ANGUS
"Who consumes these mundane toasts with butter or jam for breakfast?" Augustine held a slice of toast from one of its corners.
There he goes again.
"It is too early for your princess-like tantrums." Benjamin groaned out from across me and Augustine from the other side of the table. He was right. It was literally breakfast.
"Save your tiff for some other time and learn to adjust." I stuffed a slice of toast with butter spread over it into my mouth. I took no thrill in their spat today.
"Indeed. Angus definitely deserves some tranquillity to ease his mind for today's match!" Benjamin shifted the topic instantly. Tranquillity. Indeed. As if all these students around me aren't rattling.
"All the best for the match, mate. Though I am certain that the victory will be yours. You already killed the try-outs." Augustine commented.
The try-outs certainly worked out for me.
"The Trues are poised for victory." I smirked. I was confident about it. The team didn't have any lacking point.
"The Partials' skills are merely half good anyway." Benjamin glanced at the Partials' table in the dining hall behind me. He was bigoted and loathed the Partials and Pretentious.
"Is Kristian here?"
It wasn't difficult to identify the shrilly voice. "Good morning to you too, Samirah." I said as I watched her slip into the chair beside Benjamin. The spot usually occupied by Kristian.
"Looking good in that uniform, Angus." Samirah said as she helped herself with a toast.
"You are not looking at bad either." I complimented, being aware about the glare I am earning from Benjamin. The True Aerofence team uniform was certainly functional and stylish at the same time. The Navy-Blue uniform was good-looking for me even though I didn't know a thing about fashion.
Aerofence.
The most lauded sport of Elowyn.
Briefly, it can be explained as fencing that is done while riding on a Pegasus as the players race to the finish line. One notable factor is that attacking the opponent is a vital factor.
It is a team game. Though an alternate version of it consisting of a single player against the opponent exists.
There are 6 players in one team, consisting of the Aerius, who mainly focuses on speeding to the finish line, the Wingblade that is the primary attacker, the Pegasi who is like a mender that is bestowed temporary magic to heal any hurt Pegasus, the Aerowatch that notifies the team about the opponent's tactics, the Flightshield or primary defender and the Windrunner that supports all the positions.
The race overall doesn't have much obstacles.
However, the adversary team makes up for that.
The Trues held try-outs on the last weekend of August and a new team was formed. Prince Gilbert of Syldavia under Aethenburg, was the captain and the Aerius of our team. He was in the 4th year. Princess Daphne, of Mirabel under Versona, 2nd year was the Pegasi. Prince Philodemus, Pristine's older brother, 5th year was the Aerowatch and Prince Lawrence of Storrington, Brindlemark, 3rd year was the Windrunner.
The positions of the Wingblade and Flightshield were vacant as the previous ones graduated. Hence, I and Samirah managed to attain the positions of the Wingblade and the Flightshield respectively.
Today is the first match of this year.
True vs Partial.
"So, where is Kristian?" Samirah shifted closer to Benjamin who was resembling a tomato. "Patricia." Benjamin muttered. Samirah's curious face fell immediately. "What do you mean?"
"He has been courting her." I explained. "What?!" She shrieked and shot up. "Why?!"
"He fancies her." Benjamin prompted. "But that doesn't make any sense!" Samirah refuted. "Why are you so stirred about it?" I calmly asked. Colour appeared to be washed away from Samirah's face.
"Indeed. Is he not your best friend's ex-boyfriend? Aren't you girls always slandering your friend's ex-boyfriends?" Augustine hissed. "I… I just desire Kristian and Irene to be together again!" Samirah stammered.
"Irene?" Benjamin glanced momentarily at Irene flirting with a second-year prince a little farther from us.
"They're not happening, Sam. Let it go." I suggested. Samirah stared at me for a few seconds. "I'll… go search for Kristian." Samirah bolted out of the dining hall. Benjamin's eyes were fixed on her fading figure.
"Don't be late for the match!!" I yelled after her.
She wasn't.
The match started soon after the breakfast.
Wisteria Royal Academy was built on a small island named Elysian. The school campus was enormous. Almost occupying around 75% of the island's area.
Hence, the race would start from the entrance of the school, going around the island, entering through the back gate of the school and ends at the initial point.
Almost all the students had gathered here, seated on temporary bleachers, exhorting their teams.
I was on my Pegasus, positioned betwixt Bernard, the son of the Duke of Delphinia and a first-year student and Sigrid, the daughter of a count of Brindlemark. They were the Windrunner and Pegasi respectively.
And they always boiled my blood.
I wasn't against people other than blue blood attending the school. I just despised the Partial's Aerofence team particularly.
It motivated me to rout them.
Our Aerofence coach, Professor Patrick blew the royal trumpet, signalling the start of the race. I quickly made my Pegasus rise in the air. Many of the players flew past me. I let them.
Flying a few miles, I turned my Pegasus around to bring the tactic to fruition that our team had schemed. I stayed stationed at that one spot for a few seconds until the Aerowatch of the other team reached me.
The best thing about Aerofence?
There were no rules.
I smirked as I pulled out my fencing sword and pointed it at the Aerowatch who slowed down. Our ruse was to take down the Aerowatch first. So that he won't be able to notify his teammates about any of our gambits.
Nolan, second-year, son of a baron of Barandal. Tall, lean with a skin like polished ebony and dark curly locks.
"You shouldn't be attacking me. I suppose going after the Aerius would've been a better option." He dragged out his sword, his eyes fixed on mine. I despise him already. Though I haven't spoken to him even once till today.
"I don't take advice from the opponent." I glided forward, aiming a strike.
My intention isn't to hurt him, but to sprang that sword out of his grip and he would be ejected.
The Aerowatches are never meant to get a head-on. They always remain subtle. They are cunning and observe the opposite team's ploy. Hence, taking him down didn't trouble me at all.
Soaring forward, I then went for the Pegasi. No healer, no revival.
Eventually, our team took down one after the another. Though in course of the game, our Windrunner and Flightshield were taken down, we still won the match as Gilbert was successful in crossing the finish line first even though two members were taken down from each team.
Confetti rained over us as the Trues cheered and applauded for us. Some of the Pretentious were clapping too while all the Partials at the bleachers appeared to be brooding.
"We did it, man!" Gilbert declared with gusto, his fair tall and lean figure with wavy hair towering the rest of us when the team gathered by the finish line.
"Everyone played well. The training appears to have paid off. We shall rejoice our triumph with a bash!" Gilbert declared. "Bash?" I questioned. "Yes man, we celebrate our victory with a party for every win!" Philodemus shoved me playfully.
"And where does this soiree take place?" I was sceptical about this. I wasn't much riveted by bashes.
"The True's common room after the dinner. It prolongs through the night. The shindig always makes up for the tiring training sessions." Princess Daphne prompted.
"It will be nice if you come, Angus. The whole stratum enjoys the bash. You will too." Prince Gilbert smiled gently.
I am not quite certain about that.
"Should I not come, Prince Gilbert, it will be my first bash as well. But you are just intent on Angus." Samirah pouted. "Oh no, definitely not. I will be honoured if both the two of you would be present." Gilbert immediately said.
I would rather complete my slumber.