The early morning light pierced through my usually heavy curtains, rudely interrupting my affinity for late mornings.
"Seriously, what kind of ungodly being possessed anyone at this school to think it's okay to have a class as early as 7 am," Grumbling, I dragged myself out of bed, the promise of a new day hardly enough to shake off the remnants of sleep.
I'm expecting everyone to still be asleep as I walk down to the common area to get some needed breakfast and have a quick shower before going to Evoker class.
As I groggily stumbled towards the door, the sound of a sword meeting the air caught my attention. Blinking away the haze of sleep, I opened the door to find Ochaco, already immersed in a focused sword practice. Her dedication clashed with my usual morning lethargy, an unexpected but compelling sight that injected a dose of energy into the reluctant start of my day.
She then turned to me and said, "Good morning, Sir Knight."
"Good morning, Ochaco," I replied.
After having a look at my groggy state, she gave me a little sympathetic smile, and said,
"I take it you are not a morning person?" She asked.
"Not really. Waking up every day at this hour would've been torture for me. Great thing those classes only happen twice a week, otherwise, I'd go crazy," I said. "What about you? I take it waking up early is the norm for you instead?"
"It is. I usually start my day by 5 am to have my breakfast and have it digested before I do my warm-ups and start my sword training at around 6 am. It would be bad if I become rusty during my stay on this side, after all," she said. "Before you go, would it be presumptuous to ask where you were last night?"
"It's okay, Ochaco. I went to check out the bar across the street that Aizawa-sensei mentioned. Midnight gave me a job there as a bouncer," I told her.
"A bouncer? That is certainly unorthodox. I imagine having an Evoker as one is a tad bit overkill. And did you agree?" she asked.
"Yeah, there's no reason to decline another source of income," I told her.
'Nevermind getting to the truth regarding my father and these visions,'
"That's understandable. All right, I won't keep you from your studies then," she said as she
"No good luck kiss for me?" I said as I turned on my charming smile.
She thought for a moment before pecking me on the cheek.
"That will have to suffice, Sir Knight. If you want another one, then that will have to happen on our date," she said with a smile.
"Tomorrow afternoon?" I ask.
"That does seem like a good idea," she said as she walked through the door.
'Hate to see you go, but love to watch you leave.'
After the brief exchange with Ochaco, the morning air still carrying the echoes of swordplay, I set out on the path to the early class. The world, slowly awakening, painted the campus in muted hues of dawn. Spotting someone unfamiliar, my curiosity piqued. A woman with dark, straight hair, shoulder-length, and a distinctive clump of short bangs framed her forehead. The half-up-half-down bun added a touch of individuality to her style. As our eyes briefly met, the mystery of her presence in this familiar place lingered in the air, a silent question unanswered in the quiet corridors of the early morning.
"Ah. You must be Izuku!" She said.
"How do you know my name?" I asked.
'Nevermind using my first name already?'
"Well, obviously you're the other Evoker. Ain't nobody else with that kinda Aura," she replied.
'Right. I'm pretty used to being barely able to see them that I'm surprised that someone was able to figure it out.'
"You know? 'I am the Evoker. Fire burns before me. Death walks behind me. In the centre, there's only me.'" she said as she recited the Evoker oath.
"Yeah, I know about it. I'm just surprised because you're the first one I've seen since I know my power. Though I can only describe it as playing poker," I told her.
"So you play with cards, huh?"
"Right. What about yours?"
"Do ye promise not to laugh?" she asked.
"Of course I won't," I said.
"I see them as gems, that I kinda...match," she said.
"So you play match 3? That's kinda weird to associate with fighting and magic," I told her.
"And poker isn't? Fecking dweeb," she said, rather indignantly. It seems she really took offence to that.
"Point taken," I told her, my arms raised in a way that convey I meant no harm.
"Oh, the name's Shimura Nana, by the way. No need to be too formal, just call me Nana." she told me.
"Oh, alright then. I was going to say you can just call me Izuku but you already do," I answered and we both laughed a bit about this.
We started walking to the classroom. It helps that someone both interesting and hot is walking with me or I'd still be cursing this class schedule with all my might.
