As the crowd's cheers echoed in his ears, Luke felt the familiar blue panel appear before him once again.
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SKILL ARCANE STEPS SKILL EFFICIENCY TO NEXT LEVEL [ 5% ]
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Luke smirked, taking a moment to revel in the progress. "Even a brat like him can give me progress"
Luke smirked, taking a moment to revel in the progress. "Even a brat like him can push my skills forward," he muttered to himself.
"The system doesn't distinguish," he added under his breath, the smirk lingering as he sheathed his blade. Without acknowledging the roaring crowd any further, he began walking toward the cafeteria, his stomach finally reminding him it was time for lunch.
As he rounded a corner, Reyard caught up to him, his usual laid-back demeanor intact. "Nice moves out there," Reyard said, a hint of amusement in his tone. "But I'll have you know, getting an arena title is just the start of one's perilous journey."
Luke chuckled faintly. "You make it sound like I've already bitten off more than I can chew."
"Just saying. Silent Vanguard's got a ring to it, but titles attract attention. Not all of it's good." Reyard flashed a grin as they walked into the cafeteria together.
They grabbed their meals and found a vacant table near the edge of the bustling room. Luke took a seat, quietly digging into his food, while Reyard lounged across from him, casually spinning a fork between his fingers.
The peace didn't last long.
A group of students approached their table, their sneering faces betraying their intentions. The leader, a tall, broad-shouldered boy with a cocky swagger, slammed his tray onto the table and leaned forward, staring directly at Luke.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" the boy sneered. "One bug eating with another?"
The others behind him snickered, throwing in muttered insults and exaggerated laughs.
Luke remained calm, not even looking up from his plate. He stabbed a piece of meat with his fork, chewing slowly as if they weren't there.
Reyard leaned back in his chair, his hands behind his head, looking as relaxed as ever. "You guys should work on your insults. I think I've heard better from second-year kids trying to sound tough."
The leader's face twisted into a scowl, his pride visibly stung. "You think you're funny, huh? You're nothing but a washed-up has-been, Reyard. And you"—he jabbed a finger in Luke's direction—"don't think for a second that your little wins in the arena mean anything."
Luke finally glanced up, his gaze steady and unbothered. "I wasn't aware this table came with entertainment," he said flatly. "But if you're not going to contribute anything useful, feel free to leave."
The leader's face turned red, and the guys behind him murmured in outrage. "You've got a big mouth for someone who doesn't know his place," the leader snapped, slamming his fist onto the table.
Luke's expression didn't change, but there was a subtle shift in the air. His presence, calm yet overwhelming, silenced the murmurs around them. "If you're trying to make a point, do it somewhere else. You're disturbing my lunch," Luke said, his voice low but firm.
Reyard chuckled, breaking the tension. "He's got a point. We don't really care enough to deal with this right now. So why don't you scurry off before this gets embarrassing?"
The leader hesitated, his bravado faltering under Luke's unwavering gaze and Reyard's relaxed confidence. Eventually, he huffed and turned away, muttering under his breath. His group followed, shooting glares over their shoulders, while there was another glare at Luke, It was from the Table not far but within eyes sight
It was the table at which Conrad sat at
'Different Groups, Same Type huh?' Luke thought
As the cafeteria returned to its usual chatter, Reyard smirked and leaned forward. "You've got a talent for making enemies, huh?"
Luke shrugged. "They're not enemies. Just noise."
Reyard laughed, raising his glass in mock salute. "To dealing with noise, then."