Chapter 35 Some Ugly Reality

​ "Oppa! I'm sorry!"

A girl with slightly long blonde hair, sapphire-like eyes, at least 166 cm in height, and a fitted figure called to the man whose back was facing her, and walked away with heavy steps as other students stared at them with myriad expressions.

"I told you don't even bother in joining such exam!"

Restraining himself to shout at the girl, the man with short blonde hair, and deep blue eyes said his thoughts in a slightly loud manner, prompting some students to look at them, and causing some whispers to regulate among the prying students.

"I'm sorry. Oppa…"

With her head hung low, Mira von Obreyon, walking behind her brother, Leon von Obreyon said in a dejected tone. She didn't win the Disciplinary Officer Trial Exam, and Leon, who values the family 'Obreyon', felt ashamed at such a situation.

'Tsk… why do I have such a weak sister!?' He repressed his emotions as they were attracting the attention of students, and just said to his younger sister.

"Get lost. Don't make me repeat myself."

"Oppa…"

As if understanding the personality of her big brother, Mira didn't push anymore and was left standing in the hallway with a teary eye as the other three students, which are her friends and classmates approached her.

"Hey, Mira, what the hell is wrong with your brother? He's such a prick!"

A girl with short brown hair, and brown eyes, at least 166 cm in height said; she was accompanied by another girl and a man.

"I'm fine, Lyn…"

Mira replied with a hint of conviction, her personality was something that grows firmer every time she was considered like a worthless person.

"Sigh… let's go to the cafeteria, and relax, alright."

Lyn said, wanting to comfort her friend, the other two companions didn't say anything as comforting was something they were not suited or skilled for.

…

'This… what the hell is this crappy situation?'

Russell Moon who waited for her younger sister in the Obelisk Cafeteria One put on a frowning expression as he saw Rumia Flora together with the trio.

'Interaction with Samantha Hall was fine, considering her predicament, but this… this is a total doom! Though Samantha is the daughter of the number 1 'Player' in the human domain, she's someone who is distant from her father, at least freer when compared to Rumia who has the status of a Princess in the country Nereia, though the Obelisk Academy didn't take note of such 'status' in a high degree, there were still shadows behind Rumia, and Elizabeth, in other words, whoever approaches her, and whoever she approaches will be investigated in the shadows.

'This fuc-'

"Hello, is she?" Russell Moon looked at her younger sister as he asked the question, having controlled himself to blurt out such profane words.

'Rumia didn't know she has shadows behind her, at least not right now, so I can't really blame her.'

"Yes, you guess right. Hmm… she wanted company, so we let her get along." Freya said, anyone knows who's Rumia, not just her, but the other four; Samantha Hall, Elizabeth von Etherion, Anya Amasawa, and Leon von Obreyon.

'Why isn't she with Elizabeth right now?'

"Oh. Alright, Hello, I'm Russell, Freya's older brother."

I introduced myself out of formality, revealing a smile that felt like a fake while thinking about the eyes in the shadow scrutinizing me, my younger sister, as well as Amery and Amelie.

"Hello, I'm Rumia Flora, I apologize for inconveniencing you." She replied with a hint of embarrassment as she scratched her right cheek lightly with her right hand while looking to her side.

After the introductions and such, the five students enjoyed their meal during the few minutes of break.

…

Somewhere in the Obelisk Academy

"You got anything?" asked a mysterious figure having long black hair, and green eyes, at least 170cm in height, and in her mid-twenties.

"Here." plainly replied another figure with blonde short hair and blue eyes, at least 168cm in height, also in her mid-twenties.

On a holographic screen seen on the smartwatch, the personal background of four people was thoroughly seen.

"Brother and sister, a complete family…, one came from an orphanage, not abandoned, but has dead parents, while the last one has parents, but living separately?"

"Nothing is certain for now, let's continue to observe them for a while." Ordered the green-eyed woman as their figures vanished in the shadows as if they were swallowed by the ground.

…

"Oppa, see you later!"

Russell bid his goodbye to his younger sister Freya, and company after their meal, going back to their respective classrooms, as soon as his back turned to them, his expression turned into a serious one.

