Erai leaned against a pillar beside the window near the entrance of the cafeteria, facing the direction of the booming Arena.
Offering them an audience to the cheers and boundless excitement that shook its very walls, his thoughts drifted around the possibility of what kind of spectacle was taking place. As Vaceris was addressing one of the chefs of the cafeteria.
'We are this far away and I can still feel the bite of his magic. With strength like that he'd easily stand on the same level as Ketsu. Perhaps a difference of speed or overwhelming physical strength is my only bet. Hmm!'
"Nervous, are we, seems like your focus hasn't shifted from the ongoing battle since we left?" She tried to pick at his distant thoughts.
"Are we really here for some food?"
"You're saying you're not hungry?" Passing him a can of iced coffee.
"I didn't say that but…I guess I thought something serious had happened to Torren. Something that would have been hard for me to hear back in the Medical Ward."
"And if I did have something like that to tell you, do you think none of us would be torn about it, that you're the only one that cares for that idiot?"
"..."
"There's nothing wrong with being concerned. I think he's more than grateful to know that you care that much."
"So he's fine?"
"Yes, he is."
"Sigh. I'm glad to hear it. Thank you, Vaceris, for looking out for him, you and everyone else." The honesty of his earnest gaze and the sincerity in how he spoke surprised her, for in that moment she saw the same strength that had come time after time to her aid.
A genuine care that she could just as intensely, brought a warmth to her that flowed from her rosy cheeks to the tips of her ears.
But before deep gaze could do anymore, she composed herself before she spoke up.
"Actually I was more curious about our strange visit from the student or should I say the visit from your admirer, she seemed quite eager to meet you, wouldn't you agree?" As they stepped up towards the one of the counters serving food, Vaceris took up their orders before returning to him, holding her silence and watching for his response.
"What. Well until yesterday, I had never met her, let alone spoken to her enough to get familiar, but I guess that was the same for a lot of us. We probably wouldn't have made it to our second trial if it wasn't for Class 1B's help." He said, as he approached with the exit behind him and her standing closer.
"In fact, looking back on it, most of us only got out of there alive because we were willing to work with members of the other classes, be it directly or indirectly."
"Oh, so you think she was just intrigued by you because you helped to protect her class from Ketsu's lightning?"
"Yes…I can't imagine another reason why she'd take an interest in me. Can you?" Now with his scent, another one of her senses took a part of him in, and so the idea of breaking away from his locked in gaze became a faraway one.
The young Daumier outstretched his arms, hoping to assist her with everything she was carrying, allowing for a moment when her hands rested upon his, a moment beyond the scope or meaning of what a moment is, had been born, making all else meaningless in that space.
"I guess I'll just have to take your word on it."
"You can turn to me whenever you need me. I am here for you."
"For…me?"
"Yes. I'm right here. So are you going to let me help you with those?" With his messy bangs swaying across his eyes, shattering the illusion long enough for them to take a step back, with each of them doing their best to mask their surprise at had come over them.
'As pale as ever, his eyes are lit bright when he's being sincere but grow pale when something is on his mind, it makes one wonder if he's trying to hide something. Could it be...why the two of them feel so similar?' With her senses now firm, her intentions returned to her even though her mind couldn't help but dance to the tune of this most recent distraction.
"Vaceris, are you okay? You can trust my words when I tell you that I don't know why she was there or what she wanted with me. Please know that I wouldn't do anything to betray our class."
"Oh no! I'm not accusing you of conspiring with another class. I wouldn't think so lowly of you." Her voice trailed off as she spoke.
"Back to the matter at hand, either she knows something we don't or she's hoping to get something from one of us through you…"
"All right!" She said after letting out a worn-out sigh.
"Hang on, that wasn't all there was to it?"
"What! What do you mean?"
"I mean if you wanted to know something like that, you wouldn't have dragged me here, there was something else you wanted to talk about, there must have?" He began running through the possibilities with the same expression lit with pale green eyes.
"Torren was the first fight and you already saw how that went...I just think you might not be–"
"You must have felt it didn't you. I can't see or feel magic as well as you can, but I've seen your talent for it enough times. And if he was your teacher then that means you can most certainly sense it." Erai answered after he remembered his encounter with the knight.
"That scar is a reminder that next time I need to be better, not just for others' sake, but my own. That's what you told me when we met."
"...I understand." His confusion lessened after she noticed a calm take over. Easing her own worry enough that she thoughtlessly let out a smile.
