The impromptu visits to his dorm became a staple for the last few days of the week since he was discharged, as each ended with Shynerai's trip to the Medical Ward for treatment before heading home and finding his space overtaken by his classmates.
Seeing that the young Daumier had gotten the necessary rest throughout the week, Dr. Arturion asked him to visit his Ward on the weekend to finish his treatment.
When the midday sun lowered during the somewhat windy Saturday, a squabbling group could be heard shuffling through the streets of Deep City upon leaving the convenience store that wasn't too far from the estate.
From the group Torren was straggling behind with arms filled with grocery bags as he lamented his position that seemed like the pack-mule, a sentiment Stephen is quick to ignore with an off-handed comment that left Torren now worn and fuming:
"What do you expect? The Princess paid for the food that I cook, while she and Lamiastell help with treating Astrapordt's wounds, which means you get to be the help any way I see fit."
"Yeah, I don't think you want her catching wind that you called her Princess again!" The thought of Vaceris' menacing glare straightened them both with an uneasy sense of anxiety.
"Ahem…well she would do well to arrive before I finished cooking." Clearing his throat before they made their way up the stairs of the building and into the hallway.
The trio managed to encounter the 'spoken devil' as they made for Erai's room, much to Stephen's embarrassment as the struggling Torren teased him if he had anything to say to her, surprising Vaceris but scoffed him off, and quickly rushed off with a few of the bags burdening him.
Torren moved to unlock his room but found the door already unlocked…wondering if Erai had forgotten to lock before leaving, he was surprisingly thrown back as the door swung open–he commented on how he expected them much sooner.
"What are you doing here, I thought you were at school." Lying flat against the ground.
"I got back after treatment, so I'm good to go" moving to help his friend up and taking up the last of his grocery bags before moving into his room.
"You guys should come in and I'll make something good for us."
The stumped group eventually joined him inside and found the preparations for a vast meal already taking place, Stephen was quick to move into the kitchen and assist with Vaceris readying herself to check on his injuries but Shynerai instead sat them down, asking them all to rest while he got the food ready.
As the new week began, Shynerai arrived to class alongside Torren once again, being the last to enter as Reiss walked in behind them, ushering them to their seats in a hurry with a disapproving sigh before reminding Ketsu of his duty as the Class's Captain.
Among the morning processions that he delivered that morning, Reiss unassumingly added that Stephen would not be attending their class. While the visible confusion of the class would result in a cacophony of questions and queries but with a motion of his hand, they all held onto their silence.
"If you wish to know more of this, you may seek the information, though not during my class. I will not let distractions of any kind detract from your education."
With the bell ringing throughout the hall, the professor dismissed the class allowing them to travel towards recess, with Torren being the first to raze in confusion asking those amongst him if any of them knew, wondering how what had happened and thought he seemed out of line, his words were shared amongst them all…that is until Ketsu stepped forward.
Moving to calm the restless group, Ketsu much to the surprise of Torren began to explain:
"Stephen…went to join Class A. His compensation arrived before class had begun." Speaking with a flat and un-shaking tone…shocking everyone but Shynerai joined in without missing a beat, asking Ketsu if they could get him back?
"Is that wise, if he left by his own choice shouldn't we let him be." Vaceris added.
"I don't know but…"
Ketsu, curious as to the meaning of his question, turned to him wanting to know why he desired to if they could. To which, Shynerai spoke up with little hesitation.
"We don't know what made him leave or why but there had to be a better way of doing this. We can't be sure that this was his only choice…so I want to make sure that–"
"That he knows there's always another way. We want to help, he's our classmate after all" Torren finds the words Shynerai was looking for.
"Well, I can't say I mind he's gone, but an explanation would be nice…Captain, is there a plan?" Tersia follows with her own vested interest.
Ketsu turned to Sergei and Vaceris, wanting to hearing their opinion but receiving a shared stance between the two of them as they both waved him off, bringing a smile of relief to him before suggesting his thought to the group:
"I have an idea, the only one of two options when poaching another class's members. We could challenge them!"
