"You know, you didn’t rank second for nothing. Good decision. Running would have just prolonged the inevitable."
Nodding my head, I simply raised my sword ahead of me, recalling the rules of a duel.
Usually, there would be tons of restrictions, but since we were first-years who didn’t even know how to use mana blades or sword slashes, there were none.
Not skipping a beat, Aizo charged at me, his broadsword falling behind him, easily closing the distance between us with two steps.
As countless holographic lines appeared from the tip of his sword, ending all over my two shoulders, I ducked.
Instantly, his sword horizontally swept across the air, narrowly flying above my head.
Without a second of doubt, I plunged my sword vertically into the air above me, its curved edge immediatly halting Aizo’s sword from moving further horizontally.
*CLANG*
As the two swords made contact, I immediatly retrieved my sword and side-stepped to the right.
Dazed by his sword’s contact, Aizo temporarily lost sight of me, but that was all it took.
If he wasn’t watching my figure even for a second, I could easily lose him with my footwork.
Technically, abilities like this that drained mana weren’t allowed in duels, but I simply wanted to end this.
Lunging forward, I activated Torrent Step, my figure flickering, and appeared behind Aizo’s completely lost back.
Lowering my sword, I simply raised my fist and punched his back as hard as possible, feeling my knuckles crack upon impact.
As a surge of pain flooded through my free left hand. Aizo’s body flew forward a couple of inches before slamming against the ground face-first.
Just like that, it was over.
As the dust from Aizo’s impact settled, onlookers watched as I stood still, towering over my opponent’s motionless body.
Quickly bowing to the air before me, I simply said, having noticed a special set of eyes watching my figure at some point during the fight.
"Good Duel."
Heading past the crowd and out of the training arena, I glanced back at Magnus, seeing the trace of interest in his eyes fade.
He wasn’t interested in a sword-user like me.
Embracing the fresh air outside, I began walking toward my dorm room, not completely regretting my expedition into the training hall.
Yet, at that moment, a sudden voice sounded from beside me.
"Nice fight!"
Her amber-brown hair flying back in the wind, revealing her crisp jawline, Haerin gazed up at me with her jade-green pupils while curiously asking.
"Want to fight me next!?"
Shaking my head, I simply answered, determined to have her recruit me.
"I’m more of a team player than a solo dueler."
Rubbing her chin as if she were deep in thought, Haerin paused for a few moments before asking.
"Speaking of teams..."
Instantly, my pupils rose to the top of my eyelids.
Finally! Was she going to try to recruit me!?
"Studying is much easier with others. Have you done the history homework?"
Clicking my tongue, I simply muttered.
"A gold coin."
Surprisingly, instead of simply handing it to me, she paused for a moment with a strained expression before reaching into her pocket and retrieving it.
After sending her the homework, I paused and made a left toward the cafeteria, seeing a familiar figure with purple hair entered the academic building.
Yet...as I entered, I immediatly paused.
Carissa sat alone at one of the tables, but her food was what caught my attention.
Looking at the plate filled with sweet ice cream and various candies, I muttered.
"What a mother." Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on novel⸺fire.net
It had already started.
Passing by her, I simply said.
"How was dance?"
In between stuffing her mouth with the sweet treats, she turned around and paused before simply saying.
"Fine."
Perhaps...the overlapping of travel orientation with this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing: I could keep an eye on her.
Moving by her, I grabbed my notebook and ripped out a piece of paper before approaching a table in the corner.
Before I could even get close enough, an irritated voice sounded.
"Move a step closer, and the robot comes tonight."
Raising the piece of paper, which simply displayed an advanced chemical formula for recovery potions from the future, I sighed and said sarcastically.
It was a simple oxidation chemical equation.
"Guess you don’t want this?"
Slowly looking up from her book, Serena scanned the paper, her pupils narrowing behind her glasses with each second she read.
"...what is that? I don’t even care."
Shaking my head, I smiled and turned around.
"You know, I left a reactant out, so you can’t copy it, right?"
Before I knew, a hand leaped forward and grabbed my shoulder, preventing me from moving any farther forward.
"Where, where the hell did you get that recipe!?"
"You know, you’re not the only innovator in this s-"
"What do you want!?"
Pointing at Carissa in the distance, I simply said.
"Stay close to her during travel orientation."
Immediatly, a suspicious voice sounded.
"How the hell am I supp-"
Interrupting, I said, dangling the paper right in her face.
"She’ll stick to you, just stick to her, alright?"
Pausing, she questioned...or rather demanded to know.
"Why."
"It’s for good reason."
Thankfully, she seemed to trust my moral consciousness enough, as she grabbed the paper out of my hands as I finished writing a 2O^2 at the start of the chemical equation.
Melissa definitely wouldn’t release the formula to the public.
The only reason she wanted the formula was to cross-examine it with a normal one, finding out the unique factor that made mine last longer.
...
...
...
Leaving the training hall, Leo was about to rush forward as a brush of amber-brown hair flashed across his vision, but he suddenly paused, his eyes narrowing.
"Who...is that?"
Confused, he discreetly followed, too far to hear anything, until finally the boy ran off.
Now walking up to the completely alone Haerin, Leo paused, seeing the soft smile on her face, and asked, gazing as the boy entered the academic building.