Academy (2)
"Fight me!" Arthur's voice rang out, loud enough for half the academy to hear.
I stared at him, unamused. He stood there, chest puffed out, hand gripping the hilt of his sword like he'd already won. Honestly, I was more annoyed than anything else.
"No," I said, keeping my tone flat.
Arthur blinked, his brain clearly struggling to process what I'd just said. "No? Are you… declining?"
"Yes," I replied, deadpan.
For a second, the courtyard went completely silent. Then, Arthur's face twisted with anger.
"You're a coward," he spat. "I should've known. You're nothing but a disgrace to your family!"
I felt a flicker of irritation at that, but I forced myself to stay calm. He wasn't worth it.
Arthur wasn't done, though. He took a step closer, his smirk growing. "Wait… your black hair and blue eyes—you're Julius, aren't you? That drunken lecher who frequents monster brothels in Hackendor? The one who's been nothing but a stain on the Vaelorian name?"
The murmurs around us grew louder, a sea of whispers and half-hidden laughter.
"That's him?"
"Didn't his family used to be powerful?"
"Pathetic."
I clenched my fists, but my expression didn't change.
The crowd was growing, students gathering to watch the spectacle like vultures circling a carcass. And among them, I spotted familiar faces.
Alex stood near the edge, his sharp eyes fixed on me, watching intently. Sophia was beside him, her golden hair shining in the sunlight as she whispered something in his ear. And leaning casually against a pillar, Amethyst watched with an amused smile, her violet eyes flickering with interest.
It was strange, seeing them like this. They weren't just characters anymore—they were real people, living their own lives.
I turned my attention back to Arthur, who was still glaring at me, clearly waiting for a reaction.
I shrugged. "Believe what you want."
Then, I turned and walked away.
---
Arthur's voice followed me as I pushed through the crowd.
"Don't you dare walk away from me, you freak!"
I ignored him.
"You're a coward, Vaelorian! A disgrace to your house!"
Still, I didn't stop.
Behind me, I heard the distinct sound of a sword being drawn, and for a moment, I thought he might actually attack me. But nothing happened.
As I left the courtyard, I caught a glimpse of Chiyo. She was standing near the edge of the crowd, her red eyes wide with fear. She didn't say anything, but the way she looked at me—like I was some kind of monster—made my chest tighten.
I kept walking.
---
Later that night, I sat in my dorm room, staring at the ceiling.
Arthur's challenge replayed in my mind, over and over. I didn't regret walking away.
Sure, it sucked to be treated like garbage in front of everyone, but fighting him would've been a mistake. Even if I could beat him—and honestly, I probably could—it wouldn't have ended well for me.
Arthur was the son of a duke. He wasn't just some arrogant kid with a sword—he had power. Influence. Connections. Beating him would've made me a target, and losing to him… well, that would've been even worse.
Arthur wasn't evil, but in the early parts of the novel, he was a spoiled brat who made life miserable for anyone who got in his way. He wasn't someone I wanted to deal with—not yet, anyway.
No, walking away had been the right choice. For now, at least.
"When I'm stronger," I muttered to myself, "when I have enough power or influence to crush him completely, then I'll deal with him."
The reason I was thinking like this was because I'd already been impulsive once—in Hackendor, when I rushed to get the skill books. That recklessness had nearly gotten me killed, and I'd been forced to kill someone. No. It wasn't murder. It was… killing. There's a difference. I *needed* to do it. For my survival, it was necessary.
---
A sharp knock at the door pulled me out of my thoughts.
I frowned, sitting up. "Who is it?"
No answer.
Great. Just what I needed.
I stood and crossed the room, opening the door.
The moment I turned the handle, the door slammed open, and three students barged in. Before I could react, one of them grabbed me by the collar and shoved me against the wall.
"Well, well," the leader sneered, his face inches from mine. "Looks like we caught ourselves a little coward."
I sighed. Of course this was happening. I recognized them immediately—Arthur's lackeys. Duncan Williams, Jasper Taylor, and Evan Jones. They were extras in the novel, part of the original Julius's little gang of bullies. Weak, insignificant, and utterly predictable.
To confirm my suspicions, I activated *Appraisal*:
Name: Duncan Williams
Mana Core: None
Strength: F+
Agility: F-
Endurance: F
Intelligence: G-
Charm: F
Name: Jasper Taylor
Mana Core: None
Strength: G+
Agility: F-
Endurance: F+
Intelligence: G+
Charm: G+
Name: Evan Jones
Mana Core: None
Strength: F
Agility: G-
Endurance: G
Intelligence: G+
Charm: G+
Pathetic.
