Chapter 9: Brandon Faust
Written from Brandon Faust’s Perspective.
I didn’t belong with other kids. It might sound corny but I was different from kids my age. While they wanted to learn magic and do all sorts of stuff, I wanted to grow up as soon as possible. I could have easily skipped multiple grades if I wanted to but my father forced me to stay in my current grade. ‘Hang with people my age’ he said. Without my parent’s permission, even if the Kingdom gave me a scholarship I couldn’t accept it.
I enrolled into school a year ago. I was only 8 that year and I had always been top in the school. My school, Saint Lucas, was far different from normal schools. Only the Elites of society could attend. In order to prepare us to be fit leaders, we were drilled every week with exams and we learnt things far ahead of our grade level. An 8 year old would learn Basic Trigonometry in their tenth week of school. The subjects rotated every week. However, I was still the top of my class with a huge disparity between me and the rest. While second place could barely achieve an 80, I scored near perfect results.
I wasn’t perfect, but I was still much better. That was until he showed up.
Second Grade Mana Theory Examination Week 2
1. Daragon Eccel [100]
2. Brandon Faust [98]
3. Thomas Pendragon [81]...
“Someone got higher than Brandon?” I heard one of them mutter.
“Isn’t that the kid that took leave for the first year?” Someone else whispered.
“I can’t believe Brandon’s not at the top.”
I clenched my fist. Daragon Eccel. He took leave for the first year because of an illness. I had no idea he even existed until now. I had to find him. I marched to his desk after the bell chimed, indicating the end of school.
He was asleep on his desk.
“Wake up.” I ordered, trying to sound as authoritative as possible.
“Yo.” He looked up at me with a smile. I wanted to wipe that stupid grin off his face.
I had to admit, the boy looked better than me. He had bright red eyes and dark black hair. However, it was odd. I was sure he was sleeping, so why was he so awake? That would have to wait though.
“Come with me.”
“Okay.”
He followed behind me as we walked somewhere far away from school. Everyone had their eyes on us. I always made sure to keep up my image of being an unreachable person. Someone who couldn’t and shouldn’t be messed with.
We stopped at a cliff side. The cliff was about 10 meters. I sat down on one of the rocks as I folded my arms. Daragon sat on a taller rock that I couldn’t reach. He was about a few centimeters taller than me.
“So… why did you bring me here?” Eccel asked.
“Why were you pretending to sleep?” I shot a glare.
“Oh. You noticed that.” He laughed a bit as he scratched his head.
“Answer.” I stomped my foot.
“Well, people kept looking at me after they announced the results. I figured nobody would bother me if I just pretended I was asleep, you know? Didn’t really work out since we’re here.”
“Next question, why are you here?” If I were him, I would have skipped a grade. “You’re from the Eccel family, aren’t you? I’m sure they wouldn’t mind letting you skip a few grades. Your brother finished school when he was 15 didn’t he?”
“Why would I do that? That’s boring.”
“What?”
“Skipping grades means I’m also skipping possible experiences I can make. Sometimes it’s better to sit back and have fun.” He chuckled a bit. I was dumbfounded. Basically he had fear of missing out. But he would be missing out on life if he stayed in school any longer. “You?”
“Me? I just want to get out of this place as soon as possible.” I replied with gravitas. “I’m going to be a doctor and help people.”
The boy laughed at me while holding his belly with one hand and pointing with the other.
“What?”
“Nothing. I just heard all these rumors about you being a grown up. Only to find out you’re just a kid like me.” He answered while wiping his eyes.
“What exactly about me is similar to a child?” I puffed up my chest while mustering a commanding voice.
“That voice. It sounds like me when I try to act tough in front of Draken.” He explained. “And your dream. It’s good but ‘help people’ isn’t something an adult says.”
‘The nerve.’ I thought to myself. Then I remembered that a wise man once said not to waste your time with idiots. I calmly breathed in and let out a sigh. “Whatever.”
I turned to leave.
“You’re leaving?” Daragon asked me. “Oh yeah, your name is Brandon right?”
“It’s Faust, yes.” I turned back to reply.
