It took Riven a moment before he could fully process who had saved him from a trip to the hospital.
The student was far taller than he was, and he had brown skin with dreads loosely tied behind his back.
The two students flinched as soon as the student faced them, they didn't know him because they were first-years and he couldn't possibly be a first-year too since he wasn't in any first-year roaster and his dressing made it well clear he wasn't a staff, so it was clear he was an upper-class student.
Fighting him didn't seem like an option either because not only was he higher up in class but he seemed incredibly strong, because catching a bench like that was something unusual even for mythical creatures.
"Didn't you two hear me? I said who started all this?" the upper-class said as he adjusted his posture to a more imposing one.
"W-We were just having a misunderstanding." The elf blurted out.
"A misunderstanding?" the student asked raising a brow. "Do I look like I was born yesterday?"
The two stayed quieted no knowing what to do our rather say, knowing that there was no escaping, though they were a bit relieved it was just a senior and not an actually teacher. There was a long silence before the student gave a big sigh.
"Geez, you're making it harder for me to scold you. Tell you what, I'll leave you two with a warning but if I get word of you getting into any fights, I won't be so lenient."
The two students looked at themselves and then the upper-class before bowing their heads in front of him.
"Thank You!" they said.
The other blushed slightly out of embarrassment, tapping his check. "Ugh, you don't have to go that far...just get outta here before I change my mind."
The latter didn't need to be told twice as they both took off grateful that they only got a warning.
Riven was flabbergasted. Catching a fastball was one thing; catching a wooden park bench thrown by an Orc, one-handed, was something else entirely. Although, he didn't expect the situation to die down that easily, the small crowd of students already dissipating.
"W-Who are you?" he asked, looking at the upper-class who turned back at him.
The other gave a huge smile. "Ah! I forgot about you lil' cubby."
"Cubby?…" Riven wanted to protest strongly about that word but he stopped himself. Would it really be necessary? He is a senior and also practically saved him from a critical accident. "Nevermind."
"So you look like you're a new guy, huh?"
"Yeah, I started yesterday." Riven replied.
The other gave him a shocked look. "HUUUUUH! Yesterday?!"
Riven shrugged, "Yeah I had just decided to take a stroll, when all of that happened." He gestured at the spot wee the other two were fighting.
"Man I feel bad you had to experience that on your second day…" the upper-class's face dropped but then it quickly lighten up. "Tell you what, I'll show you around, since you're still new you wouldn't wanna get lost now, will ya?"
Riven blinked at him, "Really? I mean don't you have other things to do?"
"Meh." The other shrugged. "I just got back from a small trip so I really didn't really have the energy to do much." He said as he started walking.
"C'mon lil' cubby…"
"My name's Riven." He said quickly, he really didn't want the upper-class to call him that otherwise people might start having strong 'ideas'.
"Cooool." The upper-class man pointed at himself. "Name's Nikolai."
***
Just as promised, Nikolai took him to every single aspect of the academy — the gymnasium, the club areas, the labs and even the teacher lounge but their stay there was short-lived the instant Kiaro stepped in there.
"You know so much about this place." Riven said as he walked by the other's side, hands behind his head.
"Well I've been here for quite some time, soo."
"Right! I almost forgot you're a senior." Riven slapped his forehand, making the other howl in laughter.
"You're real funny, cubby!"
"S-Stop calling me that!" Riven blurted, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment "I already told you my name so call me that." He added looking away trying so desperately to act cool.
Unfortunately, this had only made the upper-class man laugh harder.
"HAHAHA! You're hilarious!"
"What so funny about that!"
Nikolai, gaining his composure heaved a sigh. "Chill out alright. No need to get so worked up cubby."
"STOP CALLING ME—"
GRRRRRL.
The moment the sound came there was an immediate pause in the two. It vividly sounded like a growl that was suppressed in a wall of flesh.
Nikolai looked down at Riven, whose face was as red as a tomato, and at the source of the sound.
"You're…hungry?"
Riven quickly denied. "I have no idea what you're talking about—"
GRRRRRRRLLLLL.
"Okay…maybe a bit hungry." He confessed.
