Two days later, at A-11 Room for first years.
"Russell, do you want to co along??"
A blonde woman with deep blue eyes, resembling soone that Russell knew deeply asked.
It's been over a month and a half since the start of the classes in the academy and because of so activities especially the Player Physical Education, it seed like it was pointless to just maintain a social distance and be called a 'weirdo.'
'Well, those who were calling that already restrained themselves as if their hearts transford overnight.'
Russell Moon thought as he recalled the Banquet of Obelisk where Samantha Hall asked him for a dance. Ever since that night, everyone in the classroom, as well as so students outside who cared so much about status guessed that he had a deep connection with Samantha, thus they thought that saying anything negative to him would result in a bad light to the daughter of the number one 'Player' in the human domain.
He couldn't help but frown inwardly as he recalled so students who approached him, asking for Samantha.
He knew very well what kind of intentions those people have.
After a few seconds, he looked up from where he was sitting and saw Mira von Obreyon, the younger sister of Leon von Obreyon then Lyn, and the other two whose nas were Aria and Kevin.
Russell then replied in a casual tone, in a way that the other party wouldn't think that he felt forced to do so or feeling bored.
"Sure... by the way, let's go see my younger sister."
"Alright! Let's go."
Mira looked behind her where Lyn, Aria, and Kevin were then nodded her head, signaling them to co as their last subject in the morning just finished and it was ti for lunch.
...
It was Tuesday, the day before the start of the 40th Ergence Anniversary.
The complete details regarding the event were posted on the Obelisk Academy website early in the morning which served as a wake-up call to the other students who felt sleepy.
As Russell walked beside Mira and company, his expression twitched at the sight of the approaching students.
'The f*ck is this again!?'
He cursed in his mind before she heard her younger sister, Freya, from a distance.
"Oppa! Let's go!"
She waved her hand slightly, prompting Russell to nod.
After five to six seconds, Russell who walked beside Freya as he left Rumia's side whispered into his younger sister's ear.
"Freya... what's this??"
Freya who heard her older brother's low voice typed on her smartwatch as she sent a ssage to her older brother, afraid that the students who are accompanying them right now will hear her voice.
Russell almost face-pald with Freya's discreet action, but after two seconds he looked at the ssage that his younger sister sent.
"Oppa, I don't know about the others, but Samantha wanted to eat lunch together with us, but Rumia, Elizabeth, and Jiho asked her if they can co along... Well, it's embarrassing to reject them especially since we're just gonna eat, you know. Also, they asked Samantha who agreed... Sorry, Oppa."
Freya's last two words sent a sharp needle to Russell's heart as he realized her concern based on his reaction when Rumia unexpectedly ca with Freya, Alie, and Ary before.
As he read the ssage, he pondered for five seconds before he replied.
"It's okay. Forget it, okay? Let's eat lots!"
Freya's lips curled up as she read the text ssage.
'Sigh... at least Leon and Anya didn't co along, but it's no use thinking about it now whether they co or not.'
Russell thought in resignation.
...
At Obelisk Cafeteria One.
A wide cafeteria that could accommodate hundreds of students where various delicacies from various major countries can be found.
Students who were buying or eating their als, chattering about the upcoming event or so mundane things, suddenly stopped what they were doing as groups of students entered the cafeteria.
"Woah, Woah. Why are they here?"
"I wonder, too! Aren't they eating their als in their dorms?"
"The Two Princesses!"
"Samantha, too, and Han Jiho?"
"Oh! The one who surpassed Leon in rankings!"
"But who are the other people?"
"I rember that one! Isn't he the one who was asked by Samantha to dance during the banquet??"
The moderately loud voice of the student that reverberated to the still atmosphere was heard by others, prompting them to look at the man with average looks that has deep black hair and deep blue eyes that are like a depiction of a deep ocean.
Russell, who felt the gazes of almost everyone wanted to dig himself 6 feet under.
Elizabeth, Rumia, and Jiho scrutinized Russell who was looking at the floor, avoiding any unnecessary eye contact with strangers.
'The hell are you looking at? It's been at least a month since the banquet!'
He couldn't help but lampoon inwardly.
...
After ordering their als, they sat across from each other at a long table.
A-11 students from one side, while A-1 from the other side.
They eat their als before one of them spoke. It was Samantha.
"Where's your other companion??"
She looked to her left side where Freya sat as she asked casually, but with aloofness.
Freya put down the glass of water before she replied, not looking at Samantha, but at her older brother.
"Ah? Alie? She said she got sothing to do."
Samantha didn't reply anymore as she took a bite of a fried chicken she made herself.
Russell who heard his younger sister, and recalled the absence of Alie for so reason turned his expression into a solemn one as he fell into deep thought.
"Excuse , it may be late, but I'm Han Jiho..."
Han Jiho said with a hint of shyness in his tone.
'Yeah right, because of hunger, food ca first before introducing themselves. That's right, try to fit more in society, Mr. Jiho.'
Russell lampooned inwardly as he munched on a Nereian shrimp tempura.
"Ary."
Although they are classmates, she only said succinctly her na, giving the others the impression of her coldness because they didn't have much interaction in the first place.
