How To Survive A Calamity

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[Warning!! You have met the Hero of Prophecy]

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'Ah...?'

I couldn't stop gaping at the odd system notification.

Unintentionally I redirected my gaze back to the boy with pale white hair and ghostly blue eyes.

"It can't be...'

At the same time, scenes from a not so distant memory, something I would never forget even if I wanted to, flashed through my mind shortly.

They were memories from the second vision.

The mysterious figure draped in pristine white flames, that they were almost transparent suddenly became clearer in my mind.

Immediately, I felt a chill run through my body as I stared at him.

'Wh-what is this?'Nôv(el)B\\jnn

'Meta, you're not messing with me, are you?!'

If this was a sick joke, then it wasn't funny.

No, wait.

I needed to calm down.

Nothing changes. In the end, nothing truly changes.

I seems like... I've encountered the Hero much earlier than I expected.

How was I supposed to know we would attend the same school, and the same class no less!?

What kind of play is faith making me dance to again...?

I mean, I did harbor intentions of eventually searching for the hero, if it were possible, and discovering whoever it might be at some point later, but this...

This is...

It's all so sudden, it's absurd!

Did this fucker really just walk into my hands on a silver platter?

For obvious reasons, I didn't have the best impression of the Hero. I mean, the dumb fuck let the whole world burn after all.

I had no intentions on being hopeful or relying on the Hero because of this. If I had to survive, it was clear I had to do it by my own power.

But regardless, the Hero who will fight against the Demon King during his descent was someone who should have immense powerful and influence. At the very least, he had enough power to still be alive even after the world was dead, and survive direct confrontations with the Demon King from the vision.

To me, he was like a diamond in the rough.

It's one thing about having strength, but it's a whole other about knowing how to use it.

And I already deemed it.

The Hero wasn't someone who deserved such a power.

No, he was someone unqualified.

But what if...I could utilise that power for myself?

I had to remember, this shouldn't be me mistaking it as relying on the Hero to hopefully survive.

No.

I intend to use the Hero as one of the many means to encourage my survival.

If he couldn't use his abilities properly, then he just needed someone to help him do so.

I would be that someone.

...All that said, this was too sudden.

I also don't think the system would casually give out notifications like this as a joke.

This was like the first or second time I had seen Meta, the system react this strongly to something.

On that note, this wasn't anything that I could see remotely affecting my plans. I only happened to find who the Hero is a little early, although I'm still unprepared.

But that changes close to nothing. I already decided to take subsequent actions during corresponding scenarios like this.

Yes.

Rather than get flustered and agonozie about this, my next move will be to calmly observe. Just like with Ceres, I'll merely be an outsider, and an onlooker, until I've determined enough.

It took a breath for me to organise my thought, and I casually redirected my gaze.

"Alexander..."

The instructor glanced at the young man, and nudged him to take a seat with her chin.

"Sit down."

Alexander awkwardly nodded slightly before making his way through the rows of seat and finding an empty space for himself.

As I watched this short and stale interaction, I still had questions.

I tried using Appraisal on the guy, but nothing worked.

I couldn't see his stats.

But I felt it was for a different reason than an overwhelming difference in strength and rank like between Ceres Walker and I.

'...He doesn't give off the aura of a Hero ranked Awakened or higher...'

From what I could gauge from his aura, Alexander was strong.

But by how much, I wasn't sure.

Was he stronger than me? It vaguely felt like it, but I couldn't tell. But I was confident I had a shot of we were to go against each other. At least for now.

But I couldn't utter those same words for Ceres.

At best, I would be able to get away from a fight with her.

Whatever the case may be, I can't be certain about the status and power level of Alex. He could be just like me and have some type of suppressor active.

But none of it explained why I couldn't see his stats with my skill.

'Does...does it have something to do with his status of being the Hero...?'

I wasn't sure why, but that sounded like my most plausible lead.

In the first place, the system didn't outright deny my access to probe his stats like with Ceres. If anything, if seemed like it was almost unable to comprehend it?

Or struggled to find a way to present it to me.

It was also the first time I had seen such a long string of strange and unfamiliar notifications like that

Too much information... That was what it described it as.

Questions.

I had more questions. Those things never seemed to run out.

But putting aside all that, there was a certain chill I still had running through my body since the final notification.

The system message...

'Why did it say 'Warning'?'

"Silence."

I turned my head and heard the instructor say sternly from in front of the class. Her straight and stern face had no ripple as she sullenly gazed at us, until she finally began to speak.

"I believe we all should be here now, so I'll start with an introduction."

I pushed the matter of the system messages to the back of my mind for now and paid attention to what the woman, who I presumed to be our class teacher was about to say.

"My name is Wrenna Marlowe, and I'll be your homeroom Instructions from now on. You can just call me Instructor Wren. Before I get on with what I need to say, we'll have roll call first to make sure of anyone still missing."

The young woman...Wrenna, or Wren for short, picked up a small and flat looking book which she placed previously on the podium, and said in her usual cold and impassive demeanour.

"Signify your presence when you hear ranking number called."

'Fuck me sideways...'

Immediately, I cringed from my seat.

'Roll call? Might as well announce I'm last place with a radio...!'

Cold and uncaring of my emotional struggles, Instructor Wren continued.

"Rank 1...Ceres Walker.

"..."

There was a silent chill that permeated the atmosphere of the classroom for a moment after Wren called out.

It was to be expected. Many may not have realised, while others may have earlier on, but...

"... Present."

The top ranking first year was indeed their classmate.

A cold and beautiful young teenage looking girl with platinum blond hair curtly responded and raised her hand. All of the looks of awe, admiration, anxiousness, and curiosity that was sent at her was indifferently dismissed almost like Ceres didn't even notice them.

I was half-joking when I said that Ceres was the top ranking first year, but this confirms it.

Wrenna continued on with the roll call.

"Rank 2, Deandra Lunar de'LaCurt."

"..."

A more different kind of hush spread through the classroom this time.

Different from the time with Ceres, it was more like all of the cadets involuntarily held their breaths at the mention of that name, and each turned to look at a specific figure with flaming red hair sitting straight at the front.

There was a strange sign of anxiousness on their faces. Glancing at each, it was more than obvious, I was probably the only one who didn't truly understand what the fuss was all about.

Regardless.

The Second Top Ranking First Year Cadet didn't respond to her name.

The aura around Instructor Wren became sharper.

"Number 2, do well to respond to your name and answer when asked a question, regardless of you status or standing outside. Here at Aegis, none of that matter, and insubordination will not tolerated." Each words were spat out with an icy chill.

The violet of Wrens eyes became sharper and colder as her gaze bore down on No 2.

"Don't make me repeat myself."

'Status?' I wondered, and made a few connections.

Aegis was an institution as large as an organisation, but the academy belived in equality amongst it's numbers. Talent and skill was more prioritized than status and family influence as shown by how they assign each students of each year a rank.

That means No 2 was probably someone of high standing family outside of the Academy?

'Ah.' it was then I realised.

The red haired girl hesitated for a brief moment before raising her head. I couldn't see what type of expression she had in since I could only stare at her back from behind.

Then her voice coldly rang out.

"Rank 2 Deandra Lunar de'LaCurt, present, Ma'am."

Without realising I let out a sigh and leaned back.

"Seems like we've got a member of the imperial family."