The bell rang, signaling the end of the lecture.
Students began gathering their books and filing out of the massive hall. Aric stood, grabbed his notebook, and immediately made his way down the tiered steps toward the second row. Eryx followed close behind, keeping a cautious eye on the crowd of nobles and commoners.
Aster was still packing her bag, her textbook tucked neatly under her arm. She looked up as Aric approached, her expression a mixture of relief and exasperation.
"Aster," Aric greeted her with a warm smile. He gestured toward Eryx. "This is Eryx, he’s my friend."
Aster’s gaze shifted to Eryx before moving between their dark blue uniforms. Her brow furrowed.
"Why are you both wearing disciplinary committee uniforms? And why did you arrive two weeks late?"
"It’s a long story for us being late," Aric replied with a sigh. "But as for the uniforms, it’s punishment for resuming late, the Headmaster assigned us to the committee."
Aster frowned, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Delayed by what? What happened?"
"Just... trouble on the road," Aric said, brushing it off. He didn’t want to talk about the ambush and Roland in the middle of a crowded lecture hall. "It doesn’t matter."
Aster didn’t look convinced, but she let it go. She paused, her eyes scanning his uniform again. "I didn’t expect to see you in something like this."
"I didn’t expect to see you in a different uniform either," Aric countered, nodding toward her elegant attire and a gold armband. "Yours is also different from the rest of the class."
Aster straightened slightly, a hint of pride appearing on her face.
"I was able to make it to the Student Council. It’s a first year position, but the Headmaster approved it."
Aric leaned in slightly, his eyes sparkling with delight.
"Look at you," he said softly, giving her a small, proud smile. "First year student council member. Before long, you’ll be the council president"
Aster blinked, her cool composure wavering for a fraction of a second. A faint blush crept back onto her cheeks, and she quickly looked away, clearing her throat to hide her embarrassment.
"Do not be ridiculous," she muttered, though her lips twitched upward.
Eryx smirked, watching the exchange with pure amusement.
"Oh," Aric continued smoothly, stepping back. "Since you are already an important council member, perhaps you could guide us to the Disciplinary Committee office? We are still trying to figure out the layout of this place, and we have no idea where it is."
Aster opened her mouth to answer, but before she could say anything, a blur of dark hair and boundless energy came bounding down the steps toward them.
"Aster!"
A girl with dark hair tied in a ponytail skidded to a halt beside them. Her gaze moved from Aric to Eryx before returning to Aster, her eyes widening with excitement.
"You never told me about him!" she exclaimed, pointing at Aric. "Do you like him?"
Aster’s face flushed bright red. She grabbed her book and lightly smacked the girl on the arm.
"Minna!" she hissed.
Minna only laughed, completely unfazed.
"I’m Minna," she introduced herself cheerfully, waving at the two boys. "It’s so nice to meet you both."
"The next class will be starting soon," Aster interrupted, grabbing Minna by the arm and pulling her toward the door. "We need to go."
"Wait up!" Aric called, hurrying after them with Eryx close behind. "We’re coming too!"
They stepped into the corridor, joining the steady stream of students heading toward the exit.
Aric fell into step beside Minna, leaving Aster slightly ahead with Eryx.
"Why were you so shocked about Aster talking to me?" he asked, curiosity filling his thoughts.
Minna turned to him, her eyes wide.
"Are you serious? She’s built up quite a reputation over the last two weeks."
"For real?" Aric repeated, surprised.
"Yep!" Minna replied with a grin. "She’s known as the Ice Queen."
"Why?" Eryx asked, glancing back over his shoulder.
"Because she’s so antisocial," Minna explained without hesitation. "She barely talks to anyone, ignores every guy who tries to flirt with her, and usually keeps to herself. She’s beautiful, so the boys are always trying to get her attention, but she freezes every single one of them out."
Aster spun around, embarrassment blazing in her eyes. She caught Minna from behind and wrapped her arms around her in an attempt to silence her.
"That’s enough," Aster muttered, her cheeks still red.
Minna laughed, leaning back against her friend.
