Chapter 170.

PART 1.

Hatori, Josh, and Shin make their way to the room of frozen time. they are looking forward to a long relaxing time after this long tournament. They did not catch any breaks, and both their bodies and brains are demanding it.

Hatori opens the door, to see James setting up enchanted beds. “You did that for us?” he asked.

“Whatever we would do without you, buddy.” Said Josh, plopping on one of the beds and giving James a cheesy smile.

“After everything, I think you deserve it,” said James simply. “Besides, it was fun running diagnostics on you.”

“That is scary.” Said Raven from a corner, “He has the complete knowledge of your bodies. I would be careful not to piss him off.”

“Not complete, but close to it,” said James with a smile.

“James, buddy, you know that I wouldn’t do anything to upset you, right?” asked Shin with a nervous smile.

His smile got more and more brittle when James failed to reply. “Come on, what have I done? Please don’t scare me like that.”

James hits Raven with a Knockback spell, making him flop to the ground. “Why?” he wheezed from this sudden attack.

“For stressing him,” said James. “I don’t have any problems with you guys. Just go to sleep.”

“Sure.” Yawned Hatori. Once he hits the bed, he is out.

“Wow.” Said James. “He must be more tired than I thought.”

“What?” asked Raven, as Shin and Josh also lay down.

“Normally, his heart rate is quite high during sleep. but now, it is falling steadily.” Explained James.

“Yeah,” sighed Raven. “The result of his paranoid training.”

James said nothing. He knows about the said training, having been in the house to see it multiple times, sometimes an attack took place a few feet of distance from him. Zeko warned them that they should never get involved, or else the house would consider them hostile.

So they could do nothing but watch, as their friend got attacked in his sleep, while he was eating, not to mention, fight to access everything. ‘Maybe some mind healers should study him. hopefully, it would stop them from the lie on the couch and tell me about your problems routine.’ Thinks James.

“You did tell them about their ranks, didn’t you?” asked James.

“Yeah, I did.” Nodded Raven. “I swear, Hatori is going to get a big head from this.” Looking up to see James staring at him, Raven amends his statement. “An even bigger head than he already has.”

PART 2.

Avinash is celebrating with his friends. though he might be in the third position, he still considers it to be a great position. Tom has joined them, though he seems a little timid around him.

“What’s up with you?” he asked bluntly.

Tom looks around, trying to find a way out of this conversation. But he has known Avinash for the last eight years. so he also understands that there is no way to avoid this conversation. “I thought you’d be furious that I am above you.”

Avinash, Akshit, and Sagar, all shook their heads. The latter two do have some opinions about it, but Tom has been a loyal friend. They do not hold his nameless status against him. “Then you think wrong.” Said Avinash. “Besides, I got the ultimate prize. I defeated Hatori.” Avinash’s face splits with a wild grin of glee, as he recalls his moment in the ring, where Hatori was done, and he was standing over him.

“It was a destructive duel for sure.” Said Sagar, passing the drinks. They open the bottles, and the enchantment to keep the contents cool ends after that.

“Yeah, especially the last part. Those two elemental shapeshifting spells, those were really something.” Agreed Akshit, taking a sip of the juice.

Their drinks are all non-alcoholic. About 200 years ago, there was a huge problem with younger students, who caused a lot of havoc after drinking alcohol, so alcohol was banned among them. later, some older academics and professors did the same thing, so alcohol is entirely banned in the Academy, though if an adult wishes to get drunk, they can do so by going outside.

“I didn’t see that. will you show me the recordings?” asked Tom.

“Certainly. Let’s gather in hour dorms this evening. It promises to be a great rewatch.” Said Sagar.

“Yeah, I want to see myself beat Hatori again.” Said Avinash.

PART 3.

Corvus is sitting in Dimitri’s office, seeing the coach go through multiple plans, making notes, and then adjusting the said notes. “Hmm. Tom and Hatori won’t need much direct guidance. Good. I can give their time to Josh, Shin, and Praduman. Avinash, Ravina, and Daphne would also need a hand…”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Things continue in this manner for a while, and Corvus decides to leave the man to his work. He thought that he would take a break after the tournament, but he was wrong. It is a novel experience to be wrong at his age. “Good day, coach.”

