Chapter 21

The other students in class U were practicing with all their effort. None of the students lasted beyond 20 minutes of their assigned duties. Most gave up, except for Riona. Creating a 5 meter radius water sphere to her was child’s play. However, it took a lot of effort to keep and maintain the spell. Such magic was not meant to be kept in place; instead, it was meant to be cast at someone—or something. While keeping the water sphere in place, the best she could do was 30 minutes before having to rest again.

Her eyes wandered around the dirt rings; everyone had sweat soaked p.e clothes. They all changed to more suitable clothes after Baldr had left, knowing that this task would be tough. However, her eyes caught the two laying down side by side having a casual conversation.

“And there she was. She stole my crepe!” Mel groaned. “Muuu, you were there Kazu. Stop smiling!”

“Oh was I? I remember someone forgetting their wallet.” Kazu laughed. “Let’s see… you probably would’ve cried if I didn’t buy you another.”

“Hmph! I would’ve… almost- wait, maybe… no I wouldn’t!” Mel stumbled. “I don’t cry!”

“Just remembered, something about that.” Kazu turned to face Mel. “When we were in that trip, were you really forced to-”

“You two!” Riona shouted.

Riona strode her way to ring 4, entering it. The steps she took were heavy, and her sweat made her exposed skin shine. Looking at the two on the ground, she couldn’t help but feel anger at their leisure attitude.

“-forced to go with me?” Kazu continued after being interrupted.

“Hm? No, why would you think that?” Mel narrowed her eyes. “You… forgot?”

“No, maybe it was just the-”

A water sphere dropped onto Mel and Kazu, disrupting their happy conversation. Kazu coughed as the water dropped in time when he inhaled. Riona towered in front of them with an expression that could freeze someone with a touch.

“You failures have no excuse for not practicing.” Riona said. “Why not just leave this academy?”

Mel kept her mouth shut, following what Kazu wanted from the earlier discussion. After recovering his breath, Kazu stood up to meet eye to eye with Riona.

“Easy for you to say. Only someone with suuuch high talent and upbringing can say that.” Kazu spat. “Look around you. Everyone’s done. This class is a joke.”

“If you already know, then why aren’t you making an honest effort to rise above a joke?” Riona gritted her teeth.

“Wait wait wait, hold on.” Kazu waved his hands around. “First off, why do you care?”

“Youuuu!!!” Riona growled. “Have you no pride?!”

“See, that’s a matter of perspective.” Kazu shrugged. “Its not like I want to reach the top. Right Mel?”

“That’s right!” Mel followed up. “The top is full of pansies!”

“Then leave!” Riona ordered. “You two are a distraction to everyone!”

“Hmph. Fine.” Kazu quickly turned around to face the exit. “Mel, let’s go.”

Kazu and Mel headed out of the dome. The fact that they never changed to gym clothes irritated Riona even more. Their leisure attitude mocked everything she had worked for. In the Youth Academies, she did not do the minimum required. Instead, she surpassed the maximum to please the one figure who was the world to her. But after seeing these two, she wondered how they even managed to get in the Royal Academy. Did she put so much effort for no reason?

Riona looked at the remaining classmates. None of them had determination. Most were slouched on the ground, others were playing with the grass, dirt, or whatever they could hold.

“Everyone. Right now, we may not be able to last until an hour. However, the professor would not give such an impossible task. Do not lose hope!” Riona pleaded.

Her short motivational speech riled up some of the students who were in the same boat. Kazu also heard it from afar as he and Mel exited the facility; but at this rate, they were never going to reach the goal set by Baldr. An ember of pity swelled up from his heart, and Mel looked at him, noticing this.

“Hmmmm, Kazu’s sooo kind.” Mel grinned.

“Shut up. I didn’t do anything... yet.” Kazu nudged her.

Kazu and Mel decided to go back to the main building due to Mel’s nagging about “cafeteria, cafeteria, cafeteria.” The whole class up till now wasted all morning practicing. Other students who were in different classes, that just ended, also entered the cafeteria. Students made a line in front of the lunch lady and some stared at the two already eating today’s menu; pasta.

At this point, a man sat beside Kazu, bumping him a little with his rough landing. His eyes went straight to Mel’s face and he whistled in a flirt. The man’s name was Daniel Wingflood, and his eyes were filled with infatuation. It was Kazu’s first time seeing a man, other than himself, look at Mel like that in front of him. Although for him, it was different from infatuation and more towards care, and most likely more.

“Kazu and Mel right?” Daniel.

Mel rolled her eyes, “Why not just buzz off, loser?”

Daniel held his heart like a man getting shot in the chest by a bullet—an arrow in this world. “Straight to the point. Hurts you know?”

“Good, maybe you’ll learn to avoid fire.” Mel insulted him. However, Kazu knew the man beside him would have no idea that it was an insult. Mel used an idiom back on Earth where a man who does not know why they should avoid fire is actually stupid. The second was that the man beside him is a fire mage.

