Chapter 19: The Lowborn’s Smile

 Angellica was standing right beside Baran.

She hadn't left his side since the duel.

There were many reasons for that — but the most obvious one was guilt. Despite being the referee, she hadn't been able to stop things from escalating to this point.

There were other, smaller reasons too… like her curiosity about what Baran would be like now that he'd awakened.

As Angellica drifted through her thoughts, Baran slowly began to regain consciousness.

"Ahhh…" a faint groan echoed in the infirmary.

The sound snapped Angellica out of her trance immediately.

"B-Baran, are you alright?" she asked, activating a healing spell even as she spoke.

But suddenly — snap!

Angellica gasped as her own energy backfired, shocking her slightly.

Staring at her hands in mild confusion, she then glanced at Baran — who, for his part, was now examining his bandaged hands.

Though wrapped in layers of gauze, Baran could feel it. He was healing — and at a surprisingly fast pace.

If he had to list the advantages of his body, it would be a long list. But to put it simply, his body was more than enough to keep him alive against energy users even without energy himself.

He set aside thoughts of his recovery for now and instead looked around.

Aside from Angellica — still staring at her hands in shock — the infirmary was a large room filled with 50 or 60 beds and lined with medical equipment.

The silence here was strangely calming. But Baran didn't need calm — he needed to heal.

Turning to Angellica abruptly, he asked, "Angellica, is there a nurse or doctor nearby?"

Startled, Angellica quickly nodded.

"Could you call one for me? There's something… I need to discuss in private," he added, his tone still gentle.

"Did something happen?" she asked innocently. After all, the doctors had already checked him, and there wasn't much left they could do.

"No… I just need to talk to them," Baran replied with a faint smile. Every movement still sent sharp pain through his hands, but he masked it well.

Not wanting to upset him, Angellica left to fetch the doctor. But as she walked back toward the dorms, she overheard whispers from some girls in the corridor.

"Did you hear? Sonnenaufgang got sent to the infirmary by Arabella today."

"Figures. That's what happens when a lowborn tries to challenge us."

"Hahaha… You missed the best part. Some are saying Angellica's in love with that pathetic Sonnenaufgang."

"On the first week? What a foolish girl…"

Angellica felt a flicker of anger at the gossip. She could ignore the insults, but that didn't mean she wasn't furious inside.

She turned toward the gossiping girls — but her path was blocked.

An unbelievably handsome young man stood there, his hair and eyes like the emptiness of deep space. He wore the same navy-themed Zukunft academy uniform as Baran.

It was none other than Theodore Mosby.

"What are you doing, Angellica?" Theodore asked with a faint smile.

"Uh… that's none of your business," Angellica snapped back, unsure what to say.

"Hahaha… Come on, does the gossip bother you?" he teased lightly.

Meanwhile, back in the infirmary, Baran was speaking with the doctor who had come to check on him.

"Please… just use a healing spell already!" Baran insisted for the fifth time. His hands needed to recover — fully — by Friday at the latest.

"Baran, do you think we haven't tried? The spells rebound every single time," Dr. Emil Weiss replied curtly, clearly frustrated.

"Ahhh…" Baran couldn't help but acknowledge the doctor's point. It was a habit he couldn't quite suppress — admitting when someone else had a point.

"One last time!" Baran suddenly barked. Just because he agreed didn't mean he would stop trying.

"Fine, Baran. But don't argue with me again after this," Emil said with a firm tone.

A mischievous grin spread across Baran's face. He was about to try something reckless.

"In that case… could you use this spell instead? Since it's your final attempt," Baran said, pulling out a notebook from his bag with his trembling, bandaged hands.

He flipped to a specific page and handed it to Dr. Emil.

The doctor glanced at it absentmindedly — and then his eyes went wide in shock.

"A-a sixth-layer spell?! How in the world do you have something like this?!" Emil shouted. This was the kind of spell people would kill each other over — and Baran had just been carrying it in his bag like it was nothing.

"Hahahahaha… Did you think I was just some lowborn with weak connections, doctor?" Baran replied, clearly enjoying Emil's reaction, his laughter echoing through the infirmary.