Third Person POV

Confusion.

Confusion is the best definition to explain how Issei was currently feeling, questions swirling within his mind as he was trying to piece things together and unfortunately it wasn't going well for him.

Its probably been a solid five minutes since he and Achil left the training area, leaving Isabella with both the magic and the Swordsmen class. Since then, Issei has noticed the tension in the air between him and the white Dragon knight. It was like he was... afraid of him? but why would he be afraid of him?

This confused Issei even more, one moment he was getting annoyed by Buri's words and the next everyone looked like they were about to piss themselves, hell he even noticed some were unconscious which was a total red flag to the brown-haired boy.

Unfortunately, Issei cant seem to recall what happened during those moments. Its all a blur to him, plus if he tries to hard to remember than it only gives him a splitting headache. This wasnt something that you would receive by not getting enough sunlight or by drinking a little alcohol, no this one was different.

It was like there was something inside of the brown-haired boys brain, clawing at his brain and very skull itself. Although, if he was experiencing something like this than he shouldn't be able to even walk without it getting worse and yet here he was, walking like nothing was happening at all.

This was causing a divide within him, on one hand he feels like he should get it checked out because it could be serious but on the other hand... he feels like that its nothing and he can keep going.

Issei: 'Hey, Ddraig. Do you have any idea what happened to be after that bastard said that to me?'

Ddraig let out a small sigh.

Ddraig: ['Unfortunately, No I haven't been able to. Every time I look at the memory, its like something is cutting it off which shouldn't be possible']

Issei: 'What do you mean?'

Ddraig: ['Well, unless there's someone who knows that your not from this world.... your memories shouldn't be able to be altered at all']

This left Issei feeling awfully worried now, the only one that he knows of who can alter someone's memories is his King, Rias Gremory. Sure, its safe to say that other supernatural beings from his world can do the same thing but she's the only one that he can recall who can do that.

But as far as he knows, no one in this world should be able to such a thing so just what is happening to him? what is happening to Issei?

As he kept walking, it felt as if everything around he was slowing down to almost a complete halt. The color that filled the world around the brown-haired boy began to dwindle down and revert to black and white, similar to a very old movie from like the 18 or 19 hundreds.

Issei felt it hard to breath as his pupils shrank, a painfully rining noise filled his ear drums as he looked at his hand which was shaking like he was afraid of something.

Issei: "W-what is going on with me..."

Suddenly, a red glow sparked from the boy which showed the boy with some different features. But it was only for a split second as he grabbed his head, panting heavily as sweat started to run down his face. He could feel his heart pounding within his chest, almost touching the surface as the noise echoed all around him like a drum being played.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

Issei: "I-Is that...."

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

Issei: "M-my heart...."

Issei was starting to feel uneasy, almost to the point that he wanted to throw up as he continued to listen to the sound of his heart beating. He was smacked by the same red glow, this time it sounded like a distorted noise followed by cracking glass as Issei grabbed onto his head yet again.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

What was going on?!

why is this happening!?

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

Why was it getting louder!? why is the noise getting louder!?

Issei began panting heavily as he slowly looked up and his eyes widen, standing a head of him by a few feet appeared to be some sort of shadowly figure roughly around his height. Although, Issei couldn't see much about them what he did see was a terrifying purple glow from one of their eyes which was pouring with aura.

BA-DUMP.

BA-DUMP.

BA-DUMP.

BA-DUMP.

BA-DUMP.

Issei: "W-who are you...."

The figure tilted their head at Issei's question, holding a hand out to the boy as its eyes burned with a terrifying aura of pure power which felt like it was chocking him.

BA-DUMP!!

BA-DUMP!!

BA-DUMP!!

BA-DUMP!!

BA-DUMP!!

???: "Hey!"

Almost Immediately, everything reverted back to normal as Issei looked around and saw that he was still with Achil who was looking at the brown-haired boy with an raised eyebrow.

Achil: "You okay?"

Issei: "U-uh...."

Achil: "You still upset about what Buri said?"

