"Is that the Simalolong clan's boy from the rumor?" asked a girl in a hushed whisper. Beads of sweat ran down her face.
"Huh? You're right. He looks just like what the rumor said," replied her friend, panting after their morning jog.
The two of them sat on a bench by the paved path that connected the freshman dormitory building to the school's main compound. Their topic of discussion walked passed them, his hands in the pocket of his gray school blazer pockets. They couldn't help but grimace a bit as the light of the rising sun flashed before their eyes, the bright tropical light reflected by the shiny brown scalp of the boy.
"Have you seen his twin brother?" asked the first girl as she rubbed her eyes with the sleeves of her school uniform. "The two look waaay different now, right? I can't believe hair loss can really change someone's appearance by that much, but I guess there's always an exception to everything."
"I guess it's because of how unsettling he looks compared to his brother. I mean, I can still clearly see the resemblances between the two of them, but it's uncanny how his lack of hair and even eyebrows made him. It's like a mannequin enveloped by smooth, unblemished human skin. So creepy." the girl said, her body shuddering a bit as she compared to two brothers in her mind.
"But that's exactly what he is, isn't he? Some kind of spirit that they spawn through a ritual in order to be the substitute soul of the late Ares Simalolong?"
"True. I heard that they do a ritual that requires them to skin his body of all his skin for one of their components. Then the newly healed skin is unable to produce any hair at all as a consequence."
"I can't imagine having to skin myself alive and go bald to achieve my goal," snickered the first girl.
"Same" agreed her friend, joining her as she snickered at the image of her friend with a bald head with no eyebrow at all.
----------------------------------------
Ari couldn't help but sigh a bit at hearing what the two girls talked about. He had walked far enough from the two of them, but his enhanced hearing still let him hear as if he were still right in front of them.
He moved his feet a bit faster, his unbuttoned gray school blazer fluttered around his toned, compact body as he gained distance from the two gossiping girls. This early in the morning, few of the student of the Bayupati Academy have left their dormitory building. Most of them are still in the cafeteria of the dormitory building taking their time to enjoy their breakfast. The dormitory's cafeteria is full of his new schoolmates, and he prefers to be anywhere but in that place right now.
After 10 minutes of walks along the path to the school's main compound, he finally arrived at his destination. The school campus cafeteria.
Walking inside, the place is deserted. Compared to the dormitory's cafeteria's colorful selection of food, the school cafeteria has no food prepared at all. in fact, the food that he was going to eat here was not prepared for the student in mind, but for the kitchen staff. There was no reason for a student to take their breakfast here, and most students agreed. The place is empty of any other students. But that's how he likes it, left alone with no one to sour his mood with their gossiping about his situation.
But he was not the only student who took their breakfast here today. Locating his new roommate on a table near the wall, he took his seat across from his roommate. On the table in front of him, there was a plate of ketoprak waiting for him to devour.
"How's your weekend, Petrus?" Ari asked as he took his utensil and began his breakfast that his roommate had asked the kitchen staff for him. The lithe boy raises his head to regard Ari, his thick eyebrows raised at him in greeting.
"Good. Clearing some dungeon scenarios here and there with the boys," replied Petrus as he shredded his chicken with his nimble finger, his hands smeared with the yellow soup of the curry. "And how many times should I tell you, just call me Opet just like everybody else."
"Sorry about that, Petr- err, I mean Opet," said Ari with a dry laugh. "I'm a bit uncomfortable calling you by your nickname like that. Compared to the other classmates, I've only known you for about a week, so I don't want to act overly familiar by calling you by your childhood nickname."
"Yeah. Don't worry about it, I don't mind it at all. We're classmates now, and also roommates at that. It's only a matter of time before we become actual buddies, don't you think?"
"I see," replied Ari in a subdued manner, a pleasant smile graced his face at Opet's sentiment. The two of them continued their breakfast in comfortable silence.
"So, what about you? How's your weekend?" asked Opet.
"Well, more of the same, you know?"
"Nothing else?"
"Well. I tried to have a talk with some of our classmates," Ari started. Seeing Opet stopping his breakfast to focus on him, Ari continued his story. "There were only 12 of us in the class, and only 6 were boys, right? Besides the three of us roommates, I've tried to talk with the other three. I'm sure you know about their antics considering they are your childhood friends, but Thrainn is busy going out with the girls, while Hartmann is cooped inside of their dorm room playing with his marionettes with Rubert accompanying him. I haven't had many opportunities to get closer to them, and when I do get to talk with them during breakfast, our talks haven't gone anywhere as they decided to talk with each other."
