Jarek, fueled by anger, launched himself into the air with an acrobatic spin, his leg whipping around in a fierce arc aimed at Luzis. As I had anticipated, Luzis didn't even flinch. With a single, effortless motion, he raised his right arm and blocked the attack, barely shifting his weight. The force of the collision sent a gust of wind roaring around us, but Luzis stood firm, unfazed.
"Heh," Luzis sneered, brushing his arm off theatrically, as if he'd touched something filthy. "I didn't even need to use mana to block such a barbarian attack."
Jarek's eyes flared with fury. "Then why don't we have a little spar and see who's—" His words were abruptly cut off as a crackling, electric hand shot forward with blinding speed, grabbing his face. In a single fluid motion, Luzis slammed him against the stone wall with a sickening thud.
The sound echoed through the food hall, and a tense silence followed. Edmond and I stared, wide-eyed, more stunned by the speed of Luzis's strike than the display of raw power.
"You—!" Edmond growled, pulling out his magic book with an intensity that promised retaliation.
"Careful now~~~," came a velvety, enchanting voice from behind us. Edmond froze as a blade rested against his neck, gleaming ominously in the flickering lamplight. The sword's wielder stepped forward—a figure of elegance and menace wrapped in one. It was none other than Celestrius Aeonhart, his presence commanding attention like a force of nature.
Celestrius's smile was both serene and predatory as he leaned in, he voice dripping with mock politeness. "I'm sure the esteemed families of Edmond wouldn't want any unnecessary trouble with the Zurion family, would they?"
Edmond clenched his teeth, his grip tightening on his book, but he didn't dare move. The tension was palpable, and all eyes in the hall were now on our group. My inner self instincts screamed at me to intervene, but I held back, weighing the consequences of escalating this conflict further.
Luzis laughed, clearly enjoying the dominance of the moment. "Know your place, lower class," he said, flicking Jarek aside like a broken toy.
It was clear this wasn't just a simple clash between students—it was a reminder of the power dynamics that ruled Hoxrrary Academy. And for now, we were on the losing side.
But
I stepped forward with the grace of a man who had absolutely no plan but plenty of flair. Adjusting the collar of my slightly ruffled shirt and adopting my most disarming smirk, I clapped my hands together and said, "Well, well, well, if it isn't Lord Snooty and his Smiling Sword. Quite the dynamic duo, aren't we?"
Celestrius arched a perfectly sculpted brow, his blade still steady at Edmond's throat. "And what we have here, defactus. Another pest scurrying from the lower classes?"
I gasped theatrically, placing a hand over my chest as if he'd wounded me deeply. " Oh, no, no, no, my dashing good sir. I'm an artiste of obscurity, a maestro of mystery. Ashura, at your service—or not, depending on the day."
Luzis snorted, his gaze flicking to me as though I were an amusing side act. "What are you even babbling about?"
"Oh, you know," I said, sidling closer to Edmond and Jarek, "just pointing out that while you lot are busy proving how tall and mighty you are, the food hall has run out of pudding. A true tragedy, if you ask me. Maybe we should all be focusing on that instead of... oh, I don't know, tossing people into walls and poking necks with sharp objects."
Celestrius's smile widened, though his blade didn't waver. "You're either very brave or very foolish."
"Funny you say that," I replied, leaning in slightly as though sharing a secret. "The two are often mistaken for each other. But let's not get bogged down in semantics, shall we? See, I have this little policy about not starting fights I can't win... and, well, not losing fights either. So, why don't we all take a deep breath, put away the pointy things, and save the dramatics for the festival? It's got fireworks, I hear."
Luzis crossed his arms, his expression halfway between amusement and irritation. "You talk too much."
"Ah, but I do it with style," I shot back, grinning. "Unlike some people who let their fists and swords do the talking. Not that I'm naming names, of course." I gestured vaguely at him with a dramatic flourish.
Celestrius finally lowered his sword, though his eyes sparkled with amusement. "You're lucky I find you mildly entertaining."
"Luck is my middle name," I replied, throwing an arm around Edmond's shoulders and steering him back a step. "Now, if you'll excuse us, my companions and I were just on our way to mourn the aforementioned pudding shortage. A solemn affair, truly. Farewell, noble tormentors!"
Without waiting for a reply, I whisked Edmond and a still-dazed Jarek away, leaving Luzis and Celestrius behind. As we rounded the corner, Edmond whispered, "You just made them angrier, didn't you?"
"Most likely," I said cheerfully, patting his shoulder. "But at least they're not chasing us right now, are they? And that, my dear Edmond, is what I like to call a win."
Celestrius Aeonhart P.O.V
As Ashura's figure disappeared into the distance, both Luzis and I lingered, our gazes fixed on where he had just been.
I let out a quiet chuckle, my lips curving into an amused smile. "Hehehe... what an interesting fellow. Ferris wasn't exaggerating," I whispered, the events replaying in my mind.
Not only did he defuse the conflict, but he also managed to turn the tables on us. A 'defactus,' huh? My thoughts churned as Luzis's voice snapped me out of my reverie.
"Tsk... what an annoying pest. Well, I'll settle this in the Great Festival of Hestia sooner or later," Luzis said, his tone as smug as ever.
