CHPT 28: Jack gives me the Creeps

Claude sat uncomfortably in his first class of the day being; Aura/Element Affinities as he continued to think about the rugged looking man in the mess hall. He learned the man went by Jack and guarded the south wing. His voice was off, almost unsettlingly deep like it was being manipulated by something, it reminded him of hearing Fenrir speak in the Astral Realm. It was nowhere near as frightening or deep, but his voice was unnatural in the sense that it sounded like his vocal chords weren't that of a humans.

The whole time he spoke his eyes flicked from Samuel to Claude while he tried to hide a smile. Claude shivered at the memory. He decided to put the memory at the back of his mind and focus on the class that was about to begin.

As he looked over his classroom he realized the room was nothing like what he was used to. Instead of being in the giant castle-like building, they were outside in a field, under a gazebo-like structure that blocked out the shining sun. Other— smaller, gazebos were placed in a spaced out circle leaving a sizable expanse of grassland in the center.

He stood against a a pillar that supported the gazebo in the back as he waited for the last of the students and the Professors to come. The room was filled with unfamiliar faces— much to Claudes dismay. But also a few faces he recognized.

A couple students he didn't know the name of from his old academy socialized as they waited for the class to begin. The one student he did know the name of stood eagerly at the front of the gazebo near the podium where the Professors would most likely be standing.

Lucy stood at the front of the gazebo, focused and eager. She was ready to start class because she opened her system stats the night before, upon realizing she had good physical stats for an archer she got so excited she accidentally lit three candles in her room.

Lucy— despite her decent level of popularity and social skills, had an unnatural focus and will to work without distractions due to the fact that she needed to become a hero, more importantly she needed money. She needed money to save her family. Her mother worked as a maid...slave at the home/Estate of Rory Legrand and his family aka the leader of the Grand Knights Guild, who were known to have and old fashioned view and pointless hatred towards women.

So once Lucy got strong enough and became an established hero with an income, she could let her mother quit and live the comfortable life she deserves.

"Come on dammit, where's the Professor, I'm trying to get to work!" She thought as she bounced lightly on her toes.

The door all the students came through that was behind the main gazebo opened up and a line of Professors emerged with one cheery and excited female in front pushing a cart. Claude recognized most of the teachers like Prof. Carlina, Demetria and the short and stocky man that transformed the ground in the mess hall earlier.

The idle chatter stopped as the Professors headed to the spacious gazebo. To Claudes surprise some Professors broke off from the line they were in and headed to the smaller gazebos in the field where they stood and waited.

4 Professors entered the main gazebo with the cart full of bowls and Prof. Carlina started to speak in her happy and lighthearted tone.

"Goodmorning students and welcome to your first class where you'll learn what element calls to you and how to control it to a devastating degree. You'll also learn how to use Aura for defensive and offensive purposes. But, first things first, you need to open up your system so you can actually gain your affinity and have it recognized by your system. This process is rather simple, you don't have to say anything out loud or do anything like that, all you need to do is think about seeing your system. Go ahead and try it!"

Claude watched as students closed their eyes and focused as they tried to bring up their system screens. Claude followed suit and he soon heard a familiar sound.

DING!

The green holographic screen was now in front of Claude with a message that filled him with surprise.

[You have taken down a (HellBred) Plated Snake Mother (lvl:???). Would you like to accept 500xp for your accomplishment?]

[Yes.] [No.]

Claude was puzzled as to why the system didn't know the snakes level and why it said "HellBred". He was sure he never read or heard about "(HellBred)" Variants at the C. S academy. "I'll have to find the library here and do some research...maybe ask around." Claude thought.

After deciding to check out the library later he decided to accept the Xp.

"Hell yes."

The "[Yes.]" icon bounced as if responding to his mind, then his screen changed.

***

[Stats]

[Items]

[Tamed Beast Stats]

***

Claude focused on the "[Stats]" until it revealed them on the screen.

***

[Name: Claude Grey]

[Title: None.]

[Race: Human]

[Level:3 (200/300 Exp)]

[Stat Points: 3]

[HP: 250/250]

[MP: 200/200]

[Stamina: 24]

[Strength:12]

[Will Power: 15]

[Intelligence: 10]

[Accuracy: 7]

[Agility/Speed: 15]

[Skills: (Beast Assistance LV1), (Beast Trait LV1), (Canine Affinity LV3)]

[Fenrir's Blessing: Undiscovered]

***

After reading his stats Claude could only think one thing.

"Why the hell is my stamina so high???"