Issei fell silent because he was very confused right now, what just happened to him? was he seeing things or was that real? whatever he saw very felt real and.... familiar at the same time which is very strange. One moment, he was face to face with some sort of strange shadowly figure and now everything is back to normal like nothing happened at all.

Was it all an illusion? was it merely something that his mind made to play tricks with him? or is there something else at play here, something that resides within this world that knows that he isnt from this one?

Issei was just at a loss, his mind was scattered in so many thoughts that he found it hard to concentrate on anything at all. Like, after what he shouldn't even be still out right now. He should be trying to find a way to calm himself, yet he knows that he needs to get to the next Branch otherwise he will never be able to complete his mission.

He gritted his teeth.

Issei: 'Ddraig....'

Ddraig: ['Yes, Partner?']

Issei: 'Keep an eye on my memories, if anything happens which you can't see than let me know immediately'

Ddraig was surprised by his partners serious tone, he sounded like one of his previous hosts a little. However, he soon shook this feeling off as he grunted in acknowledgment.

Achil: "Issei?"

Issei: "I-I'm fine, just worried that I won't be able to get into a class.... since I can't use the Boundary Force"

The two kept walking down the street, going by a few people who were minding their own buisness as Achil crossed his arms.

Achil: "The different branches you choose doesn't impact on the importance of each branch. The only thing that is important is your suitability to each branch"

Issei raised an eyebrow.

Issei: "Meaning?"

Achil looked at him with a small smile.

Achil: "You can still join, but you'll have to choose one of the Non-combat ones from now on"

This filled Issei with mixed opinions, sure choosing a Non-combat one means that he's in the Academy and he and Isabella will get closer to their goal of getting the former Demon Queen her kingdom back but... he was hoping to get into one of the combat ones because maybe it could've been a chance for him to work on his Sacred Gear and pick up a few skills.

If he was gonna be stuck in this world than he should level out the playing field, getting better control over his Sacred gear is the smartest decision to go for.... but it looks like he won't be able to do that.

This was bad because how is he suppose to help Isabella and get back home if he's stuck with a branch like cooking or whatever? Yeah, he's gonna defeat the betrayer by cooking a nice meal for them... what a fucking joke.

Issei let out a small sigh as Achil stopped, gaining Issei’s attention.

Issei: "Achil?"

Achil: "We've reached the next branch"

Issei: "Already? jeez, how long have we been walking.... so what branch are they?"

Achil looked at the boy and smiled.

Achil: "This is the forging branch"

Issei: "Forging?"

The two walked inside as they were greeted by a a group of 20-25 students, surprisingly all boys from what Issei could tell and they were sitting on the ground as on a stage was a sword which was impaired into the ground.

The students were all looking at the weapon before turning their attention to some pads of paper in their hands, sketching sword as best they could onto the paper. Issei tilted his head in confusion, this was the forging branch? he fully expected it to be full of muscular dudes hammering molten metal with hammers and stuff, not a bunch of kids drawing a sword on a sheet of paper.

Well, that's what typical Isekai manga and anime describe a forging class to be but then again... the main character isn't normally summoned by the Demon King or in this case Queen for that matter, so he really should've expected something like to happen at some point.

Issei: 'Well, this is a surprise....'

Ddraig: ['Agreed, Partner. I too wasn't expecting this to happen']

Issei grunted in agreement as he decided to take a look at some of the students sketches, they must be pretty good at their work since they have the most important job besides the knights. However, as soon as Issei saw the sketches... his face went pale as he grew a expression of shock and disgust.

Their diagrams were absolutely terrible, like one students sketch has the blade look like a giant paddle and another has one of the handles smaller than the other. Hell, even Ddraig himself thought that the drawings were terrible and he doesn't even care about the concept of drawing something.

Issei silently groaned as he facepalmed himself.

Issei: "I need to bleach my eyes from those abominations...."

???: "What!?"

Issei jumped back as a few of the forging branch students turned and looked at Issei, who could clearly see that they weren't happy from his words about their work.