'Fuck…' he cursed inwardly as he knew something had transpired behind the scenes that were disrespectful to some extent, but understandable to the other party.

Without many options to do something about it, Russell continued his pace toward his assigned classroom for the next class.

'There's no elective class today.'

...

'Basic Mana Theory' Class

"There are basic theories of Mana that we will discuss during the whole semester before you advance to the 'Advanced Mana Theory'. Please refer to this one..."

A woman who diligently taught the class operated a tablet she was holding as the whiteboard used for holographic projection emitted a holographic screen where the following words were written.

- Famous Basic Mana Theories

1. According to the Law of Mana Indestructibility, mana cannot be created nor destroyed, but can be modified.

2. Mana is an all-purpose substance whether for harm or for a cure.

3. Mana does not repulse each other. Mana Repulsion only occurred depending on where the mana is applied.

Russell looked at the lesson laid on his sight and put on a dumbstruck expression.

'I only know the number 1!' he lampooned.

'Though I have an idea about the meaning of numbers 2 and 3 based on the novel I've written. They're self-explanatory, but I didn't expect to have theories like that... I can't even have such resources regarding such things a few years back.' he sighed as a bit of nostalgia enveloped his emotions.

"Like the 'Law of Conservation of Energy' that the 'old world' had, after the Emergence, and few years of thorough research and studies, it is highly suggested that any energy has Mana, we were not aware of it without the existence of the System before, and for the Theory number 2..., you..."

The Professor looked to the far left of the class and pointed at the student sitting there while Russell Moon, wondering about it, looked behind him, and when his eyes went back and forth from behind, and the professor, he heard the professor's voice.

"Mr. Russell Moon, I'm asking you."

Clearing the misunderstanding, Russell pointed to himself, wondering if he heard wrong.

"Yes, is there any Russell Moon here?"

Sarcastically asked the professor. Laughs reverberated across the classroom.

'This b-, this beautiful professor really...'

"Yes ma'am?" he asked, waiting for the question to be thrown.

"What do you think Theory Number 2 means? Any idea Mr. Moon?"

Looking at the holographic screen where Theory Number 2 was written, and remembering the novel he wrote, Russell answered the question thrown at him.

"Ma'am, I think it is said that Mana is for harm or for cure based on the aftermath of the 'Emergence', because of the consolidation of Mana, diseases that existed when Mana was not abundant vanished instantly after the Emergence, and all diseases that exist today were related to 'Mana'. My point is Mana, depending on its use and nature could be used to harm or cure someone..."

'Did I get it right !?' I'm the writer yet I'm not even sure myself!' Russell inwardly ridiculed himself.

"Correct."

The professor straight up said, prompting some students to look at Russell with awe while some murmured the common tagged name of him.

"That weirdo is smart."

"Should we befriend him?"

"Hahaha"

~Whispers...~

'I heard you motherf-'

The voice of the professor cut off his inward cursing and the whispers of other students.

"Mana cured old age, yet could be used to quickly kill someone, isn't that right?..."

Her tone turned serious and the atmosphere throughout the class became gloomy.

Besides from the abundance of mana that cured old age which causes the human's average lifespan to be more than thrice from the 'old world', and maintaining physical features befitting a 50-year-old even the real age might be older. Though Emergence happened at least 60 years ago, it's already scientifically or magically proven that the human physique reach another realm in which one's life expectancy increased. But the harm that could be done with the use of mana in various ways made it also very dangerous like Mana Poisoning or Corrupted Mana exposure.

As the professor keep speaking while the whole class is listening, Russell remembered one specific thing and a few lines in the novel he wrote which was one of the ugly realities he came up with that decreased one's empathy, and caused one's selfishness to be exercised to its maximum.

'The aftermath of the Emergence, though billions of people died, it was considered by other people as a blessing in disguise when they discovered that their love ones who had an incurable disease in the 'old world' suddenly got cured after the Emergence due to 'Mana' abundance, reinforcing their bodies, while it's a pity for others who lost their love ones, it was a blessing for those who lived longer upon the others' deaths.'