"What about our roommate? Have you talked with Syafruddin?" Opet asked. He was disappointed that there was no progression in Ari's relationship with their classmates.
"Done that. Fucking guy really tries his best to ignore me, isn't he? He even stared me in the eyes when I tried to talk with him, before going back to reading his novel and acting like I wasn't there," spat Ari. Opet can only offer Ari his condolence for his unfortunate experience.
Continuing his meal, Opet raised his head after he finished his meal only to watch Ari finishing his breakfast. "Is your food taste that good?" asked Opet. "You only started eating when I was halfway done with mine. You must really like it, for you to eat this fast."
"I mean, food is food," drawled Ari as he chewed his last scoop of food. "As long as it doesn't have an unholy abomination of a taste, I will enjoy it all the same."
"So, you eat this fast all the time?" asked Opet, incredulous at Ari's behavior. "Do you even chew?"
"Of course I chew," Ari retorted back.
"How many times?" Opet asked back, his eyes narrowing at his Roommate's behavior.
"Don't count."
Seeing Ari like this, Opet can't help but sigh a little. "I guess that's how you are, huh?"
"Yup," Ari said, nonchalant.
"So, about your weekend. What about the library, then? You are cooped up in the library again, right? Found anything interesting there?"
"Yeah. Done some reading on Charismata fruit again," replied Ari. His body is buzzed in excitement, but his mind reminds him of his goal of coming here today. He wanted to tell Opet about all the interesting things he found after reading the book, but he couldn't help but be reminded of their talk last Friday.
Ever since last year, he had searched for ways to get his hands on a Charismata. While it was also called a spirit fruit, Charismata doesn't only grow from a tree. They also grew from people, from Beasts, and even from a spawn of calamity. They were the culmination of a creature's spirit, the legacy they left behind when they died. And those legacy grants the holder of the fruit a power that can even break the limits of reality itself. And that's also true for the mythical spirit fruit, and the legacy such mythical being left behind.
Compared to normal spirit fruit, a mythical Charismata is the entire 3 types of spirit fruit combined together into one fruit. The Logos fruit grants the consumer of the fruit the ability to master an additional elemental mana nature type outside of the limits of 8 that every sorcier has to face. The Ethos fruit grants the user the ability to master an additional Concept, a composite mana nature type that was composed of several elements, outside of the limits of only being able to master 4 concepts. The last type of fruit, the Pathos fruit, grants the user the ability to shapeshift into a particular creature and any partial combination of the two forms. On the other hand, the mythical fruit is able to grant the user all three at once.
While the effects of a single normal fruit are almost negligible in the grand scheme of things, the possession of a mythical fruit is a guarantee that your fate is about to change in no time. That's why some people even regard the fruit as a different type of fruit altogether from the other Charismata. The fate fruit, Kairos fruit.
"You're serious about consuming those things, huh?" uttered Opet at Ari's answer.
The two of them continue to eat their breakfast in silence. But unlike before, there was a tension between them. Ari had known that their talks would come this this point. This was the entire reason why they went out of their way to eat in this deserted cafeteria devoid of the usual menu. Still, Ari can't help but dread the upcoming talk.
Seeing that Ari had completed his breakfast, Opet raised himself to his feet. "Give me your plate. I'll bring them to the dirty dishes area."
"Thanks," Ari replied. Ari watched after Opet's retreating figure. After placing both plates at the table for dirty dishes, which the kitchen staff would later take away to be washed off.
He watched as Opet went after the washing basin, washing his curry-smeared hands. Unlike Opet who had eaten his food barehanded, Ari had no reason to wash his hands because he used a spoon and fork.
Left alone at the table, Ari can't help but think about his predicament. Three days ago, Ari had asked Opet for his help in getting closer to the other classmates. Considering that Opet has known half the class since they were a kid, his help will significantly help his image among his classmates. Even the others who were not familiar with Opet would have a better impression of Ari if the two of them were together like normal friends.
Seeing Opet returning to their table after washing his hands, Ari tried to gather his resolve to prepare for their talk. "So, have you thought about my request?" Ari started as Opet took his seat on the table.
"Helping you become the class leader, huh?" mused Opet.
