The chamber's ambient noise is immediately noticeable. Between Biana's snoring—so deeply that her face is flattened on the table, drool pooling beneath her chin—and Lysandra's casual remarks about how pathetic Biana looks, I can hardly think straight. The only saving grace is Isadora, who sits there, munching on appetizers without a care in the world.
Raelle's sigh pulls me from my inner rant. "Ugh, you brought them along?"
I groan internally. Dammit... why don't they leave me alone? I think, catching Lysandra's mischievous smirk out of the corner of my eye. I shoot her a warning look. "Don't even think about it."
Lysandra merely shrugs, an innocent smile plastered on her face. "What? I just think it's hilarious how Biana's like a baby, drooling all over your fancy council table."
Biana lets out a louder snore in response, and I roll my eyes. I can already see Lysandra's gears turning, planning her next move to provoke Biana. If it weren't for the table separating them, I'm pretty sure they'd already be going at it.
"Don't worry about them, Raelle," I reassure, hoping to move the conversation along. "They're just bored. Just... ignore them." I give Biana a nudge with my foot, hoping she'll wake up, but she only mumbles something incoherent and continues snoring. Loud as hell, I think, holding back a smirk.
But before I can enjoy the momentary peace, Raelle reaches out to Isadora. "Nice to meet you, Isadora. You are truly a genius." She pulls something out of her bag and says, "Say, have you ever thought of joining the—"
I quickly interrupt her. "Don't. Trust me, she's not interested. Please don't get on your knees and beg her; you'll just hurt your image."
Isadora, completely unfazed, continues to munch on the appetizers. This is becoming a problem. If Isadora starts getting more attention around us, it's only a matter of time before we're swamped with more bothersome people.
Raelle frowns, visibly disappointed, giving Isadora a sad look. Isadora doesn't bat an eyelid.
Rubbing my forehead in frustration, I say, "Raelle, please. Just tell me what you called me for."
"There's been a slight issue," she starts, looking serious. "For the upcoming Star Festival, there will be fun little duels—a representative from each grade stands on a stage and duels with another. Pure skill—no mana, aura, abilities. But this year, it's swordsmanship. The only applicants for the freshmen are from Kuza's or Liam's factions."
I hold back a groan. "Let me guess, you want someone from our side to represent?"
Raelle nods. "Elith said I need to maintain my image, so I can't personally ask around. I was hoping you could find someone for us. Someone like Isadora or Sera would have been perfect, but since they reached the top five in the tournament, they can't participate."
I glance at Isadora, who's now onto her third appetizer. Of course, she's not listening.
I let out an exasperated sigh. I don't mind Isadora hanging around, but she isn't the type to cut her training just to idle away. What's her game? Every time I've tried to bring it up, she deflects. It's maddening. My mind whirls, trying to puzzle out the reason behind her presence, but comes up short.
Raelle's expectant gaze brings me back to the matter at hand. Options. Who could possibly represent us? The image of Aira flashes in my mind, and I immediately dismiss it. Rai? No. He's too reliant on his affinity; pure swordsmanship isn't his forte. And then there's Zara. It's strange no one approached her directly. An idea begins to form, and a smirk plays on my lips. I see what Raelle's trying to do.
Making up my mind, I stand abruptly, causing Biana to nearly slide off the table. Without a word, I scoop her up, throwing her over my shoulder like an unceremonious sack of potatoes.
"What a lazy bitch. Hey V, can't you just drop her... let me drag her around." Lysandra starts, looking both amused and alarmed.
Ignoring her, I direct my words to Raelle. "I'll get you who you want. But next time, avoid these stupid games. I've already made it clear I don't plan to join any group." My voice is low and tinged with annoyance. I'm done playing Raelle's little politics.
Raelle's eyes widen, then she sighs, looking slightly defeated. "I just wanted to make sure," she begins, her tone apologetic. "I truly have no ill intentions."
As I walk towards the door, my own personal noisy entourage in tow, I glance back and wave dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. I don't blame you, but don't do it again. I don't have the time for these games."
★ ★
Striding through the hallways, a sense of relief washes over me. I barely managed to give the lot of them the slip. Thank god. But now, the real task begins: How the hell am I going to convince Zara? I've never really spoken to her. She's brilliant with techniques, a prodigy even. But her control over mana and aura? Not her strongest suit.
Just as I approach Class B's area, a familiar voice pulls me from my thoughts. "Hey, V!"
I glance over to see Sera approaching, a genuine smile lighting up her face. It feels like a punch in the gut every time I see her now. The guilt is insurmountable. "Hey Sera," I greet, forcing a smile of my own, "Feeling better?"
She nods enthusiastically, "Oh, definitely! Had a nasty bout of food poisoning. But Nyssa's been so helpful, I've never felt better."
Nyssa. My blood simmers just at the thought. She's been whispering poison into Sera's ears, slowly corrupting the good-natured soul I knew. She doesn't deserve to be manipulated by those twisted cultist views. I'm desperate to pull her from Nyssa's influence, but first, I need Sera to fight back on her own, once the match is lit... Only then can I truly intervene. But for now, I have to play along. I'm sure will be real angry with me once this is all over.
"That's good to hear. Nyssa seems to help out a lot. She's a great friend, isn't she?" I muse aloud, careful to keep any hint of sarcasm from my voice. I continue, rubbing my chin thoughtfully, "Didn't you two recently join the student council?"
Sera nods, pride evident in her eyes. "Yes, the student body president personally asked me. She's a truly wonderful leader. She even allowed Nyssa to join. Anyway, what brings you here?"
