Despite his resolve, Andy didn't receive any response from the system per se… apart from a notification.
[Great resolution detected. +10 Will.]
This wasn't a response to his plea, but rather a response to his determination.
Andy's tears were short-lived, seeing and feeling his Will grow shifted his focus. He felt as though the space within his head expanded a bit.
The tears in his eyes dried up and even his senses became sharper.
Whispers that he couldn't hear from a few meters away became audible.
"If the board of directors were ready to let go of Principal Ganaf, they might not mind expelling a large number of us. Who's to say that everyone will remain strong until the end? Some cowards are sure to relent. The futures that they've dreamed about…"
Andy's gaze followed this whisper, locating the speaker. It was Homer, an average height boy with a thin build, one of Andy's classmates, speaking to Verg.
"We just have to wait till graduation. Whoever truly cares for Zeladin would do all they can to help him when we're out there, in the bigger world." Verg said.
This notion was shared amongst many other students.
Despite the fact that they had been raised together for years, not everyone here was friends.
Many had feuds with others.
Some were bullies that had victims who abhorred them. Others who didn't hate or envy each other were rivals who didn't want to be outdone by the other.
The entire Academy, below the surface, has a very competitive structure. And in its own way, it had been brutal on the psychological development of the students.
Everyone was in competition with each other.
There was unity in their solidarity, but no unity in their loyalty.
This is where Andy had always stood out.
Unlike those who struggle to become stronger, Andy had long given up on trying so much.
Normally, the academy would step in to reprimand and put him on the right path. However, he had Zeladin covering for him every time. Being the favorite student of the entire school, including the board of directors, he had unspoken privileges, where even lesser rules like this, when broken, could be intervened on.
Andy unconsciously sneered at Homer and Verg.
Suddenly, the single whisper exploded into a discord. A dozen other conversations from all corners of the auditorium flooded his mind at once, layering over each other like a chaotic euphony of gossip, fears, and plans.
Andy couldn't focus, he couldn't discern one conversation from another. It was like a deafening mental static. Then came the pang in his head, a sharp needle-like pain that made him wince.
Immediately, his sense of hearing returned to normal.
Name: Anderson Naver
Race: Human
Rank: None
Mana Rank: Initiate
Status: Awakening
Skill Slots: 1/5
Mana Capacity: 2/10
Strength: 8
Agility: 6
Endurance: 5
Will: 4/19
Intelligence: 9
Seeing his status, Andy had an idea of what had just happened to him.
There's no use in staying here anymore. The more time I waste listening to this demon of an old, the more disgusted I get. I need to use my time getting stronger. And make a solid plan on what to do next.
The thought of graduation crossed Andy's mind and unlike before, it was synonymous with death to him. He didn't know how they were all going to die if they made it till graduation.
But from all he had overheard last night, after making inferences, if it was true, they were going to be sold out to the highest bidder on that day.
Two months and twenty-eight days left…
Without even thinking twice, Andy got up from his seat, attracting the attention of the principal.
"Oh, Anderson, do you have something to say?" He asked with an elderly smile on his face.
Once again, Andy felt disturbed by the man's acting skills. Two can play the same game. Returning the smile, Andy chuckled. "Old man, I need to go… and use the restroom."
As soon as everyone heard that, they all understood what using the restroom was code for.
He was going to find a place to nap.
This was very much in line with Andy's personality and attitude. It would have been stranger if he didn't attempt to leave a lesson or gathering to go use the "restroom".
"Doesn't even care about his buddy being expelled. All he knows is to sleep." One of the teachers blurted out.
Mr. Charles.
Class 13's Magic instructor. A man who had disliked Andy since day one.
However, Andy acted as if he didn't hear that.
"Charles, that wasn't a nice thing to say. Sleeping, is how Anderson… copes with stress. In fact, at this stage of class 13's education, apart from their upcoming exams, they should try to emulate Anderson. Life after the academy, regardless of which corporation you end up with, is one that is filled with… jagged roads. You would wish you slept as much as you could by the time you realize this."
Andy smiled and started making his way out of the senate. By the time he stepped out, he came across a few matrons who all smiled at him.
Showcasing their welcoming smiles that used to make him feel loved, however, now, he didn't know who he could trust.
The principal could be in on it. The board of directors, definitely. But what about the teachers? Were they all in on this? If not all, then how many of them?
The same could be said about the matrons in the academy. Who could be trusted?
Andy maintained his smile until he was a distance away from the Senate Building. Then he picked a direction and started running with all he had.
He had cried silently, only letting out a bit of his emotions in the process. If he couldn't cry as he wished to, then he would sweat out these emotions while trying to meet a goal.
The teachers and the rest of Andy's classmates remained in the auditorium, discussing other matters regarding their graduation day.
A matron then approached Principal Ganaf and whispered to him.
"Sir, Melinda insists on keeping an eye on #07. What punishment would you—"
Principal Ganaf raised a hand, interrupting her. "Has she gone AWOL?"
"No, sir."
"Then let her be. Her desires might just be getting her. #07 haven't had a handler since interest in him was lost. He might not amount for much… if Melinda eats him, then so be it."
With a bow, the Matron walked off the stage.