Chapter: A Seat in Section A
Eric finally found his classroom. It was just a short distance down the corridor. Its large imposing wooden door was slightly ajar. Taking a deep steadying breath to calm his pounding heart he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The mont he entered the classroom he saw that the teacher was already there. He was standing at the front of the classroom near a large blackboard. Eric was quite surprised to see him. He recognized this teacher.
He had been one of the high-ranking professors sitting on the stage with the Principal during the induction program. He was one of the powerful ones.
Seeing the professor Eric was imdiately filled with a sense of trepidation a deep worry. He quickly bowed his head. His voice was a low apologetic murmur.
"I’m sorry I’m late sir," he said. He knew he was in trouble for missing the first day and now being late on the second.
The mont he spoke all activity in the classroom ceased. The quiet murmuring of the other students stopped. The teacher and every single student present turned their attention to him.
He was standing in the doorway the center of everyone’s focus.
The professor’s expression was completely unreadable. It was a neutral mask that gave no hint as to what he was thinking.
After a few long silent seconds that felt like an eternity to Eric the professor simply gestured with his hand. He pointed towards the empty seats in the classroom.
"You may co in Eric," he said. His voice was calm and devoid of any discernible emotion any anger or annoyance.
"Find a seat."
Eric was imnsely relieved that he wasn’t imdiately reprimanded or shouted at. He quickly stepped further into the classroom. As he did he took in his new surroundings.
He noticed that the students in this elite Section A class were composed of mbers from only two of the four major factions. The vast majority of the students here were from the Golden Team.
Their gold-banded jackets were a clear sign of their allegiance. They filled most of the seats.
There were also a few mbers of the Red Team scattered amongst them. Conspicuously absent were any mbers of the Black or Blue teams. It seed Section A was dominated by the two most powerful factions.
The mbers of the Red Team upon seeing Eric enter the classroom imdiately turned their heads away. Their expressions were a mixture of sullen resentnt and outright hostility.
It was clear that they blad him entirely for the humiliation their faction had endured in the cafeteria. They hated him.
Eric’s gaze then swept across the room. It landed on a familiar face. Seated in one of the front rows was Monica the Second Princess of the Empire. She was staring directly at him.
Her expression was a complex mixture of curiosity and a lingering cold disdain. She still looked down on him but she was also interested in him now.
And sitting right beside Monica were two other girls. Eric was quite surprised to see them here in this class. He knew who they were. It was Gold and Silver the beautiful twin Elven girls he had t after the induction program.
The ones who had told him they wanted to join his group but couldn’t.
The mont Gold and Silver saw Eric enter the classroom they both smiled.
It was a warm welcoming smile. It was a stark contrast to the cold hostility he felt from the other students. In perfect synchrony they both raised a hand and waved at him. It was a clear friendly gesture.
They then patted the empty seat that was beside them. It was a silent invitation for him to co and sit with them in the front row.
Monica seeing this gesture from her own faction mbers was visibly annoyed. Her lips thinned into a tight displeased line. But she said nothing.
She simply turned her head to look away her irritation palpable. She did not like this. This "Eric" this boy she had so thoroughly dismissed as weak was once again the center of attention.
And it was a developnt she clearly did not appreciate at all. She felt a new sense of rivalry growing within her. He was a distraction. And he was a mystery.
And she did not like mysteries. She liked being in control. And right now she felt she was not. This boy was upsetting the balance of her world.
Eric quickly made his way to the empty desk. It was beside Gold and Silver. A sense of relief washed over him at their friendly welcoming gesture.
It felt good to see a friendly face in this hostile room.
As he sat down the professor who had been observing him with that sa unreadable expression spoke.
"You were not present for the first day of class Eric," the professor stated. His voice was calm and matter-of-fact.
"Therefore I will repeat so of the key points I covered with the class yesterday. I will do this so that you do not fall too far behind the rest of the class."
Eric was genuinely surprised by this. He had expected a reprimand. He thought the professor would give him a public admonishnt for his absence.
But instead the professor was offering to help him catch up.
It was an unexpected and much appreciated kindness. Eric felt a small wave of gratitude.
As he settled into his seat Gold and Silver both gave him a discreet thumbs-up. It was a silent gesture of encouragent. Eric offered them a small appreciative smile in return.
He didn’t quite understand the full aning behind their gesture. He didn’t know why they were being so friendly when almost everyone else was not.
He didn’t have much ti to ponder it however. His attention was now fully focused on the professor at the front of the room. He was determined not to miss another word of the lecture.
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