Chapter 20: Chapter 20
Kaden sat by the window of the bus, watching as the last few passengers hurried up the steps and found their seats. The destination was the Rose Faction Academy, and as this city was under the Rose Faction's influence, most families with the means to afford it would send their children to the Rose Faction Academy. For Kaden, he didn't have to pay, — cause he got a scholarship.
The bus hummed with the soft murmur of voices, the shuffle of feet, and the soft rattle of the old bus as it began to move. Kaden glanced around. It didn't take long to realize he was the only one coming from the outskirts, which, to his surprise, was more than the usual zero. As the bus picked up speed, he stared out the window, watching the city shrink away into the distance.
A few moments later, someone slid into the seat beside him, breaking his moment of solitude.
"Hey," the person greeted, sounding casual.
Kaden blinked, unsure of how to respond. He was used to being ignored, dismissed, or outright mocked for where he was from, but here was someone who didn't seem to care about that. It caught him off guard. A rich person... not bullying him for being from the outskirts?
But how would they know he was from the outskirt? He had covered the chain tattoo on his head with his black, curly hair, a little trick he'd learned to avoid unwanted attention. He had also used the money he made from selling that crystal to buy some decent clothes, things he could pass off as acceptable at the academy, and other necessities that would help him blend in. Most of it was stored away in his system inventory, which was now cramped, and he only had about $9,000 left.
Kaden couldn't help but wince when he thought of the money dwindling. Every time he used some of it, it felt like a small part of his future was slipping away.
"Nice day, huh?" the person beside him asked, pulling Kaden out of his thoughts.
"Yeah," Kaden replied, his voice a little rougher than he meant it to be. He was a little confused, but at least the stranger wasn't making things uncomfortable.
The bus jolted slightly as it picked up speed, and the cityscape soon faded into the background. The streets grew quieter as the bus moved out onto a long, empty highway, surrounded by bushes and fields. Kaden leaned back into his seat and let his gaze drift over the landscape. It was strange. He hadn't been out of the city since he came here. The sight of the greenery, the peaceful surroundings, took him back.
He remembered the struggle of carrying Lira on his back, making their way from his birthplace after their parents died. He was only ten then, with his sister barely two years old. He had carried her through rough terrain, through struggles he could hardly explain, just to get them to safety. He had thought he would have been able to protect her forever, but... He swallowed, pushing the thought away. It wasn't that he had wanted to leave his birthplace. It was just that if he hadn't left, his uncles and aunts would have...
His hands clenched around the seat, but he forced himself to look away, refusing to let his mind linger on the past.
To distract himself, Kaden summoned his status. The familiar screen popped up before him.
---
Name: Kaden Rossi
Level: 1
Exp: 0/200
Rank: ?? (Reach level ten to unlock rank)
Health Points (HP): 102/102
Strength: 3
Agility: 2
Endurance: 3
Intelligence: 0.001
Demon Blood: 1
Abilities: Demon Blood Manipulation
Current Quests: None.
---
(Author's Note: I didn't include the experience points the last time Kaden checked his status. The experience works just like in a game. He'll gain it by completing quests or killing beasts. When the experience bar is full, he'll level up.)
---
Kaden closed the status screen with a sigh. There wasn't much else to do but wait for the bus to reach its destination. He leaned back in his seat, trying to make himself comfortable. It had been a while since he'd slept without the constant hum of mosquitoes buzzing in his ears, and he allowed himself to drift off for a bit, the motion of the bus lulling him into a light sleep.
Some time later, the bus made a stop. Kaden blinked his eyes open as the vehicle came to a halt, and the doors swung open to release the passengers. The bus had arrived at the Rose Faction Academy.
Kaden stepped off the bus, his heart beating faster as he took in the sight before him. The academy was massive. A grand gate stood at the entrance, adorned with a large rose emblem, its petals seeming to glow under the sunlight. Guards stood at attention on either side, armed with weapons which without doubt was beast weapons, weapons made from beast crystals. The Rose Faction made sure their students were well-protected.
He was so focused on the architecture of the place that he didn't notice someone approaching him until they bumped into him. The person quickly turned to apologize but stopped midway when their gaze fell on the chain tattoo on his head.
"Watch where you're going," the person said sharply, their tone suddenly icy.
Kaden frowned at the interaction, feeling his stomach twist slightly. What was wrong with her? He glanced at the person, noting the long silver hair and the strange, large gourd strapped to their back. Without thinking twice, Kaden turned away, not bothering to give the person another look.
As he walked through the gates with a group of other new students, he could hear parents shouting words of encouragement and love. One father even shouted at his son, "Whatever you do, son, don't oil up," whatever that means.
The academy itself was as breathtaking as the gates. Inside, the corridors were decorated with rows upon rows of rose flowers. While these roses didn't grant power like those in the Grave Gardens, their beauty was enough to stir the poetic nature in someone's heart. He almost felt like a poetic soul, but then he tried to think of a poem and stopped—he didn't know any.
Once his registration was complete, Kaden wandered towards the dormitories. There were many options, but he had chosen the worst room. It was free, after all, and he wasn't one to be picky. He would have to share it with another student, but that was fine. It was just a place to sleep.
When Kaden entered the room, he found his roommate already there. The boy was tall but skinny, with brown hair. The most noticeable thing about him, though, was the chain tattoo on his head as well.
"You must be my roommate," the boy said, briefly glancing at Kaden's tattoo. "I'm Jace McCall. You can call me Jace."
Kaden nodded, shaking his hand. "I'm Kaden Rossi. You can call me Kaden. Nice to meet you."
The room was modest, with two small beds, a desk, and a shared toilet. It wasn't much, but it was more than Kaden had expected. A place to rest his head for the night was all he needed.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone