Felix sleeps for a long time. He doesn't dream, he doesn't move, he just rests. His body and mind need to recover from the ordeal he went through. His mother and Nya check on him from time to time, but they don't disturb him. They let him sleep, knowing he needs it.
When he finally wakes up, he feels groggy and sore. He sits up, and stretches. He looks at the clock, and sees it's Friday morning.
Felix slowly gets out of bed and gets dressed in his mage robes. He feels like a zombie, but he forces himself to move. He goes to the kitchen, where he smells the aroma of pancakes and bacon. Melina and Nya are already there, having breakfast. They look up and smile when they see him.
"Good morning, sleepyhead. How are you feeling?" Melina asks while pouring him a cup of coffee.
"Morning, Felix. You look better already. Did you sleep well?" Nya asks, sliding a plate of food towards him.
Felix sits down and takes a sip of coffee. "I feel like I got hit by a wagon, but I'm alive. Also yeah, I slept like a log. Thanks for taking care of me, you two.".
"Of course, sweetie. We love you." Melina says and kisses his cheek.
"We're just glad you're okay. That was some duel, Felix. You were amazing." Nya says while squeezing his hand.
Felix smiles and digs into his food. He's starving, and the pancakes are delicious. He eats in silence, enjoying the taste and the company. He feels a sense of peace and gratitude.
After breakfast, he gets ready for school. He's still a bit wobbly, but he manages to walk to the academy with Nya, who offered to go with him. They chat along the way, mostly about the duel and the aftermath. Nya tells him that the school is buzzing with rumors and gossip about him and Bia, and that some people are impressed, while others are jealous or resentful. She also says that the Silver Claw clan is not happy with Bia's defeat, and that they might try to challenge him again or cause trouble for him.
Felix listens, but doesn't say much. He's too tired to care about politics or drama. He just wants to focus on his classes and his friends. He thanks Nya for the warning, and tells her not to worry. He can handle whatever comes his way.
They arrive at the school, and part ways. Felix goes to his first class, which is magic with Nya. He sits in the front row, as usual, and waits for the class to start. He notices that some of his classmates are staring at him, whispering and pointing. He ignores them, and focuses on his notes.
Nya walks in, and the class quiets down. She looks around, and smiles at Felix. She starts the lesson, which is about advanced illusion magic. She explains the principles and applications of creating realistic and convincing illusions, and gives some examples of famous illusionists and their works.
Felix tries to pay attention, but his mind keeps drifting. He thinks about his duel with Bia, and how he almost lost. He remembers the pain, the sheer concentration, and the adrenaline. He wonders what he could have done differently, and what he can do to improve.
Nya notices his distraction, and calls on him. "Felix, can you tell me the difference between a phantasm and a glamour?" She asks to test his knowledge.
Felix snaps out of his thoughts, and looks at her. He hesitates, then answers, "A phantasm is an illusion that affects the mind of the target, making them see, hear, or feel something that is not there. A glamour is an illusion that affects the perception of the target, making them see, hear, or feel something differently than it is." He says while reciting from memory.
Nya nods, "Correct. Good answer, Felix." She then continues the lesson, but keeps an eye on him.
Though as the class is wrapping, an unexpected visitor walks in, or rather, limps in. Bia drags himself in while favoring one leg with his ears flat against his head and holding one of his arms. He looks pale and haggard, and his usually impeccable fur and hair are messy and dull. He ignores the stares and whispers of the other students, and walks straight to Felix.
Nya sees him, and her eyes widen. She stands up, "What are you doing here, Bia? You shouldn't be here. You need to rest." She says with her voice full of concern and authority.
Bia ignores her, and looks at Felix. "I came to tell you something, clanless, I mean... Felix. Merlin himself summoned us for a post feud hearing in the afternoon. It's going to be humiliating, Merlin is going to absolutely grill us, and there's no getting out of it." He says with his voice bitter and resigned.
Felix frowns, "What? Why? What's the point of that? We already settled our honor." He says, confused and annoyed.
Bia shrugs, "You know how it is, the academy wants to make sure it doesn't escalate further. Merlin is going to make us say why the duel happened and stuff to get to the bottom of it, and promise dire consequences if we don't give the whole truth." He says, his voice indifferent and tired. Felix sighs, "Fine. When and where?"
Bia tells him the details, and then turns to leave. He pauses at the door, and looks back at Felix. "You fought well, Felix. You earned my respect. Don't mistake that for me liking you. This isn't over." He says with his voice cold and proud. Then he limps away, leaving behind a tense silence.
Felix doesn't know what to say. He's surprised by Bia's attitude, and a little flattered by his compliment. He also feels a bit uneasy about the hearing, and what it might entail. He looks at Nya, who is staring at him with a worried expression.
