2 Chapter 2: Class

After spending most of the night starting to purify his demonic spirit, Ivar only got a few hours of sleep before his first class.

If given the choice between purifying his demonic spirit or attending class, Ivar would happily skip all his classes. Unfortunately for Ivar, and a great many other students, there is no choice. Everyone that has talent to become a demonic spiritualist is required by law, to attend the Spiritualist Academy and can only graduate after becoming a Rank 1 Demonic Spiritualist.

Only one in several thousand have the talent to become a demonic spiritualist. Every new demonic spiritualist is seen as an increase in the city's strength and security, some will be used to replace those who died in battle, and some will return work privately. A great number of families in the city have had a demonic spiritualist at one point in time, including Ivar's.

If it was not by the city manager's order for all demonic spiritualists to attend the academy, only those who are looking to make social connections with other families would bother wasting their time here.

The last demonic spiritualist in Ivar's family was from over a hundred years ago, and like most demon spiritualists he kept a journal to pass, and his predecessors' legacies down to future generations. Every member of Ivar's family wither demon spiritualist, warrior, or simple farmer is able to read these legacies. These legacies chronicles several of his ancestors rise from 1st layer trainee to Rank 3, with every demonic spirit they used, every skill and spell they learned, and their understandings on how to breakthrough to the 4th Rank were carefully recorded and passed down. Over the years many families in the city collected legacies from other families and from other cities, making the Demonic Spiritualist profession well known to everyone.

Ivar decided to sit in the back of the classroom and continue to purify his demonic spirit. His plan worked, for a few minutes at least.

"Ivar, how'd your hunting go yesterday?"

Annoyed, Ivar opened his eyes and saw Collin staring at him. Like Ivar, Collin's came from a poorer family in the western district. This made them friendly to each other, but their differences made it so they couldn't be true friends. Collin and his family were pacifists in a city full of warriors and demonic spiritualists.

"Meat prices are down, but shell bugs sold for double."

This simple conversation drew the disgusted gazes of several students. In this city that is under constant threat from demonic beasts, anyone who refuses to fight is seen as a coward and hated. Collin's popularity wasn't helped with by being dragged to the second day of class in chains by the city militia for failing to comply with the city manager's order while begging to go home.

"Sounds about right, lots of people are hunting and buying armor. George was showing off his new armor yesterday, he had a full set too."

"Money sure is wasted on the stupid, he's got a high-grade diamond soul gem, a mid-grade sword, and now he has some armor. Mid-grade at the very least, right?" Disgust could easily be heard in Ivar's voice.

"High-grade."

The mocking grin Collin just made just filled Ivar with more disgust.

"What's the point of having of all that gear if he doesn't train? Even you have broken through to the first layer, and you're only doing it to escape this shit-hole and go home."

"Relax Ivar, rich people need to show off, or else how would people know their rich?"

"Hey, you sure you won't fuse with a demonic spirit? I mean, I could have given you a shell bug spirit, they may be shitty demonic spirits, but they would help you train faster. As it is, you'll be here for three years or more."

"Every child shall be tested during their tenth year, all children deemed to have the talent to become a demonic spiritualist are forbidden to train before their thirteenth year and are required by law to attend the spiritualist academy for five years or till they have reached Rank 1."

Saying the order that forced him to be here finally removed the mocking grin from Collins face.

"You wouldn't be responsible for its death, I would. Me collecting its spirit wouldn't change its fate."

"I'll pass, I'll get out of here my way. Even if the city manager's order goes against the city founders and the alliance's wishes it's not like I can fight it, but I won't do as he wants."

It wasn't the first time that Ivar brought up bring back a trash demonic spirit for Collin to use for training, each time he was politely refused.

"Michael's coming."

Ivar followed Collins gaze and saw "him". Michael came from a farming family from the southern district and not wanting to be poor anymore he decided to suck up to the students from wealthy families. What no one could figure out is if the rich kids were paying him to be a complete ass to everyone but them or if he was practicing be rich by being a complete ass.

"Well don't you two look... friendly." Michael was trying to speak with a tone superiority, but only made him sound foolish to Ivar and Collin.

"Hello... Mikey."

"It's Michael!" An anger tone replaced his foolish superiority one.

"Well Mikey, the last time we spoke I punched you in the face. So, did I not punch you hard enough? Or did I punch you so hard you forgot?"

The simple question caused Michael's face to turn red as he heard the snickering of those near him.

Michael decided to target Collin, calling him and his family cowards, and saying he should not only be kicked out of the academy, but he and his family deserved to be kicked out of the city. Every time he insulted Collin and his family, he would receive cheers from most of the class. When Ivar told him to "piss off", he ignored it, and decided to target Ivar as well. He didn't even get a whole insult out of his mouth before Ivar punched him in the face.

"Well, you did punch him very hard Ivar."

"No, I really didn't." Ivar's voice had a coldness to it as he spoke.

The mocking smile had returned to Collin's face, which infuriated Michael to no end.

"Just you wait, you won't always have your thug with you. The you'll..."

Michael's grand retore was interrupted when Ivar quickly stood up and sent an upper cut to his stomach. Michael fell to his knees and started coughing as he clutched his abdomen.

As Ivar began to infuse his body with his spirit power, his tan skin started to turn an orangish color with faint green stripes running down his jaw and neck. His pale blue eyes became brighter and iridescent, and his round pupil turned into a slit.

Reaching down, Ivar grabbed the front of Michael's shirt and lifted him into the air.

"If you don't want to be a farmer, then don't be a farmer. If you don't want to be poor, then work hard and save your money. If you want to throw away your pride and suck up to the richer kids, then throw away your pride. But stop being a worthless shit."

While this wasn't a complete transformation, this partial transformation had the effect of making his appearance and voice far more menacing than normal.

"PUT. HIM. DOWN. Everyone return to your seats, class is beginning." The voice that spoke did so with a loud and commanding tone.

Although Ivar knew who just spoke, he moved the arm holding Michael to the right and looked at the individuals standing at the classroom door. His instructor, Berry, and the richer students of the class.

With a flick of his arm Ivar sent Michael flying through the air. Michael landed on the ground eight or nine feet away from Ivar.

With a subtle shake Ivar's body returned to normal, he then returned to his seat and sat down like nothing had happened.

Michael quickly got up and thanked Instructor Berry and for some reason the richer kids of the class.

"Fool, why did you thank them? They were standing outside the door before you even came walked over. They decided to watch my reaction as you acted like a fool."

Without caring about everyone's reaction to his words, Ivar closed his eyes and began to purify his demonic spirit.

The law said he had to attend the academy, the academy's rules said he had to attend classes, but no one said he had to pay attention to the classes.