Classes:
Elsword: Rune Slayer
Ara: Yama Raja
Elesis: Blazing Heart
Chung: Deadly Chaser
Eve: Code Battle Seraph
Aisha: Void Princess
Hands clasped together, he awkwardly shuffled in his seat. It was the beginning of a new school year. A few years separated the current moment and when we last left our unimpressionable protagonist. He had transformed from the mischievous he once was to a handsome young adolescent. Of course, handsome is a term used loosely and very objectively. Had you asked his sister for an opinion, you'd receive a snort of derision. Luckily, nothing, not even the atmosphere, could put a damper on his spirits. The dewy flowers were in full bloom, the skies were ever so vast and blue, and the love in the air was suffocating. It was moments like these where he was cruelly reminded that spring was definitely in full force.
It was supposed to be his big high school debut. Months before, Elsword poured over countless dating magazines and tabloids just to see what was considered preppy and hip. There was so much slang he had to search up on the internet! But he persevered. Elsword wasnt the kind of guy who gave up. Enough with being the weirdo, he wanted to be with the in crowd! He put his mind to it, and boy did he get the job done. Looking up and down the night before the first day of high school, he couldn't wait to see the look on his friend's faces.
On that day of his debut, the reactions were...Unfortunately mediocre. Chung simply slapped him on the back. Eve didn't even notice the change. And then there was Aisha. Aisha doubled over in laughter. He grumbled as he took a seat next to Chung. This was only the beginning, he chided himself. Soon the ladies will be all over you. Look forward to your high school life, Elsword! It's only just beginning!
So, pray tell, why was Ara in the same class as him? Wasn't she supposed to be a junior? She was at the moment chattering away with Elesis in front of the classroom door, while he fumed and chewed away at his pencil eraser. Chung simply laughed.
"Well, Elsword, at least she isn't sitting next to you!"
Chung had a point. A very valid point, the more he mused over it. Calm yourself Elsword! There's still hope indeed! Yes! If he just maintained a safe distance from her it would all work out just fine-
"Oh, I didn't know you were in this class too!"
And like that, his dreams of a successfull high school life's began to unravel. Speak of the devil. Ara made her way across the room, Elesis following behind with a grin. This only could spell trouble. Elsword groaned and shrank in his seat, praying the day would get better. Whatever god he prayed to, they clearly weren't listening. A stray leg in the middle of the aisle would drastically change the pace of the meeting, as Ara tripped over it and fell onto Elsword unceremoniously.
"Eep!"
The seat fell back with a loud crash, leaving Elsword in a daze on the ground and Ara hugging him tightly in fear. Silence filled the room from the sudden commotion. Looks like the lucky pervert syndrome has claimed another victim yet again. Elsword, are you a harem protagonist or something? While the both of them were unscathed, it certainly garnered a lot of attention. Quietly, people began talking among themselves.
"He knows her?"
"A freshie?"
"Lucky…"
Immediately, the dream of his shattered. Had this been a cartoon, or god forbid, a fanfiction, steam might have just billowed from his ears. Oh wait, who are we kidding? It was, alas, a fanfiction, so his face practically burned as he dehydrated himself via his ear canals. Ara jumped off of him.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry! I did not mean to do that! And look, you are burning up! Are you sick again?"
She placed her forehead against his to feel for any illness. Elsword grunted and got up, shoving her away and dusting himself off. Righting his seat, he huffily sat back into it and buried his head in his arms. After carefully choosing his words, he gruffly asked Ara a question.
"...Why are you here?"
"Um...I'm in this class!"
So she was. That made sense. Or at least, it would have...If she wasn't three years older than him! And just like that, his head shot up.
"What?"
The mutterings in the backgrounds did not help to ease the atmosphere. Ara seemed a bit embarrassed, so Elesis stepped in.
"Listen up here, dense brother of mine. She failed her language class...Twice. Probably because of her foreign roots. But regardless, since she's had stellar grades in every other subject...Save for physical education, and we both know why...She only had to repeat this."
"Ah."
Elsword and Elesis shared a knowing glance. After all, the two had been hanging out with Ara for the longest time. Her clumsiness was definitely a defining trait of hers. Ara ran her fingers through her hair sheepishly.
"It's...It's not like I intentionally failed them or anything…"
She really did seem humiliated...Nothing like the older sister role she played. Elsword frankly never saw this side of her, at least not until now. It was probably because they had the same class together now. It was kind of...Cute? No! Shake your head of impure thoughts, boy! But...Truthfully, this vulnerable side of her wasn't so bad. Ara...Deserved a break, he ultimately decided. Plus...There was a chance to salvage his broken dream. Maybe he could use her...Yes, this was what this was. He wasn't doing this out of pity, he was doing it for personal gain!
"Alright, alright, I get it."
"I know you really hate me and everything, but I implore you to please tolerate me, if just for this school year!"
Suddenly the atmosphere turned quite dark. Elsword could feel the destructive killing intent from the others. Someone hating the idol? Preposterous! Forget using Ara, you're about to become utterly obliterated off the face of the planet! How to diffuse this situation...Come on, Elsword, think with that tiny brain of yours! Your debut depends on this very moment! He scratched his chin and muttered under his breath.
"...It's not like I hate you or anything...Ugh...Whatever. Just don't be a nuisance."
"Really? Aw, I knew you were the best! You know I missed you a lot!"
She hugged him again, this time of her own volition. The bloodlust also erupted in full force. This day, he officially decided, couldn't get any worst. Of course, his sister had to open her mouth.
"Why don't you sit next to him? There's a free seat."
Ara nodded happily, and before he could object, she made herself comfortable. He stood corrected. The day had now reached the peak of "worst". Ara would probably treat him like a kid in front of everyone...And they'll all make fun of him! To him, it was a nightmare. The pieces of his shattered dream proceeded to become crushed into a very fine powder, blown away into the open window along with Elsword's will to live.
"Erm..Elsword, I think you're leaking out a bit of your soul.
It was true, he was transcending to the afterlife via his mouth. But Ara noticed as well, and quickly shove down his soul back into his throats and closed his mouth. Elsword immediately snapped to, and recoiled from her. After a brief moment of introspection, Elsword shot Chung a deadly look. Chung shrugged and whispered to the redhead.
"Well...At least she isn't-"
"Don't jinx it, for the love of all things sacred, or I will turn you into a skinhead in your sleep."
"-Okay."