Issei: "Um... Hi?"

One of the students, a boy with lime green hair and glasses glared at Issei... even though he couldn't see the boys eyes from the glasses. Seriously, that looks like a safety hazard.... someone get that boy some new glasses.

Glasses: "What Branch are you part of? why are you here to make trouble?!"

Issei: "Um, I'm not.... I'm the new transfer student"

Glasses: "Can't you see that we're busy!?"

Issei sweatdropped as he backed up to Achil who chuckled a little, the brown-haired boy then leaned over to him.

Issei: "Why is the forging class learning to draw? aren't they suppose to be hitting metal and grinding knives or something?"

Achil raised an eyebrow.

Achil: "H-hitting Metal?"

Issei: "Yeah, that's what forging is all ab-"

???: "Hey buddy, it seems like you have no knowledge whatsoever!"

Issei: "Huh?"

Issei turned to the source of the voice, only to be greeted by a fairly tall with a muscular build wearing a purple robe. Issei also saw that aside from his mustache and eyebrows, there was no hair on his head.

Issei: 'Holy shit.... its Saitama's dad!'

Ddraig: ['What?']

Issei: 'Oh yeah, you don't know that...'

The students noticed the man and smiled at the sight of him.

Student 1: "Mr. Martin!"

Student 2: "Mr. Martin!"

Achil smiled at the man as well.

Achil: "Greetings Mr. Martin"

Mr. Martin.

So that was his name, Issei had to say... he kinda looked like a Martin to be honest and he meant that in a respectful way. But he did have one question, how the fuck does a man like that have such a jacked body and is teaching kids how to draw a simple sword? That makes absolutely no sense to the brown-haired boy, like none of it makes any sense.

Mr. Martin walked passed Issei, looking at his students.

Mr. Martin: "Continue Drawing..."

Issei: "You the teacher..."

Mr. Martin: "Indeed I am, young man. May I ask why did you interrupt my class?"

Issei silently gulped as he scratched the back of his head.

Issei: "Um, cause I'm wondering... why are you teaching them to draw?"

Issei watched as the bald man chuckled in amusement before he turned back and looked at the boy.

Mr. martin: "Buddy, don't you know that our forgery branch can create anything?"

Issei's eyes widen hearing those words, creat anything... that is such an overpowered ability to have and its being taught in a classroom to students who will eventually be able to do the same thing?

Issei: "I...."

Achil: "He was captured when he was young by the Demon tribe and became a slave for many years, so his knowledge on comman human things is a bit lacking"

Issei saw Mr. Martin's eyes widen in surprise, looks like the whole lie is working yet on another individual and to think Issei made that whole story up on the spot. Talk about dumb luck, which is why he is hoping that they will trust him enough in the future for Issei to tell them the actual truth of his deception.

Mr. Martin: "Ah, I see..."

He then smiled.

Mr. Martin: "Then allow me to demonstrate how forging works in the human tribe"

He turned and made his way to the stage, stepping onto it as he took out something from his back pocket. Issei nsrrowed his eyes as he saw that it looked like a green pen, but this one had a red ribbon tied onto it and had a strange.... yet familiar gem stone on it.

Issei shook his head as Mr. Martin held his hand out, the pen suddenly glowed as it grew in size to the point it was the same size as the sword. This surprised Issei was he watched the forging class teacher begin to draw a absolutely perfect drawing of the sword onto the ground, it only took a a minute before he was done.

Issei: 'Woah.... now that is a drawing'

Mr. Martin: "Awaken!!"

A blue light began to illuminate from the drawing,  filling the room with its rays as Issei saw something absolutely breath taking.... the drawing came to life. He thought he was seeing things, but he wasn't because the drawing that Mr. Martin drew transformed into a exact duplicate of the sword impailed into the ground.

Mr. Martin picked up the weapon and looked at Issei, smirking.

Mr. Martin: "That is how humans create works of art, what did you think?"

