The principal agreed but now only the principal along with Ms. Grevanta and the other three exchange students went towards the burnt classroom. Leaving the whole class behind in the recovery room.
"This is your fault waste!" The moment they were left along in the room. Larry immediately rushed towards Xael, raging in anger.
Xael didn't dodge and let Larry roughly grabbed his collar. He was being shaken by Larry's hand that was trembling in anger.
Their classmates who saw this chose to stay silent and uninvolved as each took a step back. Away from them and just observing quietly.
'All this shouting almost busted my eardrums. I didn't think that someone would interfere earlier. Come to think of it, that girl was staring intensely at me. Does she know Xael?'
Xael couldn't help but wonder when he recalled the girl. In fact aside from the girls blonde hair, there's something that makes her feel very familiar to him. Has he seen her before?
"Where's your attention?! Oh so you think just because you were defended you think you've won already? I'll let you know that even if the truth comes out, the principal will never have the guts to punish me!" Larry grew more furious when he saw he noticed Xael's unfocused attention.
Xael finally brought his attention back to Larry. He's pretty sure that he hasn't done anything to confront or provoke this guy so what is it that made him so triggered when it comes to Xael.
"Congrats to you then." Xael smiled before raising his hands and grabbed Larry's hands that was roughly holding his collar. With force, he freed up his collar from Larry's hands and took a step back.
Larry grew more infuriated with Xael's calm smile. His face started turning red as if fumes of smoke could erupt out of his ear any moment.
'It's really strange how I could easily offend or infuriate other people with minimal effort. Is it like a buffer or any hidden skill?'
Xael couldn't help but think to himself when he saw Larry's current state. He suddenly heard a ding! sound against his ears, his eyes caught sight of a notification in the panel.
[Congratulations on discovering one of the original body's talent!]
[Talent Name: My mere presence affects all!]
[Talent Level: 26]
[Talent description: Any person within a 3-meter radius and has spent 3 hours with you will be affected in various ways like; Hate, Ridicule, Sympathy, Anger, Disdain, Disgust, etc.]
'What the hell?! Why is the effects all negative though? How come this ridiculous trait is even considered a talent? I think they meant misfortune.' Black lines covered Xael's head as he felt disbelief when he saw it. This was simply unbelievable. Now he can't help but think what kind of hidden role he's trying to achieve. Is it a cannon fodder one? or Extra A?
'Another thing I'm baffled about is that. Why the fuck is it in level 26?! Goddamn is it so high! For a trash talent'
His face showed complicated expressions before his attention was caught by the door opening and the people who went outside all came back. Ms. Grevanta's face was livid as if she has eaten something sour. The principal also has a complicated expression on his face. It was only the two of them who came back.
"Okay we have now determined the truth behind this matter. Because of this accident, the rest of you can be excused for the whole day and will resume your classes tomorrow. However, ..." The principal turned his gaze towards Larry and Xael. "You both, come accompany me again. We'll conclude this matter back at my office."
It was only the principal and Ms. Grevanta who came back, Xael didn't see the figure of those three strangers who interrupted earlier. Along the way to the principal's office, Larry keeps giving him the side eye to which Xael chose to ignore. What he's looking forward to the most is the completion of his quest in clearing his name. It did mention a skill box something in the rewards.
They were now inside the office, and both were sitting on the chair facing the principal. "I witnessed everything with the help of Dehlia's skill. And it gives me two undeniable facts. First is that Xael really made the mana circle and that Larry was the one who activated it."
The principal then continued "In which both of you are in the wrong, Xael you were wrong for making an attack type mana circle when clearly the activity is about elementary level support mana circles. And you Larry, you activated someone else's mana circle without their permission. It's a reckless practice of magic."
"So as for your punishment. Larry you will receive a demerit of 5 points in this subject and the Code of ethics and practices. You may go now." The principal then motioned for Larry to leave. Which left only Xael and the principal alone.
"As for you, since it was your mana circle, you will be fined by the damages that you caused. Originally the fine was 67,453 Rehyas but since you admitted honestly that you were the one who made the mana circle, I've decided to lower your fine to 50,000 Rehyas. That's all you may go now too."
