While the Shepard went crazy, and Xenos's fellow Disciples looked at him all weird, he left the lecture hall and waited in another, though it was less a lecture hall and more a massive sparring arena.
He knew what was coming next, having been through this 'tutorial' many times over.
And though he thought of it as one, he knew that just because he was going through it right now, it didn't mean that the main story campaign was going to begin soon.
No, they were likely a few months off from that starting, as the campaign began a mere week before this Epoch, the Third Epoch, the Age of Drought, came to an end.
For it welcomed a new Epoch, the Fourth one, the Age of Corruption.
That was the beginning, and what a beginning it was.
Thankfully, he had time before it came along, as otherwise he wouldn't have lasted a day.
Most, or rather, nearly all of those on the First Stratum would cease their lives.
He had to get much, much stronger before then if he wanted to be one of the few that survived, and he had to be even stronger than that to survive Great House Hades.
A seemingly impossible but fun challenge, he was more than willing to take on.
Minutes later, with him smiling away by himself like the deranged man he was, the same Disciples joined him; behind them was another Shepherd, who, with him in the lead, all looked at Xenos weirdly.
The man didn't care, though, and casually joined them.
Just as he did, however, many a desperate Disciple crowded him, asking questions:
"H-How did you read that Arcane?!"
"D-Did you cheat somehow?"
"W-W-Were you in cahoots with Shepherd Lathor?"
Shutting off his ears, Xenos gestured at Arc and Aspen, telling them to come.
And they did, looking as surprised as before, their presence forcing the other Disciples away.
"LORD Xenos... I don't appreciate my Lord being used like this."
Xenos shrugged off Aspen's words, especially the first one, and turned around.
"One day I'll stomp your head through marble... but until then, get used to this."
Arc looked between the two, wanting to ask a question that neither seemed bothered to bring up, despite knowing the fluffier of the two definitely wanted to ask it as much as he did.
Chuckling at that, Xenos pointed at his brain and answered it:
"I'm smarter than I look."
Arc scoffed while Aspen barely suppressed a laugh, neither believing that to be the reason.
Still, even the wolf-boy realized that Xenos wasn't willing to talk about it, so he dropped the subject, turning to focus on the Shepherd, who had been silently staring at them for the past while, perhaps waiting for them to finally shut up.
"Took you long enough..."
Sighing out loud, the Shepherd, a much younger man than the last one, combed back his short black hair, pushed up his glasses, and tugged on the sleeves of his combat uniform, one that looked much like the Gryphon's, only instead of white and gold, it was a dark gray.
"I'm John Tzetzes, an Inquistor."
That one word sparked a flame in the Disciples.
"An Inquisitor?!"
"Why in Tartaros is an Inquisitor teaching us?!"
"Just how much did the Academy spend on him?"
And that surprise was for good reason.
After all, only Inquisitors dove into Tartaros.
They stood far above normal Runebearers, Sealbearers, the ones who were in charge of finding or watching over Debters of Oath, and even Hierophants.
Without them and the institutions backing them, Tartaros would've long since devoured the Three Strata, and, of course, it was them that reclaimed most lands devoured by Corruption.
Yes, Disciples in the Pluto Academy helped reclaim one or two every now and then, but that was mostly the easy ones, and mainly for the entertainment of the realm.
One couldn't be an Inquisitor before reaching the Seventh Class, Judge.
A class four classes above theirs.
John could wipe them out with a wave of his hand; he was that strong.
Yet, unlike the rest, which included Arc, Aspen, and Gaia, Xenos looked unfazed.
Rather, he appeared to be conversing with a certain someone.
'So you're telling me I can't fight even now?'
Eris nodded Her beautiful head.
'Not unless you wish to fracture your Soul even further.'
He closed his eyes.
'Hm... Am I forced to be pathetic here? Be seen as a nobody so that everyone would look down on me until finally I can take my revenge? Am I really that cliché?'
Xenos shook his head.
'No.'
It was risky, but he came up with another plan.
Acting the part of a useless bastard didn't interest him.
He'd leave that for others.
"I like to get straight to the point, so hear me well."
John pointed with his thumb at the arena behind him.
"I'm responsible for forming your combat style, and I'll do it by beating it into you."
Disappearing in moments, he appeared exactly where he was pointing.
"But don't worry, today I'll have you all beat into each other; we need our rankings, don't we?"
And with that, they joined him at the arena and began to draw lots.
The first was the Gryphon, which kept coming up; interesting Xenos.
'...Ariadne.'
Again, the girl was white and gold all over, and that didn't only include her combat uniform but also her wings and her hair, making her appearance quite striking and unusual, especially when compared to the rest.
The second was Aspen, two lucky picks that made Xenos doubt:
'Is my Rune really inactive now? I feel like this is too good a coincidence.'
Eris's soft giggle echoed in his mind.
'It's inactive, I'm sure, but perhaps this is by design.'
Xenos nodded at that.
Indeed, it was likely someone controlling the lots.
They, too, weren't interested in the rest.
'Good, I don't want to bother watching those I don't care about fight.'
She agreed with a hum as Xenos joined Arc in the audience, watching Ariadne and Aspen walk down to the arena and face each other, their weapons in hand: a bladed whip and a massive greatsword, respectively.
"Ariadne of House Hermes, daughter of Minos."
The Gryphon took a stance, her wings cutting back, gleaming in the morning light.
"Aspen of House Hades, guard of Arcadia."
The Lyacon took a stance, his great sword held before him, his breath fogging slightly in the air even though it wasn't cold.
"Begin your duel..."
John Tzetzes raised his hand.