"And getting along with the other classmates," added Ari.
"And that, too. But the two of them go hand in hand, isn't it?"
"What do you mean?" asked Ari, perplexed at Opet's response. But Opet decided to ignore his question.
"Look here, Ari" Opet started. "I know that you want to become the class leader because you need to get your hands on the Charismata fruit rewards for being the class leader, but have you thought about just negotiating with Sunny instead of competing against her for the class leader position?"
"You know that I can't do that. You know I have more reasons for wanting to become the class leader besides the Charismata fruit."
"Yeah, reasons. Purpose," Opet responded. "But if you seek any other purpose than acting as Ares' substitute, there are many more purposes that can be done here in the academy.
"You can pursue any number of Skills from the other class besides our own and be successful with it. You can be the next master Alchemist for all I know. You can strive for those goals and better yourself on a goal that would fulfill you.
"Being a class leader... it's a lot of responsibility, you know? It is not only about you but also about taking on our classmate's hopes and dreams of enrolling into Nagapati University through direct invitation, leading our class to become the among our peers and being invited there."
"I know," Ari responded. "But that's exactly why I want to become the class leader."
"What do you mean?" Opet replied, incredulous.
"This past year, I've been living under the constant stress of acting as Ares' substitute to the best of my ability. My mind is always thinking about my survival, afraid that if I were to not do good enough, Dom would return from his seclusion and drive me out of this body. I will return to become an inanimate object. Unable to feel this wealth of sensation that the human body has to offer.
"I'm tired of living with only myself in mind. I want to feel that what I do matters. And pursuing something that only affects me doesn't help with that. I want to be a part of something that not only matters to me but also to somebody else. I want to be the class leader."
Opet was speechless at Ari's heartfelt desire. He had known that Ari was after the Charismata fruit. It was the reason most of the student in this school were willing to bear the responsibility of taking on their class aspiration for a direct invitation to Nagapati University. The fruit was a great incentive for the position, gifted to them after they led their class to complete the final exam of the first year.
He also knew that Ari pursued the position because he wanted to have a purpose in his life after his failure as Ares' substitute. He has lost his purpose, the exact reason that he was granted sapience as a mere immanent spirit of an inanimate object. But Opet doesn't know that he felt that strongly about his existence and his significance in the world.
"I see. I don't realize that you felt that strongly about your purpose," Opet said. "But I don't think I can help you with just one of your requests. It's either I helped you with both, or not at all."
"Why?" asked Ari. "You know that if you only help me with getting closer to the others, I can do my own campaign for the position on my own."
"I know. But I don't think you realize what it means to me and my relationship with Sunny and the others. Sunny, Himawari Sunohara, has always looked up to his older brother, Shinnosuke.
"Shinnosuke was brilliant. He was strong, his magic skills were at the top of his class, and he led his classmates to become the top class of the school and attended Nagapati University. Sunny wants to attend the same University as her brother, and the only acceptable way to do it is by emulating his success.
"If I were to help you at all, the others are going to brand me as a traitor. I know what she wants to accomplish, and for me, one of her best friends to oppose her? I think she will hate me for the rest of her life."
"I see. So you won't be able to help me at all then?"
"No no no. As I said last Friday, I'm willing to help you. I just wanted you to know that this decision will greatly impact my relationship with the others."
"But how can you help me get closer to the other classmates if you were to be hated by them?"
"I just need to mend your relationship with everyone first, right? And then you can express your desire for the class leader position after that."
"But that still left you ruining your relationship with them. Why would you do that?" Ari asked, but Opet was silent.
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After some moment, he responded, "Because I want to show Sunny how foolish it is for her to chase after Shinnosuke."
Ari has no response to that, gawking at Opet.
"That's why, if I were to help you, I need to know that you have what it takes to become the class leader. I would hate to antagonize the others for you to not become the class leader. At least if you win, I can show Sunny that her quest of chasing after her brother is foolish."
"Err. So, is my reasoning not enough then?"
"Not at all. I thought that your reasons were enough for me to want to root for you. No, what I want to know is whether you have the magical might and the martial abilities to back your goals and lead us to become the number one class among our peers."
"I see. So you want to duel me to test my strength by yourself?"
"Hmm," Opet hummed in confirmation, nodding his head.
"When?"
"Right now," Opet declared, shocking Ari.
