Troy's face scrunched up in disgust as he looked at Raymond. His harsh words like a slap in the face to the politeness that Raymond had extended and with how loud he said it, nearly everyone in their immediate radius had turned to look at them.
"I apologize again Mr. Depont but as i have said. Master is currently extremely tired and does not wish to talk to anybody right now."
He even had to call her master in front of everybody, something which made his toes curl inwards from the sheer embarrassment. But still he persisted in his acting.
"I said who the fuck are you to talk to me like that?! Didn't you hear me the first time? I'm from the Depont family! My father is Theodore Depont!"
"My name is Raymond Vance but that is inconsequential. I ask that you kindly lower your voice as you are raising quite a lot of attention from others. Master is currently not interested in talking with you right now."
"Did he just call her master?"
"Yeah! Maybe they're dating and its some kind of fetish?"
Overhearing parts of the crowd, Raymond felt tempted to hit whoever said that with a incineration ray but held back. Right now was a crucial moment that could determine how his life went down for the next several years!
"I've never heard of a Vance family, you must be a commoner then. A mere commoner is trying to block my way? Do you even realize the kind of power that I hold over you?"
He sniveled to himself a little, followed closely by his cronies who also laughed at Raymond. His eyes glinted with a cruel gleam as he learned of Raymond's name.
"Although I may be a commoner. I am the shadow of my master who hails from the Grace family. Attempting to harm or kill me is tantamount to causing harm upon the Grace family."
His faced paled significantly upon hearing the name of their family. Although the Grace family was situated in the city of New Rayan which was far off from the capital. Evident based on how it would have taken them nearly 4 days by train if Raymond hadn't decided to teleport there instead. The Grace family was still one of the most powerful families currently.
Compared to the measly Depont family, the Grace family was much larger and much stronger. Even though the only actual members of the Grace family currently were Rayez, his wife Clara and Ellen. The Grace family had a massive army and Rayez himself was an S+ rank, with the potential to maybe break through to SS-.
Raymond's status was instantly elevated as well. Him being the shadow of Ellen had essentially placed a massive shield on Raymond's back. If anyone targeted him, it would be the equivalent of targeting the Grace family!
"A shadow? What's that?"
"It's a damn old tradition in the noble families. They basically raise up another kid along with their child who is their protector, butler, servant whatever."
"Is that why he called her master? That makes a lot of sense now."
"Yeah, but like i said this is an extremely old tradition. I'm pretty sure they stopped doing it like decades ago."
The surrounding whispers suddenly intensified at Raymond's reveal.
Troy took a step back, his face paling significantly. His cronies backed away from him as he approached them. Troy turned, searching for help from his cronies. Each of whom tried desperately to avoid eye contact and blend in with the crowd.
This was the problem with relationships built on bootlicking and being the one with your boots licked. The moment you weren't the one shiniest boots anymore, you would be mercilessly thrown away.
"I-i-
DING
A loud bell rang out, originating from the end of the hall. Hundreds looked away, having lost interest in the scene caused by Raymond and Troy as they looked for the source of the sound.
'Lucky guy, saved by the bell'
Mentally complaining a little, Raymond also turned to the end of the hall where the sound came from.
"1 2 test 1 2 test. Everyone hear me alright?"
Standing on the air with his arms crossed, was a figure any human could recognize. The principal of the Academy for Heroes. He was someone that even Raymond could remember clearly.
Mainly due to the fact that the principal was the reason why he was allowed to attend the academy and skip most of the year.
Seeing his rugged appearance, he looked deceptively young for how old he was. Which was saying a lot considering that the principle looked at least 60 or 70!
His slightly graying hair still had hints of its original black. His physique although weakened by age still showed remnants of the muscle and strength he once had. Paired with his quiet yet dominant voice, once could easily imagine how much of a monster he once was in his prime.
Sweeping his gaze throughout the hallway, his eyes met Raymond's for a bit before looking away. Each time his gaze briefly lingering on a few other students.
"My name is Lucius Daubeny Herol but i don't think i need to introduce myself here. Rather I'm more interested in all of you."
"This is the Academy for Heroes. If you aren't planning on becoming a hero then get out of my academy right now. I don't intend to waste time or precious resources on useless sacks of meat that do nothing but whine. What humanity needs right now are heroes. Heroes who can protect humanity! Heroes who can defeat the demons coming to attack us! Heroes who will win us wars and inspire others!"
He paused. His every sentence was soft spoken, only magnified by whatever magic had been cast. Yet each word carried weight, his voice held a sort of quiet power to it. Power that demanded respect.
"We need heroes who will sacrifice themselves."
He quieted down slightly with that. It didn't take a genius to figure out what he was referring to with the last sentence. The sacrifice that the famous heroes had made was something every human had learned about.
