First May came, signalling the one month we've been together.
"Hey, Alistair, did you get the CMP?" Tank grabbed my shoulder.
"I didn't,"
"You too?" Tank let go of my shoulder.
"Why are we the only ones who aren't getting CMP in the whole level?!"Tank slammed the table hard.
"Wait! Tank, what are you doing? Calm down!!" Liam rushed over to Tank.
"Our class is in a mess," Crystal muttered.
"Did you get any CMP, Crystal?" I asked her.
"No," Crystal flipped a page of her book. "To be honest, I'm not surprised."
"Same here," I looked at our class. They were more chaotic now.
"It's probably our punishment for not paying attention in class," Crystal stated.
"We think alike," I commented.
"For the last time, we are not alike." Crystal's words were ice-cold.
Of course.
Our gap in power is far too wide.
"Ding!! Ding!!"
"Good morning, class." Ms Seraphine walked into the classroom with her usual elegance. "Everyone, turn to page 37 of your astralis theory textbook. Today, we will be studying the structure of astral cores since many of you flunked that section during the entrance exam…"
"Ms Seraphine!!" Freddie's hand shot up.
"Yes, Fredrick?"
"Why hasn'r this month's CMP been transferred to our student IDs?"
"Oh? We have already transferred all the CMP to everyone's accounts. The student council couldn't have possibly just missed out on 1-D," Ms Seraphine slowly put down the textbook.
"Then, why…?" Murmurs filled the class.
"You really want to know why?" She laughed. A cruel laugh. "You should know by now why."
The class went silent.
"Talking and texting, 3568 times. Ditching class and showing up late, 48 times. Sleeping and not concentrating, 8037 times." Ms Seraphine listed every single thing we did one by one.
"Ms Seraphine, then could you at least tell us the process behind calculating our CMP?" Liam stood up.
"I can't disclose fully how it's calculated. I can only tell you this," Ms Seraphine took a marker and wrote on the whiteboard. "CAP is graded by your behaviour, and how you do in the quizzes you take every month. And this quiz, all of you did pretty much the worst in your cohort, living up to Class D's name. Besides that, none of you was paying attention during class, which lost even more CAP."
"But, Ms Seraphine, what does CAP have to do with our CMP?" Baldie raised his hand.
"Everything," Ms Seraphine frowned slightly. "The higher the amount of CAP in your class, the more CMP is given to you each month."
Our class gave her looks of bewilderment.
"You all are truly idiots," Ms Seraphine laughed. "Right now, Class A has 1843, Class B has 529, and Class C has 173 CAP. "
Everyone fidgeted under the immense pressure.
"If Class D had at least 1 CAP, we would have been able to give you some CMP based on your behaviour in class." Ms Seraphine continued. "But you guys had 0 CAP. Zero!!"
"I must truly give it to you," She clapped mockingly. "Never have I taught a class with zero CAP!!"
My prediction was correct.
That large amount of CMP didn't come for free. It came with a price—a condition. The school will deposit CMP into your student ID each month, provided your CAP is above 0, and your behaviour in class is acceptable.
There is a price for everything.
No matter how big or small.
"I have already saved up enough CMP." I thought as I checked my phone. I still have 984, 800 CMP left. Probably the highest in the class. Having calculated my daily spending, I still have quite a bit of CMP left—100 CMP for each bento and 200 CMP for drinks, usually water, and daily necessities. Considering I use around 100 CMP per meal, which is 3 times a day, I would use 500 CMP in a day, leaving me with around 985,000 left after April. But I had to treat Reine to a special meal just to get connections, so 984, 800, but that's that.
"Nooo," Some of the girls who relentlessly went on shopping sprees cried.
"That can't be true," Frederick, who had just bought a 990,000 TV, looked down in despair.
From the corner of my eye, I could see Lucas panicking. I have no idea what he had bought, but he seemed to be hanging out with Lauren a lot lately. Maybe he had bought some items to impress her.
Only Crystal and I were calm amidst the chaos breaking out in the class.
"Hey, Celeste, we're good friends, right? Could you lend me some CMP?"
"Sorry, Elizabeth, I don't have much myself."
"Are you free for lunch?" Crystal asked.
"Yes, why?"
"I have something to ask of you," Crystal stated calmly. "Something you cannot refuse,"
"Everyone," Ms Seraphine tapped the whiteboard impatiently with her marker. "I will leave you with this. If any one of you fails even one subject in the Genesis Evaluation, you will be expelled immediately. The class CAP will also drop as a penalty."
Her words were sharp and clear.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Thanks for the food," I looked at the luxurious food on my tray. It probably costs at least 300 CMP. "Are you sure I can eat this? Why are you treating me to this lavish meal just after finding out that we might be low on CMP for a few months? Shouldn't you be saving instead of spending more?"
"Stop asking so many questions and eat your food. I already paid for it," Crystal poked my arm harshly.
"Ow,"
"It's hard," She commented. "Alistair, do you work out?"