"What?! Right now? Are you serious?" asked Ari, incredulous at Opet's suggestion.
"Yes. Yes, I am," he replied with a daring smile.
"Don't you realize what time it is?" asked Ari as he searched for the clock in the cafeteria walls to check the time." It's 6.23 in the morning. We have only about half an hour before the first day of the school officially started."
"So?" Opet asked back, nonchalant.
"You want to duel right? With the usual rules?"
"Yes. Enclosed arena, winning condition is either by killing me or making me surrender."
"Considering that you wanted to test me, you would not let me win unless I sent you back to the healing pavilion, aren't you?" Ari asked. Opet's only answer is a daring smile.
As an elite academy for the future sorcier of the country, Bayupati Academy is equipped with the most cutting-edge magical artifacts to prepare students for their future as sorcier. This includes high-end medical facilities. In their school, the medical pavilion not only acts as the healing facility for any injuries the student receives during their training as a sorcier. They were also the cloning facilities of the academy.
When students enroll in the academy, they must enter the medical pavilion to store their original bodies as they were then sent to inhabit a clone. They do this to make sure that each battle the student does during their time in the school will prepare them for the do-or-die battle that they will experience in their future as a sorcier. Each death tempers them into a better sorcier, or Sorcerous Soldier, of the country.
Even with the most advanced magical artifact humanities has to offer, it still requires the magical pavilion 12 hours to reinhabit the students into a new clone in the case of them dying in a duel. Due to the sympathetic bond between the original body and the clone, there was no fear that the student would lose their progress in training after they died in battle.
The magical artifact also helped deal with any mental scars due to the death the students experienced, preparing them to be more resistant to pain and mental trauma. Unfortunately, this artifact only lets the student be within a certain radius of the pavilion for it to function or within the school's compound in this case.
While there was no danger of dying during a duel, being decommissioned for 12 hours just before they began their school period, the impact of dying is massive. The loser would need to skip the first day of school completely. Not only would they lose on valuable time as they need to catch up on the lesson, but they also will have a worse image in the eyes of the teacher and instructor.
'But I need to do this' Ari thought. 'I need Opet's help if I were to have any chance at pursuing the class leader position'
"I agree," Ari declared. "I'll show you what I've got."
----------------------------------------
"So this is the dueling arena, huh?" Ari mused as he observed their surrounding. Even counting the time they took to change into their teal combat unitard, being in the school compound, the two of them needed less than 5 minutes to travel from the school's cafeteria to the Dueling Hall.
A circular arena spans 50 meters in all directions around them, the gray floor of the arena walled by a white opaque dome that covered them in a hemisphere. On the opposing side of the arena, 25 meters from the center of the circle are a pair of blue and red circles. The place where both combatants will take their place waiting for the duel to happen.
"Impressive, huh?" Opet asks. While this room alone is nothing to write about, the whole Dueling Hall houses a hundred of them; the spatial artifact lets the structure host a hundred battles at once. The artifact also allowed the room to expand, accommodating the students for a more large-scale battle.
"So, any additional rules that you want to add? I'll consider them" Ari asks.
"Confident much?" Opet chuckled. "Considering that our class is trained to become a psychopomp, let's limit ourselves to only using the Augmentation and Conception magic."
"Are you sure?" Ari asked, surprised. "I know that your family is a renowned Nephomancer, so I would think that you were more skilled at Domination magic and Observation magic. Why handicapped yourself?"
"You don't like it?" Opet taunted him.
"I mean, I don't mind. The rules are very advantageous for me."
"Then let's start the duel," Opet declared, walking to the combatant spot on the red circle.
"I'll take this one then," Ari mused aloud as he took the opposing blue circle.
Considering the usual rules of duel for students in the academy, there was almost no need for a referee to watch over their duel. While the additional rules of only using Augmentation and Conception magic do indeed require a referee to be enforced, the two of them felt no need for such a strict precaution. Opet was the one who would judge Ari's performance, so it was in Ari's best interest to honor the rules.
"Are you ready?" Opet asked from his position. Seeing Ari nod his head from 50 meters across in his starting position, Opet raised his thumb in recognition. "The duel will start in 60 seconds," he said as a thick green circular line encircled both of their colored circle, losing a sixtieth of its length each second.
When the green line disappeared from the floor, both of them dashed right into each other, their Augmentation legs delivered them into each other's faces.
