Chapter 31 - Humbling Lucas

(Arthur Leywin Pov)

Walking through the bright, sun-lit hallways, I made my way towards one of the advanced classes.

While this was not customary, I was allowed to take classes from upper courses which first years generally don't have access to. The reason being was because I asked Director Goodsky for it. Spending time in lower classes was not beneficial at all. In fact, it was an utter waste of time.

As things stood, time was the last thing I wanted to waste.

There was something off-putting about the coming war.

I had never participated in such an activity. It was an entirely new challenge for me. I could just not participate or defect to another continent if I deemed it necessary in my favour. However, the ramifications for doing this were unclear.

"Papa? I can sense Tessia." Sylvie whispered in my ear, still sitting on my shoulders.

Ever since my departure from Elenoir and coming to this school, I hadn't talked to Tessia even a single time.

Walking straight, I finally reached a huge wooden door. Placing my hand on the handle, I pulled it.

The door opened, revealing a vast open field. Students sat on the benches around the field and some of them stood in the middle. Looking around I saw Tessia, looking down, gloom looming over her like a palpable veil.

Sylvie jumped from my shoulder and ran over to her. Reaching near her feet, she stopped and got on her previous two legs, letting out an audible coo.

Tessia blinked her eyes several times before finally recognizing her, "Sylvie!" She said and scooped her up. The other students watched her in wonder, as the cold vice-president who always carried a wall around her now seemed so open...

...vulnerable.

As if she had heard my thoughts, she turned around, her crystalline emerald eyes looking straight into mine, "Arthur..."

"Tess." I replied with a stern nod.

An array of complex emotions flickered across her face, conveying a sense of uncertainty, anticipation, and perhaps even a hint of anger. Yet, as if emerging from a fog, a small, subtle smile gradually illuminated her features, casting a warm glow upon her face.

"Nice to meet you, Arthur," she intoned, her voice carrying a melodic quality that hinted at a depth of emotion beneath the surface. "After so long, finally," she added, her words infused with a sense of relief and contentment that seemed to stem from a long-awaited reunion.

"Vice-president... are you perhaps acquainted with--"

"Not again, Clive," She said and sighed looking away from him, impatience leaking from her tone, "not now," she said and dragged me away.

Looking back, I saw Clive's stern face scrunch up.

An exasperated sigh escaped from within me as I pondered the unfortunate predicament I found myself in once again.

Despite my conscientious endeavours to steer clear of any complications or difficulties, I seemed to be incessantly embroiled in troublesome circumstances, as though it were an immutable fate beyond my control.

This repetitive pattern of unwarranted chaos left me feeling slightly disheartened and dispirited, as though I was incapable of evading the constant barrage of unfavourable events that plagued my life.

As Tessia dragged me towards the secluded corner of the stands, far from the inquisitive, prying gazes of the crowd, I inquired, "Did you want to talk about something?"

In this hidden alcove, I sensed a possibility for a candid exchange, free from the interference of outside distractions.

"I..." Her lips moved but nothing came out. She seemed to struggle.

Struggle to form words.

"Why didn't you meet me before? You had so many chances, but you kept running away from me." She finally said, "Were you trying to avoid me?"

"No. I wasn't avoiding..."

I was cut mid sentence as she wrapped her arms around my waist and dug her face into my chest, "Dummy, don't ignore me like that."

Gazing downwards, my vision was met with the sight of her supine form draped over my torso, her lustrous hair resembling the gleaming hue of polished gunmetal. Despite the gravity of the situation, she clung to me with an unyielding grip, as if afraid to relinquish her hold---not ready to let go of this fleeting moment.

As I stood in contemplation, my mind delved into the perplexing intricacies of human nature.

Why did we, as a species, find ourselves invariably ensnared by the elusive tendrils of emotions?

Was it a mere byproduct of our cognitive faculties, or was it something more profound?

Perhaps it was our innate desire for connection and companionship that drove us towards seeking solace in the warmth of affection and intimacy. Intimacy---subtle or funky.

Or maybe, it was simply an evolutionary adaptation, a means of survival that enabled us to forge bonds and alliances with our fellow beings. Whatever the reason may be, one thing was certain - the inextricable link between humans and their emotions was a force to be reckoned with, and one that I could not help but be captivated by.

But...

Do we truly need them?

Emotions may offer us temporary pleasure or comfort, but ultimately they are a leading cause of individual loss.

They cloud our judgement and impede our ability to make rational decisions, leaving us vulnerable to the whims of our own impulses. It's true that emotions can bring people together and foster connections in a way that nothing else can, but they can just as easily tear us apart and leave us feeling shattered and alone.

