'So soon?' Ivan thought as he stared at the sight in the cafeteria. It appeared that the ranking that the students had set up without the academy's knowledge was already taking effect, those on the first and second level were already picking on those who were at the lowest level.
He could see some students standing quietly behind other groups of students while the latter ate and laughed.
Others were walking about as they were constantly being sent on errands, and some were even holding cups and food like human trays.
The staff in charge of serving food saw all of this but didn't do anything, probably because it wasn't a new sight.
After taking a glance, Ivan sighed and ignored them as well. He wasn't some sort of hero and wasn't going to jump in to help those students.
If anything, he was way worse back when he was still a skrivalok.
'Guess it's just the nature of things.' Ivan thought as he approached the serving stand. He got something for himself and went to a quiet corner to fill his stomach.
While eating, Ivan was quietly observing the surrounding students. While nobody approached him, he noticed that they were also observing him.
He could even see some of them discussing and laughing while looking in his direction, but they were too far away and he couldn't hear what they were saying.
But Ivan could more or less guess. Many of them had been present during the awakening a week ago and obviously recognised him as a member of the Castellan family, a first-rate noble family. They knew that he couldn't be messed with, but then, that would also mean they knew about his Paladin class.
While Ivan wasn't aware of this, he had already been placed on the second level by the students. While he had a trash ability according to them, he was still a member of a first-rated noble family.
In their opinion, it was just enough for him to live a peaceful life in the academy. Others wouldn't disturb him and he wouldn't be able to cause any waves in the academy.
At this moment, a figure entered the cafeteria and immediately got everyone's attention. A huge build that made him look like a small giant and an arrogant look on his face as if nothing around him mattered.
Ivan recognised this person. Aiden Belmont, the one who had awakened a soul beast during the awakening, the shadow lion.
Shortly after Aiden entered the cafeteria, a group of students entered behind him. All of them had foolish smiles on their faces as they kept trying to get Aiden's attention but he simply ignored all of them.
Ivan couldn't help but smile slightly from where he was eating, this smile wasn't due to joy however.
The Belmont family was a first-rate noble family just like the Castellan family, a family of beastmen. Aiden being from this family and then awakening as a rare soul beast master obviously stands at a high level above other students.
This was why there were many students trying to become friends with him. Having a form of connection with someone like Aiden would definitely make their lives easier in the academy.
Aiden continued to ignore these students and went to get something to eat. While looking for a place to sit, his eyes crossed with Ivan's. Their stare lasted for a few seconds before Aiden looked away. Just like Ivan, he found a quiet corner to enjoy his food but these students weren't going to leave him alone.
"Quiet," Aiden spat impatiently, his arms bulging slightly.
The students around him immediately stopped talking and stood silently to the side, but they still didn't leave.
Ivan stopped looking at this point and focused on his meal, he left after he was full and returned to his lodge.
There were training rooms for the first year in the academy. Ivan wanted to check them out but they would only be able to do so after their first Assessment.
The sky was already dark by the time Ivan returned to his lodge. He immediately entered a meditative position on his bed and resumed absorbing mana even if progress was very slow.
Time was short, he couldn't waste any chance!
Hours later, Ivan fell asleep while still in that meditative position. Without his control over the mana around him, the mana scattered and stopped entering his mana core.
…..
When Ivan opened his eyes, it was already morning. He looked down and realised that he had fallen asleep while absorbing mana.
Sleeping in this position made his legs feel stiff and even hurt slightly, so he stretched a bit after getting up before going to take his bath and get ready for class.
A few minutes later, Ivan was already in his uniform. He took a moment to make sure that he wasn't forgetting anything before leaving.
What could he even possibly forget when everything was inside his storage ring?
After coming out, he saw other students who were also in their uniforms. Just like the previous evening, they didn't interact with each other before setting off.
The students first went to the cafeteria to have breakfast, Ivan wasn't an exception. Only after eating did he make his way to the class building.
The lodge area, cafeteria, and classroom building for first-year students were pretty close, allowing the students to make a round trip around them in under twenty minutes.
The classroom building was just as tall as the cafeteria, having just as many floors with more rooms due to the number of new students.
Today, Ivan was having Dungeon studies first and his assigned classroom was class 2 which was located on the third floor. This was going to be his classroom for all other theory classes for the rest of his first year.
Ivan quickly made his way to the third floor ignoring other students along the way. He passed several hallways and two flights of stairs before finally reaching the third floor. He easily found his assigned classroom from there; it was literally the second classroom along this hallway.
Entering the classroom, Ivan saw that some students had arrived before him. Their eyes landed on him when he entered.
"It's you!" One of the students exclaimed in surprise. Ivan looked at the owner of the voice and was equally surprised, it was the students who had bumped into him the previous day.
Moving his gaze away, Ivan looked around and found a good spot to sit. The sitting arrangements of the class allowed each student to have a seat with a desk in front of them. Each pair of seats and desks was two meters away from the next and one meter behind the one in front.
In total, there were fifteen seats in the class which meant only fifteen students could stay.
Not long after Ivan took his seat, more students entered the classroom. Some came alone while others came in groups.
In less than five minutes after Ivan arrived, all fifteen students of the third-floor class two had arrived.
Looking at his classmates, Ivan couldn't remember seeing any of them during the academy's awakening; not that he really cared.
Not long after, another figure walked in. A young beautiful woman with long red hair and matching eyes. She wore a grey blouse and brown leather pants, matched with solid-looking black boots.
Upon seeing her, a thought formed in Ivan's mind.
'A battle freak!'
That was the feeling that this woman was giving him. As a former General, he had seen too many similar existences not to recognise them at a glance.
After entering the classroom, the woman's eyes narrowed as she gazed at the students.
"Good, everyone's present. Let's begin,"