Chapter 82 Duel [3]

"What are the Awakened?" In the tame silence of the wide lecture hall, Gale Cromwell's voice resounded. "Who are the Awakened?" He took a step forward. "In this class, although i know many of you may find it irrelevant, unnecessary and a waste of time, as it is supposed to be a theoretical class on what many in today's world and society considers 'common knowledge ' and 'facts', we gain preliminary study and rudimentary understanding of the World of Heroes and Awakened. You cannot speak of the history and world of Aethoria without the mention of Awakened, or Heroes," he said. "The concept and presence of Awakened and Heroes have deeply imbeded themselves as major cornerstones of our world. Aegis for example; this is an institution established and designed as humanity's foremost institute and organisation for the Awakened and raising future Heroes." Gale took another step forward through an aisle and stopped. "So i ask again. This Awakened we so much speak about, hear about, and even live amongst; what are they?" In response to the detailed yet concise introduction and question of the professor, a few hands were immediately raised, and some female cadet stood up gingerly to say. "The Awakened Heroes are special individuals, powerful superhumans who posses the extraordinary ability granted to them by Aether, as humanity's heroes." She said with a raised chin, a self satisfied smile, and a puffed chest. Her gloating was short lived, as instantly a different cadet stood up and inputed. "I beg to differ, professor." "Huh? What are you..." The male cadet said, and the girl snapped her head around and glared from her seat. Meanwhile, Gale Cromwell coldly turned. His lips parted succinctly. "Elaborate." Readily, the male cadet responded. "First of all, there is a clear distinction between the 'Awakened' and 'Heroes'. Awakened are super individuals with the ability to posses aspects of Aether and other special abilities..." "Isn't that what I just said?" The femal cadet from before snorted, but the male cadet continued, undeterred. His next words drew a different kind of assertion through the room. "Heroes are the Awakened on the side of humanity." 'Bingo.' Even i couldn't help but silently nod in affirmation from my seat. "That's..." A similar ripple spread through tte classroom from the cadet's words. Immediately, everyone, including the female cadet realised and understood. I leaned in my sit and crosses my arms. 'There's a clear distinction between the Awakened and Heroes.' Awakened was the geberal term for the tge overalls population of super humans or super individuals who posses extraordinary abilities. 'But not all 'Awakened' are 'humans'.' 'Heroes' was the Awakened on the side of humanity, who represented the human race. There was a thin and fine line. The distinction was clear. '...I can't.' I couldn't. They say the eyelids are the heaviest thing in the world, that sentence held terrifyingly true. While the class was productively progressive, i battled my inner demons against falling asleep. 'Fuck... Meta, do something. Anything...' my thoughts hazed, then buzzed. A synthetic voice promptly quipped. [You're a terrible student.] 'That has been established.' Rudimentary Study of the Awakened Society was a theoretical class, mostly surrounded around class interactions often, since it closely dealt with things like history and all that. There was a long stretch of expositions, andimd boggling information that made sitting around a chore. I never liked history. [You never liked studying.] 'Why should i study when i have you?' i snorted inwardly like it were obvious. Meta was like having a pocket sized alexa at all times. A pocket sized, and more irritating one. Time passed. "Like some of you have already said, the term Awakened is General. But not all of us are on the side of humanity's. With great power comes even greater responsibility. Rather than the interest on the survivability of our race, there are those who hold only pute animosity, and even going as far as turning against mankind." The lecture finally came to an end with a few things said. Leaving a few meaningful words behind, the instructor, Gale Cromwell exited the large lecture hall. And, with that. I had no other classes for tge day, since I'll be registering for my specialised courses and department later today and begin attending from tomorrow. I raised my head and wistfully stared at the high ceiling. Slowly, the packed lecture hall which was filled with both class A and B student began to stir and rile, and slowly scatter. For a moment i just sat in my seat, before finally deciding ro live with the small crowd. The hallway was already bustling with cadets from otger classes for one reason or the other. The moment i steppd my foot outside and took another step forward i froze and my back straightened consciously. Ever since i returned from Laplace's Dungeon, and with Hamlet as my familiar, my base senses and perceptions have became vastly more sharper. And i was particularly more conscious against certain looks. There's someone... My shoulders unconsciously flinched. I felt a boring and icy gaze threaten to run through my back from behind and slowly turned around. As i did, i caught sight of a pair of glassy red eyes intently glaring at me from a distance. Instantly, my forehead was covered with sweat. It was Ceres.