Fate didn't even make it out of the cafeteria before one of Indran's followers appeared in his path.
The girl materialized in a flash of light, causing him to squint through it. Through force of will, he managed to keep himself from closing his eyes. The last time he did so, the imp shaman had killed Bregg without him even noticing. He didn't want to be blindsided like that again.
'What is it with women and zooming across the room to block my path? First Tresbeney, now her?'
The girl before him was a head shorter than Fate, with long brown hair and shimmering green eyes. She was his age, maybe older, but looked like someone's lost little sister more than an uppity noble. Her cute little button nose was raised in a fashion typical for nobles, and Fate could tell it was high in the air for reasons other than their differences in height forcing her to look up.
Like her fellows, she wore white robes, but she didn't even notice as she stared down someone a full Stage above her. Fate had to admire her guts
He affixed her with a stare of utter disinterest as waited for her to start her self-righteous blabbering. She just stood there, eyes quaking with rage and small chest heaving with anger as her face grew red.
Deciding to break the silence, or he'd be there all day, he asked "Do you need something?"
Her rage was replaced by smug satisfaction as she smirked. Did he lose some stupid social game? Oh, well.
"A commoner like you wouldn't understand," she grinned, the word 'commoner' thrown out of her mouth with all the distaste of drinking spoiled milk. "What you've just done is insult Sir Indran's noble lineage, grounds for a duel to preserve his honor."
"I did no such thing," Fate said tiredly. "I insulted him. Not a single word left my lips regarding his family. Aren't nobles supposed to be well-educated? How could you get something so simple wrong?"
The girl's little nose twitched at the slight. "If you don't want to admit your fault, that's fine. You can keep digging yourself into a deeper hole. Regardless, you have insulted me just now, and that is something I cannot tolerate. I, Kathrin Grendeven challenge you to a duel! Decline if you wish; it'll show the Academy how much of an honor-less coward you are."
"No offense, little girl, but you wouldn't stand a chance," Fate said with a smirk. "Even without my Skill, I can kick your ass."
"I won't be fighting you, obviously," Kathrin sneered. "Duelists must be of the same Stage. No, my big brother will put you in your place on my behalf."
"Now, Kathrin," Indran said with a smile, having crossed the distance during their argument. "There's no need to go so far. Fate here is right; compared to Her Majesty, I am lacking in both reputation and looks."
"I'm sorry, Indrie, but now it's personal. This punk obviously needs to be taken down a peg."
"All I wanted to do was eat my food in peace," Fate butted in with an eye roll. "You're the one acting all high-and-mighty."
Fate truly didn't think he was in the wrong here. Sure, he had compared Indran to the strongest person on the planet, but it was Indran and his girlfriends that bothered him first. Indran was the one to suggest he caved to the Febenochi siblings out of fear, Fate had just set the record straight.
Needless to say, Fate was massively anti-social. In his childhood, he went entire months without speaking to anyone other than Old Man Travis. Any time he opened his mouth to anyone else in the village, they took his words in the worst way possible.
Fate was used to people taking his words and twisting them to suit the other's narrative. He didn't like it, but he was used to it by now. Why should nobles be any different?
"Whatever," Fate said. "Set it up sometime this afternoon. I have plans this weekend that I don't feel like canceling for some uppity noble girl."
"You little –! Fine. I'll be sure to spread the video of your defeat to the Magiweb. Be at the Academy Duel Grounds in three hours." With that, Kathrin turned and stormed off.
"I apologize for her," Indran said. "She always was quick to anger."
"Just keep the rest of your crazy crew away from me," Fate said candidly, sending a short glance over to the rest of Indran's entourage. "If I get any more nobles trying to start a fight, I won't have any free time."
"I'll be sure to keep them in check," Indran promised, unbothered by the demeaning way his words could be taken.
Fate shook his head in exasperation as he left, popping out his crystal ball as he walked through the hallways.
'Set alarm for two and a half hours,' he told it, sending a pulse of Mana within.
It pulsed green in confirmation, and he stuffed it back in his ring. He made it back to his dorm room and shut the door behind him, covering his mouth as a burp left it.
'Think I might've eaten too much. But then, why don't I feel full?' His only guess was that it had to do with the type of food he ate.
The cafeteria had food infused with Mana from Life Mages to increase nutrition, but the pile of food he had eaten had none of that. He'd have to do some research on that when he got the chance. He knew better than anyone what an improper diet could do to his body.
For now, though, it was time to start working on new Spells. He had the first one done, so he just needed two more to pass the assignment. He pulled his notebook out and got to work, testing the ideas he had written inside extensively as the hours ticked by.
When the crystal ball's alarm went off, he stopped what he was doing and made sure to note down as what he could about the progress on the current Spell he was working on.
It was time to duel.