“Good day to you as well, headmaster.” Said Dimitri absent-mindedly, as Corvus left the office.

“Now, for the sparring sessions…” Dimitri then starts to work on the schedule for Spars, where he also includes himself and Nandan as opponents once in a while. “Headmaster, may I ask other students to assist during sparring?”

Corvus stops, and answers. “Certainly. You have to choose the students yourself, however.”

“I’ll do that, thank you,” replied Dimitri, making more adjustments. ‘I’ll leave him to his devices. Though if I feel that he is going overboard, I’ll make him take rest, forcibly if need be.’ Thinks Corvus.

PART 4.

“Yo! Look who we have here, the number 1 guy in the tournament!” Nandan claps Hatori on the shoulder. “You look rested.”

“Yeah, had a great sleep,” said Hatori with a smirk. Nandan feels that there is more to it, but he decides not to pry. He is certain that James will not let these boys have some dangerous potions.

“You know, it is unfair just how fast you’re growing. Look at you, already taller than me,” said Nandan, after observing the heights of Hatori and Josh. Both of them are taller than him already.

“Height alone is not enough to win the duels.” Said Shin sagely.

“True. True.” Agreed Nandan.

Hatori wanted to retaliate with something like, “It would have more weight if you had a higher rank.” But he refrains from saying anything. People can get upset with wording like that.

Besides, whenever he tries to be his blunt self, he remembers the horrifying lessons with Kangana, and he has no interest in going through those again. ‘The saddest part is, Josh would make me go through those, if I slip even a little. Bastard.’ Thinks Hatori.

PART 5.

“Why so glum?” asked a student of Vivek’s age.

“Go away.” He replied and went back to his book.

He is not reading anything, but at least when he pretends, they leave him alone. but some people don’t get the message. “Now, now, no need to be hostile.”

“What do you want?” asked Vivek. “I don’t need your condolences.”

“Ha! You won’t get anything of the sort here. now, if you were to come on the ninth rank…” he trails off.

Vivek closes the book angrily and glares at the boy. “What. Do. You. want?” he gritted out.

Instead of being intimidated, he smiled after seeing this anger. “Keep this anger hot, and get in contact with me once you graduate.” He spoke. “You might get a chance of taking revenge.”

The boy hands Vivek a note and leaves whistling. Vivek sees the name Atul on the paper, and instructions to contact this mysterious Atul. It also mentions a group, but there is no name given, and their intention is not clear either.

‘Whatever. I’ll speak with them at least once. Couldn’t be worse than coming dead last.’ Thinks Vivek.

PART 6.

Mira looks at the compilation of the articles and interviews she has written during this tournament. She flips through them and puts the collection down. “Congratulations on a job well done. I knew you had it in you.”

“Thanks, professor.” Mira glowed from the praise.

“Maybe you should pursue this career, write articles, interview people, or become someone’s biographer?” suggested the professor.

“Me?” asked Mira. Amrita nods, and she thinks about it. “But where would I start?”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll recommend you to the right people.” Said Amrita.

“Professor, don’t you say that nepotism is bad, as history teaches us?” asked Mira cheekily.

“Ha! You might have a point. but then again, a little bit doesn’t hurt, now does it?” said Amrita. ‘Never mind that some people use it all the time.’ she thought privately in her head.

PART 7.

While the tournament is over, the school is preparing for another battle. Josh is about to graduate, and the school needs a new president. Many students have applied for this position, and the voting will start shortly.

But there is an undercurrent of tension during this entire process. many students are worried that this won’t be a peaceful transfer of power, and some groups on the social hinges are already looking to take advantage of the slightest weakness in the new system to attack it and establish their own systems.

So far, various students have appeared in the race for a new president. Among them is Suraj, two years behind Hatori’s class, and who also regained his sight around two years ago or so. Many politically inclined students are not certain that he will win, due to his former disabled mage status.