Xael went out blankly as he wandered around the hallway. His mind was filled with the amount of debt in his name right now. He was already penniless to begin with and now he has a debt to the school.
[User Status Updated!]
[Current money: 21 Rs]
-Financial Status
[Debt to Grehan Academy: 50,000 Rs]
[Status: Unpaid]
[New Minor Task has been Issued!]
[Minor Task: Pay back the debt within 10 days]
[New Major Task has been Issued!]
[Major Task: 21st Golden Zenith Summit]
[Sub Task 01: Join the representative group.]
[Sub Task: Updating... ]
Xael almost vomited blood when he saw the new minor task issued by the world's will. 10 days... 10 days?! Where would he get that large amount of money in ten days?! It almost made him want to scram in frustration. Listless, he sat by the bench at the back garden and couldn't help but contemplate about life.
His mood was dampened when he remembered that he has completed the quest. He immediately recovered and searched through the system panel. His eyes lit up when he saw the notification mark on the mission tab. He opened it and almost jumped in delight when he saw that he has completed two minor quests.
He almost forgot that there's also the quest of successfully making inscribed mana circles before the issuance of clearing his name. With his eyes glowing, he accepted the rewards and the same as before he felt a lump sum of money in his pocket. Cautiously, Xael looked left and right, like a thief making sure there was no one around. He counted the money in glee before storing it again.
Not a few seconds later, a small box along with a strange looking stone appeared in front of him and fell on his hands. After some examination, he stored the stone in his other pocket before focusing solely on the small unremarkable box in front of it.
"This must be it! The low level random skill!" With excitement, Xael observed the box. It was nothing out of the ordinary, just a few size bigger than a cupcake box. It was made out of plain wood with no designs or such things. It took him a few seconds to figure out how to open the lid of the box.
A blinding light came out of the box as soon as he opened it causing Xael to tightly close his eyes. It took 10 seconds before the blinding light completely dissipated and what was left was a something laying in the middle of the box.
"What's this?" Xael curiously took the stuff inside the box. It was a clear marble with a miniature black-hole inside it. He shook, turned, and tilted it but it seems like an ordinary marble. It was until the system panel showed up again.
[Skill Item detected!]
[Would you like to learn the skill: Time Dilation.]
[Yes] or [No]
'Holy moly! It's a time related skill in the get go! Does this count as me hitting the jackpot?! Normally time related skill are OP when I watch movies.'
Xael felt very happy that he has overcome his frustration of his large amount of debt. He stood up and jumped in the air with the marble in his grasp as he let out a loud 'yehey!' in the air. This is finally it! It's time for him to actually feel blessed for a moment. Without hesitation, he clicked the yes option.
[New skill has been learned!]
[Skill: Time Dilation]
[Skill Level: 1]
[Skill info: When using the skill, the user's time will be a thousand times faster than the time in the outside world without affecting the current age or physical appearance of the user.]
[Skill usage: To activate the Skill, the user needs to reach a speed of 1 km/h (Please note that the speed required will vary depending on the level of the skill.)]
[Skill Duration: The skill effect will last for 0.5 seconds.]
"Fuck your-!" Xael couldn't help but exclaim to himself. He was almost made to curse his mother when he saw the skill information. What is this?!
"Nima! 0.5 seconds! It's almost as good as nothing! It's like being the flash who tripped on marbles at the start of the race!" Xael grabbed his hair as he teared up while helplessly staring at the box and marble that was dissolving in the air in front of him. "My OP skill."
As if losing a winning lottery ticket, Xael hung his head low before letting out deep sighs. Real tears gushing out of his eyes down to the ground. He was finally sure of it. The world's will is messing with him. Is he suffering the fate of a cannon fodder? It wouldn't be a surprise anymore if he really is a cannon fodder. That trashy talent and skill is a testament to that.
He stayed there and relapsed for a while and only decided to leave when he heard his stomach grumble. "At least on the bright side, I can fill my stomach."
