Forcing a smile, Steven could only stare at Lucy’s smug smirk. Wanting to answer anything but for the first time shutting up, not wanting to mess up his mission so early.
"I was just about to say the same thing about you, Lucy," he simply answered, hoping they could talk about it later.
"You know this commoner Steven?" Merency spoke up behind him, her voice having a light undertone of disdain towards Lucy.
Steven wanted to answer, but Lucy was quicker and, with a sharp tongue, spoke. "Oh yes, he’s my childhood friend.’’ Her tone was filled with unnatural sweetness as she grabbed Stevens’ arm, which nearly made him flinch.
As he gave her only a small gaze, not completely understanding the situation, Merency continued to give now not only Lucy a death stare but him too.
But their standoff was interrupted by sudden applause as Edway finally rose from his seat, clapping. "This is marvelous, a genius commoner beating the royal princess. But much more interesting are you two.’’ As he pointed towards Steven and June.
"I thought the last Bright graduated four years ago, and that was his youngest son. And you Frostes, you weren’t even meant to be here. The Frostes hadn’t borne anyone with such a talent for a hundred years.
This man is dangerous, not only because of his magical talent or royal descent. No, he is skeptical, a dangerous trait for someone like him.
But right now he wasn’t in any danger; a fresh student without any backing couldn’t stop him. Shaking Lucy off, he stepped right in front of him, staring into his eyes.
"Want to find out if I’m truly a bastard of hell?" he said as he tightened his fists, but the young man’s eyes didn’t even have a single flicker of fear.
’’My lady and gentlemen, I must bid for you to stop.’’ Professor Hemsberg’s words echoed through the great hall, reminding him of his existence. As both of them turned away from each other with a scoff.
"With the first table finally completed, I can only congratulate everyone once more." The professor continued in his tone filled with the unusual sweetness of an old man.
With a sigh Steven nearly threw himself onto a chair, leaning back as far as possible while placing his feet on the table. "Can this shit finally start? I’m tired of waiting.’’ His voice was calm, but the annoyance could’ve nearly been seen in the air.
"I’m very sorry, sir, but the first walk goes until midnight, as you might know. Only after that will Yumoth speak to all. But you could already use your rooms or the training facility.’’
"That sounds like a good idea; I will be going then," Steven spoke, not even waiting for an answer as he jumped down from the balcony and started walking outside.
As he slithered through the streets, he could feel somebody following him close. Taking the fifth right corner in a row, whoever it was wasn’t going to let him go easily.
"Lucy, what do you want?" He spoke, turned around, and stared directly towards a house wall.
"Oops, you caught me, or maybe that’s what I wanted?" Her smug voice comes from exactly where he was looking. As his body manifested seemingly out of nowhere. ’’I thought my invisibility was better.’’
With a quick step, he dashed forward and grabbed her shoulder, pressing her against the wall. ’’I won’t repeat myself again. What do you want?’’
’’Maybe I just wanted to meet my ex once more?’’ She asked while her hand moved up to his face, but her tone was flat, deprived of any emotion.
"I thought you were already looking like a fool, but now you’re truly becoming one," Steven answered sharply, still waiting for a real response.
But it wasn’t that easy. ’’Don’t you want to tell me what you’re doing here first? After all, you should already be a professor by now." As she pulled back, she licked her fingers.
Looking at her in disgust, Steven answered. "Not allowed to tell, so what about you?"
’’Same thing.’’ She answered with something that sounded like the truth, but Steven didn’t trust anyone of that family.
The Nocea were liar, nothing more, but he knew this conversation would go nowhere. ’’Then let’s just let the other do each thing and stop following me.’’
"And what if I don’t?" Lucy spoke, moving closer, barely an inch away. ’’What if I want to be close to you again?’’ Her voice sounded like genuine sorrow, as if she were about to cry.
But Steven only stepped away, raising his hand like he was about to fire a bow. ’’You can’t stop me, not even if you wanted it, so for your safety you should walk away.’’
She stared at him, her act crumbling as she turned away, but a small bit of sorrow remained on her face as she spoke while turning invisible. ’’I am sorry... And I mean it.’’
But Steven could only scoff, walking away. He was going to murder this old principal for whatever game he was playing with him.
Finally, in front of him, a giant stadium towered over the houses.
Taking a deep breath, he leaped, landing on top of its great wall, staring at the field of sand in the middle, completely empty. ’’Time to break some records.’’ Entering a free fall headfirst.
’’Do you think I didn’t notice you?’’ He yelled in the empty stadium. ’’You weren’t even better than Lucy.’’ He continued.
As slowly around him, roughly a dozen people turned visible, each of them hooded. ’’You’re good for a first year, maybe too good. We have an offer for you.’’ They spook in sync.
But Steven could only laugh. "Bring one of your high tiers, and I might think about it."
’’Who do you think you are calling for our lords!?!?’’ A single one of them answered, their voice filled with rage and pride.
With a flash, Steven appeared to the right of the hooded figure, sending it flying with a single punch, letting him smash into a stone pillar, which crumbled under his power.
’’You should’ve listened.’’
As Steven’s laughter echoed through the stadium.
Loud enough as if there were thousands of people.