As the duel between Ashura and Jarek came to an end, Edmond hurried over to Ashura and jumped onto him. "That was amazing, Ashura!" Edmond exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. Hearing him, Professor Lum also congratulated Ashura. "Indeed it was! Not to mention, both of you utilized your combat senses unintentionally," he continued with a wide smile. "Do all of you see it now? You can all become stronger by harnessing your combat senses!" Professor Lum addressed his students.
Edric and Larieth gulped nervously while the others remained mesmerized by the duel they had just witnessed. However, they all shared the same thought: if they were the ones fighting Ashura, would they be able to win?
As Ashura walked, supported by Edmond, he glanced at the students and academy officials who had observed the fight. *With this, not even Brother Veramount can expel me easily,* Ashura thought, a hint of a smile on his face.
###HOXRRARY ACADEMY: INFIRMARY ROOM
"It's only the second day since the academy started. How on earth did both of you get injuries like this?" The nurse in the infirmary frowned as she carefully bandaged Jarek's arm while eyeing Ashura, who lay on the bed next to him, wincing slightly as she treated his scraped shoulder.
Jarek, propped up on one elbow, glanced over at Ashura with a bemused expression. "Can you believe this? That duel was incredible! Thanks to you, I actually think I can get stronger, and forgive me for what I have done before" he said, trying to mask his gratitude with bravado.
Ashura sighed dramatically, his head lolling to one side. "You know you already apologized back on the field for that. No need to go overboard again, Jarek," he muttered, his voice heavy with exhaustion. An awkward silence hung in the air, punctuated only by the soft rustle of bandages.
Jarek's curiosity got the better of him, breaking the stillness. "But if you're this strong, why do they call you 'Defactus'? That sounds pretty serious." His eyes sparkled with intrigue, shifting from his own bandaged arm to Ashura with a mix of concern and admiration.
Ashura chuckled softly, a hint of a smile creeping onto his face despite the pain. "Oh, that rumor? It's true enough. I'm just too lazy most of the time. The only reason I gave it my all today was that I thought it might actually be worth it." He leaned back, his thoughts drifting to the other students. *Compared to those who are naturally gifted, I feel like such a fraud for borrowing Nyx's power.*
An uncomfortable quiet settled again, with Jarek shifting awkwardly in his bed. "But still, I mean, you were really amazing out there. It's cool that you can push yourself when it matters," he said, trying to fill the silence, his admiration evident but tinged with a touch of envy.
Ashura stared at the ceiling, pondering his own thoughts. "Yeah, well… I have my reasons," he replied, his gaze distant. He added under his breath in a low voice, "My goals are pretty crazy; it's probably better this way. I need to show more results so I can investigate the academy."
Jarek caught a glimpse of Ashura's conflicted expression and felt a wave of warmth pass through him. "Hey, I get it," he said, suddenly feeling more comfortable despite the awkwardness. "We're all just trying to figure things out here, right? No pressure, just… keep being amazing."
Ashura sighed as he listened to Jarek's words. "Another weirdo," he murmured, shrugging his shoulders dismissively. Suddenly, the door to Infirmary swung open, and Ashura watched as Edmond strolled in, a plate heaped with food in his hands.
"Ashura! I'm here! I also brought some fruit for you!" Edmond exclaimed excitedly, making his way to Ashura's bed.
"What happened after both Jarek and I left?" Ashura asked, shifting his position to get comfortable for eating.
"Not much, really," Edmond replied, peeling a piece of fruit for Ashura. "My fight against Taryn ended quickly. It's unfortunate I still can't grasp the combat sense yet."
"Hmmm, there's no way the combat sense can be learned in one try," Jarek chimed in, rising from where he had been lying down to face Ashura and Edmond. "Even I only unintentionally used it once, and when I tried to do it again, it just... didn't work."
"Hmph, who needs advice from a raccoon?" Edmond scoffed, wrinkling his nose in disgust as he glanced at Jarek.
Jarek's eyes narrowed instantly. "What did you just say? Are you looking for a fight?!" he barked, fists clenching at his sides.
