Awaiting soft rains(An extra's novel)

"That'll be all for today."

Professor Scott Lancer turned to face us with a smile, like he hadn't just showed us and picked apart numerous cruel ways our classmates had died in the simulation.

'Is this even legal?'

But then again this was Bastion. They'd willingly let young cadets get brutally butchered in the simulation just to imprint a lesson. This much was tame.

The professor continued.

"You seem a bit spooked, no? That just goes to show you how necessary survival skills are, especially in your line of work. This…"

He pointed to the projection of a frozen corpse, resting against the ruins of a building.

"Is only the bare minimum of what you'll face out there."

With that, he placed both hands on his chalk board and began dragging it away. He dropped some final words before he left.

"Today was necessary to at least correct the various mistakes you made in the simulation. We shall start practical sessions using dream engines next class."

And then he was out.

Life slowly seeped back into the class as murmurs and mumbles sprung up from various cliques. It was subdued though, it seemed the videos had done quite a number on their psyche. Especially so for the cadets who watched themselves die again.

Strange enough, I couldn't find myself feeling much at the brutal sights. Perhaps it was because I knew it was all just a simulation, or it was because I'd been mauled by four predators.

Either way, I paid more attention to the movement beside me. Ayo was getting ready to leave.

"Wait."

She shot me a suspicious look. Given what she said before, it was likely she already knew I was trying to use her.

I had to shoot my shot now.

"I have an offer."

"Not interested."

"You haven't even heard it yet."

"Is it something that puts me in the crosshairs of Varic and his merry little band?"

"Maybe."

"Then no–"

"Just wait."

I stretched a hand before her, blocking her from just leaving. She looked at me with growing annoyance.

Although she was pretty lax compared to Racheal and Varic, she was still a scion of a great family. In combat strength only the other great heirs surpassed her, even then it wasn't by much.

She could easily deal with me, yet I stood my ground. I had to.

I slowly pulled my hand back.

"At least hear what I'm offering before you leave."

She considered it for a moment, then sat back down, deciding to hear me out.

"You've got five minutes."

I glanced around, just in case anyone was watching. Then whispered.

"I know you're a fan of Alice."

Any trace of levity or amusement drained from Ayo's face, as she turned dead serious.

"How do you know that?"

If only I could just say 'Because I wrote you that way'. Still, with the uncharacteristic severity she was looking at me with, I knew I had to give her something at the very least.

"Your hair is highlighted in a similar manner to her, and a little birdie told me you've got a gift that's at least somewhat related to witchery. Just call it an educated guess."

The girl fell deep into thought, mumbling.

"Was it that obvious?"

It wasn't my best lie, but it still held enough water for me to push through with my offer.

"It's nothing to be ashamed about, we all need heroes after all. What matters is that I can get you much closer to that hero of yours."

That piqued her interest, as she turned to face me. The girl looked skeptical.

"How?"

"Let's just say, Alice and I share a special relationship."

Her eyes widened, and I could practically hear the gears in her mind churning as she came up with her own understandings.

Given my experience with Shin, I shot down any misunderstandings before they could occur.

"It's not anything crazy, and it certainly isn't intimate. But it's close enough that I can easily slip in a good word for you here and there."

That much was enough to set her mind in the right space again, as she slipped back into negotiation mode.

"How the hell can I trust you with just that?"

"Because that isn't all I'm offering here. In fact it's just a bonus. My main offer is a position on the student council."

The student council was made up of much more than the President and Vice President. There were a ton of other roles, each appointed by the President or Vice President. Some were important, some not important, but among them the most important was the disciplinary division.

It was a division that gave students the right to actually use violence on Academy grounds, for the sake of keeping all other students in line. Of course, they weren't given free rein to do whatever they wanted, they could still be reported and the school still monitored them.

But it was something that gave any faction controlling that division significant power over the others. It had also been the main reason why Varic and Rowan competed so heavily for the Vice Presidential position.

After all, if Rowan got it, then Racheal would have complete control over all appointments. On the other hand, if Varic got it, he'd be able to at least challenge her appointments.

It was classic politics.

I was neither of them, and none of that really mattered to me. What did matter though, was one of the supposedly useless positions.

Clubs manager. Yes, the Academy had clubs. Like actual school clubs.

It was the only position, apart from President and Vice President, that required constant meet ups with Alice.

"I can use my power as Vice President to offer you a position as clubs manager. I'm sure you already know what that means."

Ayo's skeptic expression eased at the offer. There was no way she wouldn't want this, after all she'd pestered Racheal to give her that position back in the novel.

Still, she didn't accept just yet.

"To what extent do I need to shield you, and for how long?"

I scratched my chin, while running through the numbers.

"A month, or maybe two depending on the situation. As for shielding, I'll just follow you around in school, all you have to do is mess up anyone that messes with me."

"I assume 'anyone' won't be including that cunt, Varic."

"Of course."

The noble scion wouldn't sully his image by directly bullying a commoner like me. He would only lay his hands on me in a proper match.

Ayo extended a hand.

"Then we have a deal."

I promptly met it with mine.

"Lovely."