He stood up and started heading towards the cafeteria's direction. He was planning to buy a take out lunch box so he could have his dinner at his dorm instead. Since it was still early in the afternoon, There wasn't any lines at all in the cafeteria unlike what he witnessed during lunch. He bought his dinner and went straight ahead to the dorms.
He entered his dormitory room and locked the door when he went in. After changing into comfy clothes he opened the system's panel again and went towards the user tab. As expected he saw another exclamation point in the very bottom.
[Level Up Requirements Met!]
[Would you like to raise your level?]
[Yes] or [No]
[Congratulations! Your level has been raised successfully!]
[Level Up Requirements Met!]
[Would you like to raise your level?]
[Yes] or [No]
Ah? Ha can raise two levels after completing the quests? Xael tilted his head before pressing the Yes option to which gave the same announcement earlier.
[Congratulations! Your level has been raised successfully!]
Xael methodically went towards his user's stats to check the improvements of what 2 level up gave to him.
—Basic Information
[Name: Xael Eitan Laurhette ]
[Age: 16]
[Sex: Male]
[Currently attending the Grehan Academy.]
—Personal Stats
[Strength: 20] +4pts.
[Endurance: 34] +3pts.
[Stamina: 10/50] +10pts.
[Speed: 16] +20pts.
[Mental: 80]
[Magic: 10] +20pts.
[Mana: 15/15] +25pts.
—Skills
1| Time Dilation [Lvl. 1]
—Level
[Current Level: 3]
[VXP: 50/75]
"That's a lot of addition in the magic and mana stats huh. Also, with speed. However, the points added to strength, endurance and stamina are much lower. Is it because I'm a mage?" Xael sat crossed legged as he rubbed his chin while staring at his updated stats. The only stats in his information that wasn't moved after three level ups is the mental stats. Could it be that there's a limitation to his stats?
"But since I have upgraded could it be the same as what I experienced earlier before?" With that thought. Xael closed his eyes, and he meditated. Trying to focus on his inner body.
'I can feel it! although it's still faint, it's much abundant by a bit than before.'
Xael thought with joy when he felt the force that was circulating through his veins. He also noticed how his core now emits a dim light. Although the essence inside him is only a small amount, it still provides warmth and something comforting as it circulate inside his body.
Originally, when he woke up, he could feel this constant fatigue and weakness. However, ever since he leveled up and his veins started circulating with essence, He felt much better than before. Xael abruptly opened his eyes when he heard a loud knock on the door.
It seems that the person was knocking out of cordiality because before Xael replied, the person shouted. "Latest issue of the Grehan Student Council Publication!"
After the person outside shouted, He saw a piece of newspaper being inserted under his door and after that he could hear the footsteps walking away and heard that person knock in other rooms as well. Xael left the bed and walked towards the newspaper. Curious, He brought it with him as he sat on the chair beside the window, where he used the sunlight as his light to read what was on the newspaper.
There was the usual report of the transparency of funds along with some official events. Who won what awards, who participated in what competition or who held activities or programs connected to the Grehan Academy. Xael turned the paper to read the backside, but a very eye-catching heading caught his eyes.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE THE QUARTERLY GREHAN ASSESSMENT ALONG WITH THE TEN PRODIGIES?!
The upcoming quarterly Grehan Assessment will be held a week from now. But what makes it more exciting than usual? You read it from the headline! The ten prodigies who will attend the Grehan Academy for one semester would also participate in the upcoming event! This year, the assessment will be participated with fifteen groups who needs to have five members each. Each prodigy will be separated into ten different teams which gives you a higher chance on being in the same team with them! . . .
Xael didn't pay attention to any of the details at all. His eyes were solely focused on the very end of the text as if looking at a pot of gold.
The winner of the quarterly assessment will receive the following prizes:
[1.] 30 High Level Runestones.
[2.] A referral for the qualification test in the 21st Golden Zenith Summit.
[3.] A framed picture and certificate to be held up in the Academy's wall of glory forever.
[4.] Academy Scholarship.
[5.] 100,000 Rehyas.
For further information please read the next issue of the Publication. . .
"This is it. My golden ticket!"