.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: Did you eat breakfast, Tokutaisei? I didn't see you in the cafeteria.
๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ (๐ธ๐ฎ): Oh, I got a little sidetracked looking around the cathedral and everything.
๐ท๐๐๐: That's not good. You shouldn't skip breakfast.
Luca pulled a small packet from his pocket and handed it to her.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: Hey! Are you trying to score points?!
Elise accepts it with a brief smile but her eyes widened a little when she sees the snacks he gave her, surprised at the name in it.
๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ (๐ธ๐ฎ): Oh, thank you... "Shortbread Biscuits"? Do you like these?
๐ท๐๐๐: My brother does, yes.
Shortbread Biscuits. These are the snacks she would give to her own little brother as a small reward whenever he finished his studies just to see his eyes sparkle and how he munch on the biscuits with a smile on his face. Luca's brother and her brother may possibly share the same taste.
๐ท๐๐๐: Oh, I can see the main building now. Looks like we'll make it to class on time.
๐ฐ๐๐๐๐: (So Luca has a brother... It must be hard for the ghouls to be separated from their families.)
But there are other ghouls from her school who don't care much about their own families and are very glad to be away from them, receiving Lightias Academy's protection against them so they wouldn't lay a finger on their students. Elise wouldn't be surprised if the ghouls in Darkwick don't care about their families or don't have anyone as their own.
โฌ ๐พ๐๐๐๐๐ โญ
First period ticked around. Satomi sat down in an unfamiliar room for her first ever class at Darkwick Academy. It wouldn't be a lie if she said she wasn't curious about the school's curriculum. In Lightias Academy, they have forbidden and ancient knowledge of the oldest anomalies that first made its appearance in the world and have records of the very first ghouls who dared to make a contract with the demons to save humanity and fight off the anomalies to keep the peace and order in the world. Those are the first lessons she learned in her class when she was a first year student that time.
But in Darkwick Academy, Satomi can see that the school itself is very unique and has their own ways of researching anomalies so different from the ones in her own school but there is a difference between the two schools. The Institute that made Darkwick and the organization that created Lightias has a massive gap in many fields. In simple words, between the two schools, Lightias Academy is too advanced for Darkwick to catch up because the current knowledge, technology and research of this school is like a child's play but she has no offense though. She feels like this school can do so much better if there was a real expert to open their eyes. Again, she is not offending anyone but just her own opinion.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: (Thank you, free seating!! This is my chance to sit next to MC!)
Before Kaito can move, Luca had already taken the spot next to her.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: (Argh!! Luca!! How'd he get there so fast?! Why is he always third wheeling us?!)
Perhaps because it was the first class of the new year, excited chatter filled the second year classroom. Satomi is currently a third year student at her academy but being a second year student again in a different body makes her conflicted but not in a bad way.
๐พ๐๐๐๐๐ (๐ธ๐ฎ): Is everyone in this class in Frostheim House?
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: Nah, the classes are split up by year and electives so everyone's from different houses. You can tell by the color of their lapel pins. I'm in Frostheim, so mine's blue!
๐ท๐๐๐: Mine's blue, too. This class seems to be mostly general students. How many second year ghouls are there?
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: Not sure. They haven't officially said which ghouls moved up a year. There's only a few in each year though and they stick out like sore thumbs, so we'll find out pretty quickly.
๐ท๐๐๐: There are quite a few ghouls at Darkwick. I was the only one at Emrys.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: Seriously?
Kaito looks surprised by Luca's answer and Satomi subtly raise a brow. It seems like Darkwick doesn't have a majority of ghouls as their students but just few like the blonde said and so far, the only ghouls she noticed are students like her but there aren't any adults here who are ghouls either.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: I did hear the number of new ghoul students shot up over the last few years. Apparently, they're gonna build new ghoul-only classrooms and add more specialized classes.
Satomi ponders over his words. Between her school and the one she's in right now, Darkwick certainly lacks many things to train a ghoul properly and their knowledge is only basic to her while to them is more advanced. She is beginning to feel a little pity for this academy and their ghouls.
๐ท๐๐๐: Why hasn't the teacher arrive yet? Class should have started by now, shouldn't it?
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: This is Hyde's class though. I don't know if he's ever been on time...
Hyde. One of the teachers and faculty staffs in the academy. If she recalls the MC's memories, he is an adviser of two houses in the academy and has been known to help the MC a lot in the past. However, he is among one of the suspicious people here who knows a lot of things others shouldn't know and lets out more than the eye can see.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐: (yawn) Mornin', sorry I'm late. First class of the new year, huh? Let's get the ball rolling.
The man with white hair and a black band covering his eyes came in with a yawn, smiling once he entered the room.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: Oh, right on cue.
Professor Hyde swaggered over to the lecture and surveyed the class, absently scratching his head.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐: I think you all know me but just to be sure โ I'm Professor Hyde and I specialize in anomalous biology. Today is just gonna be a review of what you learned last year so you can take it easy.