As we entered the class, which looked no different than the others, I then saw someone waiting for the both of us. He's a 6'8" tall man with red hair and a red beard and mustache. He's got the air of Power radiating with him, instincts immediately telling me it isn't wise to get on his bad side. Not a single time have I felt this way in the past half a decade. Not even to ALL MIGHT.
"So. Izuku. Nana. Interesting to meet you. You both can call me Eindridi," he said.
"Thank you, Professor Eindridi," I said.
"Just Eindridi, Izuku. This is a temporary side thing," he replied.
"So you're not planning to become a full-time teacher," I asked.
"No, this is just a...favour for an old friend," he said then turned to Nana. "Aye. It's good to finally put a face to the name,"
"Do you two know each other?"
"I do have a connection to the Shimura line, though it's some time in the past. I knew your father well, Nana, and your gran of course," he said.
"Knew?" I asked.
"Aye. He was lost in Elsewhere...what, 10 years ago? Fighting a dragon, alone. A good man, and a good death," he said in a tone like regaling a tale, not bothering to realize how insensitive he's being right now in front of the orphaned daughter.
"I don't think there's such a thing as a good death," I told him.
"Cattle die, kinsmen die. You yourself will also die. I know that which never dies: the judgement of every death."
"That's kinda bleak, isn't it? Where's it from?" I ask.
"Oh, just something my father used to say. All will pass, in the end, until your deeds and reputation remain," he answered. "Evokers are the swords of mankind, Izuku. Enchanters provide the steel, Sorcerers the guile, but when things with teeth and claws come out of Elsewhere, Evokers hold the line. Like that Minotaur Lord you ended up encountering almost a year ago," he continued.
"How did you know that?"
"A little bird told me," he said.
"I guess you're not answering that, huh," I muttered.
"Wait, Izuku. You fought a Minotaur Lord? In Japan?" Nana asked.
"Yeah, I guess. Big bovine thingie with two axes," I said.
"That's so cool, and here I thought this city is going to be boring as shit. Only notable I've seen was a sludge villain taking some kid hostage," she said.
'Sludge villain?'
"Was it also more or less a year ago?" I asked.
"Yeah, that's about right," she replied. "Dang, I'm itching to fight a Minotaur Lord sometime soon," she continued.
"A Minotaur Lord is perhaps a bit ambitious for someone so young. It's a creature of Deep Elsewhere, not something you'd normally find wandering the streets of the city," he told us.
"There was something weird that happened to Ochaco's spell. Was that you?" I asked him.
"No. I didn't know until much later. And anyway, I don't do blessings, I do lightning bolts. Whatever it was, it was someone else. Or something else, I guess," he told me.
"Whatever happened then?"
"No idea. Considering Princess Pendragon's lineage, no shortage of Powers might be meddling. Either way, the goal of this class is to ensure the next time you meet something like that, you're properly prepared, or at least it'll be useful preparing you, unlike the camwhores' classes," he told me.
"So what's the course like?" I asked.
"Let's see. Sarah mentioned I should give you some...paper thingy. Ah, here it is," he said as he handed Nana and me the handout for the class.
"Hmm...We'll still get exams for midterm and finals. Damn, that sounds like real work. Feel like I'm back to some kind of high school or some shit," Nana said.
"There's something about project work in here," I said.
"Yes. Two group projects. One for each semester. I guess the group's just you two. We'll chat more about it next Thursday morning," Eindridi said.
"Some kind of paper to write?" I asked.
"Don't be silly, Izuku. It's gonna be about Evoker stuff," Nana said.
"So...we'll be blowing stuff up?" I asked.
"Blowing things up, hopefully," Nana answered as she wrapped her arm around me, "travel to many worlds. Meet interesting things. Kill them before they kill you," she continued.
"Sounds like a plan," I said.
"Anyway, I'll leave you here for now. I've got stuff to do off-campus, and all this dusty stuff has built up a wee bit of thirst. I'll see you Thursday morning," Eindridi said before exiting the room.
"Okay, the old geezer's gone. I think there's a reception...and an open bar out there in the green," Nana said.