Being broken---on the inside is a loss itself.

Despite the potential benefits, I can't help but question whether the cost of experiencing emotions is ultimately worth it or not.

As I held her close, she wriggled and twisted in my embrace, as if attempting to break free from my grasp. Her movements were restless and unrelenting, causing my hold on her to loosen slightly.

"I missed you, you know?" She said, her face still buried in my chest.

It is remarkable how human nature operates, for it appears to be capricious in its ways. Often, one may exert themselves tirelessly to garner someone's attention, yet their efforts prove futile. In contrast, another individual may remain passive, and yet their mere presence compels others to pursue them relentlessly. The nuances of human nature are truly uncanny, and yet, they captivate our attention

The intricacies of human behaviour are a fascinating subject to observe. The probability of one's actions yielding the desired results is often unpredictable, if not entirely inexplicable. It is a testament to the complexity of our psychology and the underlying motivations that govern our actions.

She looked up, probably from my lack of reply and narrowed her gaze at me before bursting into laughter. "You're the same Arthur I know." She said and got away, twisting on her heel, "As quiet as ever. But it just means you're still you."

What did she mean by that? Does that–

'Oh for the love of God, would you please stop overthinking every little thing? Stop questioning the nature and intricacies of everything that moves and try to be normal for once. Your thoughts are killing me.' Sylvie said through our bond and I halted my thought process, saving it for another day.

"We should go back, Arthur. Class is about to start." Tess said and started to move away.

Maybe I should've talked back a little to her. But the leniency would only de-track her, putting a cap on her immense potential that she houses inside her. If handled carefully, she could become someone I can use to hide behind, but leniency and love would only hamper her progress.

And if she does fall for things like these...

It just means this was her limit.

Catching up to her, I looked down, "How have you been?" I asked.

She looked at me surprisingly, "I have been quite good. I heard a lot about you during your adventuring days. You made quite a name for yourself." She said, smiling only when her eyes met with me.

"It was a criteria. If I wanted a scholarship in this school I needed to prove myself. It was the only way." I said with a simple shrug of my shoulders.

"That would make sense. You clearly hate being the centre of attention." She said with a muffled giggle.

"I do." I said. After a while of meaningless stride, I spoke again, "How about your progress?"

"Hmmmmm," She let out a long hum before stepping in front of me, "I am at the brink of light yellow, hehe." She said proudly.

Light yellow at her age was impressive. Given that she didn't use any potions. Her foundations were built strong after training with Virion and awakening at a much younger age, even according to elven standards due to me experimenting on her.

"You two, come over here." A young woman spoke. Picking up pace we walked over in her direction.

"How about you?" Tess asked in a whisper.

"Who knows."

She rolled her eyes and let out an audible grumble, like she was expecting me to say this.

"Come on you two. Don't keep the others waiting." The young woman spoke, standing beside the huge mana beast.

"My name is Glory, and this is my companion, Torch." She said patting the back and feathers of her mana beast.

I looked closely. She indeed looked strong.

Stronger than most professors in the Xyrus Academy.

Focusing deeply, I pried for her mana core.

Deep in her sternum---a ball of brighter shade of silver shone with a scalding light.

High Silver.

As her gaze averted from the surrounding students, it fixated on me, scrutinizing my being with a squinting intensity.

I sensed her essence probing my mana core level, yet her f features contorted in discomfort, likely due to the headache caused because of attempting to penetrate the mana core of one who was of a higher stage than herself.

In an attempt to alleviate her discomfort, she massaged her temples, but her expression transformed into a sinister smirk, an ominous grin slowly creeping up her face like a venomous serpent.

This wasn't going to end well.

(3rd person pov)

"Look who do we have here. Arthur Leywin. The youngest AA-Ranked Adventurer." Glory said and every head in the vast field turned towards him.

Arthur remained motionless, his hands tucked in his pockets and his face impassive as he fixed his primal gaze on Glory. It was as if he were a prowling tiger, keenly observing its prey. Despite the murmurs and gasps that echoed throughout the space, Arthur betrayed no emotion, his face a mask of stoic composure.

There was no expression on his face, a stark contrast to the murmurs and gasps around him. Some looked at him with envy and respect while some oozed an ominous aura of relentless hate and rage.

Lucas Wykes and Clive Graves.

Suddenly clasping her hands together, Professor Glory announced, "Today we are having a practical class. You would be divided among group of three. Form your groups and then assemble in the middle of the ground in 10 minutes."