"I’m the only person she actually talks to," she added proudly. "Well, me and apparently you."
She gave Aric a pointed look.
Aster buried her face against Minna’s shoulder and groaned.
"What about the Crown Prince?" Aric asked, recalling the blond boy’s disdainful expression in the lecture hall. "He’s was wearing the same clothes as you so I’m assuming he’s also on the council. Isn’t he a good guy?"
Minna paused, her gaze lingering on him for a quiet moment.
"Oh, Caelum isn’t a bad guy. He’s actually quite charming when he wants to be. But Aster barely speaks to him unless it’s about council business. She doesn’t seem interested in anyone."
Aster offered no response. Instead, she continued pulling Minna along the corridor toward the massive double doors leading outside.
Soon, they emerged onto the open training grounds. Sunlight beat down on the packed dirt, illuminating rows of wooden sparring dummies and the wide circle where the students were gathering.
At the center stood Instructor Vane, a broad shouldered man with a severe scarred face and an eyepatch covering his left eye. He waited until the students had assembled before addressing them.
"Today," Vane announced, his booming voice carrying across the grounds. "We will be conducting a practical assessment. This is not a test of theory. Whether you walk the path of a Mage or a Menos user, I want to see how you apply your abilities under real combat pressure."
He pointed toward the sparring circle.
"Pair up. I will call your names, and you will fight until one of you yields or is incapacitated. There shall be no killing blows."
A heavy silence settled over the students.
"In the first match, Dain Aurelius from class A versus Kael ventera from class C!"
Dain stepped forward. He was still fuming from Aster’s humiliating dismissal in the lecture hall, his face twisted with a sadistic need to prove his superiority.
Kael, a large beastfolk student with wolf-like ears and a muscular build, stepped into the circle. He didn’t draw a weapon. Instead, a dense layer of silver light erupted around his fists and forearms. Menos.
The fight began.
Kael lunged forward at incredible speed, his reinforced fist swinging toward Dain’s head. Dain raised his palm, and a glowing red magic circle spun to life before him. A burst of fire erupted from its centre, striking Kael squarely in the chest and sending him flying backward.
Kael crashed into the dirt but quickly rolled to his feet, roaring as he charged again. Dain projected another magic circle, releasing a powerful gust of wind that slammed into Kael and halted his advance.
Kael gritted his teeth and struggled against the pressure, his Menos flaring brightly as he forced himself forward.
Dain advanced, another circle forming before his palm. A whip of flame lashed out, striking Kael across the face. Before he could recover, another followed, then another, each strike driving him closer to the ground.
Kael’s Menos flickered under the relentless assault before finally fading. His strength gave out, and he collapsed into the dirt, bloody and broken, unable to lift his head to surrender.
"Yield," Dain demanded, his voice dripping with cruelty.
Kael couldn’t speak. He was barely conscious.
Instructor Vane stepped forward, his expression tightening. "Enough. The match is over. Winner, Dain."
Dain stepped back, looking unsatisfied that he hadn’t heard Kael beg. He turned toward the crowd, his gaze settling on Eryx.
Why don’t I put him in his place
He pointed directly at him.
"Let’s see if the commoner can fight," Dain called out.
Aric felt a sharp spike of anger boil up inside his chest. Heat rippled outward from his skin, and his mana surged wildly into his palms as he took a hard step forward, fully intent on stepping into the ring and reducing Dain to a pile of ash. Before he could take another step, Eryx reached out and grabbed his shoulder with a tight grip, pulling him back and forcing him to stay where he stood.
"No," Eryx said quietly, his voice turning cold. "Let me."
Aric turned to look at him in surprise. The lazy, playful look Eryx usually carried was completely gone. His dark brown eyes were hard and fixed on Dain, and a quiet, dangerous calm settled over his entire face. Aric felt the heat in his own hands fade away as he watched his friend, surprised by the sudden change in his posture.
"He is mine," Eryx said softly, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Aric let out a breath, the heat in his palms dying down. "Go get him," he said.
He let go of Aric, stepped past him without another word, and walked into the center of the ring.