"I'm Freya, and he is my older brother, Russell from class A-11, the sa year as us."
Freya tacitly volunteered to introduce her older brother because of her concern that her older brother wasn't good at introducing himself.
Elizabeth and Rumia who heard Freya's words took a glance at Russell before their eyes landed on Samantha sitting from Rumia's left side.
Samantha who felt the prying eyes responded to their gazes without saying anything before she retracted it quickly as Elizabeth and Rumia didn't speak whatever was on their minds.
'I see....it's a feeling of genuine friendship...'
Elizabeth thought as she instinctively felt the hidden bond between Samantha and the one who's called Russell.
Rumia's mind beca blank but as she also knew Samantha's ho predicant, she was concerned that maybe Samantha will be taken advantage of, but she quickly retracted her unnecessary thoughts because when it cos to judgnt, even though she was not a Princess like her and Elizabeth, she's very adept when it cos to the ability to judge one's personality, if not greater than hers or Elizabeth.
"By the way, guys, what do you think about the 'Ranking Exchange Event?'"
It was Han Jiho who initiate the trend these days, not just within the academy premises, but also in the whole human domain because on this event many guilds from various countries would surely send personnel for potential players to scout.
"Well, the full and final details were posted today... I guess it's just fair to defend our position, especially the Obelisk Academy which values every student's future and sees us in a more favorable light."
Freya voiced her opinion.
"I see... I'm interested in the battle of the students with production classes..."
Han Jiho said while so were listening attentively and the others were eating still.
'Yeah, I thought they'd ss it up, but I guess they were just late in organizing the event...
Alchemist vs. Alchemist for production of the best potion... and Blacksmith...'
Russell's thoughts flowed as he listens to the ongoing interesting conversation.
After so exchanges of opinions, every one of them went to their respective classrooms.
...
After the afternoon classes and eating her dinner with her older brother, Alie, and Ary, without Samantha and the others this ti around, Freya went back to her dorm room, she then sat on a long couch, her head resting on it.
She pondered for so ti as her gaze pierced the window, seeing the bluish moon in the sky that contained an atmosphere of serenity and coldness.
'Oppa said that whatever that dream ant will help today...'
'Ah...'
As she thought of that, she suddenly felt sleepy and her eyes closed involuntarily. Following that, a black aura engulfed her body.
...
"Ha-!"
Her eyes opened, her surroundings composed of resplendent stars from afar that were flowing like a massive wave of water, but their flow was one could call the perfect example of perfect harmony that it caused Freya to feel tranquility and not fear considering the bizarreness of the situation.
'Where am I?'
'Am I dreaming?'
As she thought of that, she realized that it was an absurd question because she could think clearly which ans that her situation right now wasn't a dream.
She even pinched her cheeks hardly that caused her mild pain.
'Yeah, this is not a dream.'
After an unknown period of ti, she heard a breathing sowhere as she floats in space of an unknown place. Her bones felt cold with the breathing, prompting her to look in the direction where it ca from.
Soon, a shade of incorporeal black figure appeared in front of her. Its aura was swaying as if it was made of wind, it has deep black eyes, but no hands and feet.
Freya, trying to compose herself tried to inspect what was in front of her but she failed.
'It ans it's not a monster.'
According to the System, any kind of monster whether intelligent or not can be inspected without any Status Appraisal Skill.
As she recalled the System, she forgot to check if there were any System ssages as she arrived here, but surprisingly, she didn't get any.
"Ah, what a wonderful sight!
"The sister of the diator!"
"Praise the Night!"
"Praise the Ruler of Death!"
"Oh! The sister of the -"
As ravings entered her ears, Freya felt that her mind would.go crazy any ti, but at that mont the last voice was stopped by sothing before it finished what it wanted to say.
Soon, she received a notification and checked the ssages.
[The Protective Aura of the Ruler of Death has enveloped your very being.]
[Death will be resisted upon the Ruler of Death's materialization.]
[The Constellation, 'Ruler of Death' has materialized.]
Soon, the shade black figure which had no hands and feet grows larger as it now ford a figure, resembling a giant human physique that wears a black cloak that exudes a black aura as if it's a black hole, It still has no feet, but has four hands. The two hands were holding a scythe that seed like it could tear apart any world, but its hand right coming out from its waist was holding a necklace with an Eye, looking at Freya while the last left hand from its waist was holding a dilapidated-looking treasure box that also has an Eye on it.
Upon seeing this scene, Freya almost fainted. If not for the protection that the Ruler of Death provided, she would have already died, her soul would be nowhere to be seen in the Great Universe.
After so ti, the towering figure that was at least thirteen ters in height spoke in a deep, dark, and cold tone.
"Freya Moon, the younger sister of the Balancer, accept the blessings of death. Your journey will be very interesting from now on."
As soon as the Ruler of Death said those words, its head with no eyes that were like a black hole released a black aura that quickly enveloped Freya's body, not giving her ti to react.
[Your body has been enveloped by the Aura of the Constellation, 'Ruler of Death'!]
[Your body will undergo a tamorphosis!]
The black aura turned into a cocoon as Freya's consciousness faded.
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