"Good. Because something tells me you've caught the eye of several interesting figures."
"Honestly, I'm kind of surprised you'd be so worried, it seems like watching Torren's battle was a lot more shocking."
"Surprising, to say the least, but it seems Torren's training that's paid off."
"The moment I saw those flames I was sure someone would have died, but I think things turned out for the better. Besides what's so strange about worrying for my classmates, especially ones so prone to danger?" She gave him an unenthused glare only to be met by Erai's blank stare.
"Seems like the only time I see this side of you is after coming from or going to the Medical Ward."
"Well...maybe if you didn't spend half your time there, we'd be out on a picnic or at the very least a cafe like normal people our age. Do you have any idea how many people would be clutching at the chance?" Catching herself as she blurted those last words only to find Erai with the same perplexed look."
Her tone reminded him of how his mother would his father when his trips kept him for far too long, and how he often quelled her rage.
Mimicking the display, Erai got close to her, close enough that his breath could reach her ear and his arm had neared her side, resting against her waist.
But his actions had come with no recollection of what he had said and so he said the first thing on his mind.
"No, I have no clue. Royalty must have their hands full. But we should probably head back, we already missed the last battle."
"...It's quite alright. The victory is most certainly in Vauntuss' grasp. It was probably not all that interesting to speak of." Pulling him away by his braid, only to point at the proof of her words out through the window.
"Come on." Leaving ahead of him with an armful of food, while a spark of light shone in his eyes at the sparkling tower of ice.
'Too close, too close! Why did he do that? Because of what I said and why was his hair so soft, what was I doing grabbing it in the first place?' Pacing ahead in the corridor hoping he wouldn't notice her flushed ears and beet expression after having him so close.
Only for Erai to catch up with the rest of their snacks in hand, almost obscuring his sight from their vast number before grabbing her shoulder as he approached.
Letting out a squeal from the surprise, only confusing him. The beet red princess took a share of his load and buried her visage behind the snacks as they made their way to the Medical Ward:
'Well I hope Ketsuiko is happy. That strange girl definitely triggered something in him...I would have probably missed it if I had paid more attention to the battle and not been near enough to notice the Captain's changing presence.' Her thoughts bounced around before they entered the room finding a disgruntled Torren begging Stephen to take his place in the Carnival.
"Shynerai, get a hold of your friend."
"Come on, you just saw that fight. I'm supposed to go up against that? Seriously what happened to your 'All NOBLES ARE LAME' attitude? Now I'm giving you a chance to punch one of them in the face...come on." Shaking the unbothered Stephen.
"Hmm, no, I don't want to get killed."
"You see, so I'm going to get turned into a popsicle."
"You've made it this far, you can't just start doubting yourself now." Erai tried to pat him on the shoulder only for his friend to notice his trembling.
"Great, looking at your face, I know I'm screwed. Might as well go at it with a full stomach." Grabbing a handful of the snacks from him.
One after the after he clumsily feasted on the food, with each one lessening his tears until the room had its cries consumed by roars as a battle over the remaining snacks was born.
Back on the stands overlooking the Arena, Reiss joyful marched between the other staff members as he began to collect his winnings from a saddened Salazar
"Mhm!"
"What's the matter, doctor? You haven't started to lose it now have you?" Reiss responded after being startled.
"No...I just felt something off. It's probably nothing." Straightening his coat before sitting back again.
"From your expression, I take it to mean they aren't acquainted?" Ketsu asked Vaceris
"He promised me that I could trust him, and I believe him!"
"...eh huh. Vaceris?"
"I...I mean he was just as shocked to see her as the rest of us. Probably couldn't even sense her magical presence either."
"Now that seems more like the expected response. For a moment I had thought your trip with our Shynerai had other intentions." Ketsu's dark hair disguised his look of curiosity as he asked.
"Captain, behave yourself." Tersia flicked Ketsu after watching how much she was beginning to resemble Seyta in hue, before taking a share of the meals from Vaceris.
"Well, you can rest a little easier. Erai doesn't know anything."
"Well then, thank you Vaceris. And for your discretion. FAE knows he wouldn't have revealed anything to me if I asked."
"For someone so smart he can be an idiot at times." Remembering her last words with him in the cafeteria.
"That will do. Please return to the stands, I need to report to the doctor about something." Ketsuiko nodded to the group before stopping Sergei from following as he walked out of the room, taking a strange path, not to the Arena instead to the Student Council Room.
