The Titan Era

The Poor Scholarship Boy

“Fuck!”

“Help!”

“Damn it! What the heck is happening?” 

The morning began with screaming. Julius woke up, hearing the screaming from other students.

His eyes flew open as loud voices echoed through the academy dormitory. Someone ran past his room. Another student slammed a door so hard that the walls shook.

"What's happening?" He whispered, still half asleep.

He sluggishly sat on his narrow bed.

The room was small compared to those of the noble students. A single bed occupied one corner. A worn desk stood near the window. Books and handwritten notes were stacked neatly beside it.

Still trying to digest what was happening out there when he heard another scream. 

This time, Julius immediately stood. He rushed to the window and pushed it open.

The sight outside made his heart skip a beat.

Students were everywhere, running heather and skelter.

Others were gathered in groups, speaking anxiously. Fear hung heavily in the air.

Julius quickly grabbed his academy jacket and stepped outside. He didn't have enough time to dress up. 

The hallway was crowded, making it difficult for him to rush to the school hall, where other students seemed to be running too.

"What happened?"

No one answered.

Everyone seemed too focused on spreading rumors.

"The Northern Wall has fallen!" He heard a student telling another. 

"No way!" He murmured.

"I heard hundreds died!" Another said

"It wasn't hundreds, it was thousands!" Another argued.

The more people talked, the more confused he became.

Finally, he spotted one of his classmates rushing down the corridor.

"Leon!"

The boy turned briefly.

"What? What happened?” Leon snapped at him. His face had gone pale.

“What's happening?” Julius questioned.

"You seriously don't know?" Leon retorted.

Julius shook his head.

Leon swallowed, then replied "The Titans."

For a second, Julius thought he had misheard.

"The what?"

"The Titans." He repeated.

The hallway suddenly became silent around him.

Just hearing that word was enough.

“Titans? Are they not creatures from ancient legends? Monsters that are said to be capable of crushing entire cities beneath their feet? Stories told to children before bedtime and we all believe were fake?” Tens of thought started going on in his mind.

“Are they real?” 

"The news arrived this morning, they appeared near the northern gate” Leon continued. 

Julius felt his stomach tighten.

"How many?"

"No one knows." Lean replied, worsening the whole thing.

Before Julius could ask another question, 

BOOOOOONG!

A massive bell rang across the academy.

Every student froze.

BOOOOOONG!

BOOOOOONG!

It was the emergency bell.

Julius had never heard it before but they were told about the emergency bell. 

The Academy Hall immediately began filling with students, who wasted no second to to rush into the hall.

Barely two minutes later, the Deen arrived insidw the hall, where thousands of students had already gathered.

His red robe was nearly aligned, matching with his black cap and shoes.

The academy was one of the most prestigious institutions in the kingdom, where children from nobles family attends. 

The elderly man, who usually carried a calm and confident expression but something changed, he looked worried, terrifying the students with his look. They needed not to be told that, there is fire on the mountain.

Deen Carl stepped forward, with his voice echoed through the hall. 

"Students." He started, took a deep breath before he continued. "The information you have heard is true."

Murmurs began but didn't last for five seconds. 

"At dawn this morning, reports confirmed the appearance of Titans along the Northern gate" he continued.

"Impossible..." A girl gasped 

"They were extinct..." Another argued.

"They were never supposed to exist..." 

"Three towns have already been destroyed and it happened within twenty four hours. We don't know the Titans, where they came from or the exact reasons they exist but I need to tell you all that we are in danger” 

A cold wind swept through the courtyard.

Julius felt chills run down his spine.

The Deen looked toward the distant mountains.

"But one thing is certain, the age of peace has ended. All students are to report to the grand hall immediately. This place seems to be suffocating you all. When we get to the grand hall , we would check the awakened power level of each of you and know those that would be prepared for the battle.“ he added, noticing the fear, swear dripping from the students and truly, the current hall was a bit smaller than their capacity.

He lead the way to tht grand hall, which they 

As he approached the entrance of the Grand Hall, a familiar voice called out.

"Look who's here."

Julius sighed

“The poorest student in our school, surviving on scholarship" another uttered.

Standing near the entrance was Marcus, he was an only son of a wealthy family and one of the academy's strongest students. He is also Julius' favorite bully.

Several students stood beside him, all smiling.

Marcus crossed his arms then asked again, "Where are you going?"

Julius didn't stop walking.

"The hall." He replied 

The group laughed.

"The hall? Do you think you have any power to face the Titans? The grand hall is meant for people that have powers, not a dumb ass like you” Marcus insulted, grinning. 

There was more laughter but Julius was quiet. He was used to his humiliation.

“Why can't we sacrifice him to the titans? Maybe they will spare our school and let us be” another girl added.

“That's a good suggestion. The most useless student in our school will be used to appeal to the titans. That sounds nice” Marcus scoffed, then laughed again.

Julius remained silent. Experience has taught him that bullies love reaction.

His silence only provoked them more. 

Marcus wasn't done with Julius.

He stepped directly into Julius' path. And uttered, "Maybe you should stay outside."

The students laughed again.

Julius clenched his fists.His nails dug into his palms. He was getting the hatred all because he was poor. To other students, he was worthless.

Marcus leaned closer.

"You know what your problem is?"

Julius said nothing.

"You keep forgetting your place."

The words hit harder than any punch.

Then, Marcus pushed him.

Julius stumbled backward.

More laughter erupted.

"Look at him!" One student said.

"Pathetic!" Another laughed.

"He's barely standing!"

 He wanted to stand up, retaliate by punching Marcus but he couldn't, cos Marcus was stronger.

Then another voice interrupted.

"Enough."

The laughter instantly died.

The Deen looked at Julius and he sighed, "While some may question whether academy resources should be spent on certain individuals..."

A few students chuckled.

Julius lowered his eyes, he was embarrassed.

"Enter." Deen Carl finally said.

Julius nodded quietly.

"Thank you, sir."

He walked forward.

The crowd parted.

For the first time all morning, things seemed calm and he was getting excited when someone's foot suddenly hooked around his ankle.

Julius never saw it.

His balance vanished instantly and was followed by pain.

CRASH!

His body slammed against the stone floor. There was a sharp crack echoing through the hall. Pain exploded through his arm as his forehead smashed against the ground. The impact left him dizzy.

“ARGH” He groaned in pain.

Hundreds of students simply watched and laughed, enjoying the show.

Julius gritted his teeth. His face blurred and he just injured his arm, shooting pain through his body but what hurt more was the laughter.

He struggled to push himself back to his feet and his school robe was dirty.

He noticed something dripping from his forehead. He touched it and saw the blood.

“Shit!” He cursed but dared not to say it loudly to avoid another beating.

But his eyes had changed, something burned deep within them, like

a fire. 

He gently went to the back of the grand hall and took a seat. A solo seat,because no one wanted to sit with him.

“As I have said earlier…” Deen Carl began but stopped when they began to hear some strange steps.

“GBIM, GBIM, GBIM “

The sound was getting clearer and nearer.

They all fixed their gaze at the door, awaiting what was

coming.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang from the door and a Gigantic Shadow followed.

Students screamed, scholars ran back and Deen Carl was dumbfounded.

Their nightmare has come to pass. Their night tales have finally arrived as a Titan smiled at them.