The war between humans and demons had been raging on for centuries now, each few precious decades of peace had been obtained only after desperately fighting and sacrificing themselves.
It was their sacrifice that allowed them to live their peaceful lives now, and now it was up to the current generation to sacrifice themselves as well for the future generations.
Such a cycle would only end when either side was truly annihilated.
With the now somber atmosphere in the hall. Everyone stayed quiet, entering the academy was something that families would brag about for years. The thought of honourably fighting for humanity was something that would cause most to swell with pride.
But at the end of the day, they were still kids. Barely even 15, and already expected to lay their lives down to protect the younger generations. At such a young age, the burden of responsibility weighed down heavily on their shoulders.
Weren't they also part of the younger generations? Just because they had been born a few years earlier they were expected to give up nearly their whole lives? They too had families they wished to return to.
"I want you to remember this moment. To remember what it is that you fight for. To remember why you fight. To remember who you fight for. That is all, good luck everybody."
His next part of the speech broke the pindrop silence that had been formed.
Turning around, he slowly descended until he touched the ground. Walking until he reached a set of double doors which he swiftly disappeared behind.
The crowd stayed silent throughout the whole time, staring at his back as the doors slowly closed behind him.
Even as new teachers slowly entered the hall and guided everyone into where they would be taking their written exams, they stayed silent.
Lining up with Ellen, the two of them and several other candidates followed a young looking teacher towards one of the doors which had suddenly appeared in the walls of the Hall.
Stepping through, they could see several booths with a single table and chair.
A single pencil and eraser sat neatly on several sheets of stacked paper.
"You will have 4 hours for your written exams. No outside stationary is allowed. No going to the bathroom. No leaving or entering the booth until the exam is over. No-
As she droned on and on about the rules, Raymond leaned over to Ellen and tapped her on the shoulder.
"Pssst. Let's make a bet, whoever ranks higher has to do something for the other. "
"Alright then, don't go crying to dad when you lose. "
She grinned in response to his suggestion.
After a while, she finished explaining the rules and lead all if then to their individual cubicles.
Sitting down on his chair, he fiddled around with the pencil given for a bit.
'Hmmmm, should I make her say sorry for everything she's done in front of everyone? That would kind off ruin the disguise though... '
As he thought about what he would do with his bet, he received a notification that he could start with his exam already.
Cracking his fingers he wrote his name down on the cover and flipped open to the first question page.
1. Using the Glasian theory of mana bodies, explain how it is possible for mana to significantly alter the physical capabilities of warriors. (20 marks)
Reading through the first question, he flipped his pencil around his fingers.
Such an easy question was worth 20 marks when the exam had a total of 400 marks? They must have really wanted to ensure anybody could pass this.
Cracking his fingers again, he picked up his pencil and went to town.
In the end he finished the whole paper in 2 and a half hours, leaving him another hour and a half.
That hour and a half was time he spent wisely, he checked his answers once and then spent the rest thinking of other important things.
'Should I make her buy me ice cream for a while month? Nah that's too little for what she's done to me. Mhmmm I want some ice cream now, how much longer until this exam ends? Oooh actually I should get her in trouble with Rayez somehow instead, I need to make sure I'm not implicated though... '
Time spent wisely.
Finally as he heard the notification that the exam ended, be stood up immediately and left his cubicle. The boredom he felt inside was like a leech draining him of all his life force.
Making his way to where he was directed again, he met up with Ellen and the group he had taken the exam with.
Some of whom were looking a little... worser then before.
"Ahh, I'm so done for!"
"Please please please I just need to get a 100!"
"Dude, what did you answer for the first question? I forgot what was the Glasian theory so I literally like just wrote down whatever I managed to pull free from my head. "
He mentally criticized the several candidates he overheard who were stressing over such an easy exam.
"We're going to measure your awakening potential score now, please come out when your name is ready. "
"Thomas Incane. "
Raymond's criticism stopped when he heard the first name. Trying to peek over everyone else was a bit hard but after tiptoeing he managed to get a glimpse of him.
Seeing his slightly sliver white hair was enough to confirm it for Raymond.
Thomas Incane, one of the members of the Zachary gang. An extremely close friend of Zachary and someone who held an extremely important secret.
It wasn't until Zachary was in danger once when Thomas revealed his secret to him. The secret being that he was actually a newly born angel who had descended from the heavenly realm!
Especially when he revealed his true appearance, his white hair combined with the glowing halo and six pairs of wings located on his heels, back and head. He was a smash hit among Raymond's female readers.
Especially when Raymond once uploaded a drawing of Thomas that he had sketched on his profile. The amount of fans he had just for being handsome was insane...
Which was why his readers hated Raymond all the more when he eventually wrote about how Thomas died.