Dein was unable to take a bite of his own food as he searched for the silver haired girl on the cafeteria. The whispers of disbelief coming from the sleepers reached Dein's ears before his eyes finally caught sight of Changing Star.
She was quiet, a single cup of coffee in her hands as she sat on the corner. No matter what, Dein couldn't read her thoughts. As if there's a veil separating her from everyone else. Like she's alone in this world, or in her own world.
[She looks lonely…]
Scaredy said in his mind. Indeed, Changing Star looks a bit lonely… 'Don't be stupid, how can the strongest feel lonely?'
If you're strong, you're going to be surrounded by people. Admirers, followers and there could even be people who would literally worship you. Besides, if you're strong, why would you need company for?
Sure, Changing Star might be weak right now in the grand scheme of things. But she's the strongest sleeper here. Soon enough, she going to be surrounded by people…
Just as Dein thought that, more and more people begun gathering towards Changing Star, not caring if the person herself heard their annoying chatter.
"A sleeper with a true name? That's impossible!"
"It's technically possible. Smile of Heaven received her true name in the First Nightmare, I think. But yeah, I'm doubtful…"
"Maybe she lied on the interview?"
"Are you stupid? If it was that easy to decieve the administrators, the crazy pervert from yesterday would've been in the first place instead!"
Crazy pervert? Who's that? Dein was curious for a moment. It seems someone is already causing trouble among the sleepers. Really, it's disgusting. If Dein ever comes across that pervert, he'll be sure to give him a good beating.
Hearing that, the little girl chimed in in Deins mind. [They said he's crazy though? Maybe he didn't mean it?]
[Yes yes, quite pitiful if you asked me]
Scaredy added but Dein just rolled his eyes and didn't answer. It's because Changing Star, the cold girl who seems to be living on her own world, finally look up and glanced at the people surrounding her.
"Mmm. What?"
She asked casually, as if surprised that she's getting attention. The sleepers meanwhile, seems to have no courage of approaching her. Instead, the first to speak was a young man with green eyes.
It was Caster, giving Changing Star a slight bow. Dein's eyes widened in shock when he saw this, the utensils in his hand falling form his hand as he almost stood up at the absurdity of it.
After all, the all so prideful Han Li Caster… just payed respect to some nobody?
'T-that bastard…'
Who the hell is she? That was the thought running in Dein's every single veins.
Luckily, he was pulled back from shouting at Caster by a muscular man sitting on the same table as him.
"Hey, you're spilling your food."
It was Grob of course, along with Nervig and Arthe who's also watching scene but suddenly got their attention stolen when Dein dropped his Utensils.
Dein clicked his tongue and went back down to his seat, arousing a chuckle from Arthe.
"Haha, is she your friend? It seems Caster is trying trying to shoot his shot at her though…"
"Yeah yeah, she's really pretty with that short hair of hers! I kinda wanna talk to her too, not that I'll have a chance"
When Nervig added that as well, Dein grumpily rolled his eyes at them.
"No she's not. None of them are my friends!"
Hearing him, the three looked at each other as if weirded out by Dein's sudden reaction. They just shrugged and Dein couldn't help but feel the corner of his lips twitch when he saw that.
'This rude people!'
Just then, Caster continued introducing himself to Changing Star and they all listened again.
"Lady Nephis. I am Caster from the Han Li clan. I see that your trial went well?"
The words bewildered Dein even more. No, perhaps not just Dein as everyone seems to be surprised when Caster called Changing Star, Lady. Of course, there are also those who thinks Caster is just being polite but to those who knows Caster personally and even those who simply knows his status as a Legacy Scion, his demeanor towards Changing Star is bewildering.
Meanwhile, in contrast to Caster. Changing Star, Nephis, just shrugged with a smile.
"It is what it is."
"I see. I am very glad that you returned unharmed. Uh… not that I doubted your abilities."
By this point, everyone seems to have the same thoughts in their mind. 'just who the hell is this girl?' but no one spoke. Even Caster had an awkward smile. Part of Dein feels delighted to see Caster getting treated like a nobody but he feels like it's also a kind of insult to him.
After all, no matter how hard he denies it, he still respect Caster's strength, discipline, and demeanor. He indeed is the perfect image of a Legacy. The kind Dein aspired to be.
[Prideful but not arrogant, strong but calm and collected. Tall, has a toned body and quite handsome as well. Yeah you're nowhere near that.]