I didn't respond immediately, but the corners of my mouth lifted slightly. Ah, the Great Festival of Hestia. I'd written it off as a dull affair, but now... perhaps it's something I can look forward to and I might as well make it more fun"
END P.O.V
Hoxrrary Academy: Infirmary
Despite the earlier scuffle, Jarek appeared to be in decent shape, the lack of major injuries evident as he sat sulking on the infirmary bed.
"Are you crazy?" Edmond snapped, his annoyance palpable as he paced in front of Jarek. "Blatantly attacking a student from Leclair class? Have you completely lost your mind?"
Jarek flinched but remained silent as Edmond continued, his voice rising. "Don't you know every single student in Leclair class has an army of followers? Thanks to your little stunt, they're going to make our school life ten times more annoying!"
"I'm sorry…" Jarek muttered, looking downcast, but his eyes still burned with residual frustration. Then, as if his indignation couldn't stay bottled up, he burst out, "But I couldn't stand that jerk ridiculing us like that!"
Edmond let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his temples. "Your pride's going to get us all in trouble one day."
I leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, watching the two of them. "Well," I chimed in, "at least you've got guts, Jarek. Reckless guts, but guts nonetheless. Next time, though, maybe aim for survival over theatrics, eh?"
Jarek looked at me with wide eyes, a flicker of hope returning. "You really think I have guts?"
"Oh, absolutely," I said with a grin. "Guts, determination... and absolutely no sense of self-preservation. It's a dangerous mix, but hey, it keeps things interesting."
Edmond groaned, clearly unimpressed. "You're not helping, Ashura."
"Not trying to," I replied breezily, straightening up. "But since we've got enough enemies already, maybe we should focus on outsmarting them at the festival rather than giving them more reasons to hate us. Just a thought."
Jarek nodded, determination flickering in his eyes. "I'll make it up to you guys. I'll show them I'm not just some 'defactus.' You'll see!"
Edmond sighed again but gave a reluctant smile. "Fine, but next time, think before you act."
"And maybe practice dodging," I added with a cheeky grin.
Hoxrrary Academy: Courtyard
As Edmond, Jarek, and I made our way back to the dorms, a small, fluffy figure bolted toward us, his short legs moving with surprising speed. At first glance, one might mistake him for a particularly anxious hamster with impeccable fashion sense.
"Trouble Trio!" the figure shouted, his voice high-pitched with urgency.
"Who?" I asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"Trouble what?" Jarek echoed, scratching his head.
"Liraeth Zepar, what did you just call us?" Edmond said, looking annoyed as he folded his arms.
"That doesn't matter right now!" Liraeth wheezed, waving a piece of paper frantically. "Look! Your names are all over the school newspaper!"
He thrust the newspaper into Edmond's hands, his pale face and trembling fingers suggesting this was a matter of utmost importance.
I leaned over Edmond's shoulder to get a look. Bold, dramatic headlines practically jumped off the page:
HOT! HOT! HOT!
A BREAK-OFF FIGHT BETWEEN LECLAIR CLASS AND DURAND CLASS
GREAT CHALLENGE FOR THE FESTIVAL OF HESTIA
"Ah…" I groaned, rubbing my temples. "I knew word would get around, but this? Isn't this a bit too fast? It hasn't even been four hours!"
On my right, Edmond's face had turned an alarming shade of pale—almost ghostly, like he'd just remembered he left the stove on at home. On my left, Jarek, in stark contrast, looked positively thrilled, his eyes gleaming with excitement like a kid unwrapping a birthday present.
"This is awesome!" Jarek exclaimed, clenching his fists. "We're famous now! Everyone will know we're taking on the Leclair class. This is going to be epic!"
Edmond turned to Jarek, his face a mix of disbelief and exasperation. "Epic? Jarek, this isn't fame—it's a death sentence! Do you have any idea what kind of target you've painted on our backs?!"
"Relax, Edmond," Jarek said with a laugh, slapping him on the back hard enough to make him stumble. "This is our chance to prove ourselves! Let the whole academy know that we're not just some 'defactus.'"
Edmond's eye twitched, his composure hanging by a thread. "Oh sure, Jarek, let's just waltz into the lion's den and politely ask them to rip us apart. What could possibly go wrong?"
I decided to step in before the argument could escalate. "Gentlemen, let's not forget one very important detail."
Both of them turned to me, waiting for some sage wisdom.
"We are now officially in the spotlight," I said with a smirk. "Which means... we control the narrative."
Jarek tilted his head. "Uh... what does that mean?"
"It means," I said, tossing the newspaper back to Liraeth, "we lean into this. Play the part. If they want drama, we give them drama. But on our terms."
Liraeth's eyes widened, his fluffy cheeks puffing slightly. "You mean… you're going to use this to your advantage?"
"Exactly," I said, grinning. "The Festival of Hestia just got a lot more interesting."
Edmond sighed, shaking his head. "I have a feeling I'm going to regret this."
Jarek, however, looked more fired up than ever. "Alright, Ashura! Let's show them what Durand class is made of!"
Liraeth simply stared at us, then mumbled under his breath, "Yep, definitely a Trouble Trio."