How To Survive A Calamity

The macho, musclebound instructor's target was none other than the top of the first year cadet, the mysterious Ceres herself.

'Actually, taking in the other factors concerning Derrick, this shouldn't be too surprising...' Derrick was known as a loud, and hot blooded instructor in charge of the first year general combat lessons.

From what I've heard, and what I was currently experiencing, he can be a lot impulsive at times, and feral. It actually was quite normal for him to soar with his students.

The strongest of them.

Ceres who was not only the top ranked of our class, but was also a Hero Rank Ascended at the age of only 16 was a rare talent. And this was without considering what her possible talent evaluation was since I had no Idea of knowing.

In any case, Derrick set up this whole process just so he could gauge blows against Ceres for a short while and test her skills.

'Haa... There goes out my idea of casually stepping out of the exercise.' I didn't even get to manifest the Idea, because I momentarily forgot about Derrick's traits since I had only heard of them and never saw them in person.

"Pick a partner and pair up in two's."

The combat class progressed as the entire class hurdled and picked their partners when—

"Professor, I will like to pair up with Number one if it's not too much to ask?"

Unexpectedly, I actually heard someone say.

Number 2, Deandra Lunar de'LaCurt with her flaming red hair was standing unshaken before Derrick and the impassive Ceres.

Immediately, Derrick's lips parted into a smile.

"Hoh? You do... You're number two, Princess Deandra..." He said, using his gaze to size her up.

At the mention of her status, there was no visible change in Deandra's expression or posture. She simply, and calmly said modestly.

"There is no need for the formalities. Here In the academy, I am only a fellows cadet, and you are prestigious instructor. Aegis doesn't smile too kindly upon the use of external influence and status, so please, professor, just call me by my name or number."

"Nice," Derrick chuckled.

He rubbed his dark chin with a grin and stepped back.

"I was originally going to be the one to test our little moms- I mean, our finest students but this isn't bad too. A little disappointing for me, but not bad either. " He looked between the two young women, his glance as if to say he had no real judgement in the decision.

In the end, it all matters if Ceres accepts the pairing or not.

To Derrick, it didn't matter much.

It was a great opportunity for him to see both the two top ranking first years in action, so he could gauge their skills and abilities in close comparison.

And the same could be said for the other classmates.

Immediately z Deandra challenged, or rather, requested to be paired with Ceres, it immediately gained a crowd of anticipation and attention.

Everybody wanted to see.

Between the cold, detached and mysterious Ceres...

And the aloof and charming princess of the royal family.

Who was better.

'That's obvious.'

But there was a fierce and unyielding look in the Princess' eyes.

This was only a simple practice spar, so there won't be excessive display of attacks. It would be hard for the two to truly go all out.

Everyone dropped their own business and awaited the outcome of this exchange with bathed breaths.

And eventually, Ceres blood red eyes flickered only slightly.

"Very well."

She accepted to be Deandra's pair.

"Haa..." For some reason, I unknowingly let out an exhausted sigh.

"Hehehe. That's the spirit. Warriors can use their actual weapons, and the spar will begin with two pairs for each round and for the first batch today. This is just a small exchange for me to understand where your skill levels stand, so any intentional fatal blows or attacks are strictly prohibited. Hmph, and don't think you can escape my senses. Once you're caught, you're finished." Derrick gave the last warnings and details signaling the commencement of the spar exercise.

Pairs formed, and the class was split ultimately in two batches.

The first Batch cleared off slightly from the field and stood off at the right. While the second batch who will only have their turn likely during the next class, stood off to the left, with the center cleared as the main stages.

But there was still one problem.

"..."

Even if Deandra and Ceres ended up pairing, the initial problem wasn't in any way affected by that unimpactful change.

There was still 37 of us.

'Of course...' and I was the one left out.

Ah, I can already feel a headache thinking about what might happen next.

The teams have already been made with the rest of the 36 cadets having joined up in pairs, leaving just me without a partner.

A bit surprisingly, even Alex had managed to locate a pair.

[What? Were you somehow having hope that Alexander would ask you to pair up after what you did? Isn't that shameless?]My head thrubbed and I heard Meta say in vibrations.

Why does it sound like I dumped someone only to get dumped by that same person...?n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Shut up...!" I mumbled.

"So you're the one who's without a partner, huh?"