Issei was at a complete loss of words, he did not think that this would actually be what the forging branch was all about. Issei had greatly misjudged the branch, they were way better than he imagined.

Issei: "C-can it actually create anything!?"

Mr. Martin smiled and jumped down from the stage.

Mr. Martin: "Of course! As long as you have enough Gold Alloy crystals"

Gold Alloy Crystal's....

Issei guessed thats a material found in this world, probably a common form of metal used in most forging.

Issei: "So, are you using magic?"

Mr. Martin: "Of course not, this is forgery, not magic class"

He handed Issei the sword he made, the boy took it and looked it over. He said that he could create anything as long as he has the correct amount of materials than does that mean that Issei could create guns or something?

Issei: "Teacher, is using the gold alloy crystal a derivation of magic?"

Mr. Martin let out an amusement chuckled.

Mr. Martin: "Hahaha, the crystal already contains magic, even kids can utilize it. But the allow Crystal's come in different grades"

This gained Issei's attention as he showed the boy his pen which had shrunken down back to its regular size.

Mr. Martin: "My pen has a special kind of crystal, which allows me to create items out of thin air"

Issei: "Jeez, if that's the case than... this whole class is basically overpowered"

He then let out a small sigh of sadness.

Issei: "But I guess I can use it since It requires Boundary Force?"

Mr. Martin was taken aback by this, but he soon grew a smile as he let out another amusement chuckle which gained Issei's attention.

Mr. Martin: "Hahaha, nope!"

Glasses: "What are you on about!?"

Issei: "Huh!?"

Forging Student 1: "What's so great about Boundary Force!?"

Forging Student 2: "Even if they do have Boundary force, they'll never smith like how we do!"

Forging Student 3: "I agree!"

Achil leaned over to Issei.

Achil: "Issei, I wouldn't recommend mentioning Boundary Force in a place like this..."

Issei: "Why?..."

Achil: "Its mainly cause a large majority of the people here are also called 'Useless Lumbet' like Buri called you..."

Issei was surprised by this, they too were called Useless cause they either have so little or no Boundary Force at all? They were cast aside and called worthless because they couldn't do what other can, yet they are in a class which is pretty much the best in the entire academy?

Just then, Issei got an idea and a very good one at that. However, he was gonna need some help to pull this off otherwise he would just be making a fool of himself and lucky for him... he knows just the person to help him with this.

Issei: 'Hey, Ddraig. Get ready....'

Ddraig: ['For what?']

Issei: 'Were gonna do some drawing'

Ddraig: ['Wait, what? why!?']

Issei smirked.

Issei: 'Simple, because this is the branch that is for me and second.... well read my memories and you will see'

Ddraig sighed.

Ddraig: ['Alright, give me a second....']

Issei silently chuckled as he looked at Mr. Martin with a serious expression.

Issei: "Mr. Martin, I wanna ask you something...."

Mr. Martin: "And that is?"

Issei procceded to bow to the bald man.

Issei: "Please accept me as one of your students!"

Mr. Martin was shocked by this, he didn't expect the boy to want to learn smithing. Unlike most of the other classes, the forging class is belittled for having those known as Useless Lumber.

Mr. Martin: "You want to learn smithing?"

Issei nodded his head.

Issei: "Yes, cause like your students. I too am called Useless lumber...."

This shocked the rest of the students, another one called Useless lumber. Whenever new students attend the academy, there isn't many that either don't have much or any Boundary Force. Which is why a lot of students are in the combat related classes like magic and Swordsmen, while some choose to do more simple things like cooking and such.

Mr. Martin: "Hmmm... I don't know"

Issei: "I understand your hesitation, so allow me to prove myself!"

Issei grabbed one of the students pads, much to their annoyance and with Ddraig's help he began to draw something. Back in his world, Art was the only class he paid attention to the most and that was for one simple reason.... breast. He thought that by learning how to draw, he could use those skills to draw some hot girls with big breasts like Rias or Akeno.