The other face puffed up, he was trying his best not to erupt into laughter but with the current situation it was proving harder than he thought.
"Anyways…" Nikolai spoke as he suppressed his urge to tease his junior. "Let's get you to the cafeteria, shall we?"
"Yeah. I guess." Riven said as he sheepishly followed the other.
***
The doors to the cafeteria swung open as the two stepped in the spacious cafeteria.
"Welcome to the best place in this whole academy!" Nikolai said rubbing his hands together. "Now let's make an order."
Though Nikolai called it a cafeteria, if Riven was to put it in his own words, it would be called…A MEGA SIZED RESTAURANT!
But the way students sat round, either gossiping or casually chatting, filling the area with the usual buzz and energy of a school gave it that vibe.
"Look it's him! I can't believe he's back so soon." a student whispered loudly to a friend as Riven and Nikolai went past some students.
Riven was curious as to who they were talking of but the hunger in his stomach didn't let him dwell on it too long as it gave him another growl.
Stupid stomach! At least stop doing that every five minutes!
Riven cursed as the upper-class he had been following looked back at him with a wide grin.
"Don't fret cubby. I'll even pay for your order."
"Really!?" Riven snapped his head at the other, surprised by the offer rather than the annoying nickname.
"Yeah, so don't hold back alright!" Nikolai smiled as they reached the counter. He placed an order and waited for Riven to do the same.
"Oh where did I put it?" Nikolai said as he searched his pockets.
This guy barely knows me and he's offering to pay for my lunch right off the bat. He seems like a good guy too. Too bad he's just a regular student though…
"Ah-ha! Found it!" Nikolai said pulling out his card and handing it to the caterer, who just examined the card, nodded, and handed it back to him.
Riven managed to get a small glimpse of the card. It was gleaming like crystals had been imprinted into it and the name on it were written in gold.
Remembering the lecture a certain someone gave him, Riven's brain slowly began clicking all together.
"Wait a sec…ARE YOU—!?"
Nikolai looked at the other and then his card which was suspended in his hand before giving the silliest smile known to man.
"Guess you've noticed, huh?" he said scratching the back of his nape. "I'm the President of the Student Council. Nikolai Thawn."
NO FREAKIN' WAY!!!
____
The alley was dark and filled with haunting shadows, it didn't stop the young man from running.
His breath was ragged and he looked like he was about to collapse at any moment but yet he kept going, fear and adrenaline pushing him further.
He would look back frantically as he took corners or ran a certain distance but he didn't dare to stop.
"Get away! GET AWAY FROM ME!!" He cried into the nothingness but it felt like someone was there.
He didn't stop until he got to a construction site, he ran into the site hoping to find somewhere to hide from whatever was chasing him.
Looking around, he panicked for a hiding spot, finally finding one in-between some crates. He quickly got behind it and crouched low, covering his mouth, his peculiar long ears twitching slightly.
It was silent…for a while.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound of footsteps — heavy and intentional.
A loud screeching caused by a long blade being dragged on the floor, made the young man hiding tremble in fright.
"It's okay, you're okay…" The man repeated, trying to calm himself down but his heart was pounding so loud he could hear it in his ears.
The figure who stepped in looked around reposition the blade on his shoulders. "Oh that's weird, I thought that Mythic went in here." He shrugged "Oh well, I guess I lost him…"
With a sigh he turned back to leave, his retreating footsteps made sure of his departure.
As soon as it turned quiet, the young man hiding sighed, "Thank goodness it's over."
He turned and saw a pair of hazy-brown eyes stare at him with the most menacing glint in them.
"Fooound You."
Before the poor youth could blink, it was over.
There was a terrifying wet slash, blood sprayed on the walls. The figure stood tall over the body of the dying man, raising his sword over his chest.
"Number 6!"
He thrust the blade into the other's chest with a sickening crunch. The blood on the blade trailed along it edges. Then like magic, the blood was soaked up by the weapon as it glowed an eerie red.
"Well now I'm curious…" The man smirked, half of his face painted red, his black hair falling over the left side. "Who's gonna be lucky number 7!"