"Isn't it a bit too early? It's barely 8am," I told her.
"Sun's over the yard-arm somewhere, and all this dusty stuff has..." she said.
"...built up a bit of thirst," I continued her thoughts. "Yeah, I guess I can have a beer or something," I told her.
"Freeflow booze, man. Uni's all about the fun," she said.
"Though I still have a class in a few hours," I told her.
"Not a matter," she said as we walked to the open field and into some bar, "Well, at least we got one cool teacher," she said.
"Was it me or was he weird as heck?" I asked her.
"Seems totally normal to me. Reminds me a bit of Dad, actually," she said.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know," I told her.
"It's been 10 years. I miss him, but Eindridi's right. He died well. That's all you could ask," she said.
"You're all crazy,"
"And ye're not? How about the Minotaur Lord he's talking about?"
"What about it?"
"That's not something so young should be tangling with. So why did you?"
"I wasn't raised to let a monster attack a girl without helping," I told her.
"So that's how you knew the Princess. Figures," she scoffs specifically when she says the 'Princess' part. "And did you think it might kill you?" she asked.
"No. But that's not bravery on my part. That's stupidity," I admitted.
"You're an Evoker, all right. No doubt about it. You should probably look at getting some life insurance," she said.
"Probably. Someone's been on my tail about being more careful," I told her.
We started drinking for a bit and noticed she'd been drinking non-stop. I guess she's enjoying the benefit of our metabolism. After a couple more bottles of drinks, she told me,
"Come train with me. Mah family owns a gym by Shizuoka station, called Clan Territory. We can hit some bags together. Do some work."
"Sounds good. I'd love rolling around on the floor with you," I told her.
"In yer dreams, mate," she said.
"We all need those,"
"Ah'm there most of the time. Though ah guess ah need to show up for lectures at some point,"
"You don't strike me as a lecture type of person," I told her.
"Ah'm nae. But ah got an order to attend these lectures. And Eindridi seemed...intriguing," she said.
"He reminded me a lot of a Yakuza I met when I was trying to get some easy money for some gems," I told her.
"That's a good thing?" she asked.
"Not really, no. He feels like one drink away from smashing some poor fuck through a table to the floor. Possibly to the basement underneath as well,"
"Anger issues. But who hasn't got one of those?"
"I don't. Never fight angry," I told her.
"Anger is life. When ya fight, ya feel the fire burning. If ya lose, ya die. It's the ultimate high," she said.
"Not like I don't get you. There are times when the beast calls and you let loose," I sighed at the times when I've broken my own rule.
"Hahaha! Well, good to know you ain't some poncy book person. Maybe we'll have some competition, all-friendly and clean," she said.
"I guess a competition needs a prize, right?"
"What? A booze for the winner?" she suggested.
"I'm thinking something more...fun," I told her.
"You wanna see me tits, issit?" she said as she raises one of her brow.
"It'll do. For starters," I told her with a cheeky grin on my face.
"Yer a cocky littl' fuck, ain't ya," she told me.
"Always. So is it a deal?" I asked.
"Aye. Why not? Best of 3 rounds. When I win, ya owe me a decent bottle of sake. If ya win, ah'll show ya my tits," she answered, the red on her face made me question if it was because of the alcohol or something else.
"It's a deal,"
"Awesome. Let's get another drink to celebrate," she told me as she brought out the 16th bottle we'd been having since the 2 hours.
"You sure you wanna drink more? I know we heal fast, but still..." I told her, not exactly sure what to think about her drinking habit.
"Meh. It'll be fine~~"
"Have you heard about Booker, the one that Eindridi temporarily replacing?" I asked her, unsure of what to feel about the situation myself.
"Aye. Sounds like he came about kissing distance from the light at the end of the tunnel. He'll be fine. Eventually," she told me.
"You seem pretty blasé about this," I told her.
"Look, Izuku. If ya wanted a normal life, this ain't it. Perhaps you could still walk away as a quirkless person or something. Evokers live fast, love hard, and die young. It's who we are," she tells me.