"No, I hate doing extra work," I paused and thought for a moment before adding, "But my dad used to train me in swordmanship when I was younger. But now, I rarely work out, let alone do my daily 100 push-ups. It has been a couple of years since I last did them. Why do you ask?"
"How interesting," She muttered. "Muscles without training…"
"Why did you ask me out for lunch today? Feeling lonely?"
"Picking a fight?" Crystal became defensive. "Need me remind you I will not hesitate to throw a punch at you?"
"Yes, yes, I surrender," I raised my hands in defeat.
"I called you here today because I have something to discuss with you," Crystal said as she sipped her tea.
"I'm listening," I continued to eat my food.
"Liam, Remi, and Annabelle are thinking of a Study Group," Crystal said slowly as I savoured every dish on my tray. "But the students scoring the lowest are refusing to join,"
"Fredrick, Pax, and Tank?"
"Exactly those three. Despite failing almost everything, they still refuse to join the Study Group. Don't they know that they will be expelled very soon if they continue their ways?" Crystal sighed.
"They're not really on good terms with Liam," I said.
"However, I don't understand. Even if they were not on good terms with Liam, they would rather be expelled than interact with him?"
"I guess the hatred runs deep,"
"Goodness. Though I must not let them fail the Genesis Evaluation no matter what. Getting them expelled will only hinder the class and prevent me from getting into Class A,"
"Why?"
"To get into Class A to show Brother my worth. I'm not as worthless as he thinks I am. That's why I need to be the leader of our class, and you are going to help me."
"But why do I need to help you?"
"Even after hearing all that, you still…?" Crystal sighed in exasperation. "I have a secret that you don't want others to know. If you were to help me, I will not tell the world that Kaori Nightfall is your sister," She threatened.
"That's not a choice at all,"
"..."
"Why ask me? Do you really think that a loner like me, who lacks social and communication skills, can really help you get into Class A?" I asked.
For a person like me, who's just trying to seek information for revenge, I believe my plan to act as a normal high school student was flawless. So, of all people, why did she pick me? What did she see in me? If it was potential in me she saw in me, I would have turned her down immediately. But her goal was for revenge—the same as mine.
"You ate the food, didn't you?" Crystal replied coolly. "Even I know there's a price for everything."
"Fine, I will help you to get into Class A. But why are you not aiming for Class S?"
"Aiming for Class S is being too ambitious," She said.
"Then the deal is closed," Crystal said. "Now, what should we do?"
"We? Shouldn't it be just you?"
"Picking a fight again? How childish,"
"..."
Crystal sure has a sharp tongue.
"How about this?" I took out a pen and paper from my pocket. "Following Liam, Remi, and Annabelle's example, you could create your own study group for the three students who scored the lowest in class. However, students usually fail because they dislike studying."
"Yes, I have thought of that as well," Crystal tapped her finger on the table. "They will only improve if we give them a goal to work towards, and maybe a reward to motivate them."
"Considering we actually come up with a plan to help them improve, or at the bare minimum, pass their tests, how will you recruit them into our study group?"
My question was lingering in the air.
"You have been isolating yourself from the start of school. I doubt someone who looks down on everyone and is unfriendly could bring them all together. Everyone either finds you cold or unfriendly, which further adds to our problems."
"You should hand out flyers or give out CMP then," I suggested.
"I wouldn't stoop so low just for the sake of helping a few students pass," Her brows furrowed. "Though my goal indeed is to get into Class A, I would rather lose some CAP and get rid of the burdens of our class before regaining them with the higher grades of the class to get into Class A."
"But this is why I called you here. You will help me bring them together," Crystal ordered.
For real? Despite all her qualities, she's still smart. Knowing that she wouldn't possibly be able to bring everyone together, she has outsourced this to me.
"Can I refuse?"
"I'm not telling you to do it, I'm threatening you. If you were to disobey me and go against your word, there will be bloodshed." A small water ball was summoned on her open palm before suddenly transforming into a sharp icicle.
Scary.
"…"
There's a swim class for gym class after this.
What should I do?
Of course, I could always swim with everyone and encourage them to join Crystal's Study Group. But in the meantime, the temporary black dye on my hair will be washed off by the water. My snow white hair would show, revealing my true identity to Project Atlas. On the other hand, Crystal's Study Group is a permanent fix to this situation. For now, when everyone has no CMP, we need a temporary solution.
Without CMP, the students of Class D will not be able to focus in class, constantly worrying whether they will have enough money to feed themselves the next day. Focus loss would lead to grades deteriorating.
Though I would have been fine with some students getting expelled from Celestara High, since there is no class lower than D, there is no need for us to maintain our position. However, at this point, the number of students having to drop out of Celestara High would far exceed my expectations. By Year 3, we might only have ten students left, fifty per cent of the students in the rest of the classes.
