Ryo awakened to the gentle light of dawn creeping through the window of the dormitory. Blanking out his tiredness, he stretched and went to take a rejuvenating bath in the bathroom.
Then he put on his academy uniform—a red-checked pants, a black blazer, a red tie, and a crisp white shirt. As he straightened his tie and looked at the mirror, he stood still. His jet-black hair now had red streaks in it.
His black eyes furrowed. When did this occur?
Then his mind flashed back to the Status Window he had opened the night before. His recently discovered blood-based abilities. Was this a side effect?
Brushing aside the thoughts, he did not intend to waste time on it right now. He left his dorm room in haste for breakfast, looking forward to eating and reaching class before it started.
Ryo reached the class just as the teacher was entering, hastilily grabbing a seat among the students.
The morning's first lesson was Theory on Racial Abilities, a class about the special abilities that each species has.
As the instructor went through different species' capabilities, one in specific made Ryo stiffen—Vampire Abilities.
Accelerated Regeneration
Blood Control
Blood Arms
Ryo's hands flexed slightly. These are the same capabilities I've seen on my Status Window.
His mind spun. If he indeed had vampire powers, what was that implying for his past? Was he perhaps half vampire? Or was it some form of deeper, more complicated alteration?
Before he could think further on it, class was over and it was Battle Practice time.
The students all met up at the academy's huge training grounds, an empty field meant for combat training. This session was meant to get students to understand and master their powers in the real world.
As he watched the sessions, his eyes fell on the silver-haired woman from the previous evening—the woman who had introduced him to supper. She stood among the trainees, her red eyes fixed and alert.
For a moment, Ryo thought about going to her. Maybe she knows something about what is going on with me. But calling attention to himself now isn't such a good idea. So instead, he stayed back and observed the others practicing.
Until the voice of the teacher rang out.
"Ryo Takashi, come forward."
His turn arrived.
Taking a deep breath, he entered the training ground, his heart racing as his peers' eyes landed on him.