'I get that, though I reckon Itsuka would have words for her if she heard her tell me that.'
"No. It feels...right. Weird, but right," I told her.
"See! We'll meet again in Valhalla! Kampai!" She said.
"Are we now mixing Norse with Japan?" I asked her with a grin.
"Aye. Long traditions of interbreeding. Some of it is even consensual. Hell, most of it even human," she said as if she found the irony of what she was talking about.
"So, you're saying...your grandmother?"
"Aye. Well, most recently, at the very least. The Shimura have been using magic ever since Rome built the wall," she told me.
'Damn, talk about the history of her blood,'
"Fuck 'em," she continued.
"Fuck...who, exactly?"
"Hadrian. And the Romans. Nobunaga and shit. But most especially Arthur. And his godsdamned Court. Fuck all of them. Walking around, all high and mighty as if their shit didn't stink," she told me.
"Hey, Ochaco's nice. I like her," I told her.
"Ya just wanna git in her pants. Which...which I can respect. I've seen her a couple of times from afar. She ain't bad on the eyes," she said with a grin and turned into a look of disgust and disdain, "But she's still a fucking royal," she continued and then she scoffs to the side as if saying the word 'royal' is as disgusting as bathing in manure.
"From what I've heard, her dad's no Saint, at least," I told her as I remembered Ochaco's words about her being in an arranged marriage.
"Aye. Be careful with that one though. He famously does not like outsiders, and from how you're talking about his daughter, she seems to like ya way too much,"
"I'm not starting any trouble. But if he pushes, I'm pushing back. Hard," I told her.
"Ye'd be better off trying to punch a Dragon. Understand me, Izuku. He's dangerous. He is a Power. People still swear by the King in Exile. Ye kenna fight what's basically a full god," she told me.
"Ochaco doesn't feel like a god,"
"She's a bairn; no older than you. Her father's been studying magic since before quirks were a thing. Merlin crafted that bloodline to rule Camelot. Or so they claim, the assholes. Whether you'll win that fight...well, blood will tell. It ain't no accident. Yer being here, studying this course, is because your da' has set in motion some plan," she told me.
"So you think he's the one who had Principal Nezu create these weird classes for me?"
"Likely not the only one. Neither Eindridi nor Sarah sounds like a Japanese name, does it? Is it them specifically being here required on your da's plan? Or is it a coincidence?"
"Wait. So me being in a Hero course and the grandson of King Arthur would hate my gut because his daughter likes me is due to my dad setting this whole thing up?" I'm flabbergasted. I know there is some force pulling things behind the scenes, but to think it's possible it's this much or it's my own father's doing. I'm not sure what to think, honestly.
"Aye. Pick the biggest fucker in the pub, and try to kick him in the balls. Now ya're thinking like an Evoker, she cheered.
"Fuck. I need another drink," I told her.
"Here you go. Just remember what I told you,"
"Which is?"
"Live fast. Die young..." she started.
"and leave a fucking mountain of corpses when you finally check out. Kampai!" I finished it.
"Kampai!" as said. We drank our 34th bottle in the last 3 hours.
"Anyway, great to finally meet another Evoker around, but I really need to go since I'll still need to attend my Hero course lessons," I said to her. "I'm also starting to feel it,"
"Hah! Lightweight," she teased.
"Just you wait, I'll be drinking you under the table one of these days," I declare.
After exchanging a quick farewell with the new acquaintance, I turned away, retracing my steps towards the dorms. The day, now in full swing, beckoned me to take a shower and brush my teeth again for the next class. The morning air held the promise of a routine yet to unfold, and as I walked away, the memory of the unfamiliar woman lingered, adding a touch of intrigue to the rhythm of the day.
So that's the first-ever Evoker "class," hope you enjoyed it. The chapter is really more about Nana and Izuku than their actual class. Setting up the future lemon between them as well. Mostly because it's the first class, but also because...it's Eindridi. Also, I wonder how rough the two will go at it considering they both know they can break bones and bleed half their blood and be okay the next morning.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter. What do you think of it? Any feedback and questions are welcome.
Next up is, ALL MIGHT will come through the door like a normal person!