Chapter 64: Mock exam 2

I soon opened my eyes to the smell of wet grass, and found myself in front of a dull castle. The only thing remarkable about it being the silver flag atop it, on which the words 1–Alpha were written. And of course, the castle was in a forest. Real original.

The others that had entered the portal were also scattered before the castle, and the rest of the students also kept appearing in random places after I did.

I went over to Dion while we waited for everyone to arrive. Anastasia meanwhile, was already crowded with the main characters, and a few others who were hoping to get assigned some posts.

Once everyone was fully accounted for, Anastasia stood before the crowd.

“Hello my fellow students,” She allowed a smile. “I’m not very good at speeches like this, but I’ll try to make myself as straightforward as possible.”

-“I love your smile!” some idiot exclaimed.

-“You’re so beautiful!” A girl shouted this time.

-“Marry me!”

’Damn extras!’ I shook my head.

With Anastasia meanwhile, a blush crept up her face. I didn’t know if it was real or fake, but it was none of my concern.

“Thanks for the praise, everyone.” She smiled brighter. “But we have important matters to attend. The mock exam already started the moment we appeared here, so I’ll go ahead to choose the people I deem fit for the posts.”

There were six posts in total, the commander which was her, the vice commander, the strategist, the captain, the elites, and the other dregs. Knowing her bias towards me, I was sure to be part of the cannon fodder.

“For my strategist, I’m choosing the rank 5, Delilah Whetstone.” Anastasia announced. “I’m sure we can all agree with that, after all she is the smartest mind in this class.”

’Smartest mind? hmph! don’t make me laugh.’ I inwardly scoffed. I had half the mind to say; “I would beg to disagree”, but I held myself back.

Though it also got me thinking, since she chose Delilah as the strategist, then Alistair would definitely be the vice commander, and then perhaps Rose or Fabian would be chosen as the captain.

“For my vice commander,” Anastasia smiled. “You all know him well of course, it’s none other than Damon Darkfell.”

“….”

The silence in the field was palpable as Anastasia announced my name. Alistair who had been smiling moments before, was now grim jawed.

Almost everyone froze. Almost, except Dion. “Where’s my 20 gold knotts?” he whispered smugly into my ear.

I pushed him away from my ear, and turned my gaze back at Anastasia, who had her recognizable evil smirk.

’Is he retarded?’ I thought. No, wrong question, she was retarded. I just didn’t know it had reached such a level. I had an idea on why the hell she chose me. It was to spite me no doubt.

’Crazy bitch!’ I inwardly cursed.

Delilah was the first person to break out of the stun spell Anastasia casted with her words.

She went over and started whispering something to her, I couldn’t hear what she was saying, but if I had to guess, she was against me being chosen as the vice commander.

All the main characters, including Rose, Fabian, and Elsa all had frowns on their faces.

“Ms Necron, might I ask why you chose Damon Darkfell as your vice commander?” Alistair finally stepped forward and asked.

“Of course you might.” she nodded with a smile. “I’ve worked with Mr Darkfell during the Spira city event, so we already have a certain dynamic, isn’t that right Mr Darkfell?” She shifted her gaze to me.

I simply scowled and denied to give any input.

Seeing that I refused to be baited, she turned back to Alistair. “Plus, he also has a good head on his shoulders, and with his ability, we’d have a pretty good scout.”

“But Mr Darkfell himself doesn’t seem too pleased with this situation.” Alistair countered.

-“Yeah, we don’t want him as our vice commander either.” An extra shouted.

And after him, many others began to voice their displeasure at me getting chosen.

“They really don’t like you bro.” Dion once again whispered to me.

I rolled my eyes.

“Thanks captain obvious.” I turned back to the crowd.

You know, there was something weird about the human heart, it clearly didn’t want something, but the act of others denying and being against it would want to make it do something it doesn’t want to do.

That was what I was currently feeling. I clearly didn’t want to be some vice commander, but the act of almost everyone being against it, was making me want to do it. If nothing, just to spite them.