Boosting his fist with augmentation magic, Ari delivered a right swing at his opponent's face. Opet deflected it with his left forearm, his body shadowed with an illusory outline. His knee raised to strike Opet's sides, but the augmentation-boosted strike was nullified by the conception-enhanced defense of his opponents.
Opet let himself be shoved back by Ari's kick, using it to gain distance to watch Ari more clearly. "Good!" he shouted. "Your augmentation packed quite a punch!"
"You as well," Ari replied. "Your conception-enhanced defense was sturdier than I thought. The outline of your spiritual domain was even more pronounced than mine."
Using conception magic, sorcier can impose their spiritual domain on their physical body to increase their durability. The immaterial made material as superposition between the body and the spirit allows the sorcier to receive heavy blows beyond the material's own mundane durability can withstand.
Stretching his spirit inlaid arm around, Opet takes his stances back. "Ready?" he asked.
Ari replied by launching himself right at him. His right fist homed at his head, but Opet evaded right, stepping into Ari's exposed right side
Ari stepped back, raising his guard, but Opet's boosted punch connected with his exposed side. Magic clashed with magic, and Ari was thrown back.
Ari somersaulted in the air, planting his feet back into the ground.
Opet chased after him, hot on his heel. Opet reached him in no time. He sent blow after blow towards him, his superior motoric and martial arts ability guaranteed each of his strikes to connect.
Even with the disadvantage of losing the ability to use Domination magic to improve his fine motor skills, Ari was surprised that Opet still had the upper hand in regard to martial abilities. Ari defended against each strike to the best of his abilities, his conception magic tested against Opet's augmentation.
But he was doing only that, defending. For every 5 blows Opet sent his Ari are only able to send one back. Even then, some of it Opet just outright evades, his augmented attacks not bearing any result.
Ari bolted away, creating space, but Opet chased after him. He left Ari no breathing room to gather himself. Fists, forearms, elbows, knees, kicks, Ari defended and deflected each and every strike, his spiritual domain strained after being attacked this much.
It was only 5 minutes since the start of their duel, but Ari was already exhausted, his focus failing him. He was blown back by a kick to his stomach, unable to respond in time. He rolled across the arena floor.
He felt Opet chases after him, smelling blood in the water. Unwilling to let Opet land another strike, Ari planted his hands on the floor, his feet windmilled around him, transferring his momentum into a spinning move.
The air shrieked, Ari's magic-covered feet sending sharp blades of wind thrown around in all directions. He spun in place, his hands worked a frenzy to keep his spin going as his feet swung around in an acrobatic dance.
"Impressive," Opet commented from somewhere, Ari couldn't locate him due to his body's constant spinning motion. "For you to already gaining mastery over Separation magic at this age, color me surprised."
Sensing that Opet was halting their duel to comment on his unintentional use of Separation magic, Ari stopped his spins and lowered himself down. A spell of vertigo hit him as he tried to stand back up, his vision spinning. Flexing his conception magic to stabilize his sense of balance, he felt his dizziness subside.
"Do you mind?" Ari asked Opet after a moment.
"Why would I?" Opet replied. "Separation is a sub-specialization of augmentation magic. It was within the rules as far as I'm concerned. Not to mention, we are a psychopomp in training now. The use of magic derived from augmentation and conception are well within the rules."
Hearing Opet's answer, Ari felt relieved. He was afraid that their duel was to end there due to his blunder. He was glad that his chance at convincing Opet to help him was still alive, no matter how slim it had seemed. Their duel thus far has been a one-sided beatdown.
"I gotta say," Opet started, "for you to already have a grasp over a sub-specialization magic technique, you're quite diligent aren't you? Have you already learned to use all ten sub-specialization techniques?"
"Thanks but no," Ari replied. "I've only learned to use separation and fortification magic."
"Hooh? How prepared. The exams for this trimester were to use the fusion magic of separation and fortification, the Absolution magic. You're really prepared to attend this school, huh?"
Ari was elated at hearing Opet's compliment. He had trained hard for the past year to enroll here. For his hard work to be recognized by his roommate, he felt appreciated. But this feeling doesn't last long.
Taking his stance once again, Ari used his fortification magic on his feet. His feet are glued on the floor now, a virtual bond between them held them in place, stronger than the molecular bond between the material itself.
After hearing Opet's permission to use magic that was derived from both augmentation and conception magic, Ari felt that he had found a way to win this duel. Even if his martial abilities are lacking compared to Opet, at least he can depend on his magical abilities.
