<h4>Chapter 9: Mana Affinity[1]</h4>


    "I am Professor Riya Ahuja, and I will be your ssroom monitor as well as your magic arts instructor," Riya dered.


    Her''s wasn''t a booming voice that should echo the entire ss.


    No, it was more like a whisper that made its way directly into my ears, as if she was whispering only to me.


    But noticing how effortlessly everyone else also understood her, I was confident in my assumption that she was using ''Voice magic''.


    -"Heh, she''s quite the hottie, isn''t she?"


    -"Shush! Keep your voice down. She might hear."


    From the back of the ass room, I overheard some students chattering.


    "Hot?" I checked Riya, and although she was undoubtedly stunning, I struggled to see what made her ''hot.''


    I mean, I was kinda into older woman so, ahem...if I didn''t find her hot then, it really wasn''t my fault.


    Out of nowhere, a tiny tablet appeared in her grasp.


    "Let''s take attendance now" she announced.


    "Rank 2000, Choi-Iseul"


    "Present"


    "Rank 1999, Ade Akinyemi"


    "Present"


    "Rank 1998, Ezekiel Basilio"


    "Present"


    .


    .


    .


    "Rank 1873, Anastasia Smirnova"


    "Present"


    "Rank 1872, Noah Grey"


    Hearing my name I enthustiacally called out


    "Present"


    Nodding she continued "Rank 1200, Ayman Abbas"


    "Present"


    .


    .


    .


    .


    "Rank 10,Chen wang"


    "Present"


    "Rank 7, Kai Lee"


    "Present"


    .


    .


    .


    "Rank 6,David Smith "


    "Present"


    "Rank 5 Emily Reed"


    "Present"


    "Rank 4, Aurora Lewis"


    "Present"


    "Rank 2, Takahasi Aoi"


    "Present"


    "Rank 1, Aeravat Indrath."


    No response.


    Professor Riya scanned the ssroom before asking, "Is Aeravath Indrath present?"


    At that exact moment, the ssroom door swung open and in walked a guy.


    "Present. I''m sorry for beingte, Professor."


    The guy standing by the door was someone I knew very well.


    Girls behind me gasped, and even I was taken aback by his otherworldly presence.


    ''Is this what they call the ''protagonist aura?''


    Even the haughty Takahashi seemed taken aback.


    ''It must be the first time that he sensed someone of simr age, to be stronger than him'', I smirked.


    I knew him all too well.


    The center of attention, the one pursued by girls. The hero destined to save the world. But above all else, he was the character, I, created.


    I was feeling bizarre and weird, honestly. It''s not everyday when you get to see your creation e to life'' afterall.


    Probably sensing my gaze, he looked at me.


    In that moment, our eyes locked for a second.


    ''There is no way, but still...''


    Despite my doubts, I slowly lowered my left arm, trying to hide the [Mystery of Teleportation]


    I don''t think even Goddess Reba would be able to detect a mystery, but Aeravat had a connection to them.


    I don''t know if he can sense the mysteries, as I never introduced them into the story. They were just a small mention in the novel and a ''be to future project'' in the manuscript.


    ***


    "Attendance checkplete, please proceed to Section A- amphitheatre," announced the hottie Professor, Riya.


    -"What''s her core affinity?" some random NPC barked from the side.


    I looked at him from the corner of my eye. He was seated to the further left of me.


    -"I am not sure, but she is ranked (A+) with ice magic expertise. Most likely her affinity is water?" Another guy answered. He was wearing sses and strangely enough he had no hair.


    ''I think I know him.''


    Hmm...still, I was unintrested in whatever they were talking about.


    But there was reason behind their inquiry.


    Today is the first day of 1st year and everyone will have to test their mana core''s affinity.


    And if you are lucky enough, your core might just get marked by God Virios.


    ***


    As I walked out of the ssroom, I noticed groups of students hurrying towards the amphitheater.


    I was not a part of any group, so I was behind them, feeling a little left out.


    Some students here already seemed to know each other and had formed groups.


    The most others who were new, decided to stick with people of simr rank.


    For instance, those who were ranked between E to (F+) were walking in front of everyone.


    Those ranked between (F+) to (F-) were behind them like some sort of hierarchy.


    And as a rank (G-), I was practically alone.


    But there was something strange.


    I could see that other (G-) like myself walked together, leaving me behind.


    ''Why are they avoiding me like a gue?''


    While I didn''t really hate being left alone, I could not understand their strange behaviour.


    —????????!


    I suddenly felt a jolt from behind —it was a girl who identally bumped into me.


    "Oops, I''m sorry, I wasn''t paying attention," she apologized, shing a smile that could rival the sun.


    Her beautiful dark skin and stunning eyes left me stunned for a moment.


    She almost looked like a porn actress.


    Of course, I didn''t know her. Just because I was the author of the story didn''t mean I would know every random walking NPC.


    "No worries, idents happen," I excused her, in a polite manner.


    As she noticed me walking alone, she piped up, "Do you want to go together?"


    Before I could respond, a furious-looking girl stormed over with stomping foot and grabbed her shoulder.


    "I''m sure he can manage on his own," she puked her revulsion.


    If words had smell, then her mouth would surely smell like an anus.


    It was Freya Fretel, and she was clearly livid, her re trying to burn two holes in my handsome face, with ammunition of disgust.


    "But-"


    "I said let''s go, Mist," she barked, clearly upset.


    But I didn''t give a shit.


    Mist reluctantly followed behind her friend, and Freya shot me onest re before leaving.


    I stood there, confused and embarrassed. I could notice some fellow students snickering at my expense.


    "What''s her deal?" I muttered to myself, trying to shrug it off.


    Actually, I knew what her deal was.


    "Hah!" I exhaled a sigh of weariness.


    "I can already guess that my reputation is going to go down the drain from here."


    ''Maybe, this was the very reason why so many were avoiding me''


    "Tsk!" I clicked my tounge in annoyance.


    ***


    (???? ?????????????? ??- ??????????????????????)


    A man walked up onto the stage.


    All of the students looked at him with excited expressions.


    They knew he was the principal, but they also knew that he was a rank SS person.


    Even though he was hiding his SS mana pressure, his presence was incredibly powerful, and the students could feel it radiating off of him in waves.


    His name was Oliver Wilson but most knew him by the nickname ''Thunder Beast.''


    Strangely enough, I wasn''t bergasted in the slightest by the presence of a rank SS. I knew that it wasn''t because of my steel balls.


    ''Was it because he is hiding his mana pressure?'' I inquired myself.


    He was tall, with broad shoulders and a handsome oval face.


    His brown hair was perfectly styled, and his blue eyes sparkled with intelligence and authority.


    He wore a neatly pressed ck suit, and his tie was a deep shade of red.


    He is exactly how I imagined him to be.


    As he took the microphone and began to speak, the students leaned forward in their seats, eager to hear what he had to say.


    ''This part is going to be boring'', I rolled my eyes .


    "My dear students," he began, his voice deep andmanding.


    "Today marks the beginning of a new school year, and I am honored to be standing before you as your principal."


    Oliver scanned the room before continuing, "As most of you are aware, our world is presently facing an array ofplex issues..."