CHAPTER 39: GLOOMY CLASSROOM

"... I will be on Hwita’s team, to balance it out 40 - 40 with Erythros." The new Copious, who now tied his hair in a ponytail spoke. "Yeah, I prefer doing it how Franz does also, but I can’t always get in touch with him." He continued after he saw the disgusted faces of the students – the other Copious had walked away with Aoi and Regina.

"I just remembered I haven’t told you guys my ability. It’s copy and clone. I can copy a wide range of abilities and keep them for as long as three months, but I can even keep them longer –for about half a year– if I make more of me and put one of each copied ability in them. But I’ve always had trouble holding on to Franz’ ability, don’t know why.

"Mind you, we don’t like to refer or to be referred to as clones. So, just call me ponytail Copious, the other one that just left, Professor or Sir Copious, and the one with the clipboard, clipboard Copious. You’ll meet more of me as we get into lessons proper.

"Now, let’s begin," ponytail Copious walked to Xenon and held his shoulder for about two seconds then walked back. "Erythros versus Hwita."

— — —

Xenon, as well as the rest of the class woke up with their heads feeling as though it had been run over by elephants. They were all scattered over the sand – all 81 of them – and were waking up to ponytail Copious’ voice.

"I forgot to tell you all that the trees, after absorbing a number of hits and attacks, retaliates by releasing a light and/or sound and/or electric based attack. One tree is hardly enough to stun ten people, but because numerous trees retaliated together you were all knocked out and perhaps feel a strange pounding in your head." Ponytail Copious announced as soon as the students began to wake up.

"The headache – and disorientation you will feel once you stand up – should clear up in a few hours, and if it doesn’t go visit the infirmary. The class ended a few minutes ago, you can take your leave, – oh – and the match ended in a draw. Our next meet is on Thursday evening, take care till then."

The students stood up clumsily and trooped out of the backyard, through the building and out into the academy grounds, careful not to collide with anything on the way.

Xenon lay down, not moving from where he was, somewhere behind him, Jason grunted and sat up, leaning against one of the thick growths of long grasses.

Not long after, he heard footsteps and leaned on his elbows so he could see who was approaching. Aoi broke away from Regina and Copious who he had been walking with and ran to help Xenon sit, looking at him and Jeage with concerned faces.

"What happened to you guys? The bell rang about fifteen minutes ago." Copious asked curiously as he gazed from Xenon and Jason to his ponytailed copy.

"I guess they were waiting for their housemates." Ponytail Copious replied sheepishly.

"After being knocked out by the trees!" Jason added more loudly than necessary and seemed not to notice.

"I see, of you go then." Copious shooed them away.

"Are you guys gonna be okay, or should we go to the infirmary?" Aoi asked as they stepped into the academy grounds, followed by Regina who maintained a distance of about five steps.

"We’re okay." Jason replied. "I was able to partially shield myself so I didn’t get the worst of it, and he heals fast." Jason said the last words gesturing at Xenon.

"How do you know that?" Xenon asked rather too quickly.

"Well, after our match, I woke up beside you on the fifth floor and the healer was saying you might not wake up till late at night, but you were alive and well by the time the rankings were announced, weren’t you? It’s not that hard to put things together." Jason replied.

Aoi still looked worried but by the time they were almost at their house’s tower, he noticed Xenon was walking quite well and steadily, unlike Jason who had his arm around him to keep his balance. And when Aoi asked Xenon if he still had a headache, Xenon said it was barely there anymore.

"Hey, it’s getting darker you know, you should move closer so you don’t um, get separated or lose your way." Xenon said to Regina who was still trailing behind them from a distance.

"I can see perfectly in the dark," Regina replied, pointing to her slightly glowing, green eyes. "And I have a very good memory of the way to our tower." She said and quickened her pace so that she overtook them.

Jason sniggered, earning a murderous gaze from Xenon who didn’t speak except muttering ’I was just trying to be nice’ once, till they were about to leave the cafeteria after dinner.

"We have Runes and Rune Technology by nine tomorrow, I’ll be leaving the tower by eight tomorrow and I’m waiting for no one, so if you like wake up early or not it’s not my problem." Xenon said to Aoi and Jason as he stood up from their table to leave for his room.

"Goodnight!" Aoi called after Xenon who replied with a wave.

"What’s up with him?" Jason asked Aoi as they left the cafeteria together shortly after.

"Who knows." Aoi shrugged.

— — —

_________________

NAME: XENON PRASEDYMUM

AGE: 15

LEVEL: 11| EXP: 14240/51200

STATE: FINE

HP: 35/35

OUSIA: []

Stage: 2 (Transitional)

Progression: 90%

Àse: 300/300

Spirit Contract: 1 (Kusin)

ATTRIBUTES: []

|Strength: 20| |Agility: 24| |Endurance: 20|

|Intelligence: 22| |Senses: 20|

[Fatigue: 65% | Vitality: 99%] Stat points: 11

SYSTEM SKILL: SCAN (Lvl 3)

QUESTS: []

SIDE QUEST: Gain full mastery over HYPERCELERITY.

DAILY QUESTS:

▪︎Meditate for 2 hours. Completed.

▪︎Drink 4 litres of water. Completed.

_________________

"Good thing I woke up very early today to meditate or I wouldn’t have been able to complete my daily quest ’cause I’m too tired to do anything tonight anymore." Xenon yawned and clicked his pocket watch to check the time, it was thirty nine minutes after eight.

"Goodnight system!" Xenon yawned and hit the bed.

— — —

The trio trudged to class very early in drizzle so fine, it was like mist. They brushed water droplets away from their clothes and dried their damp hair with Aoi’s scarf as they got to a still very empty classroom, except for someone in a large black coat who was bent over the desk meant for the subject teacher at the front of the classroom.

They tiptoed to a seat to the left wall of the class as usual – which Xenon picked so he could lean against the wall – and sat waiting for the class to start.

"I told you it was too early. Now were in this gloomy classroom with someone who could be dead when we could have been enjoying extra helpings of breakfast." Jason whispered furiously.

"Shh, shut up, it’s eight forty two already, there’ll be others here in no time." Xenon replied, whispering just as furiously as Jason.

And no sooner had he replied Jason that Regina walked into the classroom. She sighed once she saw Xenon and his friends and help herself to a seat at the other end of the classroom.

"What’s up with you and her anyway?" Jason asked.

"Well, we sort of had a misunderstanding on the night of our arrival at the island, and I’ve been trying to apolo-but it’s none of business anyway, so leave me alone!" Xenon inadvertently raised his voice as he told Jason off that the person at the desk in front of this class banged his fist on the desk furiously.

Nobody said a thing after that as the class filled in and the bell signified the start of the class.

The person asleep on the table in front of the class stood up shortly after and took off his large black coat that previous hid his petite frame. He took off his oversized hat to reveal two round glasses that reflected off the light that streamed into the room through the windows that opened automatically when he stood up.

"I am Yadok Eareli, Professor Yadok Eareli to you, and I am the professor in charge of teaching the subject Runes and Rune technology. Now I hope you all have your textbooks – The Runic Language: Book 1." The class murmured in assent. "Great, open to page five – Chapter one – and start studying. There will be no need for introductions and I will give a brief explanation before the class ends."

Yadok Eareli was a not very tall man in his late fifties, he had wild, straw coloured hair of which majority was greying and his glasses were still reflecting the sunlight, making it impossible to get any view of his eyes.

Yadok sat behind his desk and watched as the class studied the assortment of basic runes and their explanations, meanings and uses on Chapter one.

Once it was thirty minutes to the end if the class, he stood up, ordered them to close their textbooks and began with clearing his throat.