Nya moves to get the class back in order. She quickly dismisses the class while reminding them they have homework. They file out of the classroom, leaving Felix and Nya alone. Nya walks to him, and hugs him. "I'm sorry you have to go through this, Felix. It's not fair. You didn't do anything wrong." She says with her voice gentle and sympathetic.
Felix hugs her back, "It's okay, Nya. It's not your fault. I'll be fine. I'll just tell them the truth, and hope for the best."
She pulls away, and looks at him. She says, "The truth? What are you going to say?" She asks, her tone curious and cautious.
Felix hesitates, "Well, the truth obviously. Though I won't really have exact wordings till Merlin actually asks the questions."
She nods, "Okay. Just... be careful, okay? Merlin is not someone you want to mess with." He nods, "I know. I will."
They leave the classroom, and Felix goes to his next class, which is combat training. He hopes to see Grog there, and maybe spar a bit to warm up. He needs something to distract him from the looming hearing.
He enters the training hall, and sees Grog waiting for him. He waves at him, and walks over. Grog greets him with a grin, "Hey, Felix. You look better than yesterday. How are you feeling?"
Felix smiles back, "Hey, Grog. I hate to bum you out, but I don't think I can spar today. I feel like a zombie dragging myself along.". Grog's smile fades, "Oh, I see. Well, I'm sure the hearing will go well. You'll be fine, just be honest, and show them how awesome you are."
Felix nods, and thanks him. They sit down on a bench, and talk about random things. They joke around, and try to lighten the mood. Grog has his back no matter what. Felix appreciates his friendship, and tries to enjoy the moment.
The rest of the day passes by in a blur. Felix goes to his other classes, but he barely pays attention. His mind is preoccupied with the hearing, and what might happen there. He feels a knot in his stomach, and a lump in his throat. He tries to calm himself, but it's hard.
When the last bell rings, he feels a surge of anxiety. He walks to the main administration building. Bia is already there, leaning against a wall. He looks up as Felix approaches, "You're late, Felix."
Felix checks his watch, "No, I'm not. We still have five minutes." Bia shrugs, "Whatever. Let's just get this over with." He says, and pushes the door open.
They walk into a room like a court room. Practically the same audience as the arena is there. Nya, Melina, Grog, Arthur, Luna, and other friends are sitting on one side, while Bia's family and clan members are sitting on the other. There's also a panel of judges, composed of Merlin, the headmaster, and two other senior teachers.
Felix and Bia stand in the middle of the room, facing the panel. Merlin bangs his gavel, and says, "Order, order. This hearing is now in session. The purpose of this hearing is to determine the cause and the consequences of the duel between Felix, the clanless beastkin, and Bia, the heir of the Silver Claw clan. The duel took place yesterday, at the arena, and resulted in Felix's victory and Bia's defeat at great cost to both combatants. This was obviously not a schoolyard brawl, or even a normal duel. I've seen a lot of duels in my time, seriously, thousands. I know what a fight looks like that needs a hearing like this, and this was one of THOSE."
The room is silent, and tense. Felix feels everyone's eyes on him, and he swallows hard. He looks at Merlin, who is staring at him with a piercing gaze.
Merlin continues, "I will now ask each of you a series of questions, and you will answer them truthfully and completely. Any lie, omission, or evasion will result in severe penalties. Do you understand?" Felix and Bia nod, and say, "Yes, sir."
Merlin points at Bia, "Bia, you will go first. Why did you challenge Felix to a duel?" Bia takes a deep breath, "Because he insulted my clan, and my family. He refused to respect the authority my station is owed, and insulted my pride. I couldn't let that slide."
Merlin frowns, "Which was the biggest factor here, clan honor or pride?" Bia hesitates, "Clan honor." He says, his voice unsure and lying. Merlin narrows his eyes, "Don't lie to me, boy. Though since you probably believed that yourself I'll give you the curtesy of asking one more time, was the biggest factor clan honor, or pride?"
Bia grits his teeth, "Pride. It was my pride." Merlin nods, and turns to Felix, "You were rather... Let's say colorful, in your language when you accepted his duel, I believe you told him to 'fuck yourself with a wire brush'? What caused you to react with such anger and vitriol?"
Felix says, "He broke my friend's arm, and told me to stay away from Professor Nya. He was arrogant and tried to use his clan status against me."
Merlin says, "So you got angry because he hurt your friend and disrespected your relationship with Nya? That's understandable, but I think there's more. Continue your answer, if you would. Rather, why was Bia using his clan status in that list?"
Felix thinks for a moment, then says, "It was... personal. It struck a chord, and opened old wounds. I've been targeted, bullied, and attacked by clan beastkin since I was nine. As a long standing and repeated trend that made me strongly resent that kind of attitude that being a member of a clan makes them better than me."
Merlin hums, "I see. So your own pride was involved too. You didn't want Bia to act like he was better than you?" Felix nods, "Yes. I wanted to show him that he wasn't." He says, his voice firm and honest.
