Regret was all written over Aoto's face.
He had a total of twelve fairy assistants, but more than assistants, they acted like little kids and annoyed him everyday with their antics after their work was over.
And Jack was one of the most naughty among the fairies.
"Jack… give me Sylvie's booty."
"Har de har~ Master, ye not taking my booty that easily."
The little fairy with a pirate cap and a small cheetos for the hand, ran away with a vial of honey dew away from Aoto.
"Everyone, capture him. Or he will steal your food as well." Aoto cried, causing other fairies of different elements to stop what they were doing during their free time and rush toward Jack.
But being a wind fairy, he easily dodged their obstacles, becoming closer to escaping and reaching his secret place.
Though, before he could fully escape from a corner, a hand came out of knowledge and caught him in an instant.
"Mosquitoes?"
This was none other than Lev, who had been training in the same underground fortress as Aoto and had been given his own place to practice.
But due to him being newly awakened, he was honing his skills and learning to reach a higher level where his ability can be appreciated by FIX.
So he did his best, only meeting Aoto once and unaware of the little fairies, due to his training.
"Sto…"
"You stopped him already."
"Him?" Lev was originally going to crush the little insect in his hand, but found that it was harder to do so and he can hear some cries as well.
So when he opened it, he was surprised to see a small human with wings in his hand. "Ye big man dare to harm me booty?"
"What the fuck is this?"
******
"Today's assembly is to inform every student that the registration for the inter-city tournament has started. We will be sending you your Trainee ID as well as the registration site to your emails."
"Participation is not mandatory, though those interested, can fill in the form…"
The announcement echoed in the academy hallways, which caused some of the students who were still not aware to start looking up their phone and register as fast as they could.
Something which Luvi already did a day ago, even before the announcement of the academy.
Though that was not the issue.
Since the last few days, after the training with Idhant is over, Luvi would discuss plans and how to improve their synergy and Idhant, with how much he usually struggled to speak, put forward some great suggestions.
But that was only the early preparations. With the registrations on, the tournament officials also released the artificial dungeon that will be used in this competition.
The first time, it would be used in gauntlet runs where a team of five have to deal with various obstacles and defeat the small beast at the very end at the fastest pace possible.
The second was the hunt, where a stronger beast would be at play and the previous map would be divided into six different sections and the participants would be forced to compete in their given area and hunt the beast as fast as possible.
The only issue is, this would make it harder to properly plan ahead, as there would be a total of six different smaller areas that would be used as arenas and each would require different preparation and tools.
Which they won't learn until they enter the arena themselves.
"This is going to be an issue. Idhant, it seems you have been researching these areas a lot, right?"
"Tell me, have you found out the areas where that counter fungus would be present?" Luvi asked, although a bit annoyed by the choice to divide the arena in six pieces.
Originally, like before, the students were given the whole original dungeon for themselves and the hunts were conducted one by one.
But for some reason this year, this was completely ignored by the tournament organizers. Which went to show that they were not giving much precedence to the hunt this time.
It was treated almost as an afterthought.
Which also means that the audience interest in the hunts was not as big as other competitions.
"Only tw..two arenas I think, nothing more than that. W…we can only be considered lucky to get those…"
"So we can only treat it as a plan B and nothing more."
"Wait, are you guys actually making plans for the tournaments?" Suddenly, a flock of nobodies came from the back, though each of them had some familiar face.
But due to old habit of Luvi, he barely remembered their name and hence had a confused face when he saw them for the first time.
"Da fuck you smirking like a mule after acting nosey all of a sudden. Fuck off, before I claim that you sexually harrassed me."
"Oh.."
Then the group turned their way around, ignoring the two who were busy having their little discussion in the public.
On the other hand, Idhant looked at Luvi with bright eyes, as if he was some crazy god that scared off the bullies before they even did something.
"How did you do that?"
He questioned, through his time practicing with Luvi. he had come to learn that Luvi was not so stupid and crazy as people have claimed him to be.
No, he was a lot more thoughtful than he appeared. Just like now, how he acted like a completely crazy, stupid as well as vulgar man to scare off some bullies, which would have usually ended up humiliating him.
So he was surprised, how can Luvi force them off so easily.
"Oh that?..." Luvi looked toward the group, who had slowly walked back to where they came from, while messaging something on their phone.
Which caused Luvi to smile a little.
"It's simple my friend. A student of our age should have no spine, pride or shame. None of it matters in an academy and those that care about it are only the normies."
"Roll around in mud and make others fear you out of disgust."
"The reason those men left me was simple as well. They didn't wish to drop to my level. And knowing the things I have done in the past, they didn't dare to force me. Hah, if they hadn't run away scared, I would have cried like a little girl while claiming that they molested me."
Luvi felt proud, giving away the life lesson he had learned after hard work and suffering from an uncountable number of struggles. Something, he rarely told anyone close to him. But considering how many great gifts Idhant has brought him recently, he didn't mind telling some of his secrets.
Though, Idhant's face twisted a bit.
"Bother, forget what I asked. I still have a family and… and I don't want them to know.. Ho.. how I turned out."
It was as if a tight slap was thrown at Luvi's face.
Yes, if alone in the world, these kinds of actions are harmless to one as long as they achieve their purpose. But in the case of people with family, a family they wish would be proud of them. It would be hard for them to follow Luvi's example.
Only undesirables and orphans can follow Luvi's method. Not normal people.
It was why, even though Andy was so close to Luvi, he never actually picked up on any of Luvi's habits.
"Fuck you man!!"
*****
The tournament was going to be conducted in an old cricket stadium which has now been resonated to hold mega events for the public, after the sport of Cricket lost all its popularity with the advent of awakened as well as world war three.
Though, this was the case for most of the sports. The interest in the majority of them dwindled as the old days of gladiatorial arenas began again.
With few exceptions that is. A modified version of football still remains, as does tennis. But badminton was gone and so were various Olympic sports.
Though none of that mattered much to the present day public. Now, the stadium which used to host India's most popular sport has turned into catering entertainment to a completely different kind of crowd.
A crowd that wished to see some blood.
"That bastard really found someone?"
"Yes, though, it's not anyone special. Instead, we should be happy, if that bastard didn't take part in this competition, our plan would have been a failure."
"Still, would that murderous family even care for their abandoned puppy?"
"They won't care for his life, but that young man still carries their name, and that will be enough to hurt their prestige."
"I still suggest canceling the plan, he is a nobody and the amount of resources we have to burn to kill him are immense. It would be completely stupid to burn so many bridges to just take out some nobody."
"Don't be a coward, sister. Some sacrifices are necessary to make others understand, that the Red hawks do not forget."
"And we will not stop, until that whole family line has ended."
"So say it with me sister…. Red hawks never forget."
"... Red Hawks never forget."