But before Steven could even act, he was shoved off hard, flying at least a dozen meters right into an antique street lamp, bending it slightly.
Steven stared at her for a second before his fist slowly tightened. As her watched him rise from the marble floor, both took a step closer to each other.
’’What was that for?’’ He shouted, watching her face switch between anger and embarrassment.
’’You were the one lying on top of me!’’ She shouted back, her voice filled with disgust at him as she as she frantically inspected her clothes. like he had done something to her.
Steven felt like punching somebody, but he had nearly forgotten where they were standing. Turning his head to the confused masses of spectators at the finishline, he held himself back.
But the spectators didn’t seem to bother the Frostes at all as she continued to insult him.
Steven could only stand there waiting for a teacher to arrive and bring him to the grand hall, as another insult struck him, this one aimed at his hairline..
As he was just about to counter, the voice of the principal echoed through the air. ’’Merency Moonstone has finished the race in fifth place.’’
"What are you two doing?" Merency spoke, her voice commanding as she stared at them both, both already standing with raised fists., combat-ready.
"Oh, Princess, he jumped on top of me!" June started, already moving towards the confused Merency.
"This is all a misunderstanding; you were just lying there on the ground like somebody dead. I was just checking on you.’’ He answered, but June didn’t seem to be buying it.
And even Merency started to give him a mixed look. He had only one possibility left. "Eyy, all of you watching, you saw what happened, right?’’ He yelled towards the crowd.
As a few voices answered,
"Yeah, he’s right! She attacked him!"
"He was just trying to help."
"I wish she’d hit me too..."
But because of her status, nearly nobody dared to speak out.
Shaking his head in confusion at the last answer, Steven spoke, "See, I haven’t done anything." But his words were meaningless as June’s face had already turned pale, probably wanting to die where she stood.
’’You will pay for this... Bright.’’
But they were interrupted by somebody slowly walking towards them; an elderly, way too short man spoke. "I must apologize for my late arrival; I’m Professor Hemsberg."
As everybody slowly turned towards the professor, he added. ’’I am here to pick you all up; we didn’t expect so many to be this early.’’
Steven didn’t want to continue dealing with those women either, so he decided to step towards the teacher. ’’Professor, I am pleased to meet you.’’
"You flatter me, young man, but it’s time for all of you to meet at the grand hall, so please follow me." He answered, his voice filled with excitement.
Watching the professor turn away Steven decided to follow him, seeing the girls following too. As Hemsberg walked forward with not a single worry in his step. Not even checking if they were following.
June still looked pale, like a ghost, only whispering to Merency, who was holding herself back from laughing.
After a few minutes of walking, the pressure from the cursed road slowly started to fade away, allowing him to finally feel free again.
Just for a moment later for Merency to catch up to him. ’’Don’t take it personally against her; she isn’t very social and was just scared.’’
Steven could only shrug. "It’s fine; it wasn’t me who was embarrassed in front of everyone. You must’ve seen her face; it was great."
But Merency only gave him a strict gaze. ’’You’re a Bright? Like from the tower of Hell?’’ She finally spoke, breaking the silence.
As Steven only nodded at her, he could watch her face mixed with something of sorrow and fear. ’’I thought they stopped the tradition some time ago.’’
I’m from the last generation that did it." He knew what she was talking about; the Brights were the bastards of the Warden of the tower, which used to be known as Hell.
The new warden had changed that by never bastarding children and renaming the tower to Moonspear.
But he wasn’t a bright; the principal had just been allowing himself a little fun with him, but it was already too late to change that now.
’’Time to act like a little depressed bastard or what?’’ He whispered to himself. Only getting a confused gaze from Merency.
As the professor in front of them clearly cleared his throat. ’’There we are.’’ As he pointed towards the great gates, Steven had already entered once today, and with a flick of the hand of the professor, the gates opened on their own.
Inside were now placed four tables in a row long enough for more than a dozen students. But those weren’t the place for them to stay.
Instead, they continued to their right towards a staircase. Moving them up to a balcony directly overlooking in the middle of the entrance, with only two tables and ten chairs on it.
Steven wasn’t paying attention to the hall anymore.
His eyes had already found the people waiting above.
There were already two people sitting at the table. As Steven let out a laugh.
One was a blond young man barely an adult; he had perfect features and a warm smile. The only thing wrong was a giant healed scar on his face disrupting his perfectness.
Steven wasn’t paying attention anymore.
The person sitting next to him was much more interesting; it wasn’t some commoner called Lucy Starpasser; no, it was Lucy Nocea. The daughter of the minister of secrecy... and his ex-girlfriend.
The woman smiled.
"Steven, you’re looking as awful as always."