"How about we do a Disciplinary Committee vs Students Council?" A member of Disciplinary Committee---Curtis Glayder, the prince of human kingdom proposed.

"Even better." Like an excited child Professor Glory approved of it and then looked around.

"There seems to be an issue. There aren't exactly five members of both SC and DC." Clive spoke, standing besides Tessia.

'I wish I could be in Arthur's team.' Tessia thought to herself.

"That is not an issue. For the DC we have our prince Curtis Glayder, the DC captain---Claire Bladeheart and Arthur Leywin. He might not be present in the DC committee, but Director Goodsky had given him exclusive privileges available only to members of DC." Professor Glory explained.

"But even so, there are only 2 members from SC." Clive countered.

Glory looked around before a voice interrupted, "I can bless the SC with my presence." Lucas Wykes said, walking towards Arthur and stood right in front of him. "I have a score to settle as well."

"Its decided. When your designated uniforms suffer from damage above a certain threshold, it will make a noise. It would mean that you're disqualified from the fight." Glory explained and all of started to slip into the special uniforms for this battle.

From the corner of his eyes, he saw the human princess, Kathyln walk towards the stands and sit beside Sylvie. Sylvie looked at Arthur and then at her before jumping in her lap.

Arthur looked away and saw Tessia giving him a quick thumbs up as he responded with a subtle nod of his head.

Slipping into his uniform that was an azure color with a few white strips, he got into position.

Professor Glory sat on her bond----Torch, and flew above the ground, maintaining an eagle eye.

"BEGIN!" She roared.

Arthur looked to his right, Curtis and his world lion bond---An A class beast pounce towards Tessia while Claire pounced towards Clive.

"You're mine." Lucas seethed through gritted teeth as he took out his staff. "I've been waiting for this moment." He spoke.

"The feeling isn't mutual." Arthur replied with a sigh.

'Wow, you can trash talk now.' Sylvie remarked.

"I will show you peasant your place. Just because you have a decent talent in magic, doesn't mean you can be arrogant. Arrogance isn't befitting for the likes of you. HELL CAGE!" Lucas conjured a barrier made of heat wave around him and enveloped Arthur in it.

The grass around them whirred, smoke rising from them while water mana started to evaporate.

The temperature rose drastically as a maniacal grin crept up his face.

'I have to end this quickly.' Arthur thought to himself.

The rising temperature came to a halt and started to revert back to normal, slowly but gradually.

Lucas looked around him with a frown, not understanding what was going on.

Arthur was using a barrier of made of pure ice mana to counter Lucas's fire mana barrier.

With a sudden burst of energy, Arthur vanished from sight only to materialize in front of Lucas with a speed that defied comprehension.

In one fluid motion, he drove his knee into Lucas' torso, causing his body to cave in and drool to spill from the corners of his mouth. With a vice-like grip on Lucas' neck, Arthur slammed his head forcefully against the wall, lifting him slightly off the ground.

"Surrender, now." His eyes, as blue as sapphires, glistened with an insatiable and primal bloodlust, yet his features remained stoic and detached.

Lucas, despite the pain and the suffocating grip around his neck, defiantly spat out his refusal to surrender, "Never!"

He brandished his staff and lunged at Arthur with a vicious swing.

Ever-alert and agile, Arthur swiftly lowered himself, deftly evading the staff and releasing his grip on Lucas' neck. In the blink of an eye, Lucas unleashed a torrent of blazing fireballs, calling out a chant that sounded as if it were being torn from his throat.

[Flaming Meteor!]

Despite the perilous situation, Arthur remained calm and focused. He stood his ground as the fireballs rained down upon him, his heart beating with measured and disciplined cadence.

Despite the advanced level spell that could potentially kill a C-Ranked adventurer, Arthur remained relaxed. His heartbeat was normal and his face brimming with boredom.

As Professor Glory soared above the battlefield, the audience fixated their attention on the duel between Lucas and Arthur. The atmosphere was tense, and the air crackled with energy as the two opponents faced off against each other.

Suddenly, a thin layer of ice began to form beneath Arthur's feet, spreading rapidly in every direction. The crowd gasped in amazement as they watched the spectacle unfold before them. However, Professor Glory remained focused solely on the Lucas vs Arthur duel, ignoring the other battles raging on around them.

The ice continued to spread, covering one-third of the battlefield with a glistening sheen. Arthur, who had been seemingly pushed back by the sudden onset of the cataclysmic spell, gathered his wits and pushed off the ground with incredible force. He began to skate gracefully across the ice, evading Lucas' spells with ease and closing the distance between them with every passing moment.