Daragon hopped off the rock he was on and offered his hand forward.
“Ok then Faust. Want to be friends?”
I had no idea what just happened. First he insulted me and now he wanted to be friends. But I knew adults forgave children because they were young and dumb, probably. So I took his hand.
“Fine.” I shook his hand and rolled my eyes.
“Great! Now I have 1 friend in this school.” He shouted in enthusiasm.
I snickered a bit. This guy is that excited for a single friend? Was he an extrovert or just plain stupid. It was at that moment I was reminded of something.
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“Wait. How did you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Get a full score.”
Daragon acted the complete opposite of what a smart man was in my image. So how did he get a full score?
“I was just lucky I guess.”
“Yeah… probably.” I believed him.
Although I couldn’t confirm it since we didn’t have an exam in the first week and he didn’t come last year, there was no way someone could get a full score at our age without luck. You’d have to be a super genius like that kid from the Sidra family, Kooper.
—------
“And that’s how I met that Eccel kid.” I said furiously while eating my food.
I was seated at the dining table with my father and mother.
“So you finally made a friend? I knew you had it in you!” My mother said happily. She seemed pleased, it was almost disturbing.
“He’s not my friend! He’s just some lucky brat.”
“You’re a brat too y’know.” My father remarked while drinking his cup of coffee. “Anyways, I have to go soon. I got the night shift. Be good in school.”
“Tell me more about this friend of yours.” My mom asked curiously while smiling.
“He’s obnoxious, brash and mean.” I complained.
A week went by just like that. I didn’t really talk to Daragon much afterwards. He would occasionally come talk to me whenever he was free.
—---------
Second Grade Algebra Examination Week 3
1. Daragon Eccel [100]
2. Brandon Faust [99]
3. Thomas Pendragon [87]
“Hey! I got first place again.” Daragon said triumphantly.
“How…” My face went pale. Luck my ass. The bell soon rang.
“Come on, let’s eat. It’s recess.”
I reluctantly followed Daragon to the canteen. It was jam packed with kids, which made sense since it was Friday. Every Friday, school ended earlier and because of that every level had recess at the same time. And we only had 30 minutes. This meant it was hard to get food.
“Well, it’s a good thing I brought food from home.” I said casually. Daragon looked at me with longing eyes. I grabbed one of my lunchboxes from my bag and handed it to him. “My mom packed one for you too.”
“Yay!” Daragon chimed innocently as he opened the lunchbox. “Aww, veggies.”
“You don’t eat vegetables?”
“They taste bad. Bleh.” Daragon put his tongue out and closed his eyes, exaggerating his disgust. “You want them?”
“I don’t like them but I don’t eat more than I need.” I stated calmly as I dug into my meal.
Daragon forced himself to eat his vegetables.
“I thought you hated them?”
“I do but-” Daragon paused to chug some water from his plastic bottle. “I hate wasting food more. There are people who starve. Plus, they are good for me. At least Draken says so. Never seen him eat any though.”
“You’re a strange one.” I snickered.
“Neat!” He smiled back.
It was afterwards we all heard a loud roar.
“Watch where you’re going!” The kid shouted. He was a different grade level from ours. I recognised everyone from our grade. And he definitely didn’t seem younger.
In School, seniors and juniors were worlds apart. This was ironclad. Just being a single year older made you that much more intimidating. And nobody wanted to mess with seniors.
A boy from our class, Thomas, had an entire bowl on him. His uniform drenched in soup and his hair covered with noodles. However, he didn’t complain. Instead he just stood up and tried to walk away before his shoulder was tugged by the senior.
“Pay up. That was my meal for the day.” The senior said.
“I don’t have money.” Thomas replied.
Everyone watched and started gossiping. I knew all too well. But nobody wanted to step in. I thought I had recognised the bully. It was Alex Ambrose. This wasn’t just seeking money. This was a display of power. He purposefully picked someone he could mess with. Kids get high on that sort of stuff. Dominating others. I myself got a kick out of placing first, until the boy beside me ruined it.
