SYSTEM ASCENSION

The students and teachers continue to stare, even after Mona has fallen asleep.

Everything right now was just too absurd.

A S ranker with a living ability. Who does that?! Mona was wearing one of Elias’s formal clothes. A fabric desired with velvet and cotton. He turned out to be a fancy dresser.

”What exactly are we doing here?” Claude was the one who called all their attention. ”Let’s get this over with! I’m sleepy!”

Everyone awkwardly returned to their seats. Those who were sitting close to him before, decided to share with those further away. Even after settling down, the atmosphere became quiet.

The professor flipped the book a few times and shut it.

”That’s all for today.”

The remaining two nodded. Nothing like fresh air after a bomb drop.

Before they could slip out, Fayera stood up.

”You’re forgetting something, professors.”

”What?” the female professor chuckled nervously. ”The question...”

”The class trip, or Portal trip.” She firmly said.

Her words lightened the mood of the students who had zero beef with Elias.

They began to mumble in excitement.

The three professors sighed and returned to their position. A male professor took over.

”Per term, you all are entitled to a class trip and a portal trip. Make a vote, which one would you want to go first.”

”Obviously the class trip!” Tiana stood up and yelled.

”Why would you choose that, your highness?”

She grimaced at the title, but chose to answer the question. ”A portal trip is to fight. A few ones might die. The class trip is sightseeing and enjoying new experiences. We want something good before preparing for death.”

This sent a shiver down their spine. Tiana was indeed right. Unlike the class trip, the portal trip is another world, another language, another threat. It wasn’t something they hundred percent loved, especially how unpredictable portals are.

”Yes. Class trip first!” One agreed.

”Me too!”

Eventually, the whole class agreed to do the class trip first, before risking their lives.

”Pick location then,” Claude raised his head, blinking severally. ”Majority carry.. the...”

”STOP DOZING OFF!” They all yelled.

”I have a location!” Tiana stood up again. ”We should—”

”Shut up Tiana!” Bora sprang up. ”What the hell is your problem?! Stop acting like you’re the class captain or something!”

Tiana dip her pinky finger inside her right ear and rolled it. ”I am the class captain though.”

”No one cares about your opinion!” Bora continued to yell. ”You—”

”Bora.”

She flinched.

It was Tyler’s voice. He didn’t seem to be in his jovial mood. Instead, he had been grumpy since morning. The call was a warning. A very familiar warning.

She quietly sat down.

”...”

”...”

”How about Nazarland?” Cadi asked.

A few agreed to it.

”Nazarland seems nice.”

”What about the Casar empire?” Another asked.

”Rumis empire is preferable!”

”Torzi empire is closed to us. Let’s go there.”

”Quora empire!” Rolarza raised her hand. ”I’ll offer a tour.”

”Tiana,” Tyler called. ”Tell us your suggestions.”

They all went silent.

She stood up and cleared her throat.

”Let’s all...go to black empire!”

The silence afterwards was even worse. They just stared at her like she had hit her head somewhere.

Elias himself was surprised, especially how she began giving him an excited look after blurting it out. He looked away, but she creeped towards his line of view.

”Princess Tiana,” the professor sighed. ”The black empire is off limits.”

”It was,” she corrected. ”It was off limits until it wasn’t.”

They all sighed.

”What do you mean?” The man calmly said. On a norm, he was supposed to yell, but her status said otherwise, especially with Tyler in class.

Tiana didn’t reply. Instead, she continued to tilt her head into Elias’ vision, and he did his best in looking away.

Rolarza quickly got it and straight up.

”Yes! Let’s go to black empire!”

”You too?” Mimi pulled her hand. ”Black empire is...”

She suddenly recalled Elias on a close note. His eyes really did reflect nothing. She had never really thought about it since it was rare but possible, but now.

”Black empire!” She sprang up. ”Let’s go!”

Everyone was confused now. The teacher was getting frustrated.

”We can’t visit—!”

”Black empire we go!” Tyler joined in.

”Yes! I want to see it too!” Kael yelled.

”I kinda want to see it.” Claude laughed.

”Me too.” Fayera muttered.

Now the whole class was murmuring. Even Haliad looked excited.

”I can’t wait to see Muon descendants.”

”You’re not even hiding what you are huh?” Elias frowned.

”Hehehe...”

Mona raised his head from Elias’ shoulder and rubbed his eyes. ”I want to see father.”

Elias just stared at him. He yet again remained that Mona is still him, and just voicing his desires.

”Let’s assume we all choose black empire!” The professor yelled.

They all went silent.

”How do we get there?!”

The students that were getting excited began to think. It wasn’t possible.

”Do we jump down the pit into the fog of doom?!”

Tiana snorted. ”Elias will take us.”

Another moment of quiet followed. It’s called ’stare at the class captain like she had gone nuts’ stare.

”I’m not kidding!” She smiled. ”You know the way right?”

”And what if he knows the way?” Bora saw a chance to yell again. ”Break us in? Are we going on a trip, or ambushing an empire?! Think shortie!”

Tiana glanced at her and narrowed her gaze with pure irritation. ”I made peace with my height years ago, but I’m open to smashing your face in if you want one. Try me.”

”How dare you!”

”You’re the only A ranker among us siblings. Know your place.”

Her words shut up the older princess. She clenched her fist so hard it dug into her palm.

When they had met with Tiana after finding her again, she didn’t give them any information about herself, except basic things like name and rank.

Simply put, she’s as strong as her twin brother, and Bora as the eldest was falling short.

She sat down again.

”We can’t have him break us in,” the professor tried to ignore what just happened. Nothing good comes from messing with the royals. ”Even if he knows the way.”

”Someone came from black empire to Salvador several months ago,” Claude said. ”He made quite a fuss, searching for Elias. Our league master had to meet him personally to calm him down.”

The teacher’s ear perked. His eyes sparkled and a smile followed. Turns out he was just as excited.

”Are you saying Elias is a friend of the black empire?”

Claude chuckled. ”No. He’s not a friend. He’s from black empire. A Black-eyed.”