Chapter 53: The Crazy Old Bastard

Arthur knew he couldn’t lie.

But he couldn’t tell the truth either.

Not the whole truth, at least.

After steadying his breath, Arthur finally spoke.

"It’s one of the things I’m capable of."

The instructor raised an eyebrow.

"On command, I’m able to perceive things around me at a slower pace. It’s almost like I’m able to focus and gaze into the future."

Arthur paused.

"Only for a few seconds... Might have been something I inherited from my ancestors."

The old man stared at him for a moment.

"You don’t say."

He opened Arthur’s cadet information and checked his Integrity Score.

The score hadn’t gone down.

A smile suddenly appeared on the instructor’s face.

"It must be one of the things the Ashbourne blood is capable of, then."

Arthur’s expression stiffened slightly.

The instructor continued.

"Historical records state that your ancestors constantly longed for glory in battle. A single Iron Angel of House Ashbourne is worth an entire army, they say."

"Hahahahah!" The old man suddenly let out a loud belly laugh.

Arthur gave an awkward smile.

"Exactly, sir. Ha... ha... ha."

There was a brief pause.

BAM!

The instructor suddenly slammed his mechanical fist into Arthur’s abdomen.

Arthur’s eyes widened as the impact sent him stumbling back several steps.

"Guh!"

He doubled over, clutching his stomach as pain coursed through his body.

The instructor calmly turned away.

"Don’t get all chummy-chummy during class."

He glanced back at Arthur.

"Minus five."

Arthur’s expression twisted in pain.

The instructor walked over to where he had left his uniform.

He picked it up and began putting it back on.

"Word of advice, kid."

He glanced over his shoulder.

"You won’t live that long in this Academy if you don’t get an implant or two."

Arthur slowly raised his head.

"As alluring as the idea of feeling like some badass who doesn’t need any implants might be..."

The instructor put on his uniform, dusting it slightly.

"That stupidity is going to get you killed."

He adjusted his collar.

"Better get an implant or two by the next time we meet."

"Otherwise, I won’t be teaching you shit."

He turned toward the door.

"Class dismissed."

He paused.

"I’ll see you three later."

The instructor walked away, leaving Arthur standing there, still clutching his abdomen.

Arthur grunted.

"...Crazy old bastard."

His vision began to blur.

The pain in his ribs and abdomen became increasingly difficult to ignore.

Arthur swayed slightly.

"...Damn it..."

His knees buckled.

And eventually, he passed out.

...

Arthur slowly opened his eyes.

For a few seconds, he simply stared at the unfamiliar ceiling above him.

White.

Clean.

Almost unnaturally spotless.

His mind was still hazy, but the events from earlier gradually came rushing back.

The instructor.

The fight.

Genesis.

The interrogation.

And then...

...Blackout.

Arthur blinked several times before slowly sitting up.

"Huh?"

He looked down at himself.

He was no longer wearing his academy uniform.

Instead, he was dressed in a set of loose white medical clothes.

Arthur instinctively touched his ribs.

Nothing.

No pain.

He pressed a little harder.

Still nothing.

"...They healed me completely?"

He flexed his fingers, rotated his shoulders, then carefully twisted his torso.

Perfect.

Not even the slightest discomfort.

Arthur couldn’t help but be impressed.

Although this was the second time he was experiencing it, he couldn’t help but think the medical technology was insane.

Just then, a familiar voice came from beside him.

"It seems you finally woke up, Sleeping Beauty."

Arthur froze.

He slowly turned his head.

On the bed beside him sat Rexi.

He was completely healed as well, wearing the same white medical clothes.

And beside Rexi was Alexis, who was also lying comfortably on a medical bed.

Arthur stared at the two of them.

Rexi grinned.

"Morning."

Alexis gave him a small wave.

"Welcome back."

Arthur’s expression became complicated.

"...You two are already awake?"

Rexi shrugged.

"Looks like it."

Arthur glanced around the medical ward.

Rows of identical beds stretched across the spacious room, each surrounded by advanced medical equipment. Soft blue lights pulsed along the walls while several automated medical drones silently moved between patients.

He looked back at Rexi.

"How long was I out?"

Rexi tilted his head.

"About three hours."

Arthur’s eyebrows rose.

"Three hours?"

"Yep, you can check the time on your Neural Link."

Arthur frowned slightly.

That wasn’t nearly as long as he’d expected.

He looked toward Alexis.

"And you?"

"I woke up about an hour ago."

He smiled faintly.

"Rexi was already here."

Rexi crossed his arms proudly.

"Unlike certain people, I didn’t immediately collapse after class."

Arthur stared at him with a look of disappointment.

"...You were unconscious on the floor."

Rexi’s smile disappeared.

"That’s different."

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

"How?"

"I was knocked out."

"That’s literally what being unconscious means."

Rexi clicked his tongue.

"Whatever."

Alexis covered his mouth, trying not to laugh.

Arthur leaned back against his pillow.

For the first time since he got to the academy, he finally allowed himself to relax.

At least everyone was okay.

Arthur was silent for a moment before looking toward the other two.

"By the way..."

He glanced between Rexi and Alexis.

"Did either of you catch the name of our instructor?"

Rexi’s expression immediately became blank.

"Hell if I know."

He leaned back against his bed, shaking his head.

"The man didn’t even introduce himself before he started throwing hands."

Rexi rubbed the back of his neck.

"Crazy bastard hospitalized us on our first day."

He looked toward Arthur with genuine disbelief.

"What the hell is he going to put us through over the next three years?"

Arthur stared at him.

"...That’s a good question."

Alexis chuckled softly.

"Considering what happened today, I’m not sure I want to know the answer."

Rexi sighed.

"Three years..."

He looked up at the ceiling.

"Yeah, we’re screwed."

Arthur glanced toward Alexis.

"You really don’t know anything about him either? Didn’t you take a look to see if he had a name tag on his uniform?"

Alexis shook his head.

"No. Everything happened too quickly."

He paused, then frowned slightly.

"Although..."

Arthur looked at him.

"Although what?"

Alexis rubbed his chin.

"I vaguely remember hearing one of the other instructors call him something."

Rexi immediately sat up.

"You do?"

Alexis nodded.

"I think it was... Old Man Veyron."

Arthur narrowed his eyes.

"Veyron?"