I noticed the stares the mont Raven and I stepped into the hallway.
Students lining the corridor turned their heads, whispering behind their hands as they pointed in my direction.
Their eyes were wide with curiosity, so even dropped their jaws with awe.
A few muttered my na under their breath, as if I were so kind of legend walking among them.
I frowned and leaned closer to Raven, keeping my voice low. "Why is everyone staring at ?"
Raven blinked, glancing around before shrugging. "I have no idea. I was in the Red Dragon’s domain all day yesterday."
Before I could press further, Pandra appeared in front of us, her confident smirk playing on her lips.
"Archer, Raven," she greeted smoothly. "Good to see you both."
We exchanged quick pleasantries before Pandra turned her full attention to , crossing her arms. "You’re becoming quite the celebrity, Archer."
I shrugged, baffled. "What the hell did I do?"
Pandra raised an eyebrow. "Don’t act modest. The entire school is talking about it. You bested Richard in a duel yesterday." She tilted her head, studying . "Everyone says you moved so fast, Richard was defeated in seconds. How did you do it? You humiliated him."
My stomach dropped. Shit. The clone wasn’t supposed to go all out.
"Was Richard hurt?" I asked hurriedly.
Pandra laughed. "Hurt isn’t the word. More like disgraced." She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "He’s pissed. You’d better watch your back."
I bit my lip, frustration bubbling inside .
The clone had clearly ignored my instructions to hold back. Now Richard was humiliated, and I had a target on my back—great.
Before I could dwell on it further, Pandra pulled out a folded paper and handed it to .
"You should join a club," she said. "Mine is this one. I’m inviting you. It’s mandatory—everyone has to join one."
I took the paper hesitantly, scanning it briefly before sighing. "I’ll think about it."
Raven nudged , her voice impatient. "Can we go? We’re already late for our first class."
Pandra smirked and waved us off. "Don’t keep your professor waiting. But don’t forget—club sign-ups close soon."
With that, Raven and I hurried down the hall.
I could hear the whispers following us like shadows. I could feel the stares burning at the back of my skull.
"I knew this would happen," Raven said, watching out of the corner of her eyes. "You told your clone won’t hurt Richard."
I hide a grin. "Well actually, he wasn’t entirely hurt so I guess it’s still alright."
"No, but you hurt his pride," Raven turned around, poking in the chest. "I understand Richard is an awful person and he deserves what happened to him. But never underestimate the ego of a noble, Archer. Richard is the type who never forgets nor forgive. Watch your back."
I understand where she was going with this talk. Richard wasn’t going to let this slide.
"Fine," I raised my hands. "I’ll just avoid him."
Raven gave a look then proceeded ahead.
Finally we arrived at our classroom just as Seraphin was setting her notes on the lectern.
The mont we entered, all eyes turned toward us.
"Sorry we’re late," I muttered, bowing my head slightly.
Seraphin glanced up, her lips curling into a small smile. "No need to worry. I just arrived myself." She gestured toward the rows of seats. "Find your spots quickly."
As I scanned the room, my stomach dropped when I spotted Richard sitting alone near the back.
His face was downturned, shoulders hunched as if trying to make himself smaller.
Despite him using healing magic on himself, the bruises were visible—dark splotches along his jaw and a split lip that hadn’t fully closed.
Healing magic in this world wasn’t perfect; it sped up recovery but didn’t erase all traces of injury.
I hesitated before taking my seat, noticing how Richard stiffened when I passed him.
He refused to look at , his fingers gripping the edge of his desk so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Seraphin cleared her throat, drawing the class’s attention. "Before we begin today’s lesson," she said, her gaze landing on , "I heard about yesterday’s duel. Archer, you bested Richard in seconds." She tilted her head, intrigued. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"
A sharp scrape of wood against stone cut through the room as Richard shot up from his seat.
"What are you doing?" His voice was raw, trembling with barely contained fury. "This isn’t right. I’m a noble’s son—you can’t just—"
Seraphin didn’t even glance his way. "Archer?" she pressed, ignoring Richard entirely. "I’m listening."
I rubbed the back of my neck, forcing a sheepish laugh. "Oh, that? It’s nothing, really. I just... practice a lot."
