"Well, no surprises there." Professor Mythila said as the match ended and everyone started appearing back in the hub.

"The elf girl did drag it out for a while though. She seems strong." Professor Osborn said.

"She is. She just needs some experience." Professor Harkin said as he started thinking about ways he could train her or make her better.

(He's the homeroom teacher of her class)

"What're your thoughts on the other students? Do we need to compile some other tests or are you done collecting your plans for their next trainings." Professor Thaddeus said.

"I think it's enough for my class. They all had enough time to fight and show their skills. So I'm good." Professor Freya spoke with a satisfied smile on her face.

After all, it was clear even without Rio, her class was still the strongest one overall. And practically every ranker or notable student had preformed their best in this match.

"I'm fine too." Professor Arabella said as she stared at Hermann from the corner of her eyes, while he was busy looking at Leon with hatred in his eyes.

She didn't even need to look at the message of Loki on her system to know what was going to happen next, and what she needed to do.

'Looks like this year will be even more fun.' Professor Arabella said with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Well, anyways it's enough for today. So let's just wrap it up. I still have some other projects to work on." Jorvik said, glancing at the holographic screen on his watch. Displaying various formulas and reactions.

After getting confirmation from every professor, Jorvik cut the signal and pulled everyone out of the VR.

Once students left their VR capsule and gathered in the big hall after changing their costumes, Professor Harkin went forward, and gave a little speech to everyone. Giving some pointers about common mistakes most of the students made or appreciating those who followed all rules or did good in their matches.

His speech ended with that same general teacher note that everyone always says, don't get arrogant for a victory and don't be sad over a loss. This was just a stupid match and they should all just remember it as such. Nothing much.

Take good points and experience and don't sweat it on other things.

While all this bullshit was happening and boring speeches were prying one ear to another - Rio was sitting near a piller with closed eyes.

Amelia called him a few times but seeing that he seemed sound asleep, she let him be. That was a right decision too, as at this time in Rio's mind memories of his past life were playing in a stream line.

Flashbacks of Earth

(7 years before Shiva's death - when he's still a first year student at the college)

In a university classroom, students were sitting around, chatting with each other, as no teacher was present in the class.

"Hey, did you hear, we have a new transfer student?" Kajal (now Katherine on Arcadia) asked Shiva(now Rio) who was sitting besides her trying to sleep.

"I heard it's a pretty girl." Kajal said as she slapped a textbook on shiva's head, waking him up.

"The class is only going to get even more noisier again." Shiva said as he fixed his hair a little.

"Oh and does that bother the guy who doesn't even show up half a week." Kajal said with a helpless smile, while giving him a comb from her purse.magic

"Not my fault if it's so boring. I can't understand anything even if I'm here." Shiva said.

"That's cause you need to study actual books for this, instead of online s and kid stories." Kajal said, as she pulled a from his bag and waved it in front of her.

Shiva just let her be and buried his head back on the table trying to sleep again.

"Urgh, just go and sit on your seat nah. I'm already having a headache." Shiva said as he slapped her hands away when she tried to tickle him.

"Who told you to play around all night? How many times did I tell you to stop roaming with that guy?" Kajal said and punched him on the shoulder this time. Clearly feeling angry at him for ignoring her.

"His name is Nashi. And he's not all that bad." Shiva said, "Plus weren't you the one who asked me to go out and socialize."

"If I knew you'd find someone like him, I wouldn't say that. And not like you listen to what I say anyway." Kajal said, her words ending on soft whispers.

Shiva, who saw her getting stupidly lost in thoughts, was about to say something, when the professor entered the class, and everyone in class became silent.

"Morning everyone. Be seated and silent." A middle aged man in university uniform walked with a limp leg and stood over the podium in the middle and started speaking.

"Before we start today's class, I want you all to welcome a new student. I know it is already mid-year, but I hope you will all help her with everything."

"Miss Shweta, please come."

As the professor signaled the door to the class opened and came a girl with straight black hair with round perfect eyes. Her face, the definition of beauty and figure nigh perfection.

She was holding a single notebook and a red casing mobile phone in her hands. Wearing a red top and black jeans close to her skin, yet not too tight or vulgar. Not a single piece of expensive jewelry or accessories on her. She was simple yet somehow perfect.

Like the creator took all the time in eternity to cast her. For fear to leave any mistake in his first creation.

After coming in, she didn't do much, she didn't even need to. Yet she was the center of attention for everyone. And no one could look away after taking just a glance at her.

It took merely a few moments of complete silence which soon gave way to constant whispers and talks amongst everyone excitedly. Some boys even screamed aloud and started banging their hands on tables.

The new girl curiously looked around the class, taking in everyone's gaze which was stuck on her in admiration, jealousy and disbelief. Not reacting to anyone. No pride, arrogance, dislike or disgust - she was indifferent to it all.

But then her eyes landed on a figure who was rubbing his eyes with a lazy expression on his face, probably waking up from his sleep, and she blinked.

Shiva, who got tired of trying to sleep with all the noise and Kajal poking her fingers or pinching him, yawned and opened his eyes slowly.

After giving Kajal an angry glare, he looked at his classmates who were acting like idiots. He could even hear someone on his back calling the new girl Sister or Bhabhi or gf or something.

'Idiots, acting like they never saw a girl in their whole life.' Shiva cursed them in his heart and decided to look up, just in time to see the new girl staring at him.

And then_

Then. ...

Then his whole world stopped.

Thump thump thump

Sounds of his heartbeat echoed in his ears as all the surrounding noise disappeared in his mind.

Her eyes, he felt like he could just drown in them, yet he couldn't look away. And when she blinked there was this weird sense of loss that even made his breathing heavy.

'What's wrong with me?'

There was this major sense of familiarity in his head, while his heart felt just incredulously happy as he watched her lips curling up in a smile.

'What's happening?'

He had met or seen thousands of people, watched hundreds of shows and movies, read dozens of s - yet this was the first time he ever felt like this.

'Is this what they call love at first sight?' He asked and his face blossomed in another smile.