I dare

"Greetings everyone. My name is Tessia Eralith, your student council president. First and foremost, congratulations on your admittance to the finest institute of mages this continent has to offer." She began by placing an arm over her chest.

"While I am a first year like all of you, I have had the privilege of observing the academy a year longer. Alongside the lessons and bonds formed within these grounds, I've also seen the discrimination scholar mages in particular have faced." She continued.

True, the discrimination is very strong here.

Both of us got some looks from some of the battle mage students.

"If mere differences in uniform are able to divide you, I worry what the difference in race will lead to..." She trailed off.

It will lead to extreme bullying.

"Today, I stand before you, students of the new generation, and implore you..." She stopped, for dramatic effect I assume.

"To cast aside the mindset of the older generation that bred hostility among the different races."

"Just as the royal families have come together to form the council, we should do the same as the future of this continent!" She finished.

Otherwise we are already dead if the other continent decides to attack.

I join in the applause as Sylvie jumps enthusiastically.

I doubt she even understood most of it.

"Hey Art, Fay..." Elijah muttered.

"I...I think I'm in love." He said causing Nathan to look at him strangely and Arthur gave him a look of disgust along with Sylvie.

While I just stared at him nonchalantly, hell Zeke even showed himself by materialising his head on my shoulder and giving him a deadpan stare.

"Why are you all looking at me like that?!" He asks.

"Because you've already said that four times on the way to the building," Arthur said.

"Because you're thinking with your dick too much," I quip.

Beside she's already taken by Arthur.

"Shaddup, she's different," He retorts.

"Pfft! Yeah right," I say.

"She did change quite a bit," Arthur mumbled.

"How would you know how much she's changed?! Do you know her too like you somehow knew prince Curtis and princess Kathyln?! Did my invitation to the beautiful people mixer get lost in the mail?!" Elijah said as he got in his personal space.

"Are they always like that?" Nathan asked.

"Unfortunately so," I reply.

_______________________________________________________________________________

After the ceremony we were dismissed to the dorms.

Walking towards the dorms we talked a bit more, mostly introducing ourselves to Nathan, who turned out to be a fire augmenter and second year.

He was as surprised as the receptionist when he learned of our dual elemancy.

If only he knew.

*BOOM*

The sudden noise startles us as we rush towards the source.

"I don't see how a short-ass dwarf like you can hope to be a proper augmenter. Why don't you stick to forging weapons like real warriors like me?"

All you are is a brat and a bully.

"What the hell did you say? Who d'ya think you are?!" 

Sigh

Looks like its already begun, right after she gave her speech as well.

Ah well, not like he'll be harming him too much in front of all these witnesses.

"My name is Nicolas Dreyl. Why don't you declare a duel short-ass? Or are you just bark?" He taunts the dwarf.

"You're gonna be sorry."

The metal badge on their uniform glows brightly as the dwarf pulls out an axe, "I, Broznean Boor declare a duel between myself and Nicolas Dreyl!"

The human augmenter places his own hand at his badge, "I, Nicolas Dreyl accept the duel!"

The badges are artifacts that create a barrier around the student, one which can take a few hits before breaking, which signifies that the duel is lost.

The human mage takes out dual swords from his dimension ring and gets into a stance.

Oh? A dual wielder like me?

Lets see what he's capable of.

But before that, what core stages are you?

A dark red core for the human mage and black for the dwarf huh?

Both augmenters.

With a battle cry the dwarf augmenter lunges at the human, chanting a spell.

The human retaliates by using a spell of his own, his dual swords scrape the ground as an earthen blade follows his.

Dark red augmenter and already capable of elemental manipulation? He's talented.

Doesn't outweigh the fact that he's an arrogant douche.

How do you even know what douche is?

We do share thoughts you know.

Every thought?!

More or less, although there are parts I cannot access yet.

I see...

So...he doesn't know? That's reassuring.

"Shatter!" The dwarf bellows, stomping his foot down and cancelling the human mages spell, before going for a overhead strike.

The human mage who was already behind him went for a strike of his own, before being blocked and repelled away.

Backflipping to regain balance he stabbed a sword to the ground, as the dwarven augmenter lunged towards him.

Using his sword he flings some dirt on his eyes.

Playing dirty are we?

...pun unintended.

"You fight like a coward!" The dwarf exclaimed as he closed his eyes, turns out that was a big mistake.

Instantly an earthen pillar slams his stomach, breaking the barrier.

"You say I fight like a coward? So what? A win is a win short-ass!"

It doesn't look like he's gonna stop.

He places a leg over the fallen dwarves arm, "Let's see how your school year goes with a shattered arm, fresh meat!"

Instantly I appear behind him, with an ice sword in my arm, hovering over his shoulder, "Let's see how your life goes with a dismembered limb,"

His face turns to one of fear before he recomposes himself, "Y-You dare threaten me! Nicolas of house Dreyl!"

"Yes, I dare. Even if you were King Glayder himself I wouldn't have given a fuck," I growl out.

"You dare!" He yells as he prepares to bring out his own weapon.

"Do you dare?" A voice cut in, one I was familiar with.

Turning towards the source of the voice I see Tessia, Lilia and the black haired guy in the student council.

"S-Student council president!" Nicolas stutters out.

Tilting my head at him I say, "What? Lost the will to fight? You were so eager to shatter his arm before, so where'd all that arrogance go now huh?"

"T-This is a misunderstanding!" He ignored me, "I had accepted a duel from the shor- from Broznean- when this first year interrupted and threatened to cut my arm off!" He shouted.

Furrowing my brows I say, "Now wait just a minut-"

"Nicolas. What is the meaning of this?" I was interrupted by the black haired kid, "Even if you are interrupted, it doesn't give you an excuse to pull a weapon on him."

Oh trust me if he did attack me I would've really dismembered him.

"I-I just wanted to scare him, of course I wouldn't have hit him." He made up an excuse.

You couldn't scare me if you came at me with a fucking army.

"If that's the case then I suppose we can let you off with a-" He was interrupted as Tessia spoke.

"Pointing a weapon at someone outside of a sanctioned duel is a violation of school ground rules." She spoke.

"Try stopping your weapon just before you hit me, but that action alone will warrant you a suspension, She continued, "And if you were to even touch a hair on my head, expulsion would be the least of your worries."

"So I'll ask again," She said, her voice emanating bloodlust, "Do you dare?"

Nicolas paled visibly before turning towards me, "I apologize. I was acting rashly out of anger."

"..." I just stare at him, dispersing my ice blade.

"Your actions will be reported. Now leave." Tessia said.

"Everyone," She added.

And so I began walking away, I didn't want to blow up on her.

"Except you," Even with my back turned I knew she said this to me.

Halting in my tracks I turn my head backwards.

"Why are you starting a fight on the first day? While using magic against another student nonetheless, that too is a violation, you should know," She said.

Starting a fight?!

"What-?"Arthur began, before stopping himself, sensing my rage.

"Starting a fight?" I ask, my voice so low it could be considered a whisper.

"You saw, what the last 5 seconds of it and you're making this baseless assumption that I somehow began this fight? For your information your royal majesty, had I not interfered you would have had to deal with a lot more than this!" My voice, though low carried more rage than any shout could.

Calm down father.

I'm trying my best here.

"Or would you have rather dealt with a seriously injured or even a dead student?" I spit out as I began to leave.

Keyword being began, "Hold it first year" The black haired boy grabbed my shoulder.

"Clive sto-!" Before she could finish Clive was already thrown away from me, courtesy of a punch to his gut.

"You're really annoying," I say and walk away, not before hearing Arthur speak to Tessia.

"That wasn't very smart of you,"