Chapter 7 - Challenge

"Hey, are you ignoring me!? I asked you a fucking question, you mutt!"

With that, the blonde-haired man pushed Typhon's shoulder, causing him to shift slightly, yet he didn't move from his position. This caused some confusion in the man as Typhon would usually be forced to the ground with a push like that. Instead, Typhon looked the man dead in the eyes.

"Evan Liddel... are you trying to start something?"

Slightly taken aback by the coolness of his voice, Evan took a slight step back as a silent pressure bore down on him as Typhon spoke, but he quickly gathered himself and grabbed Typhon's collar.

"You think you can speak to me like that, huh?! I think your accident must've rattled that brain of yours if you think I'd take that lying down!"

Evan drew back his fist to punch Typhon in the face, but Typhon broke Evan's hold on him and dodged out of the way, causing his fist to instead strike the empty air where Typhon was. Typhon put a bit of distance between them and made a show of dusting his collar off. Seeing himself being taken so non-seriously, Evan's face grew red with anger. However, he was so blinded by rage that he didn't question how Typhon was able to break his hold, nor how he was able to move so quickly.

"You fuck, stay still!"

Charging forward, Evan tried to strike Typhon again. However, it was clear to Typhon that Evan was by no means an experienced fighter, his technique was sloppy, and he left many openings as he dashed forward. Dodging such an attack was something Typhon could do with relative ease, even down an eye and an arm. Typhon easily side-stepped the attack and casually stood to the side with no tension evident in his body. Seeing his attack dodged twice now, Evan made a violent gesture to his lackeys.

"C'mon you useless fucks, help me kick his ass!"

Startled by their leader's shout, the two that had followed Evan sprang into action and began attacking Typhon from behind. But these people had no form, even less form than Evan, and Typhon began dodging and weaving between their clumsy blows. Typhon had several chances to strike back, but he let their mature attacks continue. To people like Evan, being physically overpowered wasn't as humiliating as being publically toyed with. However, by simply dodging their blows and acting unbothered, he was showing the observers that they weren't a real threat, and with Typhon's current reputation, that was a severe blow to their pride.

Seeing that his lackeys were failing to land any hits on Typhon, Evan snapped and splayed his hand out with his arm outstretched in front of him.

"Dodge this, you crippled fuck!"

Several bright red circles lit up around Evan's wrist, and a red ball of flames gathered in his palm. The ball grew for a few seconds before Evan yelled,

"Release!"

And the ball of flame shot from his palm towards Typhon. However, before it could reach him, a white bolt of energy shot out from behind Typhon and evaporated the ball of flame. Everyone's attention turned to where the bolt came from, where they saw a young female professor in a formal suit holding up her left hand with a single finger pointed at where the fireball was. She walked towards the group in a confident stride.

Typhon's gaze was drawn to her as she came closer. Her hair was ashen and styled in a pixie cut, with a long swathe of hair falling to the right side of her face. She had thin-rimmed glasses that sat on her face, framing her intellectual beauty nicely. Coupled with her professional attire, Typhon found her attractive yet cold, like she was anathema to showing feelings, as even now, walking towards a fight between students, she had a completely blank expression on her face.

"Mr Liddel, using combat magic outside of designated classrooms or the sports grounds is a punishable offence. Not to mention that you were engaged in a physical fight where you were clearly the aggressor. You and your friends will be dealt with according to the academy's rules."

"Professor Cindell, why are you standing up for this guy!?"

"Because I watched the entire fight. You engaged in conversation first, and you attacked first. Had Mr Typhon attacked back, you would both be facing punishment. However, he simply dodged your attacks."

Evan was about to retort until he caught something that the professor said.

"Mr Typhon? Not Mr Von Ellar?"

Professor Cindell nodded and adjusted her glasses.

"That is correct. Three days ago, Mr Typhon lost his family name. It was officially changed in the government's system, and yesterday we officially changed it in our system."

