Dean Pooler spoke with an amicable smile.
"What are you saying? Of course, you'll be staying in the academy."
Zeke immediately felt a surge of relief rise in his throat. He immediately raised his head and looked at Dean Pooler. There were plenty of words he wanted to say, but he only ended up speaking the most sincere word he could muster, "Thank you, Dean Pooler. I won't disappoint you."
"A student's only job is to learn," Dean Pooler said kindly. "You're not here to impress anyone, or me for that matter. As long as you manage to graduate safely, that's the best thing for me as the dean of this academy."
Even though it sounded superfluous, when Dean Pooler said it, Zeke sensed the sincerity in the man's tone. He had never known this man in his life—but somehow, he felt a sense of closeness to him.
He nodded deeply. "I understand. Thank you for your teachings, dean."
"Now, for the last one," Dean Pooler continued and asked casually. "What's the quality of your talent?"
Zeke paused for a moment, then admitted it honestly. "Gray-quality, dean."
He raised his head and looked at Dean Pooler, but the old man showed no adverse reaction, nodding slightly.
"Alright, I'll handle your paperwork. You still have another class for the day, correct? You can go. I still have something to talk about with Professor Xavier."
Finally relieved, Zeke's nerves loosened. He nodded gratefully.
"Thank you! I'll excuse myself then."
He shifted his gaze to Professor Xavier and bowed as well. After excusing himself to the two men, he left the room quietly, his back noticeably lighter compared to when he first stepped inside.
Click.
When the door closed, Professor Xavier's expression turned solemn.
A tense silence emerged in the room. For a while, only the rhythmic sound of Dean Pooler tapping the surface of the desk resounded. The air seemed to have become heavier, but the amicable smile from the dean's face remained.
After a brief pause, Professor Xavier finally spoke.
"He's weak. A gray-quality talent has no future. Even if he seemed trained, he has no place in this academy. Pooler, he's going to die here. Why did you accept him?"
"Hmm…" Dean Pooler looked at him. "Why not? Also, it's Dean Pooler for you."
"Being a Ranker is not a game," Professor Xavier clenched his hand. He looked at Dean Pooler gloomily. "I don't know what you're up to, but it's clear that he's not a spy from some other force. He wouldn't survive here."
"Indeed, he can't be a spy." Dean Pooler nodded. "He has a letter of recommendation after all. It was only given to eleven special people during the founding of the academy. Seven of them are still unused."
"Then, why?" Xavier stared down at Pooler, demanding an answer. "It's better if he lives his life peacefully… he has no place being a ranker. He'll die in the academy. If by some luck he manages to survive and graduate, he'll die in his first dungeon as a ranker."
Dean Pooler was silent, seemingly having heard of nothing. Just when Xavier was about to press further, the dean raised his head and met Xavier's eyes directly. He didn't seem to mind Xavier's tone. His lips curved slightly.
"Don't you see it?"
Xavier shut his mouth and frowned. He paused and considered for a moment. He recalled anything he might've missed. Dean Pooler's eye was the sharpest he had ever known, but if there was anything special with Zeke, how could Xavier have missed it?
He thought for more than a minute, but nothing came to him. When he saw Dean Pooler's playful smile, he gave up and asked impatiently. "See what?"
What could Zeke possibly have that could make Pooler accept him?
"It's his eyes, Xavier." Dean Pooler answered immediately. "They're just like yours when I first saw you. Full of anger, resentment, and thirst for vengeance. People like that… they either break on their own, or by some miracle, they can surpass all expectations."
Xavier suddenly fell silent, looking at Pooler as if he was a monster.
"Don't look at me like that." Dean Pooler laughed. "I gave him an opportunity… Besides, I think he'll surprise both of us."
Xavier said nothing. He clenched his hand, then a moment later, he let go. He sighed and gave one last look at Dean Pooler before turning around.
"... If he happens to die in the academy, don't blame me."
Before Dean Pooler could reply, he immediately left, closing the door on his way out.
Click!
Now only Dean Pooler was left in his office. He shook his head and sighed.
"Impatient… but would a kid like that care about death? Only those who have something to lose care about dying. His eyes tell a different story. Whether he dies or not, then it's fate. In Red Land, the biggest sin is weakness…"
His laments were heard by no one but himself. But he considered Xavier's words, making him fall deep in thought. Then, as if he had understood something, he couldn't help but laugh boisterously.
"What a handful!"
***
After Zeke stepped out of the dean's office, he went around the campus to find the academy's training facility.
Andrei had told him about their class schedule. His next class for today was Monster Biology, and it would only start an hour later after break time. His echoforce test results in the dean's office were a reminder to him of just how weak he was, and with spare time on his shoulders, Zeke wanted nothing but to train immediately.
No later than five minutes, he managed to find the training facility.
The academy's training facility had its own separate building. It stretched over a thousand square meters and had multiple floors. Entering the building, Zeke saw a wide open area that was filled with students training.
Some were running around, some were wielding a sword, and some were even firing flames at a target…
The use of one's skills in the academy was forbidden unless it was for self-defense or discreetly allowed by the professor. Hence, most went to the training facility to use their skills.
When Zeke entered, he attracted many gazes. His different clothes were one thing, but his appearance was something they had never seen before. He kept a cool expression as he walked to an empty corner.
"He's handsome…"
"That white hair. Never seen something like that before…"
"Is he a freshman?"
Zeke heard everyone around him murmur, as though he were an exotic animal in the zoo. He ignored the uncomfortable feeling in his heart and took a deep breath. He knew once these people realized his true nature, their admiring gazes would turn into disdain.
He couldn't be affected by them.
Once his mind stabilized, he opened his eyes and manifested a stick in his hand, causing a sudden silence to befall everyone.
Whoosh!
Shock? Disbelief? Mockery?
All of that was cleared away from Zeke's mind. His gaze focused on the stick in his hand, clenching it tightly.
He took a deep breath and exhaled.
Then, he swung.
Woosh!
Zeke steadied his hands, noticing that they were a bit off. His Stick Skill passive skill taught him how to wield a stick like a master. He adjusted his posture and took his time to swing this time.
A feeling of exhilaration flowed through him.
But one swing was not enough. When everyone saw that he was serious about swinging a stick, they couldn't help but laugh, finding his actions absurd and comical.
But Zeke kept swinging the stick like a sword.
Then finally, on his fiftieth swing…
[Stick Master 1/100].