Duncan slapped me across the face, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Hey, coward! Don't ignore me!" he barked. "How dare a freak like you disrespect Lord Blackwood!"
I bit back the urge to laugh. This guy was trying to intimidate me? I'd already done more than enough holding back today, but this…
This was just ridiculous.
---
Duncan smirked, clearly thinking his slap had put me in my place. "What's the matter, Vaelorian? Too scared to fight back? Just like earlier, you're nothing but a—"
I cut him off with a swift kick to his knee.
The sound of his leg buckling was satisfying. Duncan let out a cry of pain, stumbling backward, and I didn't give him a chance to recover.
In one fluid motion, I pivoted and delivered a roundhouse kick straight to his ribs. The impact sent him crashing into Jasper and Evan, who barely managed to catch him before they all toppled over.
"You little—!" Jasper snarled, but I was already moving.
---
As Jasper charged, I sidestepped his clumsy punch and slammed my elbow into his back, sending him sprawling to the floor. Evan hesitated, clearly unsure if he wanted to join the fight, but Duncan growled from where he was crouched.
"Get him, you idiot!"
Evan gritted his teeth and lunged at me, swinging wildly. He was slow. Predictable. It was almost laughable.
I ducked under his swing, grabbed his arm, and twisted, using his momentum to flip him over my shoulder. He hit the ground with a loud *thud*, groaning in pain.
Duncan, meanwhile, had managed to get back on his feet. He wiped a trail of blood from his lip and glared at me, his face twisted with fury. "You're dead, Vaelorian!"
He rushed at me, fists raised, but I was ready.
---
For a split second, a memory flashed in my mind—late nights on Earth, watching taekwondo tutorials on YouTube, trying to mimic the moves in my cramped apartment. Back then, I could barely do a proper kick without falling over. I didn't have the strength, the flexibility, or the stamina.
But now? After training with Joseph, my body felt sharp, capable. The moves that once seemed impossible now came naturally.
---
Duncan threw a sloppy punch, and I blocked it effortlessly, stepping inside his guard. I planted my foot, pivoted, and delivered a spinning back kick to his chest. The impact sent him flying into the wall, where he crumpled to the ground, gasping for air.
Jasper was back on his feet by then, but he looked hesitant. I didn't give him a chance to rethink his life choices.
A quick front kick to his stomach doubled him over, and I followed it up with a sidekick that sent him sprawling next to Duncan.
Evan tried to crawl away, but I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up, slamming him against the wall.
"Still feeling brave?" I asked, my voice low and cold.
He shook his head frantically, his eyes wide with fear. "N-no! Please, I—"
I dropped him, letting him collapse in a heap.
---
All three of them were on the floor now, groaning and clutching their injuries. I stepped back, catching my breath. My heart was pounding, but not from exhaustion. There was something… satisfying about this. About finally being the one with power.
But I couldn't let it go to my head. I needed to be smart about this.
---
"Alright, listen up," I said, crouching down to meet their terrified gazes. "You're going to work for me now."
Duncan glared at me, though the effect was somewhat ruined by the blood dripping from his nose. "Like hell we are!"
I smirked. "Oh, I think you will. You see, I know things. Things about each of you. Like how Duncan here's been embezzling funds from his father's business. Or how Evan's little 'side business' involves smuggling contraband into the academy. And Jasper… well, let's just say those letters you've been writing to Professor Marlow would make for an interesting scandal."
Their faces went pale.
"Here's the deal," I continued. "You're going to report everything Arthur does to me. Every plan, every move—everything. In return, I'll keep my mouth shut. Refuse, and, well…" I let the threat hang in the air.
They didn't need convincing.
---
Once I had their agreement, I knelt beside each of them, using a basic healing scroll to fix their more serious injuries. I didn't want them limping back to Arthur—it would look suspicious.
Finally, I stood, brushing the dust off my clothes. "Now, you're going to head back to Arthur and tell him your mission was a success. Tell him you beat the crap out of me and taught me a lesson."
Duncan looked confused. "But… you're fine."
I smirked. "Not for long."
Before they could ask what I meant, I slammed my fist into my own face. The pain was sharp and immediate, but it was necessary. I followed it up with a punch to my ribs, doubling over as the air left my lungs.
By the time I was done, my face was bruised, my lip was bleeding, and I was clutching my side like I'd been through hell.
"There," I said, my voice strained. "Now get out of here before I change my mind."
The three of them scrambled to their feet and bolted for the door, tripping over each other in their haste to leave.
---
As the door slammed shut behind them, I collapsed onto my bed, groaning in pain.
"Totally worth it," I muttered