"Hey! Hey, wake up you idiot!" A female voice called out to him angrily.
"Huh? What?" Archer said waking up and confused.
Before him stood a fair-looking girl with an angry look on her face staring daggers into his soul. She wore her pristine school uniform with her S rank proudly displayed on the front jacket. On her head was adorned an official school peak cap with long flowing silky baby blue hair flowing all the way down her back. Strapped to her side was a blue-sheathed katana.
What interested Archer more was her surroundings. She was surrounded by a fleet of completely empty chairs. Archer looked around most of the seats that were once filled with students were now empty.
"Ah. I overslept by a few minutes I see." Archer said seeing how only a few students and staff remained conversing with one another.
"Yes, you did." She seethed arms folded.
"Ah, I see. I apologize. I knew that the orientation was going to last about thirty minutes." Archer said as he checked his phone for the time, "Oh. It's been forty minutes. My bad." Archer said clapping his hands together awkwardly.
"You make a mockery of this school." She said.
"I apologize that you had to wake me up… um. I'm guessing after the speeches we follow one of the student councillors for our timetables and everything." Archer said trying to calm down the angry blue-haired woman.
"I am the acting student council president for first years. Which is why I'm here suffering the indignity of having to wake you up." She spat, "Get up already."
"Sorry. Very sorry." Archer said awkwardly. Having to be the one to guide around an F rank who slept through orientation probably isn't what a student council president wants to do all day. Best for him to try and get this over with quickly for both their sakes.
"So where do I go to get my timetable?" Archer asked.
"You don't get it yet. You're coming with me. To the principal's office." She said, "Principal Cowan was not impressed spotting you asleep."
"I see. Uh, sorry."
"Stop talking and follow me already." She said not bothering to see if Archer was following or not, which he was.
Already Archer noticed a few murmurs occurring around him. This might not be the worst thing. Though maybe it would've been better to not have a presence at all. Archer thought as he walked.
They left the auditorium, went through the halls, up the stairs, and through more halls. He was supposed to meet with Electa Cowen anyway. This was just a pretty good coincidence.
"Why would she want to talk to you personally?" Archer heard the student president mutter.
"Uh, excuse me, president?"
"What?" She said with a glare.
"I'm sorry. For all this inconvenience. I don't even know your name."
She gave the biggest annoyed roll of the eyes Archer had seen in months before answering, "I am student council president Mercy Cowen."
"Cowen? As in the same Cowen as the principle?" Archer asked while scratching an eyebrow with his thumb. Right. The report said that she had a sister. Same blue eyes and everything.
"Yes. Her." She practically growled out. Archer noticed that this time the malice wasn't actually directed at him.
Fascinating. Archer thought as he stifled a yawn, "I see that the talent runs through the family huh?" He asked and received no answer.
Eventually, the two made their way to an office where there was a secretary sitting and taking calls and writing on some paper. Mercy approached her and dinged on the bell to get her attention.
"Oh, Mercy! What are you doing here?" The secretary asked pleasantly surprised.
"I'm here to bring him to the principal." Mercy said.
"Oh? Oh. What did he do?" The secretary asked, mood shifting from positive to a negative one the moment she eyed his rank.
"Fell asleep during the opening ceremony." Mercy said.
"Tsk. Figures. You are in a lot of trouble boy."
"You say it like I'm going to prison." Archer tried to joke. Seeing their faces he stopped, "My apologies."
"Ah. There you two are." Another person, far older than Archer and Mercy came along. He was a man in his thirties dressed in a coffee-coloured suit vest and had square-rimmed glasses on his face.
"Professor Doyle." Mercy said surprised, "What are you doing here?"
"Principal Cowen asked me to take this boy off your hands." Professor Doyle replied.
"But I'm already here. I just need to go through that door and the hallway into her office." Mercy said brows furrowing.
"She has a miniature hallway leading to her office? Why?" Archer asked. Only to be silenced by a couple more dirty looks, "I'll be quiet then."
"Her direct orders are that I am to take him into the office and let you continue your duties as acting student council president. Don't forget, this is only a temporary title as the election will be held in two months." Professor Doyle said.
"But- grrr. Fine." Mercy said with a frustrated sigh and left the office.
"Come Archer. The principal would like to see you now." He said guiding Archer through the doorway down the small hallway.
"Seriously. Why is there a hallway here?" Archer asked Phil Doyle, an acting Castor government agent working undercover as a professor at Trinity Academy for the past five years.
"It's a strange design choice I'll have to admit." Phil Doyle said stopping right at the other door.
"Seriously. It's like ten steps." Archer said looking at the hallway, "Very simple is design to."
"I believe it is soundproofed."
"Oooh. So that private conversations can be held. Makes sense." Archer said nodding his head.
"Back to the more important matter on hand." Phil said trying to get on topic, "I am Phil Doyle and I will be assisting you on your mission to protect the school. I will do my best to aid you however you need."
"Thank you. Archer Griffen. You're in charge of getting my gear all processed right?" Archer asked offering a hand to him.
"Yes. It will take a bit longer before they are cleared however."