Smiling, I explain, "I'm looking for Zara."
Her head tilts to the side in curiosity. "Zara? Do you two know each other?"
"No, not really," I admit with a sigh. "I've heard she's proficient with a sword, and I'm in need of a sword user."
A shadow of disappointment crosses Sera's face. "Why didn't you ask me?"
I can see right through her. She's trying to use our bond, likely prompted by Nyssa's manipulations. Damn Nyssa. Trying to use Sera to get to me.
"It has to be someone who didn't make it to the top five in the tournament," I explain.
Understanding dawns on her face and her earlier disappointment vanishes. "Oh, I see. Well, since you don't know Zara, let me introduce you. I was about to head to our training grounds anyway. She usually trains there on her own."
This could work in my favor, I realize. Having Sera introduce me might make the whole interaction less awkward. "Sounds good. Let's go," I reply, grateful for the reprieve.
-
Arriving at the training grounds, the rhythmic sound of a sword's impact and exerted grunts fills the air. Eamon stands at one end of the arena, his fluid movements making his training look like a dance. But it's Zara, attacking a dummy with fierce precision, who grabs my attention. A faint glow surrounds her, a representation of her aura. The strain on her face is unmistakable—trying to master her aura while wielding the blade isn't a walk in the park.
With each step we take closer, her focus sharpens, swinging with increased vigor. Sera, bless her manipulated heart, offers a cheerful wave. Zara halts mid-swing, a thin layer of sweat glistening on her forehead. "Hey, Sera... Oh, you're... V, right?" Her voice holds a note of caution, her gaze slightly wary.
Did someone taint my reputation with malicious rumors? Damn it. Who could it be? Lysandra? No, she's annoyingly direct.
With a casual smile, I confirm, "Yup, that's me."
Sera the mediator, interjects, "V was looking for you."
Zara raises a skeptical eyebrow, her sword still gripped in her hand. "You were looking for me? That's odd. We don't know each other, so why would you seek me out?"
Before I can offer a response, Sera, always at the mercy of her new, clingy friend, exclaims, "Oh shit! I completely forgot I was supposed to meet Nyssa at the cafeteria." She waves hurriedly. "Sorry, I've got to go."
"She's so... different," I mumble, watching as Sera's retreating figure blends with the student crowd.
Zara's voice, tinged with a mix of curiosity and amusement, confirms my thoughts. "She's become really close to Nyssa. It's almost like they're in a relationship or something."
Grabbing a sword from a nearby rack, its weight familiar in my grip, I can't help but flash a smirk. "Isn't it better to talk as we duel?"
Zara's lips quirk up in interest. "Didn't know you used a sword."
Returning the sentiment with a nod, I reveal, "While martial arts are my forte, I've practiced a bit of swordsmanship. Aiming to be a jack-of-all-trades here." The only reason I brag about this is due to the fact that everyone considers training in multiple fields to be a stupid action.
My skills may not be on par with hers, but I've got a few tricks up my sleeve—like pissing people off with just a few choice words. Biana's influence, no doubt.
Zara's reaction is immediate, her posture stiffening as she drops to the ground, setting her sword aside. With an air of indifference, she pulls out a towel, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "I'm not going to spar with you. We don't know each other," she declares, her voice dripping with exasperation.
I can't help but roll my eyes internally, placing the sword back on the rack. I fold my legs, taking a seat opposite her. "Before diving into why I was looking for you," I start, rubbing the back of my neck, "I'm curious. Why didn't you join the student council? You visited the council president with Luna, didn't you?"
Her fingers dance across her chin, a hesitant look in her eyes. She's weighing her options, deciding how much she's willing to share. "I'm surprised anyone cares," she mutters, more to herself than to me. She locks eyes with mine, her gaze piercing and unyielding. "I didn't say I would join it. I simply said I was curious." Her face hardens. "I have no reason to tell you why."
Damn, she's cold. And here I thought I had mastered the art of dealing with frigid personalities. "I simply asked out of curiosity. No need to get mad," I reply, the hint of sarcasm evident in my voice. Looking directly into her eyes, I press on, "What did Aira offer you?"
Without waiting for a response, I stand up and grab another sword, swinging it casually to get a feel for its balance. Zara's face remains unchanged, a wall of steely resolve. "I have no clue what you're talking about," she snaps back.
Her tone is confident, but her poker face sucks. I chuckle softly, pointing the blade at a nearby dummy. "You know, it's funny," I muse, coating the sword with a faint glow of aura. "How unfair the world can be."
Zara raises an eyebrow, obviously skeptical, but I continue, "Some people effortlessly control their powers." With a swift motion, I slice the dummy in half. "And then there are those who, despite their profound understanding of technique, still struggle with aura. Quite the unfair world, wouldn't you say?"
Her lips press into a thin line, but she doesn't comment. Taking this as a silent invitation, I coat the sword in mana. The blade glistens, reflecting the sunlight. "Aura didn't work out for you. Maybe magic would? But it's a bummer, right? Casting magic might hinder your growth."
She's visibly bristling now, her hand inching closer to her own sword. The air around us grows tense. Coating the blade with both mana and aura, I drop it dramatically in front of her, my grin widening. "Let me let you in on a little secret, Zara. I've been training for less than a year. And yet, both my magic and aura are at a higher level than yours."
The sheer audacity of my statement finally breaks her stoic facade. Her teeth clench, her grip on her sword tightening. The angry flames in her eyes are the reaction I've been waiting for.
Hah! That's it. I've got her exactly where I want her.