I was petrified.
FATHER ATHOS WAS COMING TOWARDS ME — RIGHT BEHIND THE PRINCIPAL.
The kind-hearted looking principal, with his light smile, came forward. But behind him… was smirking.
I must face it, yes… I'm not just any artifact — I'm a living artifact… No… I'm a human.
These thoughts were a turbulence in my head.
I looked away as if it didn't affect me. I slowly raised my index fingers and strengthened my body using my bone artifact named Machbone. It helps in increasing strength significantly.
It allows me to control my body in fear and other situations — which is perfectly what I need.
The principal was the first to arrive, while Father Athos slowly walked, step by step. It felt like my life span was shortening after each step he took.
The principal, smiling happily:
"Kid, you surprise me now… No student actually managed to talk to all of them, yet here you are, talking with the fourth one."
Luna noticed the sarcasm.
"Wait, what… Ohh, principal, you two actually know each other?"
I didn't say anything. It would seem a bit odd if my tongue spilled out words like a breeze — I'm barely holding my body together.
My hands were shaking from the inside. Thanks to my bone, I have the ability to control my emotional responses that are physical.
Not my thoughts, nor what I say.
The principal laughed out:
"Haha, he managed to even talk to me too."
I figured it would seem even weirder not engaging in chats.
"Don't stress it too much. It's just coincidental accidents… nothing much."
The principal patted my shoulder.
"Ohh… boy, you do realize I'm your principal, and here I'm gonna treat you all like a father, not a teacher — because clearly, I'm not a teacher…"
Then he lashed out loud, raising his head and gazing up at the sky.
"Ha ha ha ha ha… Haha… Ha."
Luna laughed with him — a silly laugh. But the more she laughed, the more I noticed her beauty… Damn, nobles are built differently.
As I faked laughing and engaging… hands that fed me pain and fake food landed on my shoulder.
The principal noticed it was Father Athos. He raised both his hands and they hugged each other.
While that happened, Luna was sparkling. I don't get it why, but her smile and engagement with Father Athos being here was nothing really special.
She just smiled with her snow-colored teeth and her dazzling eyes. Her legs crossed back, she bent them and raised them in the air. She grabbed the edge of the bench with her hands — looking straight up at Father Athos.
I didn't know about it. But something felt off. Even though I didn't know, he was acquainted with her family — which makes sense. After all, they meet pretty often.
I didn't know how to act. In a simple way, if I was 10 years old, I would have laughed and played nice to avoid getting suspicious.
That's so stupid. At the end of the day, Father Athos knows I would act like that.
The one and only thing I can do… the one and only way… is to bring up family names.
The principal patted Luna's head while talking to Athos.
"This girl here… I don't need to introduce her to you, do I?"
She shifted her mood from happiness to something between anger and hate.
"There you go… patting my head… How many times should I say it? The principal is so embarrassing…"
Athos and the principal laughed.
Athos slightly looked at me — more like he peeked at me. The principal laughed off, saying:
"Haha, okay! Okay! I get it. Fine, your highness…"
And he stepped closer to my side, looking straight at me. He smiled.
"This one is a man… In my academy, he is the man. Hahaha…"
Athos looked at me and smiled genuinely.
"May you enlighten me with your name?"
I wanted to say Jane Hazen, as it shows I'm from the Hazen family — but I don't give off this noble vibration. So I must stick to my what a bothersome life personality — the bold, lazy, and arrogant brat.
"It's Jane — priest, it's Jane."
I looked at him with a determined face and sharpness, as though it might have been unavoidable.
The priest clung his eyebrows.
"May I have your last name?"
I responded with confidence:
"What, you gonna pray for them or what…"
Luna restrained her laugh, but it suddenly broke free. What a bad day this is.
She straight up covered her mouth.
The principal's face looked a bit fake — only the corner of his mouth was smiling, while his eyes were boiling water inside.
Father Athos, on the other hand, played it smart. He kept his smiling poker face the same.
"Is something wrong?"
"It's Hazen… It's my last name… Hazen."
Both the principal's and his expressions changed. Luna's expression… as she never expected me to be from the Hazen family.
I'm not, actually. That's Ed's family name — and no matter what they say or do, he will claim that I'm his younger brother or his son. Either way, it works best for me.
The Hazen family are known for their fearsome combat style. They act like a mage, yet they fight tooth and nail. They act like a combat warrior, yet they use magic in a fight — with a weapon.
The principal looked at me, saying I'm really something else. He said he didn't know about it as well.
Father Athos smiled and said, "I will take my leave then," and walked away. From here on out, my Machbone must be twenty-four-seven on.
That's how I will avoid a half-assed body reaction to fear and terror. The principal walked away silently as well, following Father Athos.
I knew something bad was gonna happen. I'm being tested now. I might guess the second move might be about physically testing me. At this point, I didn't just make it — I passed the first test.
The second one must be handled perfectly. Words like Do you actually know who my father is? work best too.
My mind is rumbling. All I can do for now is continue to survive.
Moments later…
A single light pierced my vision.
Blood. Everywhere.
My voice cracked as I choked out—
"I… GOT ABDUCTED BY THE PRINCIPAL?!"