"Ah. Alright then. Archer said giving a helpless shrug, "Is there anything I should know before meeting Electa Cowen?"
"Ah, yes. Do not mention that there is an older agent already here. She was never made aware of their existence when the WDO sent them."
"Will do." Archer said as Phil opened the door to the principal's office.
Meeting Electa Cowen for the second time Archer noticed some vast differences. Far from the cheery, friendly attitude she gave off during her speech here, she had a much more serious look. Her eyes were far more discerning and cold, similar to that of when she scanned the crowd of students. She did not give a friendly attitude and did not look like she was in the mood to fool around.
"Hello Electa Cowen. My name is Archer Griffen. I have been sent by the WDO to deal with any problems that would harm Trinity Academy and its people." Archer said offering a hand to her.
"I know who you are. I must commend that was a clever way to arrange this meeting without drawing any suspicion." Electa said, ignoring the hand.
"Right. Yes. I was hoping to make things easier for you." Archer said, deciding to lie and go with the fact that his lack of sleep was intentional. At least his intuition was correct. This was the Electa Cowen he was told. At the young age of twenty-four, she was made principal of this school and was known as an ice queen based on reports, a stern but fair person.
"I will be honest with you Archer. I am not a big fan of organizations coming into my school and running around playing secret agent." She said also glancing at Phil, "But I understand that this year along with the next few are likely to be chaotic and more hands will help."
"Nevertheless. This is still a prestigious school filled with talented people. Do not think that you can push your weight around. Do not mess with the innocents, do not start messes. My grandmother founded this place before gifting it to me." She warned, "However, you have my word that I will do my utmost to help you where it is needed. If you can keep these students safe. You will have my help."
"Of course, always happy to help." Archer said smiling.
"Here's your timetable, agenda and basic school items. Take care and make sure not to reveal your identity to anyone unless deemed necessary." She said handing him a box of items.
"Thank you." Archer said as he covered his mouth when he gave a small yawn, "Oh. You are aware that I was given a list of people of interests correct?" Archer asked.
"Yes. They gave me a copy of the files. Mr. Dolye also has a copy." Electa said checking the time on her computer, "The others should be done with their brief tour of the academy now. Go to your homeroom. Hmm." She paused looking at his information report, "You chose to be in the back corner?"
"Easiest place to watch everyone. Lots of people of interest in that class." Archer said with a shrug.
"Interesting. Go to your class now for introductions." Electa said with a small nod.
Exiting out the door, both Archer and Phil briefly stopped in the small hallway.
"So what do you think of the principal?" Phil asked.
"Interesting. Though I would like to talk to her a bit more. I'm sure that will happen though." Archer said as he stretched his shoulders and gave a tired sigh.
"Are you okay?"
"Oh. Just a bit tired that's all. No need to worry."
"Right, well we need to get to our classes now. I've got to teach a class and I'm going to be late if we don't hurry."
"Sure. Ah, you should probably be giving me a lecture as we leave."
"Right."
***
As Archer went down the school halls going towards his classroom. He probably should've made it to his classroom already, but the large building caused him to get lost with all its twists and turns, more than once.
Eventually he finally found his homeroom, class 101-A, "Ah there." He said opening the door.
Entering the classroom, he interrupted the middle of a lecture that the teacher gave. Abe Blackowl, if Archer recalled correctly, was a man who came from a very affluent family that had lived off of old money for many generations now. Even before the near collapse of sixty years ago the Blackowls were one of the first entire families to develop some sort of powers. They admittedly were known to be a bit of an elitist family due to that.
"Your name now." Blackowl growled out, immediately noticing Archer's rank and not happy that he was interrupted.
"Archer Griffen sir. Uh. Sorry for being late. I got a bit lost around the place." Archer said scratching the back of his head.
"Ah. The troublemaker." The gaunt-looking man nodded.
"Oh. Hah. Word has already been spread around huh?" Archer said giving a small laugh.
"Sit down and be quiet." Blackowl ordered.
"Yes sir. Right away." Archer said slinking off to the corner seat of the long classroom table at the back, while everyone else was staring at him. This is a little bit embarrassing. He thought to himself, almost wanting to laugh at just how much of an idiot he made himself to be.
"Excuse me. Pardon me. Don't mind me." Archer said as he moved around everyone to get to his seat. Finally reaching his seat he sat down and looked up to see an even more upset Blackowl staring at him.
After another long hard moment of staring Blackowl began to continue his speech, "Continuing on, Trinity Academy demands only the best. Now some of you have been fortunate enough to enter the academy despite your subpar abilities." He paused and looked directly at Archer as well as a few of the other lower ranks.
"If you are to apply yourself you may be able to rise up the ranks. That applies to everyone. By the end of the three years some of your former A ranks might make it to S rank. However this will not be easy." He said, "But you were the colours of Trinity Academy and represent it. You will bring pride to it or you will not graduate. Once you have graduated you have the choice to continue your studies or take what you learned and apply it to the real world." Blackowl then paused and gazed at the much lower-ranked students.
"Those of lower ranks are weak. Incapable of anything. Only those truly gifted will amount to anything." He declared boldly.