After reaffirming his plan in his mind once again, Ari prepares himself for the next clash. "I'm ready," he declared.
Seeing Ari hunkering down with fortification magic, Opet launched himself at the immobile Ari. He continued to shower Ari with a flurry of blows once again, but their effects were much reduced now. Not only was Ari no longer blown back by Opet's boosted strike, but his body are now physically stronger as well.
Unlike conception which only strengthens the body by imbuing the material with spiritual domain, fortification magic strengthens the material itself. They do this by fortifying the relative distance between the atoms of the material. Combining both conception and fortification magic, Ari received Opet's onslaught in stride, his defense held stronger than ever.
With his mind preoccupied with operating both conception and fortification magic, Ari was unable to augment his attacks. He deflected Opet's punch, weaved aside from a jab, and blocked his hooks. He kept defending and defending. But this time, his magic bears results.
Magic clashed against magic once again, and Ari stood his ground. Mini shockwave exploded from each clash and now it was Opet that received the full brunt of it. If this situation continued, Opet's defeat was inevitable as the stress of the clash on his body accumulated after hitting Ari's fortified body to no effect.
Kicking Ari's body with his heel, Opet use his rooted opponent to springboard himself backward, creating some space. "Impressive defense," he started, a grin blossomed on his lip. "But you should know that fortification would only help with the material itself right? It doesn't really help against raw magic power."
Channeling both augmentation and conception magic into his right hand, Opet enveloped a volatile ball of augmentation magic with his spirit. A maelstrom of magic inside a sphere, ready to wreak havoc on whatever it touches.
"Can your defense hold against this?" Opet taunted, an orb of mana vortex stuck to his hands. Without access to other kinds of magic, Opet needs to contend himself with delivering the attack on his own, unable to launch the mana orb forward.
But he was content with that. Unless Ari canceled his fortification magic that rooted him in place to chase after him, Opet has all the time to stuff more mana into his next attack. With this much attack power, his mana orb had enough power to destroy Ari's body.
Seeing that Ari had not moved from his position, standing like a statue that hadn't moved from his guard position, Opet dashed after him. His grin grew wilder as he saw Ari frozen in place like a deer before a headlight, not moving a single muscle. But a few meters just before they clashed, an illusory hand emerged from the ground, snagging his right leg.
He stumbled to the ground, unable to control his fall. He watched in horror as his mana orb came in contact with the arena floor. An explosion blew his body away, dust and debris flung in all directions.
His whole body hurts. He tried to raise his body, his hands pushing against the ground. But he stopped himself just before he was able to do it, a pair of illusory feet walked towards him a few meters away. No sound was made as the incorporeal feet stepped on the pebble- and gravel-covered arena floor.
"So, even manifestation magic, huh?" Opet mused aloud. Even as the translucent body stands over him, he shows no sign of defending himself, his body lying prone. His mana is spent after having to defend against the blowback of his own misfired attack. "Is this what you've planned since the beginning? To surprise me with your mastery over manifestation magic?"
"I won, Opet," Ari stated, ignoring Opet's question.
"No. No, you don't" Opet denied.
Hearing his answer, Ari's hands clenched tighter. His incorporeal teeth ground against each other without a sound, frustrated.
Seeing no other way, Ari pulled Opet's right wrist with his right hand. Without a physical body to affect the world, the only sensation he felt from holding Opet's wrist was the pressure against his spiritual domain and through his mana sense. With his other hand, Ari struck his hand forward just above Opet's elbow, snapping the elbow backward.
"AAARGH! You mother-" Opet screamed, his right elbow bent in the wrong direction.
"Do you yield?" Ari growled amidst Opet's pained scream and swearing.
"No! Fucks no!" Opet howled back, gritting his teeth. He was doing his best to endure the pain when he felt his left hand being pulled backward. "Wha-."
Before he can react, Ari snapped Opet's left elbow as well. "What about now?" Ari demanded, his expression unreadable.
"NO!! NEVER!" Opet yelled back as his screaming started anew, his pained cry reaching a new height as he lost both of his arms.
"Why?" Ari asked, subdued. "Do I need to break both of your feet as well?" he demanded as his voice raised in anger at the insistent Opet.