"Fighting the students of 1A? When I said I wanted to help, my first thought wasn't going against the one class guaranteed to stomp us into the ground." Torren spoke worryingly as he unconsciously shook the distracted Shynerai whose mind was captured by the thought of potentially facing off against Vauntuss once more.
"Just follow me, like I said I have a plan" Moving towards the door and leading his companions to the cafeteria as the rest followed in confusion.
Along the corridor beside the 1A classroom, Professor Ulrich made his way through after dismissing his class with the adolescents soon following to fill its walls while the school bell tolled.
Amongst the moving crowd, Vauntuss shuffled alongside Princess Charlotte and Heimrill with a new stranger joining them. The crowd of students from other classes roamed about only to make way for the group as they made their way to the cafeteria.
"Your…Captain seems unusually aloof for having a stranger among her" Stephen pointed out her surprisingly upbeat cantor as they were walking.
"Herce is…strange like that." Vauntuss admitted with an almost defeated tone, managing to catch her eye that glared with a look of annoyance, one that didn't do much to change his stance.
"I'm sorry I just find this all a little strange, hell I didn't think you'd even accept my request."
"Really? A child of the Markholdz family, notorious for their distrust of nobility and having given up all arms in the name of their king, wants to not only pick up those very arms but fight alongside royalty such as myself."
"Something this entertaining doesn't happen very often." She answered just as the group made its way past the doors of the cafeteria, with an unlikely approach drawing near to the very same place.
"There he is! STEPHEN!" A jolt of electricity ran through his body as he heard the collective shout force his group's attention to the students that rushed into the cafeteria.
"Stephen. Ketsu was right." Torren spoke before Ketsu could restrain him but to his increasing annoyance, Stephen said nothing, choosing instead to look away from him.
Vauntuss stepped forward asking Torren to calm himself in such a public setting before urging him not to harass their classmate, all the while Charlotte could be seen with a smirk as he spoke.
"Not so fast. He's still...He's still our classmate." Shynerai said supporting his friend, but finding that simply standing up to him felt completely different, not at all like their time in Violain Woods.
"Hmph. When Markholdz approached me to join our class, the decision was passed to our class Captain. Herce having approved it as well and providing the necessary compensation is proof that he is indeed our classmate now."
"Herce, I don't get it, why would you want someone from our class? Class 1A is already the most capable amongst our year." Vaceris took to questioning her beloved friend with a look of concern that was enough to strip Charlotte of her smirk with her left to glower at her question.
"I'm sorry about this Vaceris, but what I do, I do to strengthen my team, that's all. I don't mean anything ill by this."
"So what if we got him back…a fair challenge between our classes and when we win Stephen comes back." Shynerai spoke up with his sights now on Stephen.
"Why you…you know when I healed you in the Violain Woods, I didn't think you'd end up in the same class as Vaceris, worse yet that you would be so bothersome."
"Vaceris told me what you did, and I'm grateful for what you did to save me, but right now this isn't about me, it's about our class, and he's a part of it, whether he knows it or not."
His words quickly surged her frustration, bringing her to question his adamant stance, asking what he planned on offering to make such a challenge, wondering what they have that she would possibly want.
At this moment, the previously silent Ketsu spoke with an uncanny air of certainty and equally accosting smile, the class captain offered her one student for another. If they lose, they are free to do as they see fit with any one of their classmates.
"Anyone…has your leader lost his mind along with his class members?" Though while she spoke, Herce's gaze hovered over her friend wondering if she could perhaps.
'No. Vaceris would never join us like that'
"You honestly expect me to believe that you are willing to give up any one of your students without a fight, what do you take me for?"
"Heh, your right Princess Charlotte, that being said, whomever we choose to fight in our stead will be subject to the same rules." Nodding to an anxious Shynerai, whose gaze had been fluttering between Stephen and Vauntuss, exchanging a cold intensity among the trio.
"Him huh? If that's the case then fine. Our champion will duel your 'Snowflake' and if we win…then he has to forfeit."
"Forfeit…" A low rumble for the hushed tones around the meeting group could be heard being mumbled in tandem.
"It means if we lose, Shynerai has to leave the Academy, correct?"
