Battle Academia (The original one)

Chapter 7: Weapons and Polka Dots

He saw it on his desk first thing in the morning. It was a small pink box filled with polka dots and a white ribbon on top of it. He raised an eyebrow and exchanged a puzzled look with Kayn as they took their seats in the classroom. Curiously, he carefully unwrapped the box.

A heart-shaped chocolate was inside along with a note. It read: "I hope you have a sweet day".

Ezreal took the chocolate and showed it to a surprised Kayn who started to cackle uncontrollably. He felt his cheeks getting hot. A secret admirer? He looked at Lux's desk. The girl seemed to be in her own bubble, scribbling something on her notebook. I know what this is.. She's too embarassed to make any eye contact. She didn't even look at me on my way in. Well, it turns out no one can resist Ezreal.. He grinned.

Professor Graves greeted the class with a simple nod as always.

"The Academy will be assigning weapons today. After all, it isn't called the Durrandal God-Weapon Academy for nothing", said the Professor. "Gah, what a pretentious name..", he mumbled to himself.

"Some of you already have a weapon, others may not even need one. But. The point is. We have a bunch of ancient weapons and such that people haven't been able to activate for ages. Every year, some of you manage to do just that for some reason. So go to the library after lunch and you'll find out what it's all about, so don't bother me with any questions. I have a headache", he said as sat down and drank his coffee.

Ezreal had been trying to reach out to Lux but weirdly enough she had stormed out of the classroom with Katarina and he hadn't seen her anywhere. The Academy's cafeteria was a huge room with a large buffet. Big tables were placed all over and hungry students were devouring their breakfasts. He spotted the girls at the other side of the room and went there smiling.

When his eyes met Luxanna's he could swear he saw her scowling. He and Kayn were holding two large red trays of food.

"Hey!", Ezreal said to the girls energetically. Lux took a quick look at him and then diverted all her attention to the plate in front of her. "Can we sit here with you guys"?

Lux gave Kat what seemed like a not-so-subtle kick under the table.

"We're actually waiting for some others so.. ", replied a startled Katarina with a mouth full of food.

"Oh.. Well then, see ya later I guess..", Ezreal told them clearly disappointed.

"You think it's the Sylas guy?", asked Kayn after they moved somewhere they couldn't hear them.

"What do you mean"?

"I mean.. Luxanna is clearly pissed. So either something happened with the Sylas guy or.."

"Or?", asked Ezreal in an almost mocking tone.

"Or you did something to her"

"What? What could I have done to her. Besides, me and Lux aren't even that close".

"Dude.. First of all. You call her by a nickname. Already. And second of all you saw her in your fucking simulation the day you met her!"

"So?", the blond asked feeling his cheeks turning a bit red.

"The entire school knows you're into her. You don't even try to hide it. But hey.. that's none of my business".

"And here I thought you were above gossip"..

Ezreal kept repeating his conversation with Kayn inside his head for what seemed like forever. But I like Lux.. I mean not LIKE like Lux.. But I like her.. What's wrong with that? I just want to get to know her a bit better. Same with everyone else. He was so concentrated to his thoughts which led to him missing the entire process of students trying out various weapons. To be frank, he didn't really care about the process.. After all, he already had his own weapon.

Kayn nudged him on his shoulder. "Wish me luck".

Principal Yuumi was floating on her book and inviting the students, one after another to try out any weapon that seemed interesting to them. He saw Kayn instantly move towards a large scythe hanging on the wall. Oh boy there he goes again with his scythes.. Kayn's eyes seemed to glow.

"Be careful with that", Principal Yuumi was saying as Kayn wrapped his hands around the weapon. A gust of wind filled the room and the students felt chills. A red eye opened on the scythe and Kayn started talking to himself.. at least it seemed like him.

The eye was taunting him. Asking if he was worthy, Kayn later said to him. Kayn's left hand was hardened and turned to metal. His fingers were transformed into claws. But Kayn wasn't budging. He seemed to embrace the deadly weapon's power.

Ezreal noticed all the professors were stand by. Ready to intervene if anything out of line were to happen. Even Proffesor Graves seemed uneasy with his student's choice.

"It's the Darkin Weapon", Ezreal heared one of the students say to his friend. What the hell is even a darkin, he pondered to himself. The atmosphere in the room felt heavy but all the heaviness was gone a few moments later and everyone applauded their classmate.

Kayn made his way out of the dumbfounded crowd and reached Ezreal.

"What do you think?", he asked his roommate while showing off his newest scythe.

"Looks cool man, but the eye.. Kinda freaks me out not gonna lie. You'd better not let it stare at me while I'm sleeping", they laughed.

Many students had come up and tried all sorts of weapon but leaving with one was a whole other story. Apparently, it wasn't all that common to be assigned a certain weapon.

Ezreal saw a nervous Lux looking at different kinds of weapons but they were all rejecting her the moment she touched them. At this point, she seemed defeated. He had never seen her like this. Not even in the sorting ceremony. He felt a knot in his stomach.

She was ready to leave when something behind a glass case caught her eye. Ezreal saw her move hesitantly towards it. It seemed like a staff. Or a baton. Yeah that was more like it, the boy decided.

When Lux touched it, both edges of it started glowing. It was light! A sweet light. Lux swung it gently and particles of light filled the place. Like fireflies.

Lux gave a smile and closed her eyes as the applause was getting louder and louder. She kept the staff close to her chest and she smiled. Ezreal couldn't help but mirror her behavior.

As the crowd was walking out, he rushed to reach Lux.

"Hey", he said to her trying to sound as not out of breath as possible. Katarina looked more like her bodyguard than her friend now. "It looks good on you", he exclaimed grinning and pointing to the baton.

"Thank you", she said and gave him a small smile. She seemed distant.

"Uhm.. can I talk to you for a sec?"

"Actually, I'm in a hurry. I have to go find Sylas. It's about an assignment we have at the Sorcery Club".

"Oh", he replied while his heart sank in his chest. "Maybe some other time then".

She waved a quick goodbye. I hope so..