Merlin looks at them both, "So, to sum up, you both dueled because of your pride. You both felt disrespected, and you both wanted to prove yourselves. Is that correct?"
They both nod, "Yes." Their voices were quiet and defeated.
Merlin then asks Felix, "Now, as the victor. What did proving this cost you?" Felix's ears flatten against his head. Merlin continues, "Plenty of people saw you walk out of the arena under your own power, but that's not the whole story is it? What kind of shape were you really in?"
Felix says, "I was exhausted, wounded, and drained. I nearly passed out when I couldn't form a coherent sentence after Bia told me he'd get me next time after the duel, and then I dragged myself out of the arena, where if I'd fallen over I wouldn't have been able to get back up without help."
Merlin nods, and asks Bia, "What did this cost you?" Bia answers, "I was defeated, humiliated, and injured. I've been bedridden till this morning."
Merlin shakes his head, "There were legitimate issues here. Silver Claw's attempt to exercise authority over an academy student requires examination. Bia injuring Grog matters. Felix had every right to reject an order that wasn't binding on him. None of that required the two of you to nearly kill yourselves proving which one was stronger."
Felix and Bia lower their heads, and say nothing. They know he's right, but they don't regret their actions. Merlin sighs, and says, "Well, what's done is done. You technically haven't broken academy rules. So we'll move on to what comes next."
He turns to Bia, "How do you feel about losing, and what will you do about it?" Bia lifts his head, "I feel... angry, frustrated, but also... impressed. Felix was stronger than me, and he beat me fair and square. I want an eventual and equally fair and square rematch after I believe I'm strong enough."
Merlin raises an eyebrow, "So you won't use any underhanded methods, apply clan pressure, or attack anyone in his social circle?" Bia nods, "I swear it on my honor. Doing any of those things would undermine the point of the rematch. If I had to do anything to weaken him or break his spirit before beating him, the victory would be hollow."
Merlin looks at Felix, "What about you? How do you feel about winning, and how doe you view Bia now?" Felix looks at him, "I feel... relieved and proud. Though also excited for a rematch. Especially after his answer about not using any underhanded methods. He's an enemy. Though a proud, strong, and honorable enemy."
Merlin nods, "That's a good attitude. Though let's get the final word from Bia, how do you feel about him now, in turn?" Bia looks at Felix, "I still don't like him. He's a thorn in my side, a challenge to overcome. Though I do have a small amount of begrudging respect for him. He's earned it as a fellow warrior." He says, his voice cold but sincere.
Merlin smiles, "Well, that's something. You both have learned something from this duel, and there doesn't seem to be any lingering threat to the academy. You're both on thin ice, but there won't be any official punishment. At least for you two. Though I'll be dealing with Silver Claw separately about their misuse of authority, and Bia's assault of a fellow student."
They both sigh in relief, and thank him.
Merlin doesn’t let them relax yet, "I'm not done yet. You two have to agree to some terms, if you want to avoid any further complications. First, you will not fight again, unless you both agree to it, and under supervision. Second, you will keep your animosity to yourselves, and not involve anyone else. Third, you will treat each other with respect, even if you don't like each other. Understood?"
They both nod, "Yes, sir." Their voices were resigned and cooperative. Merlin bangs his gavel, "Good. This hearing is adjourned. You may leave."He says, his voice dismissing and bored.
Felix and Bia turn around, and walk to their respective sides. They don't look at each other, but they feel a strange sense of understanding. They both know they have a rival, and a goal. They both know they have to get stronger, and face each other again. They both know they have to respect each other, even if they hate each other.
Felix is greeted by his friends and family, who are relieved it's over, but Felix clearly still isn't done facing the consequences of it. Melina hugs him tightly, and says, "I'm so glad it's over, but I'm so mad at you for hiding how badly you were hurt! Why didn't you tell me how bad it was?! Do you have any idea how worried I was?! You don't get to decide I don't need to know that!" She says, her voice angry and scared.
Felix hugs her back, "I'm sorry, mom. I didn't want to worry you more than you already were. I was able to heal myself after getting a good place in the preparation room to recover. I'm okay now, really." Grog chimes in, "I feel you man, I'd do the same thing. Though I also understand why your mom is upset."
Nya says, "I'm just glad you're both alive, and that you learned something from this. Though Felix, don't do something like that again. You scared me half to death." Arthur says, "As a man, I understand wanting to look good in front of an audience, but there's also wisdom in admitting when you need help. Not being able to get up if you fall down is definitely a time to ask for help instead of hiding it."
Luna chimes in while seeming less sure what to say, "Right, try to be sensible about it, please?" Felix looks at all of them, and feels a wave of gratitude. They all care about him, and he's lucky to have them. He says, "I know, I know. I'm sorry, and I won't do it again. I promise. Thank you all for being here for me."
