Chapter 85 Grind To The Top

"I hate this.", I say in all seriousness throwing my history textbook on the bed.

"Well....you have no choice but to study.", Lecia said while putting an orange slice in my mouth while studying herself.

Since Lecia had just crossed over to the Hero course she had a lot more to study.

I let out a sigh and watch the panther which had fallen asleep beside me.

I haven't decided a name for him [ I checked yesterday] yet.

I've come to strangely like this little one, it's small and cute. But I still don't appreciate him trying to suck on me. He's been trying to do that again but I haven't let him.

Amanda usually brought his food, which consisted of milk and soggy biscuits.

Of course, he would only eat it if I fed it to him.

....Stupid panther....

As my boredom was reaching a new peak, the door to the room swings open and Amanda and Francis enter the room with Agnes tagging along behind them.

I could see Francis carrying a huge packet, it must be the food for the panther.

I'm pretty sure I told Amanda to come alone, but whenever she came these two bozos followed.

Don't they any other work to do ?

They act super suspicious too....

I frown seeing them all smile at me awkwardly.

Lecia takes the food and passes it to me.

I arrange the milk and biscuits properly and gently start feeding the baby as he woke up smelling the food.

I look up to find that Amanda and the others still hadn't left.

Seeing the confusion on my face, Amanda looks at Francis and Agnes and they all share a nod with each other.

" We respect you, sir !", Amanda says bowing her head in respect while the two others behind her did the same.

" Thank you ?...", I say a bit confused.

" Please call us if you need anything...", Francis said in an eager voice.

I nod my head and they finally leave.

" What the fuck was that ?", Lecia asks looking at weird.

I shrug and go back to feeding the panther.

~~~~

A week later

______________

I look at the gates of the Unity.

This makes me feel nostalgic....

I still remember the first time stepped foot inside this school, now...I'm halfway through my first year. Things have changed considerably now...but I'm still here.

I bid Lecia goodbye and head to my room.

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I carried all my books in my bag and also carried a small crate in which the panther was kept. He kept whining ever since I put him in the crate.

Well....nobody likes to caged but it can't be helped.

I swing open the room to my door to find Eric who was in the middle of getting ready for school.

I had already changed before coming here so, all I had to do was take the books I needed and let the panther free in my room.

After which Eric and I walk to our classroom, like usual.

On the way, we're joined by the whole squad.

" Wow...you're my type now..", Jennifer says smirking at me.

"Thanks...but I'm not looking for a relationship now.", I say leaving behind an embarrassed Jennifer.

The Asher twins had come to visit me while I was in the hospital and at first I was a little flustered by Jennifer's teasing but I'm more or less used to it now.

She was little salty that she hadn't been invited to the auction and I got the feeling that Katherine enjoyed Jennifer's frustration.

During the week that I was absent from school, the school officially appointed a new principal to represent the Unity.

The principal's name was Miss Laurine Gem.

She wasn't a hero by profession but had tons of experience managing schools on the level of the Unity. Her appointment brought a storm of controversy that was swiftly dealt with.

As to her significance to the novel...she had none. She wasn't a character that I had made meaning she was an extra. From the interviews that I've watched of her till now...she seems pretty competent.

We talk about this and that until we reach our classroom.

Instead of going in like we usually do, we carefully read the instructions on the door of the classroom.

Today was the first day of the midterms, our exam for the day was history and instead of everybody sitting in the same classroom...for the exam everybody was seated in different classrooms according to their roll numbers.

This was done to make sure that none of the students cheated on their exams.

I look closely at the notice displayed on the door to find my assigned classroom.

...

It's a class that was used by the students in the business course.

" All the best, everyone !!!", Emilia shouts making us get weird looks from everyone near us.

We wish each other the best of luck and head to our assigned classrooms.

~~~~

On my way to my assigned classroom, I get a lot of looks from the people around me.

" Is there something on my face ?", I wonder entering my assigned classroom.

I take a few minutes to find my seat, it was was in the middle of the classroom.

I smile at the student sitting next to me.

My exam neighbor sported a shaved head and black eyes that widened when it saw me.

" H-hello my name is John.", he said avoiding my eyes.

I smile and share my name with him and we talk for a while.

John informed me that he was an art student and about how he had shaved his hair to support his mother through chemotherapy and he repeatedly said that he wasn't born bald.

He seems like a nice guy.

After ten minutes or so, our invigilator walks inside and gives us our question paper.

I look at the paper and take in a deep breath.

'Time to ace this stupid exam.', I thought taking out my pen and assaulting the paper like a madman.

~~~~

Author's note:

That's a wrap on volume 3 !

This volume unlike the first two was a tad light-hearted and breezy since I wanted to primarily develop some characters.

Vol. 4 will be the exact opposite in a sense.

The next volume explores and deals with much heavier themes and will be primarily focused on Adam's 'origin'.

I won't be taking a break like I usually do...but a break's coming.... trust me I can sense it with my carrot sense.[just not now].

Comment your thoughts on this volume, good or bad since I like criticism [ don't ask why]

There will be an epilogue for this volume as well, which I will release some time tomorrow since it's a bit long.