However, even though he paid attention to the teacher during the class... he still couldn't do it properly, any time he tried to draw something it would always come out very bad to the point he accidently poked a hole through the papepr. So he gave up on the idea and kept doing what he normally did, which was peeping on girls.

But with Ddraig's help, he should be able to make something that would get him into the forging branch.

Student 1: "Hey, that's.... the Swordsmen class teacher!"

Glasses: "He's good"

Issei smiled as he looked at Mr. Martin.

Issei: "I'm done drawing!"

He gave the drawing to Mr. Martin who looked at it, the teacher was surprised by how well and detailed it was. It was like an exact replica of Teacher Dorona, an impressive feat for a beginner.

Mr. Martin: "Hm! you're really good and your skills surpass the maximum requirements for the class"

Achil walked up to Issei.

Achil: "Issei, I can't believe that your skilled at Drawing and even bested the maximum requirement. No one has done that for the forging branch before!"

The brown-haired boy scratched the back of his head and let out a small laughter, smiling slightly.

Issei: "Its nothing..."

Ddraig grunted.

Ddraig: ['I did all the work...']

Issei: 'Yeah, thanks Ddraig. You really saved me there!'

Ddraig sighed.

Ddraig: ['Don't mention it, its nothing']

Issei looked at the bald man with a serious expression.

Issei: "Teacher, I dont have any other skills besides Drawing. I hope this is enough"

Mr. Martin: "Learning craftsmanship isn't seen as important compared to the other branches of education. But, there are many people who excel in the subject"

Issei crossed his arms.

Issei: "Forging is just as important as the other classes, without forging than those from the Swordsmen class or the knights won't have their weapons. Plus, being able to make things appear out of thin air sounds awesome!"

Glasses: "But, there are a few rules and regulations regarding forgery"

This gained Issei's attention as he looked at the boy.

Issei: "There are?"

The boy nodded his head.

Glasses: "Firstly: Forgery was created to support the living creatures of thr plains. You can't create objects that have mal-intentions. You also have to pay close attention to your crafts"

Issei nodded in understanding.

Glasses: "Secondly: You can't steal materials for your creations, and you. ant be picky about what you create either since all objects need to be treated with equal care"

Issei: "Okay...."

Glasses: "And Lastly: Forgery can only be used to create Non-sentient objects, living creatures should not be crafted through craftsmanship. These are the three rules you'll have to learn with the teacher"

Issei nodded.

Issei: "Okay, I get it now..."

He looked at Mr. Martin with a smile.

Issei: "Please, accept me teacher Martin"

Mr. Martin fell silent as he began to think about the idea, but soon Achil spoke up.

Achil: "I'd accept him, He's also friends with the white Dragon knight team's leader. If you accept him, out leader will praise you intensely for it"

Martin didn't say anything as he smiled, shaking his head.

Mr. Martin: "That won't be needed..."

He placed a hand on Issei's shoulder.

Mr. Martin: "Even if you weren't friends with Sophisas, I can't miss out on such a good opportunity of having a talented young man like you"

He reached for something in his back pocket.

Mr. Martin: "So.... starting from today you'll be one if my students!"

He took out another pen, similar to the forging class teachers except this one was brown and the crystal looked a little bit different.

Mr. Martin: "This is the [Aura crystal Pen], its the entry pen that all receive Upon joining the class"

He then smiled and handed it to Issei, who smiled and took it from the man.

Mr. Martin: "Take good care of it..."

Issei: "I will!"

Meanwhile....

Darkness.

In an unknown location, there is nothing but pure darkness for miles and miles. The dreadful sound of silence is all that one could possibly hear, the chilling feeling of the cold nothingness crawling upon ones skin.

Nothing lives in darkness, nothing can survive within darknes. All would die within the eternal blackness.

Right?

However, from within the deepest parts of the unknown location came something shocking. A pair of eyes, not just any eyes though it was a pair of familiar glowing purple eyes which illuminated a little bit of a darkness.

???: "Argh.... now what did those idiots do...."

....

....

....

END OF CHAPTER