They leave the building, and walk home. Felix feels a weight lifted off his shoulders, but also a new resolve in his heart. He knows he has to work hard, and prepare for the next time he faces Bia. He wants to know how much stronger they'll both be by then.
They reach his house, and they all go inside. Melina offers to make dinner for everyone, and they happily agree. They sit around the table, and enjoy a cozy and delicious meal. They talk and laugh, and forget about the duel for a while. They're just happy to be together, and to celebrate Felix's achievement.
Later, after everyone else has left, Nya stays behind with Felix. They cuddle on his bed, and talk about their feelings. They both admit they were scared for each other, and that they're glad it's over. Nya kisses him before admitting, "Felix... Tonight, I want to do more than cuddle."
He looks at her, and sees the desire and love in her eyes. He feels the same way, and he nods. He says, "Me too, Nya. I want you." He says, his voice husky and eager.
They kiss, and their clothes come off. They explore each other's bodies, and Nya lays on her back for him to mount her. Felix climbs on top and lines up with her. She's wet and ready, and they look into each other's eyes before he slowly enters her. They gasp and moan at the sensation, and hold each other tight. They move together, finding a rhythm that suits them both. They whisper sweet words, and profess their love. They feel closer than ever, and they lose themselves in the passion. They climax together, and feel a blissful release. They collapse on the bed, and cuddle some more. They fall asleep in each other's arms, feeling satisfied and happy. They know that whatever challenges they may face, they'll face them together.
Meanwhile…
Bia sits on a couch in his family's living room, feeling sore and miserable. His father, Shen, paces back and forth, looking furious and disappointed. He's a large and imposing cat beastkin wearing thick and expensive looking armor, and has shiny silver fur. His mother, Yue, sits next to him, holding a cup of tea, looking calm but concerned. She's wearing an elegant kimono that hugs the curves of her full and motherly body. She has bright and saturated emerald green fur. His sister, Silva, stands by the window, looking out at the city, looking amused and curious. She wears a kimono similar to her mother, and has silvery green fur. With a curvy form that takes after her mother.
Shen stops pacing, and turns to Bia, "How could you lose to a clanless nobody? How could you shame our clan like that? What were you thinking?" He asks, his voice harsh and demanding.
Bia lowers his head, "I'm sorry, father. I... I wasn't thinking clearly. He provoked me, and I let my anger get the better of me. I underestimated him, and I paid the price." Yue puts a hand on his shoulder, "Don't be too hard on yourself, Bia. You made a mistake, but you also learned from it. You admitted your fault, and you accepted your defeat. That's not easy, especially for a Silver Claw."
Silva turns around, "Yeah, Bia. You were awesome. I mean, you lost, but you fought like a beast. You gave him a run for his money, and you almost killed each other. That's something to be proud of." Shen glares at her, and says, "Don't encourage him, Silva. He needs to learn from his failure, not celebrate it."
Silva rolls her eyes, "Oh, come on, dad. Lighten up. It's not the end of the world. Besides, Bia already said he wants a rematch. He'll get his chance to redeem himself." Shen sighs, "A rematch is not guaranteed. The clan might not allow it, after what happened. Merlin made it clear that we can't interfere with Felix anymore, or use any unfair means. He's off limits, unless he agrees to it. Even if he does, he's not going to be the same as before. He'll be ready for you, and he might be stronger than you."
Bia nods, "I know, father. I know it won't be easy. But I have to try. I can't let him have the last laugh. I have to beat him, and restore my honor." Yue says, "Well, if you're going to do it, you need to train harder than ever. You need to improve your skills, your qi, and your strategy. You need to be smarter, faster, and more ruthless."
Silva says, "You need to have some fun, too. You can't be all work and no play. You need to relax, and enjoy life a little. Maybe find a nice girl, and have some fun. You're too tense, Bia. You need to loosen up. Maybe a nice girlfriend could keep you from being so hotheaded."
Bia blushes, "Shut up, Silva. I don't need a girlfriend. I need to focus on my training." Shen says, "She has a point, though. You need to balance your life. You can't just be a warrior all the time. You need to have other interests, other goals. What do you want to do with your life, Bia? Besides being the clan heir?"
Bia looks at him, "I... I don't know. I never thought about it. I just assumed I'd follow in your footsteps, and lead the clan someday." Shen nods, "That's a noble aspiration, but not the only one. Besides, I do things besides just training. If you really want to follow in my footsteps, enjoying life a little wouldn't be a deviation from that."
Yue says, "Your father is right, Bia. You should explore your options, and find what makes you happy. You have a lot of potential, and you can do anything you set your mind to. Don't limit yourself to just one path." Silva says, "Yeah, Bia. You're young, handsome, and strong. You can have any girl you want, or do any hobby you like. You should try new things, and have some adventures. Life is short, you know?"