Armored Buses and Awkward Friendships

* * *

Meanwhile, Richard lay on the ground, still dazed from the throw. He knew all too well the technique that Arion had used against him.

It was a basic throw, one that every mid-level school in the kingdom taught.

As he blinked away the stars in his eyes, he noticed a hand reaching into his line of vision. Looking up, he saw none other than Arion, grinning like a cat that had just caught a canary.

Arion, with a satisfied smile plastered on his face, said, "It was a good fight. You're just a bit slower, but hey, you're a good fighter! A real talent! If I hadn't learned a special technique from almost being killed, I would have lost for sure!"

Richard felt a warm sensation creeping into his chest, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time.

It was the first time someone acknowledged him like that.

His father was always busy, and when he did come home, all his attention was on Richard's talented and famous older brother.

Not once had he seen that same glimmer of pride in his father's eyes when he looked at him. He was used to being ignored at home, like a forgotten toy in the attic.

But now, here was someone he had secretly admired, someone he had thought of as a rival, giving him the recognition he had longed for.

It was a strange twist of fate that the very person he had considered an enemy was the one who acknowledged his efforts.

His underlings had told him that Arion always acted like a saint in front of everyone, especially the girls, while behind their backs, he was a notorious troublemaker.

Richard had always assumed Arion was just like his brother – a two-faced, hypocritical snake.

But now, he found himself doubting his underlings. Were their claims really true?

Slap!

Richard slapped Arion's hand away as he scrambled to his feet, trying to mask his confusion with anger.

"Get away! Don't think this is the end! I will beat you up one day!" he declared, puffing out his chest like a rooster.

Arion raised both hands in a gesture of surrender, looking utterly unfazed. "Well, I'll wait then. Good luck with that!" he replied with a helpless smile.

Richard, still acting mad, swiped at his clothes, trying to brush off the dirt as if it were a pesky fly.

But secretly, he glanced at the trio of his underlings, who were watching the whole scene unfold with barely a hint of concern.

Disappointment washed over him. He had always treated them like true friends, and yet here they were, more interested in the spectacle than in his plight.

Nesa approached the two, her fist playfully punching Arion in the shoulder. "Hey, you're good! What kind of magic was that?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Arion chuckled, shaking his head. "It's not magic. Just some kind of technique in combat."

"Oh, really? Then you need to teach me!" Nesa exclaimed, practically bouncing on her toes.

"Sure," Arion replied. 'If possible, that is,' he added inside his mind.

* * *

Afterwards, Nesa turned and glared at Richard, who felt a pang of discomfort and pain from her stare.

"And you," she said, her voice dripping with disdain.

Richard, not one to back down, glared right back at her, bracing himself for her biting, bitter remarks about his entire existence.

But contrary to his expectations, what came out of her mouth was surprisingly different.

"You are good. Your moves are smooth too. If we fought, even without that enchantment, I would surely lose. But why does someone like you need to act like a brat?"

Richard was left speechless, completely stunned by her unexpected compliment.

He blinked a few times, trying to process the fact that Nesa had just praised him. It was like a cat suddenly complimenting a dog on its fetching skills – confusing and a little unsettling.

Nesa continued, her tone shifting as she directed her gaze toward Richard's underlings. She pointed her index finger at the trio with the intensity of a teacher scolding a class of misbehaving students.

"Why do you need to mingle with those b*stards? What's good about them? Don't you know they mock you all the time behind your back? Get away from them! You are in class A for god's sake! You are talented, but they are just idiots from class F who are always busy messing around. Don't you use your brain? Aren't you smart? You often make me doubt your intelligence."

"That's enough! They are my friends. You can't just judge others carelessly," Richard replied, his eyes betraying a mix of indifference and irritation.

Exasperated, Nesa could only scold him while turning her face away, too mad to bother with his stubbornness. "Tsk, whatever. You're hopeless."

Arion, sensing the tension, chimed in, "Yeah, Richard. You're just wasting your time with those three. They only want to use you and your money. It's better to cut off something that's just a bad influence on you."

Richard shot a deadpan stare at Arion, who blinked innocently back at him – as if to say, 'Well, I'm not wrong. Just a bit of advice.'

Arion had overheard the trio talking about Richard, calling him an idiot for easily giving them money and labeling him a loser.

He could sympathize with Richard, having been in a similar situation himself.

Countless times, he had tried to warn Richard or drop hints about those three, but instead, it only made Richard irked and furious, worsening their already rocky relationship. Richard even speculated that Arion was trying to slander his friends.

Arion often wondered secretly, narrowed his eyes while rubbing his face in front of the mirror, 'Do I look evil? Why does he really hate me like a priest against the devil?'

After a few seconds of intense staring, Richard decided he had enough.

He turned on his heel and walked away, striding toward his underlings. He resumed his steps, joining another group that was quite far from Arion's position, leaving behind a trail of confusion and a hint of regret.

* * *

A few minutes later, rows of long, imposing cars arrived in front of the students.

They looked almost identical to buses from a movie called 'Earth,' but with a twist.

These vehicles were massive, sporting an intimidating metallic look that screamed, "Don't mess with us!"

They even had armor on the front and turrets on the roofs, making them look like they were ready for a battle rather than a school trip.

The students climbed aboard, each taking their predetermined seats.

Arion, Nesa, and Rhea found themselves seated at the very back, crammed into a small compartment with two seats facing each other. It felt like they were in a tiny, metal spaceship, ready to launch into the capital of Moonglade Kingdom.