Chapter 186.

PART 1.

After their match yesterday, they have two days to rest and prepare. After these two days pass, the Subcontinent will face the Kemet Academy. but it appears they are having an issue already.

“Aaaaaahhhhh! Chooooooooo!” the curtains in the room flutter after that almighty sneeze.

Daphne is feeding Hatori some soup. “You should stay away from me,” he said to her.

“Hush now. here, drink this.” She spoon-fed him the remainder of the soup before another sneeze disrupted them. the lucky bastard.

“What do you think, coach?” asked Avinash. “Do you think he is going to recover?”

“I do not think so.” Said Dimitri. “The cold he experienced breached his body’s defenses. It will take time for him to recover completely.”

“Meaning we have to face Kemet without him,” said Praduman.

The next day, Hatori shows up to their sparring session. “But coach, I can fight. aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh! Chooooooooo!” a massive hole in the ground appears after this sneeze.

“Sure, you can. but in your state, you are a danger to your teammates. Sit this one out, that’s an order.” Said Dimitri strictly.

Hatori falls asleep after a while, watching his teammates sparring. At least the mild sunlight is warm enough for him to enjoy. Dimitri shakes his head after seeing him asleep. ‘Look at him. and he wanted to spar in this state. That boy is too stubborn for his own good.’

PART 2.

“Ah, chu!” sneezed Hatori, and scorched the table.

“Ah, chu!” sneezed Hatori, and electrocuted Josh and Avinash.

“What did I ever due to you?” asked Josh.

“Let him recover. Then…” Avinash trailed off.

“Ah, Chu!” more destruction follows.

“Honestly, you need to get out of here,” said Daphne. “I’m taking him out, maybe the sunlight will stop his bouts of sneezing.”

“Go ahead.” Said Dimitri. He remembers how Hatori stopped sneezing when he showed up for the sparring session in the afternoon. “Do come back on time though, you do need to rest for your match after all.”

Daphne smiled. “Will do, coach.” She said and took Hatori before he could cause any more destruction in the suite.

Due to his sickness, they couldn’t walk much. the city proves to have temperamental weather, as clouds come and go, and block the sunlight. Still, Daphne spent the remainder of the afternoon with Hatori.

“Aren’t you worried that you might catch the cold?” he asked when they returned to their hotel in the evening, having watched the sunset in a park.

“I’m sure you’ll take care of me,” smirked Daphne.

Hatori grinned. “Do you even need to ask?” he said.

“Oh, look. Who do we have here, a harlot and her boy toy.” Said a girl about their age, blocking their path.

Daphne sighed. “ReallyAva, that is the only thing you can say to me after all these years?” she asked.

“Shut up! you think just because you’re some duelist, that you’re better than me?” she screamed shrilly, and Hatori covered his ears. Some people have no manners at all.

“I don’t think I am better than you. I am better than you,” said Daphne, suddenly looming over Ava. “And do you know why? because I didn’t spent all my time on the knees for becoming popular.”

Daphne pushes Ava away and leaves with Hatori. the girl stands there, not understanding what happened. Since when did Daphne become so fierce? She was supposed to be a coward who left for the barbaric lands. Not this fiery woman.

PART 3.

After taking a potion to soothe his throat, Hatori asked Daphne. “So, what was that about, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“You mean with Ava?” asked Daphne. At Hatori’s nod, she continues. “She’s, my cousin. She used to bully me when I lived here, or whenever I came to visit.”

“Hmm. she got under your skin quite easily.” Said Hatori, remembering the exchange, and how Daphne reacted.

“Yeah, sorry about that.” she ducked her head in shame.

Hatori grabs her chin and raises her face. “Don’t apologize for that. She deserved every word you’ve said to her.” He spoke. “Besides, you know me, I probably would have done something far worse than just insulting her if I were to be in your place.”

Though Daphne would like to say that he is not that terrible, she has seen him get angry in person. There is a reason why no one bothered him after he dueled and crippled a professor in the Academy. As he falls asleep, Hatori starts to mutter in his sleep.

“No, I can’t be back here, just my luck.” He grumbled while snoring.

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“Looks like he is suffering from some nightmares.” Said Avinash.