๐พ๐๐๐๐๐: (It seems like a regular class. But Anomalous Biology is a surprising subject because Lightias Academy also has the very same subject, too. I wonder what are the current knowledge they have in this subject? In my class, this subject has variety of complex lessons that are harder to understand especially in third year but would get easier with proper discussion and demonstration...)
Satomi is curious to know the educational level this school has to offer.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐: ... That about sums up the main points from last year. There's a couple of ghouls in our midst today. You guys are considered to be a type of anomaly, too.
๐พ๐๐๐๐๐: (Ghouls are anomalies...)
He isn't wrong. A human having their wish granted by a demon to come true and the price for that is no longer becoming a human, gaining a special ability in return. But from the island where Satomi grew up from, it's different there. Ghouls like her are ranked by their classes from E-Class to S-Class based on how powerful their Stigmas are and how they became ghouls isn't having their wish granted.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐: Demonic pacts, possessions and curses are also all categorized as anomalies. Our world is overflowing with curiosities.
At first glance, ghouls look just like ordinary people. If you passed one in a train station, you wouldn't bat an eye. At least those were the MC's past thoughts but to Satomi, the ghouls from her island are much more complex than they think it is.
๐พ๐๐๐๐๐: (In this timeline, they don't seem to rank the ghouls by their Stigmas or don't have any terms for Supreme or Prime Ghouls. They really don't share our common knowledge in anomalies...)
Satomi will have to be very careful not to expose her Stigma or her abilities if she removed the seal in her soul to avoid unwanted attention.
๐ท๐๐๐: Excuse me, sir.
Luca suddenly speaks up, gaining a glance from Satomi.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐: Oh... Sorry, I'm not really taking questions right now.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: (Oh, god... I thought people only stood up to ask questions in movie...)
๐ท๐๐๐: Sir, what type of training do I need to do in order to subjugate demons as quickly as possible?
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: What...
Satomi narrows her eyes a little at Luca's question and look at Hyde. Aside from the curriculum itself, she shares a similar question like him but wonders if they have not gain the knowledge yet.
In Lightias Academy, ghouls like her were not only trained to capture anomalies or have to kill one if necessary but were also trained to kill demons as well, the teachers teaching them how to kill a specific demon type with a method tailored for them based on research and experiments to expose their weaknesses. It is ironic for ghouls to kill demons who supposedly granted their wishes and gave them their Stigma as a price to pay for their wishes but it's more than that.
๐ท๐๐๐: I came to this academy so that I could learn how to subjugate demons.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: (What the fuck?! Oh my god, everyone's staring at us!!)
Satomi turns her head slightly to see most of the classmates looking at them with familiar expressions on their faces, having used to those kinds of emotions but the subtle intensity from it slightly surprise her but she kept her composure, her eyes looking at Luca with her lips thin, not liking how the man is asking such question in public when the topic is one they don't want to touch.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐: Hmm... You're the transfer student, right?
๐ท๐๐๐: Yes. My name is Lucas Errant.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐: Gotta give it to you, Lucas. I love a can-do attitude. But I can't really give you a good answer for that, sorry.
๐ท๐๐๐๐: ...
Luca becomes quiet at his answer.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐: Even to us researchers, demons are uncharted territory. We're still unable to define them. However, through your missions, you'll very occasionally encounter things that are clearly the work of demons.
๐ท๐๐๐๐: ...!
Satomi tightens her hands into fists beneath her desk upon hearing his words. So Darkwick cannot fully grasp the nature of the demons, let alone the rank of the demons and how they work. This confirms the school isn't really knowledgeable about the demons and don't have a single idea of what they are. She doesn't know how to react at their lack of understanding demons or maybe she should feel pity to them, unable to comprehend what a true demon is.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐: If you capture the anomalies involved in those incidents and study them... You may find the answer to your questions.
๐ท๐๐๐๐: I understand. Thank you.
๐ถ๐๐๐๐: Idiot! What did you do that for all of a sudden?!
๐ท๐๐๐๐: ...
Lucas didn't reply to Kaito's question, seemingly lost in thought. Satomi internally sighs.
๐พ๐๐๐๐๐: (We may look ordinary on the outside but doesn't necessarily hold true in the inside... Even if that is true, that doesn't mean we have lost our humanity within. We simply paid the price for it, that's all.)
โฌ ๐ฑ๐๐๐๐๐ โญ
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐: First time students, nice to meet you. Returning students, welcome back. I am Professor Moby and I specialize in Anomalous Law.
Second period was practical. They were asked to practice using anomalous items called special artifacts. Fuyuko already learned this from her first year days but she's willing to learn and see if there are any similarities and differences between the subjects from her school and the one she's currently in. She is surprised to see an octopus-like creature acting as a teacher here and the only other octopus-like being who teach students like this is someone named Koro-sensei, a yellow octopus-like being who is often cheerful and funny but his abilities aren't to be underestimated.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐: Special artifacts are handy objects that Darkwick has permitted the use of due to their utility on missions. But with great power comes with great responsibility โ they are heavily regulated via a strict licensing system. Today's class doubles as an opportunity for you to renew your licenses or apply for new ones. Please take it seriously!