'Oh, shut up!' Dein silenced Serious's stupid remark. He clicked his tongue and went back to finally eating his hard earned food as he noticed the end of Caster and Changing Star's brief conversation with Changing Star saying:
"Thank you."
That's the end of it. And about thirty minutes later after a few more sleepers tried to start up a conversation with the aloof Changing Star only to be shut down by her cold responses, a speaker in the cafeteria announced to everyone:
"Greetings Dreamers, this is Awakened Rock. Training will start today, those who enrolled at courses specializing in combat, please go to the gym in an hour."
The speaker announced and exactly an hour later, a lineup of almost fifty students stood on a wide gymnasium. Wooden swords and weapons prepared for them as well as a wide plate attached to a special measuring machine.
Finally, Awakened Rock, or instructor Rock for now. Entered the gymnasium and everyone bowed at him.
"Good morning everyone, before we begin. Allow me to ask you all a question."
He paused, giving everyone a time to think and murmur to each other. After a while, Instructor Rock smiled.
"What is the essence of combat?"
What? Dein thought in confusion as everyone did the same. In just a few seconds, everyone whispered to each other, unsure what to say.
Finally, one brave guy hesitantly raised his hand while scratching the corner of his face.
"Umm, sir? C-can I ask what you mean—"
But before he could finish, Caster's voice suddenly cut him off.
"It's honor sir! We fight and battle for honor."
Everyone's eyes turned to him the moment he spoke. Honor huh? All of the Legacy seems pleased as they raised their head with pride, nodding and aggreing with Caster. Even instructor Rock seems intrigued by his answer.
However, in contrast to this, an amused man with red hair; Arthe, scoffed in a mocking way that seem to anger all the Legacies.
"Pfft! Please, we're not a child. What good is honor if you're dead? The essence of combat is obviously Survival. Whoever survives at the end is the winner!"
He declared and despite his mocking tone, no one, not even the Legacies seem to be able to argue with him.
[Well, he's right.] Even Serious backed Arthe up in Dein's mind.
Well, honestly speaking, no matter how much Dein wants to say that he's fighting for honor as well and stand alongside the Legacies, he can't help but sympathize with Arthe's answer.
That said, he has a different answer.
"If that's the case, wouldn't it be victory? If you win you'll survive, if you lose you're dead. That's how the Nightmare Spell works isn't it?"
Dein voiced, his answer immediately getting the attention of everyone. Arthe, who's standing beside Dein, look at him with a genuine smile.
"Haha, well, I guess that's correct too"
Dein nodded and then a big hand suddenly stopped on his shoulder. Grob shook his head at them.
"Hey hey, don't forget having fun. Fighting is fun too y'know—uh…"
He suddenly stopped speaking as he felt Nervig kicked him in the shin.
"Don't be a meathead, what's fun about combat! If it's me, I don't want to fight at all!"
Just like that, the four of them got all of the attention. Even Caster stared at them with disgust. Dein knew of course, that guy can't handle anyone who doesn't have honor and it seems the four them embodies that.
'Well, who cares what Caster thinks?'
Anyhow, Instructor Rock seems satisfied with their answer. He nodded his head and laugh.
"Ghaha, indeed. All of your answers are right, and if we can help it, we should not pick a fight we don't need fighting."
He paused with clap, getting everyone's attention again.
"That said, I'm still looking for more answers." His eyes scoured the line of sleepers until it landed on a girl with long black hair. "You, what do you say is the essence of combat?"
The girl, Meeka, if Dein remembered correctly, is in the middle of yawning. She seem to be not listening to the conversation at all. Probably why she got picked.
She stammered with the answer:
"Oh, me? I, um… I don't know?" Some of the sleepers giggled when they heard her, unable to believe she wasn't even listening. However, they all went silent when she spoke again.
"I mean, weren't we all just fighting battles we didn't even want? We were infected by the spell and then forced to fight monsters. If anything, those who're glorifying combat are all just dumb."
She announce with a shrugged. This time, everyone completely turned speechless. After all, no matter how crude her words are, she's correct as well.
Knowing this, Instructor Rock closed his eyes turned his attention to another girl. When he spoke, there's a kind of wistfulness in his voice.
"I see. Well, what about you? what do you think? Changing Star, Nephis?"
Everyone held their breathe as the person being called slowly opened her closed eyes. She had been like that since the beginning, listening and not saying anything.
Finally, she opened her mouth.
"She is… correct. The only essence combat has, is murder. Everything else is just noise."