"I've always wanted to ask this." He stopped right in his tracks, Minerva looked back with her eyebrow raised at him.
"What is it?" She replied.
"I noticed not a lot of people from other classes talk to one another, why is that?"
"Well, it is an unwritten rule in this academy to not talk to people from other classes unless it's important."
He walked to the nearest bench and sat on it. "I.. Don't get it."
She followed suit. "Each class holds their own pride, each believes they are better than the rest in their year, or maybe in the whole academy, especially 5-2 for the fifth years." She crossed her arms. "That'd be because the First, Third and Fourth Undefeated; Noelle Trysta, Meredith Galena and Damon Galena are at 5-2. Each year and their sections are like clans in a way, their leaders are the strongest in their class—that makes me the leader of our class."
"Everything here seems so power-based." He scoffed.
"It just evolved. When the 'Undefeated System' was introduced, it was made to instil order in the academy as it kept growing in numbers, they thought it would be a good idea to do so through power. The weak can't win against the strong, right?" Sévir nodded. "That's where these clan-like traditions started, students from the same class united so they can protect each other when things go south with this new 'Undefeated Octet' group. They won't let one fall alone, they will either fall with them or save them from falling.
Since teachers from those days were known to be very competitive with each other, their respective classes got involved, they led their classes to compete with each other again and again until it became what it is today."
"I see.. Sounds.. Boring." He yawned.
She smiled as she stood up. "Everything for you is boring, isn't it?"
"Pretty much." He stood up. "Break time is ending in a few minutes, I'm heading back." He walked away.
Is there anything not boring for him? She rubbed her chin.
...
The class found themselves in Stadium #2 once again, sitting down on the arena's ground.
Ms. Ardell walked in circles around the students, counting them. "Alright! Everyone is present today." She wore a grin on her face. "I've been waiting for this, you know!? It's four days before the tournament! WHO'S READY TO KICKASS!?" She shouted the last part as loud as possible.
The class erupted in cheers, punching their fists up in the air. "US!!!" They shouted together.
"Okay! Those who're joining the tournament, stand up!" She waved upwards.
Minerva, Percival, Sanguinex and fifteen more out of twenty students stood up, Sévir and another student remained sitting.
"Sévir and Kalvin, you won't be joining the tournament?" All eyes were on the two in an instant. The two nodded.
"Alright then, you may go to the auditorium." Sévir and Kalvin did just as she said.
"You're Sévir.. van Doren, right?" He asked as they sat down, Sévir nodded. "That's cool. I'm Kalvin." He reached his hand out. "Kalvin Fallon."
Sévir stared at his hand for a moment before slowly reaching out his own hand. This is new, he's not trying to avoid me?
They shook hands while Sévir still wondered, Kalvin smiled.
"Uh.. Why didn't you join them?" asked Sévir. "I'm still not ready." He looked down. "What about you?"
I obviously can't tell him the real reason, so.. "Same reason." He shrugged. "By the way, why aren't you avoiding me?" asked Sévir. He shrugged. "I mean, is it not allowed?"
"It's.. Allowed. But haven't you heard of the rumors about me? It's not only circulating in this school, it's everywher-"
He spoke before he could finish. "I don't like rumors, they're just boring and crappy. Don't you feel the same?" Kalvin's eyebrows furrowed.
Sévir shrugged at his question. "I guess."
"In other words, I don't believe those rumors, I'll see them by myself."
"Okay." After Sévir's reply, the two sat in silence, watching their classmates do activities.
"Do you plan to join the tournament next year?" asked Kalvin.
Sévir's eyes darted around. "Hmmm.. I don't know." He shrugged. Why is this guy still talking to me? He's starting to annoy me.. Sévir stood up. "Nature calls." Sévir quickly jumped down the auditorium, running away from the stadium.
Kalvin clasped his hands together. I pray to Daichi and Tierra for you to reach there successfully. The toilets are so far from these stadiums.
...
Minerva nudged Sanguinex's arm. "Any idea why Sévir isn't joining the tournament?"
"Why should I tell you?" She frowned.
"Well, you're always with Sévir so I figured he'd tell you why." Minerva smiled.
From a frowning face, it turned to a long face. "Actually.. He hasn't told me why either. Maybe Zephyr knows."
"Okay." She turned around and walked away.
Ms. Ardell clapped her hands as loud as possible. "That's enough chatting! Let's get to business!" As if a switch was just turned on inside them, they immediately turned silent and looked at Ms. Ardell.
These kids obey me in an instant.. I'm sooo glad to be their adviser! Everyone noticed her flash a smile, which she wiped off her face immediately.
She began walking around them in circles. "Sit down!" She shouted, they all sat down. "Okay.. You guys will be forming groups by two, so go pick your groupmates right now."
They all stood up as they approached who they wanted to group with, Minerva tapped Sanguinex on her shoulder. "Let's team up?" She smiled.
Sanguinex knitted her eyebrows. "Why should we?"
"Why not? We've worked together before, it was pretty good."
They stared at each other for a few seconds before Sanguinex sighed. "Okay. Let's team up."
Ms. Ardell clapped her hands as loud as possible once again. "Is everybody done!?" She scanned everyone. "Okay! Good!"
"So what I want you guys to do is find an opponent team, then I'll explain the rest." The class did as she said and began searching for opponent teams in the stadium.
It took a while, but they get it done eventually. "Alright! Today, you guys will be practicing your magic control. It is best to practice it when you have a teammate, since you guys will more or less do combinations when casting spells, it's vital to control the amount.
But since you guys are 5th years already, I expect your control to be at least slightly better than decent.
Also, you can use this as an opportunity to discover what you can do by blending your magic together. Mess around to find out!" Minerva and Sanguinex looked at each other and nodded.
"Now, let's go first with Minerva and Sanguinex! Where's your opponent team?" Percival and Eileen appeared beside them. "That'd be us!" said Percival.
"So we have fire and water for Sanguinex and Minerva, and we have miscellaneous–To be exact, clone and fire for Percival and Eileen." She rubbed her chin as she inched away from them. "Very interesting.. Alright! Get to the auditorium!"
Everyone but the mentioned teams rushed to the auditorium, leaving the two teams and Ms. Ardell in the arena, she swung her hand up. "BEGINNING THE COUNTDOWN!" She shouted as loud as possible.
"THREE!
...
TWO!
...
ONE!"
She swung her hand down. "BEGIN!" She ran away from the arena.