Edmond chuckled darkly, not even bothering to look up from the fruit he was peeling. "Heh, you're lucky you're in the infirmary. Otherwise, I'd already have beaten you to a pulp and tossed your body into some forgotten alleyway." His tone was cold, and his eyes flicked sideways at Jarek, a smirk curling his lips.
Between the two of them, Ashura simply leaned back, too drained to care about their usual bickering. He took another bite of the fruit Edmond had so meticulously prepared for him, savouring its sweetness while ignoring the brewing storm.
###HOXRRARY ACADEMY: STUDENT COUNCIL ROOM
Veramount sat behind his desk, surrounded by a mountain of paperwork that demanded his attention. Yet, despite the chaos, he remained poised and elegant, his movements fluid as he finally took a moment to pour himself a cup of tea. Just as he was about to enjoy a brief respite, the door burst open with a loud crash, and in stormed Mers and Alexia.
"Hey, hey, hey, Veramount!" Mers shouted, practically bounding over to Veramount's desk. He leaned in, his face mere inches from Veramount's, eyes wide with excitement. "Did you hear what just happened a few hours ago?!"
Veramount sighed, a flicker of annoyance crossing his otherwise composed features. He didn't bother looking up as he continued pouring his tea, his movements measured and precise. "No, I did not," he replied coolly. "I've been preoccupied with far too many matters. So, what exactly happened that warrants you barging in here like this?"
Mers opened his mouth to explain, but Alexia stepped forward, her voice more controlled. "There was a duel in the combat field," she began, her expression serious. "At first, it seemed like just another class exercise."
Veramount raised an eyebrow as he took a sip of his tea. "And? It's hardly unusual for students to spar against one another. What's so remarkable about it this time?"
"The duel was far from ordinary," Alexia continued, her eyes gleaming with something close to astonishment. "Both students... they accidentally tapped into combat sense during their fight."
The tea cup paused in Veramount's hand, his eyes narrowing sharply. "Combat sense?" he repeated, his voice suddenly losing its usual calm. "Are you saying they accessed it without even realizing it?"
"Shocking, right?" Mers interjected, practically vibrating with excitement. "I mean, when we were in our first year, we tried countless times just to get a glimpse of it, and we still couldn't pull it off. But these two... they just stumbled into it on their first try!"
Veramount set his cup down slowly, his fingers tapping lightly against the porcelain. A thoughtful frown tugged at his lips. "Interesting," he murmured, more to himself than to his companions. "Very interesting indeed... So, if you've come here with such urgency, that must mean you already know who they are."
Mers grinned, his eyes sparkling with the thrill of revealing the news. "The first one is Jarek Everest," he said triumphantly.
Veramount's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of recognition in his eyes. "Ah, I've heard of him. It seems the rumours surrounding his skills have some merit. And the other?" he asked, resuming his tea preparation with a calm façade, though his curiosity was clearly piqued.
Alexia exchanged a glance with Mers before stepping forward. "The other is from your own family," she said, her tone teasingly mysterious.
Veramount's brow furrowed, and he looked up with a hint of confusion. "From my family? Just one of the commoner children we granted scholarships to, I presume. I never thought we had any real talent among them," he remarked dismissively.
Alexia laughed, a light, almost mocking sound. "No, not one of the scholarship children," she said, her eyes dancing with mischief.
That made Veramount pause. He set the teapot down, his hands stilling as a deep crease formed between his brows. *Not them? Then who else from my family... *His eyes widened suddenly as a realization struck him. His gaze snapped up to meet Alexia's, a rare look of genuine surprise flashing across his usually unreadable face. "Wait... Don't tell me—"
Alexia's smile broadened, clearly relishing the moment. "Yes, that's right," she said, her voice practically brimming with excitement. "It's none other than Ashura Kanon!"
Veramount's eyes narrowed, his expression turning deadly serious. The room seemed to grow colder as he absorbed the revelation. "Ashura..." he muttered under his breath, his mind racing. The usually composed Veramount was visibly shaken, his elegant demeanor cracking for just a moment as he processed this unexpected turn of events.