Chapter 356 Griffin!
"All right, that's it for today," Ryfin said, announcing the end of the class with those words. Then he picked up the files and papers he was carrying with himself from the podium and left the classroom.
Right as his presence was gone a certain someone became the center of attention of the entire class. And of course, just as you'd expect that certain person was none other than myself.
"Is he the new student?"
"I heard that he came from the outside after the gates were closed. That's like, totally impossible!"
"There were so many of those monsters scrambling around all over the world, how in the hell did he manage to survive that?!"
"He isn't an undead, is he? Someone go and cast healing spells on him to check!"
"Those monsters were so fucking strong! How in the world did he manage to make it out alive?"
All sorts of remarks and comments could be heard about me throughout the entire classroom. This was something which made me feel sick in the stomach.
I knew this was eventually going to happen but still, knowing that didn't change anything.
"Zero!" Anya said as she walked toward me. "How did you get so late?"
"Ah...well, I got lost," I replied in a quiet—almost murmur-like—voice.
"Hehe, that's what I thought," she said with a bright smile on her face. nove-Lb)1n
"Wait a second, you already expected that I would get lost?"
"Huh? I'm your sister, you know. I've been watching you for YEARS. Obviously, I'd know the blunders you make," she replied.
"That's true I guess," I said.
"Yeah. Therefore I also know that you don't like public attention," she said after coming close, whispering near my face.
It was a bit surprising, to be honest. I thought I always hid it pretty well but I guess family is family. And it's true that I let my guard down when I'm only around her or my parents.
"Won't talking to me spread weird rumors about you as well?" I asked.
To that, she smiled, took a step forward, and placed both her hands on my shoulders.
"I. Don't. Care."
I didn't know why but hearing her say that felt oddly relaxing.
"Thank you," I said.
"No need."
I was glad, glad that I had a family. That is why I was planning to do everything I could in order to protect them.
"By the way," I said. "Who is that girl over there?" I asked, pointing toward the white-haired girl who came to the class with me.
"Ah her, she is one of the brightest students in the academy. Her name's Neon Bloodbender," Anya replied.
"That is one hell of a family name," I commented.
"Yeah, they say the 'blood' part comes from the color of their eyes. Apparently, everyone in their family has deep-red eyes, as if they had been painted with blood," she explained.
"I see."
"What made you interested in her out of the blue?
"Nothing, just a little curious," I said. "Anyway, what are you going to do now?" I asked, changing the flow of the conversation.
"Hmm, I'm not sure. There's half an hour before the physical training class so I guess I'd just sit in the garden or go to the shopping district with Ellyn," she said.
"Well, see you in the next class then. I'll go find someplace that's quieter than here."
With that statement, I began to descend the stairs and was about to exit the classroom. However, just before I could do so I was stopped by a certain guy.
He had ash-colored hair that came down to his shoulders and a pair of striking leaf-colored eyes. His face was well-proportioned. In fact, it was so well made that he almost looked like a girl. The only thing keeping me to not thinking of him as a girl was his fairly built muscular body.
"Stop here for a moment," he said while he stood right between me and the exit.
"What business you might have from me?" I asked.
"That is a good question. However, I do not have anything in general to make you do. Though I do have one thing which I would like to ask of you," he said.
"And what could that be?" I questioned.
"Tell me, is it true that you came from the outside after the teleportation gates were closed?"
"Yes, it's true," I replied nonchalantly.
"Oh? How can I believe that you are not lying? How can I believe that it is not just a fake story you spread to become the center of attention?"
'How can you be THAT wrong with your judgment?' I thought to myself. Getting attention was the last thing I wanted—perhaps not even the last.
"Before I answer that, would you mind telling me who you are?" I asked. I pretty much had an idea but still, it won't hurt to confirm.
"Who? Me?"
"Yes. You."
"..."
"..."
"How come you don't know how I am?!"
"Uhh...because I don't, I guess?"
"Listen carefully! I am Alfric Griffin! The son of Normand Griffin! The one and only heir of the Griffin family!" he said in a rather loud voice.
"I see," I replied, the shortest answer I could give. "Anyway, if you think I'm lying and this story is fake then you are free to ahead and ask Mr. Ryfin about it. You can also ask the people in the infirmary as they were the ones who healed me."
"I hope that answers all your questions," saying that I took a side step and went outside the classroom.
Alfric Griffin was one of the characters from loli_pop's novel. He was the only heir of the Griffin family because he had killed—or assassinated—his other four siblings when he was twelve.
According to the novel he was from one of four magic academies around the world that had now been merged to form the Silver Garden academy. He was quite popular in his previous academy since he was a Griffin, and that popularity continued even here.
In the original plot, he wasn't an important character. The only major thing he did was work with Ellyn's father in an attempt to kill her, but that plan was ruined by the oh-so-great Leon.
However, aside from him, there was one more character from loli_pop's novel here. And from how I handle things, this one could be beneficial for me in the future.