Before even reaching the doors to the Student Council Room, Ketsu called out Elldra's shadows wanting to see him, here he asked him about Patrulea. Wondering why he would want to know, he raised her sudden interest in his class.
But he paused before mentioning Erai, instead focusing on how she passed beneath therein a manner that was not natural.
"Her presence is almost lacking with a strange taint to her magic that is almost null, like a..."
The doors opened, surprising the group that met Ketsu. Revealing the Student Council President hard at work.
"Like a predator, and you worry that one of your classmates is her prey?" He asked Henrietta for the next round of documents as he stacked the file he finished signing.
Back at the Arena, as the preparations for the next battle were finishing up.
Reiss wondered what Reven was hoping to find in the battles as two incredible battles have already concluded and he's shown little to no interest in what has happened in either of them.
"Hmm, Reven you will forgive me but I fear that if you do not indulge him, he may just continue to bother you."
With the good doctor adding that he felt guilty about something with regard to his student that he was training
With his memories of that morning as he arrived at the closed store and only to find that what he had been working on was still in storage.
"I just have to take care of something. It won't be too long now."
'Astral, please forgive my forgetfulness in my old age, your boy must have found the forge closed off to him because awoke so late.' Patting away the sweat with a handkerchief
"The glacier has been cleared and the Arena has been repaired. Thank you all for your patience. We are about to begin the third round of the Cross Gardens Tournament."
"Please welcome our next participants." Ms. Yuria's voice once again graced the crowd after she left the stands and appeared in the Arena.
"From Class 1A, Heimrill Trosck and from Class 1B we have Ren Gladiolus." Her announcement rallied the crowd into a frenzy with the distinct hum of the Troscian Beat blaring above everything else.
The stomping feet and low hums meshed into a choir all could join in, be they supporters of the student or dissenters.
The supportive chants had brought out the war cry to full force as the stands rumbled and shook from the excitement. All that watched the coming battle felt the passion of the Troscian Beat.
Entering the Arena ground, Heimrill recognized the chant and greeted it warmly, bashing both fists together before striking at his chest all in rhythm with the call to battle that everyone seemed to sing.
Even more surprising was how Ren responded as he entered from out the gates, he followed the young knight's lead, as he embraced the war cry before coming to a stop where they met on opposing sides, the beat also followed as it fell to a sudden halt..
Greeting each other without Ms. Yuria's call or suggestion brought her great joy as she asked that they honor themselves and everyone watching during their battle. With both in agreement, she took off as she gave notice to the start of the battle.
"Captain, I thought you would have been the first one to be seated?" Sol called over to Alleiyna as she got through the crowd on her way to the class.
"Apologies. I had to speak with Ms. Yuria before Ren had started. Seems like everyone is already in high-spirits."
"Uh-huh. I think the cheering has something to do with the Arian natives and the one they call Heimrill Trosck." She wondered as the crowd slowly rose to its enthusiasm.
"Of course, they would be so excited. The Troscian family has been quite famous for their dedication to the Arian people. As renowned as the van Helmont's are for designing and building the great cities of this land, the Troscks have protected these lands even since before the Crossbane Royal family came into power." Altia added, noting the fact that as she spoke how much their Class captain beamed with awe.
"I take it that there's more to their fame, but from what little you have told me, Ren should have a wonderful time down there." Bringing raised eyebrows from her class with her words.
'Look at him, even standing so calmly his aura burns fiercely.'
"Trosck, you don't plan on going easy on me do you?" Ren asked.
Only to be met by the sound of churning earth giving rise to the bubbling magma forming a pool around him, all except where Heimrill stood swirled the molten rock under his command.
"Shatter: Heaven's Discord."
He kneeled before reaching into the volcanic flow, the manga shifted and retched before opening and leaving a place for him to touch, there he reached and pulled out what would be his weapon.
"Hesitation will be my end if I do so." Swinging the halberd with a single motion sent out a shockwave that cooled the steel in the process.
"Rill, focus!" Vauntuss said beneath his breath with Charlotte easily taking notice.
"Oh, you worry too much. He'll be fine."
"In a head-to-head match, I'd agree. He doesn't do all that well against more 'shifty types'. Hmm." Vauntuss responded.
"Then let this be his chance to learn." She said, trying to calm his stern expression.
"All right then, my gut was right." Ren answered, as he got into his stance, strangely he stood unarmed but from the ferocity of the magic streaming out his body.
The grey-colored force of his aura blasted away at the earth and eroded the dirt around where he stood, all who were watching knew that the battle was to begin.