“Yes. that is the case it seems.” Tom agreed

They all decide to spend the night in one room to accompany Hatori.

PART 4.

Hatori is dreaming. it is a nightmare that has gone on for an entire night. he is back in his six-year-old body, and he is trapped in the school where he was abused so much. no access to magic, and no help coming from his family, it seems he will spend the rest of his life in this prison.

“AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!” he screamed, finally waking up.

“Oh, you’re awake.” SaidRavina. “Get ready, there is some breakfast for you.”

Her voice reminds Hatori that he is not trapped in his past, and in fact, he has access to magic. to prove this, he levitates his toothbrush instead of using his hands to brush his teeth.

“I swear, many people are jealous of you,” said Ravina when she saw him do that.

Spitting and washing his mouth, Hatori replied. “They should be. I worked hard for this control.”

While enjoying his breakfast, Hatori notes the missing two members. “Where are Tom and Avinash?”

“They are scouting the Europa Academy. they are facing East-Asian Academy today.” Said Praduman.

Though he has stopped suffering the bouts of sneezing, Hatori is still not feeling good enough to go out. so he is left alone in the suite, as the team has left to rest and relax outside. Hatori thinks this would be a perfect time to read a book, but he has no books to read at all. Come to think of it, he used to think about reading books all the time. but ever since he regained his sight, he has not done much reading. Not that he ever had time for it. Munshi was a demanding master, and the rune project of Professor Krodhatma was also very demanding.

The door opens, and Hatori hears Shin announcing, “I have returned!”

“I know. No need to shout.” Said Hatori.

“Come on now, don’t steal my thunder like that, do you know people are really digging my music here?” he said sitting near Hatori.

“Really?” asked Hatori.

“Yeah.” nodded Shin, remembering the reception he got. “They’ve not heard music like that. they say most of their music is rather bland and unimaginative.”

“Probably every local says that,” said Hatori.

“You won’t hear that in Subcontinent though.” Shin retorted.

“Because we are cut from a different cloth.” Said Hatori. he sniffs and gets a strange smell. “Okay, I know that my nose is not working properly, but is that perfume I smell on you? A girly perfume, no less?”

“Ahahaha! You see, there was this noble girl who was taken by my music. She decided that she could keep me. I refused of course, but she got really insistent.” Shin blushed while telling Hatori all of this.

“Shame. What would Lavanya think?” asked Hatori.

“She would know that I escaped the girl.” Said Shin. “You know that I am not that kind of man.”

“Yes, I know you’re not a womanizer.” Said Hatori.

“Speaking of which, Raven and I used to think that you would turn out to be one,” said Shin. “Once you get the taste that is.”

“I haven’t gotten the taste.” Said Hatori. “Though I can’t deny your claims. But the school days are now passed, I don’t think any of us have time for playing footsies.”

“True. True. I need to focus; I don’t want to lose any more of my matches.” Said Shin.

“Then do so.” Said Hatori. “You might get a chance to prove yourself tomorrow. I’m not fighting, so chances of you getting another duel increase a lot.”

PART 5.

Ava goes to her mother. She seems to be in a good mood, so it is the right time to make her pitch. “Mom, Daphne is here,” she said to her. “Why don’t we invite her?” She says nothing else, deciding to keep her pitch simple.

“Hmm. why not? I’m glad that you’re getting over her dislike for her. We will speak to her after her match tomorrow.”

Ava smiled widely, and went back to her room, with a skip in her step. ‘I’ll show you who is the top bitch around here, you harlot!’

PART 6.

Avinash and Tom return in the evening. “We already know of the East-Asian team. but the European team is strange. Just like how coach told us, they heavily depend on their sticks for their magic.” said Avinash.

“That is their key weakness.” Said Tom. “I suggest we target their foci during our matches.”

“Good strategy.” Said Josh.

“Now, what about you, Hatori?” asked Avinash.

“He is still not competing.” Said Dimitri, before Hatori could say anything. “I want him recovered completely, so he will not fight tomorrow.”

Avinash sighed. “We’ll make do.” He nodded.

He has to go in the match tomorrow with one piece down. He does not like it, but as someone who wants to be the king, he has to handle such situations without complaints.