Prince of The Abyss

Aether walked through the halls of the Academy; his eyes could hardly stay open. He had gotten too used to his schedule when he had all his free time... he really wanted summer to have lasted longer... which was ironic since he wanted it to end before.

After a long time, he finally saw the halls filled with people. Before, he used to just walk alone; now he actually walked around people. Not that he minded there being others; it’s weird for such a place to be empty.

He smiled through his exhaustion, waving at some people he knew as he moved towards his class. This time, he was not late like last time. And now he finally understood what it was about. ’Our anchors... that’s what it was about, and why I didn’t understand anything before.’

Entering the classroom, most of the seats were already filled, which really shocked him. ’Do these guys just not want to sleep more? Why so early?’ He sighed as he walked over to his seat and sat down.

Looking at Sena’s seat, she wasn’t here. ’Of course she isn’t; she will probably come in at the last second. She is lazier than I am.’

Lilith was also missing, but what can you expect? He doubted that guy had time to go to Anchor classes, even though he didn’t want to at first. After all, he knew it could teach him some strategies, but he didn’t know if they worked that well with what he was going for; after all, he didn’t just want to grow his anchor to be a place where people came and did whatever they wanted; he wanted it to be the second home of the Withered. ’The best things to do are to put more economical things, as they give both EXP and money, but how would anyone train inside without any training grounds and such?’

He knew that he could just do it after he gained everything he wanted, after he was a high level and had maybe even another Anchor, but that would take too much. He wanted to start already, not wait until spring, since he definitely wouldn’t finish this fall, and in the Winter he was going to be caught up in the Wonderland.

As time passed, more and more students entered, one of them being Sena, who smiled once she saw him, sitting in her seat. ”Did you get a new haircut or something? Was that really what was on your mind after you had just died?”

Aether chuckled, but rolled his eyes. ”I can do what I want with my life, you know? I live it to the fullest, these small things included. I won’t let my own death stop me.”

Sena scoffed. ”Sometimes I wonder if you’re crazy, or just an absolute dumbass without any brain inside that skull of yours, and just makes decisions based on what the emptiness inside your cranium is saying.”

Aether frowned, not fond of her joke. ”You could have just been stupid, you know?”

She chuckled. ”I know. But because I can doesn’t mean I want or will,” She said, while showing him the middle finger.

Aether didn’t give in to her teasing, just pushing her hand away and looking away from her. But as he did, he unintentionally noticed Iris, who had her books and notes ready already, just waiting for the teacher to come and teach. ’She’s really taking this class seriously.’

He glanced between her and Sena. ’Are we sure they’re both Vessels?... Wait, I’m also a Vessel, so never mind.’

The class went quiet as the teacher entered, many rising to their feet to greet her..., but since he had almost always arrived late, he had no idea that he had to, so he was the only one who hadn’t risen to their feet...

... Well, not the only one. He turned towards Sena, who had already planted her head on the desk to sleep, not bothering to get up.

But he knew that the teacher didn’t like it at all, not only because he always arrived late and he didn’t pay attention at all in class before, but also because he was from the Withered; he knew most of the teachers still hadn’t accepted it, but it didn’t bother him. He wasn’t going to let it get to him.

...

...

...

As the class ended, Aether let himself fall back into his seat like a vegetable. He had tried to pay attention to understand, but nothing, it just wasn’t for him. And it wasn’t that he didn’t like being taught this; his style of using the blade was taught to him by someone, but he hated having to sit down all day and just write things.

He wanted to try things, to learn through experience, not just words.

After all, it was also how he taught his students back in Demon of Dread, actually putting them in battle instead of just telling them how to fight.

’At least it’s done...’ Getting up from his seat, he nudged Sena to wake up, but didn’t stay to talk to her.

Walking out, he prepared to enjoy his break while waiting for the next class, but before he could, something caught his attention. A poster on the wall.

”A... swordsmanship tournament?...” His eyes widened as he continued to read the details. It was an annual event in the fall, where students compete with their class to see who has the best skills with the blade. The winner was also able to choose a class to instantly pass for that respective season, which was amazing.

Tilting his head, Aether considered it. ”Pretty unoriginal, if I may say. They shouldn’t have done something more interesting than a tournament for an annual event; it’s overused, but at the same time, it’s better than classes... and I can also test myself.”

...

”I’m not sure if I will be able to win, since I really don’t know the skills of all the others, and since they also had a lot more time to get stronger in the Summer.

But I will try.”