"But, wait. Why him…you didn't say that he would–"
"No, it's okay. You planned on picking me from the start"
"It was a possibility if negotiations went awry. Truth be told, you are the only one of the class whose skills are unknown to me, and possibly to most. The best kind of offense is one the enemy never sees coming and you are definitely an unknown." Ketsu assured him without skipping a beat, before pointing towards Charlotte.
"So, are you up to the challenge or–"
"I'm ready. We're getting Stephen back!" Erai chimed in with the same unwavering tone
"Oh, honestly I was expecting a bit more fight, but all the same."
"Hang on, is all of this really okay?" Vaceris added, with a frustrated look.
Sharing in her sentiment, Vauntuss asked Charlotte though unsure of how to feel as he too was vested in seeing a display of Shynerai's might.
Charlotte reminded them that the only reason she would put her team at risk is for the opportunity to benefit them. She is their leader first and that is all. A statement that garnered cheering support from the rest of her classmates.
Seeing her unrelenting intent, he chose to step down, though not without holding onto a wish that he gets to face him before his departure.
Vaceris, however, was still willing to question and with Torren and Tersia discomfort with said plan, they joined her too, but Ketsu was quick to dispel their worries, allaying that this showdown would have to happen sooner or later….especially for what was soon to come
The trio, though still unsure, knew to trust in Ketsu's approach as it wasn't the first time they had to rely on his leadership.
Vaceris remained adamant that Shynerai not participate as he hadn't been out of recovery for very long but the sight of his resolve as he stared down Vauntuss helped her settle most of her anxiety.
"I see that we are all in agreement, Princess Charlotte. Though, surely you don't expect Shynerai to face Stephen as your champion?" Ketsu spoke with a weight of mystery in his words, though one that he would not grant freely.
"Despite how entertaining that may sound, I am no sadist. I shall select on who is appropriate, someone that shall simply work on this matter. Someone like–" While she gave her retort to Ketsu, she moved about the crowd, preparing herself to lay a hand on her champion, when one of the students was all too quick to throw themselves at her feet.
"Princess, please allow me. Let me make this matter of no concern to you any longer."
"Ketsu, who's the weirdo?" Torren whispered to Ketsu in confusion.
"My name is Vetmier Raon."
"Who?"
"Typical. It's quite clear that I was mistaken to expect someone as lowly as you to know of your betters. I am the fourth son of this city's greatest medical practitioner… Raon, the owner of the Raon Central Hospital within the Halcyon Whisper Square."
"Oh, so your dad's a doctor? That's interesting–"
"What was that!"
"Calm yourself, Sir Raon." Charlotte commanded in a visibly irate tone, something that Vauntuss noticed, and sharing in the embarrassment let out a sigh at the overt display.
However, while Raon's pompous act was foolish, what had her blood boiling was the Ketsu and Shynerai, leaving her to deal with all her annoyances at once as she ordered the eager student to represent their class.
"THAT'S ENOUGH. YOU GUYS HAVE TO STOP!"
Speaking up for the first time since the two groups encountered one another, Stephen was resolute in his refusal of the challenge, as he urged his former classmates that his desire to join his new team was his own:
'You don't have to do this, I don't want any of you in danger' the singular thought resounded within him while he told them that his choice was indeed selfish he does not regret it, as long as he remained true to his goal, he would not regret it.
"You shouldn't get involved any further, none of this is necessary, nor should it be your concern–"
Torren and Ketsu instead spoke over him, to clarify something that he didn't quite seem to understand:
"Chasing your goal is one thing, but believing that you will catch it all by yourself….that won't happen. People can get so far on their own."
"It's when we work together, that we achieve something special. Your dream, like with the rest of our classmates, is something we're going to chase together and whether you believe we can help or not…that won't stop us from giving it all we've got." The words that left Torren's mouth were welcomed with a nod from Erai, he knew wasn't just speaking to Stephen at that moment.
"Stephen…you aren't giving up on us yet, trust me everyone here won't let that happen–after all while I'm standing right here, I'm not alone, and neither are you."
"Ahem! If you're finished wasting Princess Charlotte's time, step forward and allow me to show you the difference in our strength and status."
"Status doesn't count for shit when you get punched in the face." Torren shouted, from the safety of Ketsu's shadow.