As Tibaut felt a strange obsession to return to the mansion, Elizabeth noticed him looking unsure. He was looking at the road they travelled on and seemed to be forcing himself to stop walking.

He noticed Elizabeth walking over.

“What the hell is- wait hold on what are you doing!?” He asked.

“Just make sure both of you stay in my sight.”

“Hold on a second, there has to be an easier wayyyyyy!!”

She grabbed his arms and flung him towards Furor with seemingly no hesitation.

He managed to land on his feet, though not as graceful as a cat, and noticed Furor standing a few feet away from him.

(“Tch, why are you having us fight Elizabeth? Can't you just straighten this guy out and be done with it?”)

Furor seemed to him comfortably observing and Tibaut couldn't help but bring his mind back to earlier.

(“But what the hell was that? I think he said fuck off or something and immediately I started feeling like going home. Is this a part of his magic or is he just psyching me out?”)

The thing about the feeling of going home he felt was that it didn't feel unnatural. It was like a bad feeling about those who had been left behind, like Vanessa. He felt a sinking feeling like there had been something he missed that could lead to her endangerment. But was it real or was it because of him?

“Worrying about something you dipshit?”

Tibaut narrowly dodged a stone tossed at him after snapping out of his internal thoughts and hearing the voice of his opponent.

“What did you do to me?” Tibaut asked. (“It'd probably be a bit much using my fireballs, even if this guy is a dick.”)

“The fuck are you talking about, huh? I DIDN'T DO SHIT! YOU ACCUSING ME OF SOMETHING YOU LITTLE FUCKER!?”Tibaut looked taken back by how adamant Furor was. His rage almost left Tibaut speechless.

“Wha- I'm not accusing you of anything, I'm saying that it feels kinda… you know what never mind, I'm just mistaken. (Huh, it must just be my imagination…)”

“Damn right, dipshit.”

As he accepted the feeling of… homesickness? He had earlier he couldn't help but

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

wonder

why he accepted his words so easily.

(“Wait a minute this doesn't make sense. He obviously did something to me or did he? I mean he picked a fight with me so it wouldn't be out of the cards for him to use some sort of magic but would someone on Elizabeth's level need magic to beat me? Why am I so-”)

Before he could finish his thoughts, Furor had closed the distance between them and landed a blow in his gut.

“For her golden boy, YOU SURE AIN'T SHIT!”

He quickly backed away and took a few moments catching his breath as he stared at Furor.

(“Damnit, one punch already has me like this? What the hell was Elizabeth thinking putting me against this guy!? Wait this isn't the time for complaining, I have to focus on him.”)

Furor was in front of him yet again, but this time Tibaut managed to block the blow and counter with a kick which was also blocked. He hesitated with the kick which left him open long enough for Furor to land a kick of his own towards the place all men cherish.

He jumped back although it reduced the force, it still left leaning against a nearby tree to stand up.

“(Should have known a bastard like him would fight dirty. Dammit, how'd I fuck that kick up? If I was just a bit quicker, I would have gotten away before he countered. This whole fight has been weird. Why do I feel so antsy around him? He isn't Elizabeth and it's not like I'm shaking in my boots whenever I fight her.)”

He was right, he didn't shiver in fear when he trained with Elizabeth. It was more of a suicidal frenzy. In fact, that was the way he fought most opponents too strong for him. Which made his timidness during this fight even more bizarre. As much as he wouldn't want to admit it, he would already be trying to kill him if he was having a hard time.

(“This is strange… I mean he said he isn't doing anything but… wait a minute why'd I take his word so easily?”)

He looked at Furor and although brief, he noticed a smirk on his face, as he watched Tibaut.

(“So he is doing something, but what is it? Wait a minute I remember Elizabeth saying something… right my mana.”)

While keeping his eyes on Furor, he released his mana and felt his head become clearer.

Furor clicked his tongue seeing this.

“That fucking bitch did tell you how to counter it. That nosey cunt.” he commented looking at Tibaut.

“You son of a bitch, what the hell was that?”

His homesickness, his uncertainty in himself and most importantly, his belief in Furor's words all faded.

“Why the hell should I tell you, you FUCKING WORM!?” He shouted towards Tibaut.

He felt intimidation and froze up long enough for Furor to close the distance between them. He quickly broke out of it and parried Furor’s punch before landing a counter of his own to his face.

He took it without incident but backed away and wiped his lip.

“Hmph, so it has something to do with your words,” Tibaut commented.

Furor looked ready to shout something else but Elizabeth came between them.

“Enough, it's hard enough discussing with you screaming obscenities. This is as far as both of you take this.”

He looked away and spat on the floor.

“Aren't you something, coming to his aid like Prince Charming? Whatever, your golden boy gets off with a light warning today.”