At the edge of the forest, a spatial tear formed as five figures stepped out of it before quickly mending itself.
"So, you've got a 30-yard domain now?" Aella asked
"Hmm" Orpheus nodded his head
"Then, what made you to release fire energy that much?" Tana asked
[He got angry at me over an important piece of information]
"I wasn't angry. Ii was just… *Sigh*" Orpheus stopped walking
"You know what, let's forget about that matter and face the current one at hand" Andrian gestured at academy's gate before them
[Look, for the record, I'm sorry man]
~Don't worry. It's cool ~
The five of them walked into the academy but stopped dead in their tracks on hearing the voice of someone
"He's here!!" a student yelled, instantly causing a commotion
"He's finally back?! I wonder who he's going to choose"
"He'd better choose Raya. Since she's got eight elements while he has only five"
"Can we please calm down and let him choose his opponent?" Aella spoke the gradually forming crowd before turning to Orpheus "Well, the ball's now in your court"
"You know, that sentence…" Aster suddenly spoke up "It's weird, depending on the way you interprete it"
"Really man. Keep your thoughts straight for once" Andrian sighed
"Fine" Orpheus said, ignoring the conversion happening behind him "I choose…"
~I can't choose Emilios since he is far stronger than I am. Which leaves me to rank 27 and 28 ~
"… Rank 28~ he completed his sentence
"I'll pass" a female voice said from the crowd, making everyone to turn their heads towards her
"Why would you refuse?" Rhea asked Raya in a hushed tone
"You want to challenge him, right?" Raya asked back
"Thanks a lot, girl" Rhea smiled
Hearing her abrupt refusal, Orpheus inwardly screamed a lot of curses at no one in particular. Without him noticing, sweat began to roll down his face while he began to fidget.
[I guess you'll have to fight rank 27 then. Who knows? You may not even lose that easily]
~Which means you think I'm going to lose?! But not easily?! ~ Orpheus screamed in his head ~The aura she's giving is probably stronger than that of Emilios ~
[But for Emilios to be ranked higher than her, it means he's a stronger, right?]
"Urgh! Rank 27 it is" Orpheus finally made his choice after much hesitation, causing a tumult
"He chose the battle demon? He's dead for sure"
"I understand his choice though. Emilios is far stronger than him while Raya is not even interested in fighting him"
"Whatever the case, he's a walking corpse. How can a recent intermediate magus take on a veteran advanced magus?"
"He's done it before. I guess today won't be any different"
"This is different! Marios was just a beginner. He hadn't even had any good knowledge of his elements"
"Hmmm, maybe you're right"
While everyone was discussing excitedly, Rhea walked up to Orpheus with a large smile on her face "Let's make it official, then"
"I'm dead" Orpheus shivered involuntarily while staring at her departing back before following her
…
A few minutes later,
<
"What?! When did he get back?" a pink-haired girl jumped up from her seat
"You're so ignorant" Thalia chuckled "He has been around since the day of the demi-god incident. How did you not know that? It was even the talk of the junior sect of the academy"
"I've been busy with training these days. I've been an intermediate magus for a long time, which is not good" Sara shook her head
"You humans. Your ability stuff with all the advancement whatever is so stressful. Right, Kers?" Thalia turned to her friend who was staring into space "Kers?"
~Why would she be using Astral projection? ~ Thalia asked inwardly
"Kers!"
"What is it?" Kers blinked her eyes
"Why are you using Astral projection" Thalia asked in a hushed tone
Kers answered telepathically
"Oh, that" Thalia nodded
"What?" Sara asked
"Nothing" Thalia said "Want to see the duel"
"Sure, let's go" Sara stood up and left with the usual cold, distant Kers
"Honestly, Kers. I, for one, do not know why you want me to do this" Thalia muttered under her breath before her face suddenly lit up with a smile "But I guess it's not that bad. Humans are not as bad as I thought. At least, not this one"
She then walked out of the refectory with a bright smile on her face that could instantly light up the depressed hearts of millions of men
…
The dueling arena soon became filled to the brim with student. Mr. Antonius walked to the center of the arena and stood upon the platform to address the students
"This evening, an official duel will be held between Orpheus, Rank 25 and Rhea, Rank 27. Now, before I commence this duel, I have been asked to pass across an important information. The annual tournament would be held in about five months from now and it will be a mixed tournament."