"You know what you need to do to win this duel, Ari," Opet remarked. Using his last scraps of barely recovering mana, he conceptualized a virtual brace to stabilize his injured elbows.
"Surrender now, and we can heal your arms in the healing pavilion. You don't need to prolong your suffering, Opet."
"You know there's a quicker way to make my pain go away isn't it, Ari? Kill me and end this duel," Opet suggested, his pain subsiding after his impromptu remedy.
"Why? Why won't you just surrender, Opet?" Ari asked, exasperated at his roommate's insistence.
"Why won't you just kill me, Ari?" Opet asked back. "You see, Ari. You said that you want to become our class' leader. But how can you be a class leader if you can't even bring yourself to kill your opponent? Do you think our opponents, the other classes, will just surrender when you inflict pain?
"You and your opponents are fighting for each own future, fighting for the chance to be directly invited to attend the Nagapati University. No one with a clear ambition to enroll there would just surrender at a mere sign of pain. It's either you die or they die, no other alternative. Surrender was never an option."
"But this is different, isn't it?" countered Ari. "You're a friend, my roommate, while the other class are enemies."
"Do you think we can't be friends with the students of the other class?" Opet asked back. "I have many friends from my childhood in the other class as well. We know that now that we are of different classes, we have to kill each other. We have to destroy each other's dreams. But does that stop us from being friends? No. We will still kill each other if it means getting closer to our goal. Our dream. And if you want to be the class leader, you better kill me now."
Ares was silent. When he found that enrolling and then graduating from this school would grant him a choice of Charismata fruit, he was intrigued but otherwise ambivalent as to whether he wanted to attend it or not. But when he found out about the class league system, and how the number one class would be directly invited into the prestigious Nagapati University in the capital, he became very interested.
The position of class leader is the one that decides the class' team composition to battle against the other class'. They were the ones that single-handedly decided the winning chance of the class, matching classmates that had the advantage over the other classes to raise their class' winning chance of said battle. The one that leads the class to be the number one amongst the other 8 classes.
It was a huge responsibility, but that was exactly what he sought in coming to this school. A new purpose. A role that matters not only to him but also to others, to make a significance not only for himself but also for others.
'But does that really matter if my school life was to suffer for it?' Ari thought. It was about 6.40 right now, and if they hurried up, they could reach the healing pavilion to get the two of them patched up before the class would start. Compared to housing their spirit back to a new clone, healing a major injury and even limb loss is much faster. If they were to hurry up, they could attend the class like this duel hadn't happened.
If he were to kill Opet now to gain his support in his bid for the class leader position, he would have to endure the whole day alone, surrounded by classmates who want nothing to do with him. He would be isolated. Unwanted. He would feel miserable the whole day. And he hates that.
"My relationship with our other classmates had already started on the wrong foot. I can't imagine how they would react if their childhood friend were to skip the whole day because of a bet with the pariah of the class," Ari started. "If getting your help means that I have to endure the first day of the school being ostracized by everyone, not to mention what their reaction gonna be when they found out that I was the one that killed you, then I'd rather not have it at all.
"I'd rather have you by my side, Opet. I surrender."
Opet was stunned. Ari had told him that he had coveted the class leader position for the past year. Compared to their friendship, if he can even call it that, that had only begun since last week, he can't imagine Ari would abandon his goal for it.
"Why?" he demanded. "You realize that if you surrender now, then I won't even help you to get along with the other classmates right?"
"True. It's gonna be really hard to become the class leader without your help in mending my relationship with the other first," Ari mused. "But at least with you by my side today, my relationship with everyone wouldn't get any worse than it already is. And maybe, just maybe, with you by my side today, the other classmates will see that I'm not some inhuman monster that they thought I would be."
Opet was silent after hearing Ari's words. "So, that's it then?" he asked after some time. Seeing Ari nodding his head, he can't help but sigh at how their duel ended.
"So you snapped my hands for nothing? Holy hell!" Opet cursed. "Well, whatever. Care to help me walk to the healing pavilion? Or should I drag my sorry ass there on my own?"
Hearing Opet's sarcastic remarks at his own expense, Ari can't help but chuckle at the situation. He started the day dreading their conversation and whether Opet would agree to his request to help him or not. But now, it was Ari himself that rejected his help.
Steeling himself for the rough road ahead in his path to becoming the class leader, Ari helped Opet to rise on his feet, before walking to his fortification magic-induced petrified body to return to it once more.