Professor Cindell looked to Typhon to see if he had any reaction to the news. To her slight surprise, Typhon had a small smile on his face instead of the despair she had expected. To nobles, their name meant everything to them, as it was their name that afforded them special privileges in society. When someone loses their family name, typically, they only lasted a few days before claiming their own lives out of shame or by challenging someone much more powerful than them to reclaim some sense of worth, only to die in the intervening match.

Yet Typhon wasn't hurt by those words. Instead, he seemed somewhat invigorated by them. Evan, hearing that Typhon had lost his family name and by extension, their protection, began to laugh.

"I see! So they finally decided to cast you off, huh? Well, it was about fucking time if you ask me. Trash like you was just a stain on the family; they'll be better off without you mudding up their reputation time and time again."

Murmurs filled the crowd, many talking down on Typhon and calling him names, while others were partially worried that they'd have a suicide on their hands in a few days. Carmine was standing by the car with her fists balled in rage at the incident. Seeing her new acquaintance attacked was maddening, yet she could do nothing since he was in her brother's body, and she couldn't afford to be seen helping her brother. Professor Cindell snapped her fingers, and the crowd focused back on her.

"Quiet now. To be engaging in gossip with the person in question standing in front of you is the height of shame; I expect better from the academy's students. Now that this spectacle is over, hurry on back to your rooms."

"Professor, before that, may I ask something?"

Professor Cindell raised an eyebrow at Typhon's question before nodding in ascent.

"Go on."

"While I may not be a noble, there has still been a slight at myself issued by Evan Liddel, not to mention years of abuse at his hands which the academy has done nothing about."

"Are you accusing the academy of encouraging his behaviour?"

"Is failure to act not just tacit approval?"

Professor Cindell narrowed her eyes as she kept her gaze trained on Typhon.

"So what do you want? Compensation?"

"In a sense. I'm sure that since the academy has facilitated my abuse, they would be more than happy to facilitate my redemption as well, right?"

Professor Cindell's eyes twitched slightly at Typhon's words, yet she kept her calm. She thought for a brief moment before a slight smile graced the edges of her mouth.

"While your claims against the academy are false, there have always been disputes between students that simple mediation could never solve. For that reason, we created a way in which students could prove who was superior in a test of aptitude. So challenge Mr Liddel to a duel, and you may sort out your differences in the arena in a sanctioned match."

Carmine's eyes widened at the professor's words. She was about to speak up, but Typhon beat her to the punch.

"Evan Liddel, I challenge you to a duel."

"I accept."

They were too quick for Carmine to stop him from doing something stupid. Professor Cindell saw the look on Carmine's face and grimaced internally. She felt bad for the girl, having a brother who she loved as a family member yet who brought her down at every turn. She was certain that Typhon would have declined the challenge and been laughed at, but he defied her expectations and actually issued the challenge. Now, as the most senior staff member in the vicinity, she had to arbitrate the date and time of the duel.

"How soon would you like this duel to take place?"

"Well, I'm still a bit injured from my accident, so I'll need at least a week to ensure I'm in the best condition I can be in."

Professor Cindell turned to Evan.

"Is this timeframe acceptable to you?"

"Bah! Give him two weeks to make sure; I wouldn't want him claiming to be injured before the match as a cop-out."

"I accept two weeks." Typhon followed up.

"Then, in two weeks a duel between Mr Typhon and Mr Liddel will take place in arena 1. Further details will be sent to your personal email addresses. If one party fails to show, it will be the other party's automatic victory. May the best mage win."

And with those words, Professor Cindell turned on her heels and walked away. Evan scoffed at Typhon before walking into the dormitory with his goons behind him. As the crowd also dispersed around them, excitedly talking to one another, Typhon looked to Carmine; seeing her angry look, he couldn't help but give a boyish smirk.

"Looks like we'll have to get to work on those lessons, huh?"