The whole arena instantly fell silent after the announcement. After a while, murmurs began to rise among the students with looks of confusion of their faces.
"What's a mixed tournament?" someone finally asked the question on everyone's minds
"A mixed tournament is one in which the other academies will participate and you will all fight each other" after Mr. Antonius finished his explanation, the arena became rowdy once more
"the other academies are coming here?"
"Ha, I finally get to see other ladies"
"Is it only ladies you think about?"
"That's because women are essential to life, brother"
"Such a fool"
"Can we quiet down a little" Mr. Antonius said "Now, may the contestants step forward?"
Orpheus and Rhea, with a katana in her hand, walked towards the risen platform from opposite sides of the arena
"I believe you are already aware of the rules?" Mr. Antonius asked and both of them nodded their heads
"Okay, take your stances," he raised his right hand and brought it down "Begin!"
"Hey!" Orpheus yelled out to Rhea "Let's make a bet, shall we?"
His strange question instantly threw everyone into confusion. Some were even looking at him like he was a retarded mad man
"Why would he want to bet when he'll still lose anyway"
"That's right. It's totally pointless to bet right now"
"I still want to hear the bet though"
"What is he trying to do this time??" Tana asked in confusion "Costas, do you have any idea?"
[I don't know. It seems I stopped hearing his thoughts after his advancement]
"What bet?" Rhea asked, puzzled
"It's a pretty easy one" Orpheus answered "If I win, you become my master. But if you win, ask for anything you anything you want. As long as it is within my power, I'll give it to you"
"What kind of absurd bet is that?!" someone in the audience yelled
"This is outrageous. He's already privileged to have one of the top beauties in the junior segment challenge him. But to ask for a master-disciple relationship?"
"He'll be attacked by every single boy in the academy, even if he loses"
Everyone, especially the males, began to show some sort of disagreement towards the bet Orpheus had put out. At some point, they wished they were the ones fighting him so they could go down there and beat him senseless but Rhea's answer would probably do the work
"Hmmm" Rhea put her hands on her jaw "Sure, I agree to the bet"
"What… the… f***!!!!!" another person yelled in disbelief
"She agreed?!"
"Let's relax. He probably won't win"
"There's 'probably' in that sentence. He's done it before"
"Why would she agree?" Raya muttered in shock
"Hahaha! Smart brat!" Aster laughed "He was actually going to need one sooner or later"
"This means more work" Tana sighed
"How?" Aster asked
"We'll have to work harder to keep the truth hidden" Andrian explained
"We've been doing it. It won't be harder to keep on doing it" Aster shrugged "By the way, Andrian. What's with the absurd condition you put the poor brat in?"
"It was necessary." Andrian said in a calm voice "For him to grow, he'll need to face stronger enemies and even experience the feeling of losing a battle, or, his growth won't be stable"
"Let's get on with the fight. Shall we?" Rhea said and her energy instantly spiked
Suddenly, the gravity of the earth 50 yards way from her increased drastically.
"She also has a domain?" Orpheus clicked his tongue
[Worse, it's a 50-yard domain. You're in deep shit]
"Are you friggin' kidding me?" his eyes widened in shock
"What's wrong? Scared?" Rhea smiled, sending a chill down her opponent's spine
"*Sigh* I guess I have no choice than to fight" Orpheus raised his senses to the max
"I see you're ready then." Rhea said and disappeared from her position
"Where's she?" Orpheus searched around before looking up in shock and saw Rhea swinging her leg towards him to perform the axe kick "Shit!"
*Boom*