As Blackowl kept talking, Archer quickly noticed that everything he was talking about pertained to D ranks and up. Advice for those of the lowest ranks was near nonexistent. Looking through the crowd he could tell that the body language of the older ranks seemed to deflate as Blackowl continued to talk.
Well, save for a few. That Luna girl from earlier was in his class, which made things convenient when it came to keeping tabs on her. She didn't look like she was paying much attention, more so suffering from a terrible headache.
That didn't seem right to Archer. But there wasn't anything he could do right now, so he took a mental note of her and continued his scan of the group. There were a few other people who seemed to be rather defiant to Blackowl's claims. Archer assumed these were his fellow ranked peers.
"Sir!" A girl with deep, straight purple hair raised her hand up emphatically.
"What is it Selena Shenn?" Blackowl said with a sour taste in his mouth.
"You say that we lower ranks can't amount to anything. But wasn't Stark Mastiff an F rank when he entered Trinity Academy? Is he not now one of the most revered heroes in the world?" She questioned.
"That was over twenty years ago. Even a broken clock is right twice a day, Miss Schenn. They are exceptions to the norm. Something clearly you are not." He said condescendingly which caused a few others around Selena to laugh. Her face turned a light shade of red from embarrassment.
"Now if you are done interrupting me. You all have your timetable. Clubs begin their recruitment process near the end of the month of October, and at the end of the bell you are free to go home. Make sure to pick up your textbook as you leave. Tomorrow will begin a hard journey for all of you. Make sure not to fail." He said as he got up and headed to the door, "There is still half an hour before the final bell, I will allow you to get to know one another."
Immediately, once he left the students began to move around and conversing with one another. The students of similar ranks all kept themselves together. As Archer simply sat in the corner trying his best to look nonexistent, he noticed that two bigger guys walked up to where Selena was sitting while she was writing something down on her agenda.
"You're an F rank. And you think you're special?" The one leading the charge asked, rather loudly in fact.
Seems like people like making a habit of causing a big scene against low ranks. Archer said resting his head on his desk with his arms. Makes gossip easy to overhear at least.
"Better than you losers." She said staring defiantly at them.
"What. Did. You. Say?" The one slightly behind the one leading the charge asked in a dangerous whisper. He looked as through he was about to attack her at any moment.
"I said you two are losers." She said unflinchingly.
A crowd was gathering and the one leading the confrontation simply smiled at her, "You have a smart mouth don't you? But you are an F-rank, we're both tank D for a reason. We're stronger than you." He said leaning in menacingly.
Selena stared back at him. Tsk. Can't see her face. Archer said, but her body language betrayed her slightly. He noticed her shake. What the other man said was true, the ranks are meant to represent skill. The fact that he was two ranks higher meant that he outclassed her, and then some.
"You're not here because you're special. You're here as a charity case F-rank, thanks to the anniversary. Next year the lot of you will all be gone as the trash gets cleared. Though, if you're smart you might stay around a little longer." He said with a wicked grin on his face.
Think of the cover. Think of the cover. This is not the job. Bullying is common in this school. You already know that from the reports. You are an F-rank that has no real skills Archer. You cannot help her. Think of the mission. Complete the mission. Archer tried to remind himself.
"With a pretty face like yours as long as you know how to shut your mouth. We might protect you." The guy said reaching a hand out to grab her.
Ah, you know what? Plans change. Archer said as he began to pull his chair away from the desk.
"Stop." Another boy said appearing next to the two and grabbed the D rank's hand.
"What? Who are you?" He said shocked ripping his hand free from the boy's grip. Looking down he noticed his rank, "Hah. You F ranks stick together huh?"
"Don't you touch her. Apologize and leave her alone." He said adamantly.
"Or what you'll hurt me?" He asked before the two began to laugh.
"Yes."
With that simple three-letter word, the laughter ceased, "What's your name?" The lead D rank demanded.
"Ran. Ran Almer. Yours?" Ran said simply keeping his voice steady.
"You don't remember my name? It's Danson Hausen. This here is Kenneth Len." Danson spat, "Remember those names for your own good."
"You think you can play big bad hero huh?" Kenneth said.
"Someone has to in order to stop you losers." Ran replied stoically.
"You wanna die kid?" Kenneth threatened. Every other student, regardless of rank watched this display, all rather interested in what would happen. The higher ranks excitedly waited for this Ran Almer to be squashed while the lower F and E's hoped for some miracle.
"What is going on here?" A voice from the door called out.
Turning around, everyone looked wide-eyed as they saw Mercy Cowen standing there at the doorway. She had a foul look on her face as she stared at this ridiculous display of four low ranks squabbling.
"Uh, nothing." Danson said alarmed, recognizing the younger sister of the principal standing before him.
"Were you idiots about to start a fight inside a classroom?" She said with an unimpressed sneer on her face.
"No-" Danson began before immediately getting cut off.
"Get out. Everyone. Class is dismissed. Settle your problems without damaging school property." She ordered the entire class before leaving.
"This isn't over. We'll be seeing you outside." Danson warned Ran just as the rest of the class began to pack their things and leave.