Thomas Pendragon was disowned by the main family and was banished to a subsidiary of the Pendragon Branch. The Pendragon Family used to rule England but grew weaker and were overthrown. They were mostly a puppet family now. Thomas was a Pendragon only in name. Meanwhile, Alex Ambrose was the grandson of a rich businessman and also said to be the most likely heir to the fortune.
After weighing their options, nobody would try to step in and help Thomas. The reason their parents put them in this school is to study and network. For Nobles to stay nobles and rich to get richer, they need to create an inner circle that could benefit each other. Only an idiot would-
“Stop!” Daragon shouted, stepping before him.
“What are you doing?” Alex asked in a strident voice.
“What are YOU doing?” Daragon vociferated. His voice commanded a certain aura.
“What family are you from?” Alex asked. But Daragon ignored him, giving Thomas his handkerchief.
“Hey? You alright?” Daragon asked with a worrisome look on his face.
“I’m talking to you!” Alex shouted again before coins flew to his face.
“What the hell!”
“That’s the money your noodles cost. The one you clumsily spilled.” Daragon’s shot a glare that gave me, who it wasn’t even directed to, chills. “Go away.”
The school bell rang and everyone scattered. I stood there in awe. It was like a totally different side of him.
“Brandon, you don’t like school right? Let’s skip class then.”
“Wh- What?” I snapped out of my daze.
“Come on uhh- what’s your name again?”
Thomas looked down. Of course he didn’t know who Thomas was. If he did, he wouldn’t have saved him.
“I’m Thomas… Pendragon.” Thomas answered.
“Oh! You’re that guy my brother told me about.” Daragon said.
Yup. Here it comes.
“Your mother’s so cool. I wished I had a mom like that.” Daragon chuckled. “She went against her entire family for you.”
“Yeah. She’s awesome.” Thomas smiled lightly.
“Daragon. You offended the Ambrose family for a guy you didn’t even know?”
“Ambrose? Isn’t that the name of a Saint? He’s related to a Saint? Doesn’t seem like one at all.” Daragon simply snorked.
I had nothing left to say. We helped Thomas into new clothes as we all went back home after school.
—---
“Brandon Faust!” My mother roared out my full name. This was dangerous territory.
“Yes mother?” I tried to reply as sweetly as I could, attempting to quell her rage.
“What’s this about you skipping class? With friends too? I know I asked you to get friends but not if they’re a bad influence!” My mother yelled.
“Mom. Let me explain.”
I soon explained the whole situation to my raging mother.
“The Ambrose family? Oh dear. Maybe your father can help out. He has friends.”
“What about me? Where’s dinner honey? You said you were cooking steak.” My father walked in the room.
“Help our son. His friend offended the Ambrose family.”
“His friend is named Daragon right?” My father asked. I nodded. “Don’t worry about it. As long as Draken Eccel is alive, nobody in this colony can do anything.”
“Oh.”
True enough, he was right. I grossly underestimated the powers of the Eccel Family. It was only after researching did I find out how powerful Daragon’s brother truly was. A genius at the age of 6, he showed signs of being a gifted fighter. They were noble by title. A Baron family. However, their wealth was enormous. Draken wasn’t only strong, he knew how to handle money. Like, really well.
After inheriting his father and mother’s wealth, Draken used his resources to invest into businesses and help upstarts. And his investments always paid off. Wealth was only one part. The Eccel family also had prestige. After all, Draken’s parents had saved the King of Britannia before. They owe a huge debt to them.
—---------
Daragon, Thomas and I sat on a couple of rocks. The same place I brought him to before.
“Say, Daragon. Do you know how strong your family is?” I asked Daragon.
“Not really. I know my father was a strong swordsman and my mother was a good mage.” Daragon sighed. “I wished I could have met them. I didn’t grow up with parents so I’ve missed out on a parent-child relationship. I vowed to not miss out on any more.”
“I see.” His smile felt precious to me. I wanted to protect it. Was I having feelings for him? No. This was strictly platonic. I shook my head.
—---------
Present day.
“I don’t want him to suffer again. So leave him alone.” I scowled at Relic.
“Alright.” Relic answered casually.
“I said leave- wait what?”