I do agree that burdens should be expelled, but this is too much. At this rate, my pawns will vanish one by one all too soon. For my own sake, as well as fulfilling my promise to Crystal, I must save our class first. It's too soon for me to pick out and choose who I'd like to expel.
But now that I know the true intentions of Celestara High, I must choose more pawns that are beneficial to me after some are thrown aside. Backups are crucial in a cruel world such as this. They wouldn't spare you a second thought before eliminating you.
"Class 1-D?" A lifeguard asked us.
"Yes!" Liam answered for all of us. "We're here for swim class this afternoon. Ms Seraphine told us this morning to come to the swimming complex—"
"Yes, yes, I don't need to know your life story," The lifeguard dismissed Liam impatiently. "Your gym class teacher, Ms Charlotte of 1-B, is absent," She sighed. "Probably drank too much booze again."
This is not the first time, then.
"All of you are in your swimming trunks already?" She glanced at all of us. "Then you guys can either swim or cook for the rest of the period. Since she also teaches you all the culinary classes, she has permitted you all to go to Kitchen 1. But all of you must stay here for at least fifteen minutes first."
"Or else I'd have to write a bad remark on her feedback form again," The lifeguard muttered. "Now get to it!!" She shouted.
"Yess!! The pool!!!" Fredrick exclaimed. Tank and friends all leapt into the pool with a big splash.
"Who likes cooking anyway?" Tank commented.
"Stop it!!" Annabelle laughed and splashed water back at Celeste.
"Haha!!" Lauren was sitting on Lucas's back as he swam.
I, on the other hand, sat at the shallow part, the water only ankle high. I couldn't afford to reveal my true identity this early in the game of catch. Right now, I haven't found a hair dye insoluble in water yet. The hair dye I am using is exactly like pen ink. It will be washed off the second it makes contact with water. What a hassle.
"Hey!! Alistair, watch out!!!"
A ball came flying at top speed towards my face.
Wait what?
A ball?!
"BAM!!!"
"Whoa, Alistair, nice catch!!!" Reine complimented.
I glanced at the ball in my hand. It must have been reflexes.
"Frederick, stop cheating!!!" Reine shouted back at Freddie.
"Yeah, Frederick! It's not going to be fun if you're going to use your wind magic," Pax lectured.
"Frederick, be more careful. What if it actually hits someone?" Liam pulled back Tank's shoulder before he could throw a punch at Freddie.
"That's some skills you have, Alistair," Reine threw the ball back at them and called, "You guys play first!"
"It was nothing,"
She leaned against the wall and smirked, "Oh, really? Nothing? Look at the muscles you have there," Reine pointed at my upper body. "You've got muscles on your biceps and triceps, and look at that six-pack right there," She frowned slightly. "How do you call that nothing? You must have been working very hard for them." She climbed up that small wall and walked over.
"You did well." A small smile formed as she patted my head.
"No, actually, I haven't been working very hard for them. I've just been having mock fights with my father when I was younger," I tried to explain.
"None of the guys there have the real six-packs except for Tank. The rest of theirs are really faint," Reine pointed that out. "Even if you just had small mock fights like them now and then, it won't be so obvious."
"I see," I scratched my chin. "Now I really wonder what I did,"
"Haha!!! I can't believe someone would not know how they got their six-packs!!!" Reine giggled.
"I apologise, I really don't remember," I rubbed the back of my neck.
Reine was right.
How could I forget how I got these?
Is there something I'm forgetting?
Ever since joining the Black Eclipse, my days have been filled with missions with almost no time to train myself. That's why my skills got a little rusty when I first battled Reine. The last time I had battled someone before Reine was…was years before Dad and Mom…died.
I still remember that morning. Dad had challenged me to battle against him and Mom. The loser loses his lunch. But Mom was no good as a rival. She was still a mother at heart. Each time a thin line of blood oozed out of a fresh cut Dad had made, she would chant a healing spell softly. "Say goodbye to your 'boo boos'!" She used to say that when I was younger.
Now that both of them are gone, I wonder how Ella is doing. There are a million questions I want to ask her, but Art has promised to take care of her for us. If it's Art, I can have faith that Ella is in good hands.
"Alistairrr," Reine waved a hand in front of me. "You're zoning out,"
"Sorry," I looked up at her.
"Hey, do you mind if I touch it?" Reine's big crimson eyes stared back at me.
"Touch what?"
"Your six-packs, I mean. I just haven't seen one before…" Her eyes darted nervously, trying to avoid revealing the embarrassment she had provoked.
"Alistair Nightfall, I need to talk to you," A sharp voice rang behind me.
I turned my head back to see Crystal some distance away, calling me.
"It's okay, go," Reine smiled.
"Are you sure?"
"Yep, now go," Reine turned around and dipped her feet into the water. "Liam! I'm playing again! Pass me the ball!"
"Sure thing!" Liam threw the ball at her.
"Then I guess it's time for me to go," I got to my feet.
But just before walking towards Crystal, I glanced at Reine one last time.
She's definitely one weird pervert.