Who was Alistair to decide I wasn’t pleased with the situation? Who did all these extras think they were, that I would care about them not wanting me to be the vice commander, even though it was for a stupid mock exam?

’It’s all been my fault.’ I realized. If Anastasia had called out anyone else from the main characters, none of these extras would protest.

’No, this won’t do.’ I would have to change my image in their eyes, and I wasn’t going to be goody goody about it.

Before I even finished that thought, my body was already moving. I slipped between the students protesting, and clamped my hand around the neck of one of the extras, the very first one that had began the protest against me.

“Keuk! the boy choked out gasping for air. The protest stopped.

I gazed coldly into the extra’s eyes.

“You seem to have some misconception that what you want matters. I assure you it does not.” I turned gazing at the others.

“Is it because I’ve been silent all the times you all disrespected me in my presence?” My aura changed as a slight bit of killing intent tainted it.

“I will be the vice commander, and there’s nothing you’ll be able to do about it. So you all would do well to know your place.”

My tone was low, but everyone could hear me. And from the way their gazes gradually turned to that of fear, the effect I wanted to achieve was working.

“Keuk!” All this while, my hand was still firmly grasping the extras neck. I tightened my grasp for a bit making him claw at my hand. “And, also, you all will do well to remember that I’ll tolerate no more disrespect from anyone.”

’I think this is enough.’ I thought. But just as I was about to release the boy,

Clamp!

A hand grabbed onto my wrist. I already knew who it was even before I turned.

“I think you’ve made your point clear, release him.” Alistair said with narrowed eyes.

My eyes narrowed. Was this bastard telling me what to do?

Ever since the Spira city incident, Not a lot has changed between us. Although we talked a bit if we encounter each other, or sometimes subtly nod at each other, we weren’t really friends.

Even the talk doesn’t pass saying; Hi, or a wave, but Alistair was the one that usually does that part.

We were more like casual acquaintances. That’s where I would put us. But right now, he was kind of really getting on my nerves.

“Unhand me.” I muttered in a low tone.

Alistair didn’t budge.

“Not until you unhand him first.”

By now the atmosphere was extremely tense, and neither Anastasia nor the rest of the main characters intervened.

“Fine, that’s how you want to play?” I tightened my grip on the boys neck.

Seeing that, Alistair’s eyes narrowed even further, as his aura bubbled under his skin, ready to burst out.

Meanwhile, I was also fully prepared to create a reflection with 90 percent of my aether the moment Alistair tried anything.

But just before the situation could escalate any further, two slender hands clamped on both my and Alistair’s forearm.

“You boys need to calm down. The mock exam just started, we shouldn’t be having a civil war amongst us.” Anastasia’s voice sounded in the air, before she effortlessly removed both my hand from the boys neck, and Alistair’s hand from my wrist.

“Damon would be the vice commander, and Alistair would be the captain.” Anastasia then announced, dropping honorifics.

“Tsk!” I clicked my tongue turning and walking back to Dion. If I didn’t put these extras in their place today, they’d continue to act as they were doing towards me.

“And the elites would be, Rose, Fabian, Elsa, Sarah, and Dion.” Anastasia continued. “I would like the rest of you to stay here and guard the flag, while we get inside the castle and plan our approach on how to secure the other flags.”

The castle had no walls, and was out in the open, so the flag was fully susceptible to being stolen, which was why Anastasia had decided to leave the others watching it for now.

The rest of us meanwhile followed her into the castle. It was more of a stronghold than a castle. Inside we found a round table with chairs around them. And surprisingly, Our names were already written on the chairs.

’It seems most things would answer to her will in here.’ I thought.

Mine was at Anastasia’s right, while Delilah was at her left, with Alistair sitting next to her. As for me, I had rose sitting next to me, making the space between us extremely awkward.

***********

THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT EVERYONE AND ALSO, I’m Setting up a powerstone goal.

200 powerstones → 1 extra Chapter on next release.

500 powerstones → 2 extra Chapters on next release.

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