With every move he made, Arthur exuded an air of practiced grace and finesse, dazzling the audience with his skill and agility. Despite the overwhelming odds against him, he remained undeterred, determined to emerge victorious from this intense and thrilling battle of wills. The entire audience was enthralled by the spectacle.

"A bug can squirm, but you can't evade the inevitable, Leywin." Lucas shouted atop his lungs, cackling.

'Papa, just finish him, he is so annoying.' Sylvie spoke through the bond.

'I will. I want you to follow the lanky looking boy from the DC. His mana signature is different.' Arthur said as he kept an eye on Tessia. She could defeat Curtis but there was something that she didn't notice.

Curtis' bond creeping up in her hindsight, ready to attack.

'I will follow him... after I finish my treatment.' Sylvie said and cooed mentally.

Looking in her direction, Arthur saw Sylvie being patted by Kathyln while her eyes remained fixed on the battlefield. Not on her brother... But on Arthur.

Arthur sighed and looked at Claire. Clives would easily lose to her but Tessia might be in trouble.

"Lets end this then." He whispered to himself.

Once again he disappeared and reappeared before Lucas, who hastily manifested a shield in front of himself.

However, Arthur's jab caused the barrier to shatter like a fragmented mirror, disintegrating into countless pieces.

Lucas frantically attempted to summon another defense, but it too was swiftly dismantled by Arthur's relentless barrage. The process of conjuring and breaking shields continued for a few seconds before Arthur increased his speed, delivering a powerful punch to Lucas's jaw, causing him to lose his grip on his staff.

Undeterred, Arthur proceeded to kick Lucas's torso, sending him tumbling to the ground. As Lucas struggled to regain his footing, his eyes filled with a mixture of resentment and fury, but his defiance was short-lived as Arthur spun on his heel and delivered a forceful kick to the back of his head, causing Lucas's eyes to roll back into his skull as he collapsed onto the ground with a resounding thud muffled by the cacophonous boom of his uniform indicating he was disqualified.

Arthur looked back at Tessia who was about to finish of Curtis. However, his World Lion had already charged up his attack, a beam of pure mana ready to shoot at her.

"Dawn." Arthur murmured. His dimensional ring let out a sudden outflux of mana as he felt the threads that connected him to Dawn tighten. Appearing in his hand, already unsheathed of its scabbard, Dawn glistened in a deeper shade of azure.

'Greeting master.' She spoke.

'Can you cut down a beam of pure mana?' Arthur asked.

'If you can imbue your draconic will into me, I am able to cute down individual mana particles. Although, I am not a 100% sure.' She reported.

'Can you form an extension?'

'Yes, master.'

'Good.'

Arthur said and the essence of his draconic will got imbued into dawn, a lighter shade of amethyst tinting the pristine azure hue.

'Now.' Arthur said and swung his blade, an arc of amethyst extending as a part of the sword and then detached, cutting the beam of pure mana into two. The severed beam cut into two and landed on the either side of Tessia and Curtis, making them shroud in a thick veil of smoke.

A gust of wind conjured, and the dust was cleared, revealing Tessia's sword pointing at Curtis' neck, Curtis' bond lying unconscious exactly where he was standing perfectly well a while ago, while Clive sat on the ground, out of breath.

"This monster." Glory said to herself with a subtle tremble in her voice before announcing.

"The match has ended with 2-to-1 in favour of DC."

The crowd was silent, still recovering from Arthur's fight but they soon erupted into an outroar of cheers as everyone started celebrating.

Looking up to Sylvie, Arthur saw that she was gone and Kathyln was sitting alone in the stands, the corner of her lips curved in a way that it was undiscernible what was she feeling as of the moment.

Arthur was seized by an irresistible urge to ascertain the inner workings of her psyche, to glean insight into the depths of her emotional state.

Possessing a curious nature, he had long been fascinated by the intricate tapestry of human emotions, and now, driven by a voracious thirst for knowledge, he yearned to unravel the enigma before him, no matter what the price might be.

Such was his unbridled curiosity that he was prepared to expend every ounce of his intellectual prowess to unravel the elusive mystery that lay concealed beneath the surface of her demeanor.

He wanted to know her.

He had to know her... to understand how it felt. To be around someone who was oblivious. To act oblivious.

Because she knew something he didn't. And she could do something he couldn't.

That was his last thought before being called by Tessia.

(Note) Oui, j'ai tue l'auteur. Autant etre le dernier chapitre, kufufu~