"I guess I'm kinda popular now," I said, reaching for the back of my neck, while feigning a grin. Then, I pulled my right hand out of my pocket and offered it to him.
"Oh, you have no idea..."
He smiled as well, gripping my hand in a firm handshake.
Suddenly, I felt the weight of the world resting on my shoulders
The mana pressure from this guy was huge!
I wasn't sure where to place him, but he definitely wasn't a C-Rank Spellcaster.
"Nice to finally et you, Stormborn."
"Nice to et you as well, uh...?"
"Solaris. Kyro Solaris," he said with a slight grin, revealing a set of white teeth with sharp incisors. "You walked by in class this morning."
I hadn't noticed him in class, but it seed like I had just t a celebrity.
Kyro Solaris, King of Pentra... Or at least he was going to be. Here, he was just a noble prince, who for so reason, was concealing his huge mana capacity, though quite poorly. Any powerful Arch Mage could feel it once they touched him.
"You were participating in the tournant," I recalled.
"Sure was. You were ant to be my next opponent."
"Indeed, I was."
"I was really looking forward to eting you in the arena."
I regretted ruining the tournant, because I never intended to. But sensing the mana pressure from this guy, I was quite grateful that I did.
"I heard about your fight with Borain," he said, "I'm glad soone was able to teach that bully a lesson."
Not really, I thought, I actually didn't do anything to him.
"I was really looking forward to fighting you," he repeated. "It feels quite disappointing that I won't be getting that chance anymore."
"Don't fret," I replied, heading to the large wooden door that led to the classroom building. "You might still get your chance."
He followed suit, walking behind .
"He he... Maybe I will," he whispered under his breath.
I smiled, dryly. I didn't know what his deal was, but I had to keep an eye out for him.
Just in case...
*****
"The Grand Mage isn't just a rank, it is a responsibility, thrust upon the strongest mage in the world. A responsibility, to protect all people..."
Professor Long's lecture was boring as usual. His voice was like a sword scratching on a stone wall, and all I wanted to do was run away from his class.
So, I rested my head on my palms, and my elbows on the table, and I began to daydream.
My thoughts drifted from the Shadow Queen, to the apocalypse, to the hourglass...
To Miss Fumiko.
The taste of her lips hung upon my tongue. Yes... I rembered it clearly – cinnamon, and a touch of blueberries. Her skin was incredibly smooth, and when I placed my hand on her breast, my body shivered in blissful anticipation.
Sadly, pushing myself on Fumiko was definitely a mistake I shouldn't have made. After the kiss, she refused to make eye contact with , and that told everything I needed to know about this relationship.
Unless...
Lucy thrust her leg forward, kicking my table. It shook with a sudden tremor, jolting awake.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Pay attention," she said, her forehead creased. "It'd be weird if you flunked in the first sester."
"Co on," I jested. "I know all this already."
"Really?"
"It seems Lord Stormborn isn't interested in our lecture," Professor Long's voice bood from the front of the class. He marched over to our seat, and slamd his palm on my desk, his long beard dangling sideways. "Or do you have sothing you'd like to share with us?"
"Not really."
"Oh, there must be," He stord back to the front of the class. "Co on... Since you dare to interrupt my lecture, it's only fair that I test how much you've actually learned."
Pulling my seat back, I strolled to the front of the class.
"Pay attention class, I'll show you what happens when you think you're too smart for my class." He opened one of the two scrolls he ca to the class with. "Tell , Stormborn, how and where did the first Grand Mage lose his life?"
I shot up a brow.
"The first Grand Mage?"
He nodded.
"That's a trick question, right?"
A slight smirk appeared on his face.
"Well, there you have it class. He has no idea what the answer is, so he decides to challenge the question."
I cringed. "Your question doesn't make any sense. Grand Mage Marcus Borain didn't die. He disappeared. The records say he was last seen in Valhaven."
This ti, it was Professor Long who shot up his brows.
"I didn't ntion... his na," he stuttered. "What records are you referring to?"
"The Chronicles of the Grand Magus," I blurted out, a proud smile on my face. By the ti I realised what I had just done, it was already too late.
"Only the Grand Mage himself has access to the Chronicles," Professor Long replied, his forehead creased. "How were you able to read it?"
"I... I didn't read it," I stuttered, rubbing the back of my neck. "I... Uh... heard it sowhere."
Nice save, Rin.
Or so I thought.
"et in my office after classes," he replied, eyes narrowed. "We're going to have a talk about where you heard it."
F*ck.
Without another word, I turned around and walked back to my seat.
Right on cue, the whispers started again.
"Showoff."
"You're in trouble now."
"Serves you right."
I sighed... Anyti I got out of trouble, I just put myself in another one.
Lucy was staring at as I got back to my seat.
"Idiot," she muttered with a frown. "Professor Long's not going to let this go easily."
"Don't worry. I'll handle it."
*****
"Close the door behind you," Professor Long ordered as I stepped into his office.
I closed the door, snapping the lock shut.
"You wanted to see ..."
"Have a seat, Stormborn.* He reached for a scroll on the top of his table. "Do you have any idea what this is?",
I shook my head.
"I am summoning the Tribunal, with fresh new charges against you." He waved the scroll around. "This ti around, you're not getting off easy."
Ooh... Scary.
"I intend to send it tomorrow morning, and by the next, you'll be in front of the Tribunal, unless..."
"Unless..."
"Send a ssage to your people. Tell them I require a formal apology, signed and sealed with the crest of House Stormborn and..."
"And?"
You're going to give a hundred gold pieces. Do this, and maybe I'll let you study here a while longer. If you fail, then I hope you find a mage who'll take you as his apprentice. Because there'll be no future for you here."
I bent my head low, smiling to myself.
"Sothing funny, Stormborn?"
"So that's what you're about..."
"Excuse ...?"
"To be honest, I never expected this," I paused as I slowly raised my head up to look at him. "But you just made this a whole lot easier for ."
The professor threw a quizzical look, his eyes narrowing.
"How dare you..."
With a cold frown on my face, I rose to my feet. Then, I broke my mana concealnt spell.
The force of my mana pressure alone was sufficient to overpower Professor Long. He shrank in his seat, his eyes widening in horror.
"There are many things I hate," I thundered, my voice echoing throughout the office. "I hate fighting. I hate greed and I hate Nightwails. Their loud cries really annoy ."
"But do you know which one actually pisses off?"
Professor Long shook his head, his face turning pale.
"Bullies. I can't stand them. But recently, I've realized that bullies choose to be one, because of sothing they're hiding within."
I raised my palm up, manifesting a bright purple orb of lightning.
"Do they know?"
"I ... I don't.... know... what you're talking about."
"Do they know," I repeated, "that you have no mana?"
"I still... don't know what..."
"Don't lie to ! I could sense it the mont you stepped into class. At first, I thought you had a concealnt spell. But you're just a human, pretending to be a mage."
"You ... You don't know what you're..."
"Stop lying!"
A sharp breeze rushed toward the professor, tossing him backward over his chair. He struggled to his feet, his back leaning against the wall.
"What... What do you want?"
I walked over to him, picking up the scroll from the table.
"Here's what's going to happen. You're going to burn this parchnt. You're going to keep having your classes, and you're going to pretend I don't exist.
"Or, you can submit this... But I'll have to reveal to the entire school, what a fraud you are."
"You... you're a monster," he whimpered, lips trembling.
"You have no idea," I slapped the scroll on his chest. "So, what will it be, professor?"
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