She smirked. "Then you should join the Blade and Sigil club." Her tone left no room for argunt. "Swordsmanship and magic training combined. You’d fit right in."
Richard’s face darkened. "You’re ignoring now?" he spat.
Seraphin’s gaze snapped to him, her voice icy. "If you raise your voice at again, I will send you out."
The room fell deathly silent.
)
Geez, what did Richard do you Seraphin? She looked at him like she was staring at trash.
Richard’s jaw clenched, but he slowly sank back into his seat, his entire body rigid with rage.
Seraphin turned back to , her expression softening. "So? Interested?"
"I’ll... think about it," I said, though my mind was already racing. The last thing I needed was more attention.
From the corner of my ear, I caught whispers—giggling girls murmuring things like
"Did you see how fast he moved yesterday?"
"He’s so strong..."
"I heard Richard peed his pants."
Seraphin clapped her hands together. "Alright, back to today’s topic."
The classroom fell silent again as she launched into the lesson.
I could feel Richard’s glare burning into the side of my face. His fingers were curled into fists on the desk, his breathing uneven.
I had an idea what was running through his mind. It’s the sa thought I had.
Why was Seraphin bringing up his defeat in front of everyone?
Was she trying to humiliate him further?
From the corner of my eyes, I saw Raven giving that I-told-you-so look.
* * * *
Richard stord out of the lecture hall, his boots slamming against the stone floor with enough force to crack it.
His chest heaved with ragged breaths, his vision tinged red with fury.
"How could this have happened?" He ranted under his breath. "I am Richard von Eldric. Son of Duke Reynard and heir to the Silverveil Dominion. I’ve trained in combat since childhood. And yet, I was humiliated in front of the entire academy by a commoner, a child who had no right standing above . My father would be furious. Disappointed and ashad of when he hears about this."
These agonizing words followed him like ghosts.
Even his own friends—his entourage—had been avoiding him since the duel, as if his failure were contagious.
Their silence was worse than the mockery he faced at every corner.
"I’ll make him pay," his fingers twitched, itching to wrap around Archer’s throat. "I didn’t just want to defeat him—I want to crush him. Make him grovel. Make the entire academy laugh at him for once."
He paused, his entire body trembling with rage. "Whatever it takes. Even if I have to kill him. I’ll do it. Yes. I want to kill Archer."
A voice slithered from behind him, smooth and unsettling.
"Richard von Eldric."
He spun around, finding himself face-to-face with an upperclassman.
This boy was tall, but hunched, his posture crooked like a warped tree.
His grin was too wide and crooked.
Richard’s lip curled. He recognized this one. Caspian Vex.
There were creepy stories surrounding Caspian. Rumours whispered about him being a twisted freak who locked himself in the alchemy labs, conducting experints no sane person would touch.
"What do you want?" Richard snapped.
Caspian chuckled, fidgeting his spindly fingers. "I overheard you. Revenge on Archer, yes?"
Richard scoffed, disgust written on his face. "Yeah, what’s it to you?"
"I can make all your humiliation... end," Caspian offered.
Richard’s pulse spiked. "How?"
Caspian leaned in, his breath reeking of chemicals. "I’ve been working on sothing special. A serum. One dose, and your strength and your magic will multiply tenfold. You’d be able to crush even a demon under your boot."
Richard’s eyes widened. Everyone knows it’s bad business to be involved with Caspian.
But Richard was blinded by his hate for Archer.
"Stronger than Archer," he whispered, his voice laced with obsession.
The thought alone sent a thrill through him.
"Take to it. Now," he demanded.
Caspian grin stretched impossibly wider. "Ah, ah. Calm down." He rubbed his hands together. "It won’t be cheap. I require a fee."
Richard scowled. "How much?"
"Thirty gold coins."
Richard’s jaw tightened. That was nearly half his monthly allowance.
But the image of Archer’s face—bloodied, broken, begging—flashed in his mind.
He reached into his coat and slamd a heavy purse into Caspian’s waiting palm. "Give it to ."
Caspian’s fingers curled around the coins like a spider clutching its prey. "Oh, Richard... you won’t regret this." His voice dropped to a whisper. "But rember—power always cos with a price."
"I don’t care," Richard snarled. "All that matters is that I win. Now, enough talk. Give this serum!"
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