I turned around to look at Derrick who was already next to me..

The large instructor stood over me with an almost indifferent gaze.

"Hmmm, you're cadet number 1499... Oh, the one with the null talent?"

Rather than using names, most instructors of the academy referred to the cadets by their rank numbers. As if that wasn't already good enough, I was more popularly known not as the bottom ranked, or 1499, but simply 'the one with the null talent '.

Honestly, I wasn't sure what to feel about it.

Regardless, I shoved the thought down and slowly nodded blankly.

"...Cadet number 1499, present." I saluted and Derrick leaned his indifferent face closer.

"You really are real. I've never heard of an Awakened with absolutely no talent, at least everyone has a small possibility and talent no matter how little but..." He said, and Derrick's eyes seemed to 'gaze' deeply intoy soul.

"...Sir, in the first place that is impossible. It is as you say, everyone has a small possibility..." I said, consciously sounding impertinent.

Your journey continues with empire

I was basically implying my talent just couldn't be read. And even that had bigger implications depending on how one chose to view it.

But I left the interpretation up to Derrick.

'It doesn't seem like the entire institution is suspicious of my real talent with this...' I silently said, judging from his reaction. The same was with Wrenna back then too.

Meanwhile, Derrick narrowed his eyes scrutinizingly at my words as he looked at me.

Then he scoffed.

"Bold words; even I can't barely feel a spec of energy from you. You really are bat shit weak.."

B-bat shit...? At such a rebuttal I felt my fragile heart wince.

Instructor Derrick leaned in close, and his indifferent gaze seemed to bore through my being.

All of a sudden, I felt the the hairs on the back of my neck prickle, and the instinctive urge to freeze and hold my breath down.

A Gaze from a higher ranked entity...

It was like getting stared down by a larger predator.

Derrick was actively trying to probe me by force without even trying to hide it.

I have the enchantment of the ring active, so I have no clue what he may 'see' or sense from me, but the share sensation or feeling that was like having a hungry beast pierce throughout my being with a single powerful gaze was enough to put me slightly on edge and on guard.

At least, I knew Derrick wouldn't attack. And that was probably my only saving grace for not attacking first actually.

I was honestly using all of my experience and fortitude to hold down all of my impulses and stood firmly.

'Aegis' might be watching.

I clenched my fist only slightly and resisted the instructor's intimidation.

And so, Derrick Greybarn and I stared for only a second that passed like a lasting eternity.

Then Derrick voiced in genuine and harmless intrigue

"I really can't feel anything from you. Even you're presence; you're standing just next to me, but it's almost like you're so...faint and insignificant. Damn, you really are pathetically weak that even your presence is vague enough."

'This monster...!'

I wasn't sure what rank Derrick was, but was it intuition or instincts?

The muscle head just nearly almost cracked the plot of the Crown's Veil enchantment so casually...

Beacuse I was so 'vague', I wasn't sure but when people looked at me or tried to sense something off me, they would 'casually' look away from me while probably subconsciously thinking there's nothing where i stood.

I wasn't sure how people perceived me with the ring actually, but I think I had an idea after Derrick's words.

Derrick leaned back. He was still probing me, but it was more like a cursory glance this time really. I didn't feel the urge to quickly retreat or attack first.

Then he snorted at me with grin.

"You have fierce eyes at least. Almost pompous and cocky actually."

"I'm sorry, sir. I'll lower my gaze from now on." I said as I lowered my eyes slightly sheepishly.

Derrick should have satisfied whatever curiosity he should have had for me by now. Alright there shouldn't be more than what most people did.

As someone who was a battle freak, Derrick Greybarn was only ever interested in the strong and promising. Someone who was batshit weak like me didn't deserve a spec of his attention or care.

But maybe because he was our instructor, and Derrick might have actually had a surprising sense of duty, that was why he came to scope me out even if it was just a little.

'Well now, it should be over.'

If I played it well maybe I can still be able to sit out of the exercise...

I looked back at the instructor, and sheepishly scratched the side of my face.

"Uhm, sir, so about the exercise..."

"Mhm? Oh that, that's right. Pick a weapon."

At Derrick's words, I gaped slightly.

"Huh?"

"I'll be your opponent."

[A/N: 20Ps Bonus Chapter, done. One more bonus chapter for reaching 10GT incoming later today, or after reset.]