Fuyuko remembers her own artifact. It was a broadsword sword, a sentient broadsword who is extremely loyal to her down to the bone and works together well with her sentient throne. Just remembering her artifact who was always beside her side makes her wish to break the seal within her soul immediately and summon it back to her hands for comfort. It doesn't help either that her Vice Captain and two second year juniors can't be found making her feel anxious of where they could be but at the moment, she needs to focus here. The seal on her Stigma will have to wait later.
Still, nobody is surprised by Moby's appearance which means they have gotten used to it or aren't no longer surprised of the things this academy has.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐: You're the new honor student, correct?
๐ฑ๐๐๐๐๐ (๐ธ๐ฎ): Whoa!
Fuyuko lets out an unwitting yelp when Professor Moby suddenly appeared beside her. The way he done that reminded her of Koro-sensei.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐: Oh, I didn't mean to frighten you. My apologies, hee hee! You'll have to sit this class out and observe, I'm afraid. Because of that.
Professor Moby used the tentacles protruding from his body to point at the ring on her right hand. Fuyuko immediately understood what he meant by that.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐: This has been officially recognized as yours and newly registered as a special artifact. Whether it was a special artifact to begin with or not, I'm not sure. Darkwick's licensing system limits the possession of special artifacts to one per person. On paper, you have already acquired one. Though special artifacts don't work for just anyone, it would be more accurate to say it acquired you.
๐ฑ๐๐๐๐๐ (๐ธ๐ฎ): Oh, okay... I understand.
Fuyuko is learning a lot about Darkwick here. They have their own special artifacts but they limit it giving to others through a licensing system to make sure only one person can have one and not more than that. However, the special artifacts can only work for someone who is compatible with it or not. It's vastly different for ghouls like Fuyuko back in their islands.
In Lightias Academy, a ghoul doesn't choose their artifact through a licensing system like Darkwick has but rather their artifacts manifest together with their Stigmas when they awakened as a ghoul. The artifacts would be created based on the ghoul's personality, preferences or based on their uniqueness to suit the ghoul perfectly to make them different than others but special at the same time just for them. Sometimes, the artifacts they manifested in their awakening as a ghoul would have a sentience of their own, becoming very loyal to its master and will prioritize the ghoul's wishes above all else.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐: Sorry about that. Now, who's next... Mr. Errant? Is Mr. Lucas Errant from Frostheim here?
๐ท๐๐๐๐: Yes, I am Lucas Errant.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐: There you are. Good. Since you just transferred here, you'll be applying for a new special artifact alongside the first years. You'll find them in the storeroom over there.
๐ท๐๐๐๐: I can choose anyone I like?
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐: Well, it may be one you like. It may not. A picture's worth a thousand words. Why don't you take a look?
Lucas disappeared into a room at the back of the training area. After asking for permission, Fuyuko followed him inside curiously.
๐ฑ๐๐๐๐๐: (Oh, I didn't think there'd be so many...)
Lucas made a beeline for the section dedicated to swords, seeming to know exactly what he want. The swords on display varied greatly โ some small and single-handed, others even bigger than Lucas. Fuyuko has already seen many types of swords and is just not impressed because they aren't her taste. She'd prefer the collection of swords Elise had once shown her back in the Caddel Duchy during their visit to her family. Their swords were much aligned to her preferences.
๐ฑ๐๐๐๐๐: (He seems to be taking this really seriously... Maybe I should go back out so I don't distract him.)
She turn and made her way back to the door, careful not to make any noise. But before she reach it, she hears the glass shatter behind her back where Lucas was. Fuyuko quickly turns around with concern.
๐ฑ๐๐๐๐๐ (๐ธ๐ฎ): Lucas, are you okay?!
She hurried back. Lucas was standing in front of a shattered glass case. Two swords lay inside. She blinks.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐: Well, well... These two swords have been waiting a long time for a new master. Hee hee... They're so pleased to see you, they smashed through the reinforced glass! Hyah! Hyahaha!
Professor Moby had come running when the glass broke. He seems delighted by the turn of events as he used his tentacles to skillfully collect the broken shards.
๐ท๐๐๐๐: I can hear the sounds of a child crying from these swords... They must be asking for my help.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐: A crying child, hmm? That is certainly an unusual one. No surprise this special artifact chose a ghoul as its master.
Lucas picked up the unusual swords, one in each hand. Apart from their color, they were identical. Seeing this sight before her, Fuyuko recalled that a fellow junior and member of her house also used two swords of her own, calling herself a dual-wielder and the swords she used are extremely loyal to their master to the very bone they have - as if since they are sentient. Those two swords wielded by a kind, courageous and strong master who always carve their path in front of them makes Fuyuko miss her.
After that, Professor Moby arranged the students to start their combat class.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐: Are you ready, everyone? Please think of these moving targets as anomalies and disabled then with your special artifact. Ready... Begin!
