Chapter VIII: Procutour

Anthony Reeves was tired of watching the others compete amongst themselves. Maybe if it was Iktanne, it'll look okay. She'll have that fiery look in her deep set, almond eyes, with those black orbs of irises glinting like charcoal whenever she's concentrating on a task. Her straight red hair would bounce back and forth as she prances in glee whenever she gets her sweet cup of victory.  It's quite amusing for the him watching her,— putting up a formal and respectable mask in front of everyone—and then seeing her hide in another unoccupied room, squealing and hopping with joy, like a child.

"Wait, why am I thinking about her?"

Sighing, he lazily yawned and checked his examination papers. He was invited for the military exam by his professor that's why he was stuck in that room.

Annoying geezer.

It wasn't a room actually, but a spacious hall situated at the right wing of the Grand Palace. The main barracks of the kingdom are also located there.

"Ten minutes left."

The proctor announced. She was wearing a white lab gown, but was sporting a baggy camo pants underneath. Her eyes were sharp as she watched the students sitting on the chairs which were placed a few meters apart, answering their test papers. Anthony guessed that this proctor could be in her late twenties as he thoroughly observed her angular face while biting the tip of his pencil.

"Prolly 28 or 29, hm."

Looking down on his paper, his blond hair slightly skidded to the sides of his head. He scanned his work and smirked in satisfaction.

"This should be enough. Quite passable."

The exam was easy for him. Easy was even an overstatement as he could answer everything effortlessly. But he intentionally did some mistakes, estimating that he'll probably be behind a couple of numbers in ranking. He didn't care though.

"As long as Iktanne would be happy and get the top rank."

Realizing this, he suddenly felt his cheeks rushing with warmth. For all the past three years, he would always purposely create mistakes so that Iktanne would get the top stratum of victory. He was not doing it completely for her, but it was more of him being amused seeing the girl squeal with delight inside a dark, unoccupied room, away from the judgement of people. Shaking his head, as if to gather his thoughts, he heaved a sigh and waited for the exam to end.

❇❇❇

She strided her way to the board of announcements three days after the Advanced Military Officer Exams. A crowd was also gathered in front of it so she squeezed her way to get forward. Some students recognized her so they paved their way and allowed her to the front. She carefully scanned for her name. A sigh of relief escaped her mouth when she saw her name on the top rank. She then excused herself and went to find an unattended room, which she found a few minutes later near the fountain at the interior chambers of the Academy.

Breathing deeply, she giggled loudly and went jumping for joy. Her hardwork and nonstop studying for two weeks really paid off and she feels so happy about it.

"Yey, I did it!," she shouted loudly while pumping her fists to the air.

She was in the middle of her gleeful victory when a cough from the door stopped her. She quickly regained her composure and turned, her gestures now masked with an aura of formality.

"I hope...no one saw me doing those dances."

"Hi," she greeted the man behind the shadows.

As he stepped out, his bright golden hair shimmered, revealing his masculine features. His eyes were the color of the ocean, deep and full of mysteries. She stared at them and wondered how in the world can those alluring eyes make her feel like she's plunged into another world. He displays a lazy posture but somehow, she could sense there's more under that guise.

"Like me?"

His jaw was sharp and his nose and mouth were placed perfectly on the right places. He was not wearing his uniform today, which he normally does everyday in the Academy. A blue hooded jacket wrapped his torso, while dark grey pants and some black sneakers sported his lower limbs. She can't stop looking at him, for she find his presence soothing and comforting.

Weird, but okay.

"It's kind of rude to stare," the guy chuckled.

"Oh, it's you Anthony," she said, still staring at him fervently, her charcoal irises shining brightly beneath her long eyelashes.

❇❇❇

Iktanne was making his heart beat faster than usual. Looking at him intensely with those beautiful black orbs that glimmers brightly made him feel unusual about himself. Somehow makes him feel weak on his knees.

"Hey, are you checking me out?," he replied, hiding his amusement with a lazy tone. He dug his hands deep in his pockets as he saw a blush creep on Iktanne's face before she dropped her stare and looked down on the ground. He mentally slapped himself for saying such an inappropriate thing but he can't stop it and smirked to himself as he started to approach her.

"Congrats for passing. And for being at the top."

Iktanne looked up and immediately smiled and he couldn't help but return a wide teethy grin back at her.

"Yes, thank you," she responded, shyly. "I saw your name too, Anthony. Congratulations for passing."

They were cheerfully having random talks about different topics, but mostly about the exam, when an explosion abruptly disturbed their conversation. They both ran outside the room and saw a thick black smoke rising rapidly from the Academy's axis.

❇❇❇

"P-please, you don't have the right to steal away my invention!"

The old professor motioned to summon his body's last remaining energy but was blasted to the wall instead. His frail body was slammed hard on the ground as books from the shelves fell. A lady wearing lab coat and her usual camo pants entered the room. She flickered her hands and commanded the orc blasting the force gun on the professor to grab everything they need in the old man's lab.

"Greetings Professor Zen," the lady let out a smile from her full red lips. Her eyes bereft of emotions.

"Ly-lyka, i-it's you... P-please help me," the professor coughed, blood coming out from his mouth. "My b-bones are brok—"

A snap from his neck withdrew the life off from his eyes. She released her grip from the professor's broken neck and stepped outside. A wicked chuckle escaped her lips as she stepped into the swirling black portal near the lab's door.