“You’re eyes give off such beautiful radiance of fire. Being attracted to you is nature taking its course.” Daniel made a shape of a rose with fire, handing it to Mel. “Say, why not hang out with me?”

Mel blew away the fire with wind magic and said, “Your pick up line lacks cheese.”

“Pick up? Who says I’m trying to pick you up.” Daniel winked. “I’m just a man who can and will appreciate you much better. So, what do you say?”

“Here.” Kazu took out a wheel of cheese from his inventory, also taking out a cheese grater. “Tell me when to stop.”

“Alright, that’s enough cheese. That ability’s so handy, hehe.” Mel stuffed her mouth with more pasta.

The jealousy in Kazu’s heart calmed down when he brought Mel’s attention back to himself. For the past year, he had only her as company with his training. Naturally, they talked about random stuff and their state of relationship never came up in the conversations. However, Kazu didn’t mind; he felt the feeling was mutual between him and Mel.

“Neat trick” Daniel smirked, putting one of his hands on Kazu’s shoulder.. “Kazu-bro, why not lend me her ‘till tomorrow?”

Of course this guy was picking Mel off him. Daniel didn’t know, but Kazu’s view of him fell to the bottom when he said that inappropriate remark at the beginning of class. Now, his question pricked the last of Kazu’s patience, and he had very little to begin with for these kinds of men.

“Don’t call me bro, you’re disgusting.” Kazu shrugged off his hand. “Just pray you don’t meet me outside the school.”

“Woah woah woah- don’t get so mad.” Daniel scooted away to get some distance. His whole body became covered in goosebumps. Being a pampered noble, he  wasn’t familiar with the sensation was that took over his body, but he knew that he didn’t like it.

“That’s right, get out of my face.” Mel snarked.

Daniel didn’t utter another word as a chill ran down his spine when he met Kazu’s eyes. The mood became normal again with Kazu and Mel being the two lone people on the table that could fit 10 to 15 persons.

After Kazu’s gaze turned back to Mel, she lowered her head, looking at her food to hide the flush on her cheeks. It made Kazu feel embarrassed himself when she suddenly turned away. Inside him, a sort of nostalgic feeling rose up when the silence fell between them, yet Kazu couldn’t place his finger on where this might have happened before.

Mel had cleaned her plate and was the first to disrupt the silence. “Guu… come on. I can only get one plate anyway. Cheapo principal!”

Kazu sighed with a smile on his face. She didn’t let him finish the rest of his meal, but he didn’t care. During practice earlier, they ate some of Sene’s sandwiches from the stash he built up since last year. Since they don’t perish in his inventory, he could keep them stored forever.

Exiting the main building, they headed towards the main gate to exit the academy. On their way over, they were stopped by Leonard, the man who introduced himself during the welcoming ceremony a week before classes started.

“Oh, if it isn’t Kazu?” Leonard said, “Where you headed?”

“Un, Just outside. Maybe a restaurant.” Kazu replied.

Since his training with Mel, they undertook countless subjugation quest. Going to a restaurant once in a while wouldn’t hurt even with his penny pinching attitude.

“Outside? Students can’t go outside ‘till classes finishes.” Leonard said. “Then we have curfew before sun down.”

“I don’t think it matters anyways,” Kazu jested, “We’re class U students.”

“I.. I see.” Leonard coughed, “Hey, did you hear? There was a rumble in the PA facility earlier. Wonder what that was?”

“PA Facility?” Kazu asked.

“Probably the practical applications whatever.” Mel answered.

“Yeah, that’s it. And I was there!” Leonard bragged. “I’m telling you man, Riona has real talent. She might be able to get a seat in the heroic ranks before she turns 40. That’s like… she would be the youngest! Its just too bad-”

“-What’s that gotta do with me?” Kazu sneered. “All I can say is, good for her. She’s none of my business.”

“Heroic rankers are a bunch of nobodies.” Mel clenched her fist. “All they can do is gang up on one person, that’s it.”

“Hm? What’re you talking about?” Leonard eyes  widened. “I’ve never heard of them try and subdue anyone… Wait, you mean the mad king? That’s just a legend, nothing else. Heroic-ranks are the real thing. The strongest beings walking on Ilmaira.”

“Pfft, so what if they’re strong?” Kazu criticized. “Then what? What’s the point of that power in the first place?”

“Mmmm, Kazu, you’re too humble.” Leonard shook his head. “You’re in class U. After the first class, I think everyone understands that Class U is the class of geniuses. But they won’t admit it. So they started a fight. But I don't know if those were first year students… well whatever. So, why are you trying to become stronger?”

“Isn’t that obvious?” Mel’s eyes lit up. “So that we don’t die while traveling to taste all the food! Hehe.”

Leonard laughed, “Hahaha, you’re a funny one. Aren’t you curious what happened to your class though?”

“What happened?” Kazu asked.

“Well, at first, Riona won against the first couple of students who charged at her.” Leonard sighed. “But for some reason, she couldn’t gather enough mana and they beat her up when she collapsed.”

“Wait, what do you mean by beat up?” Kazu stopped walking, grabbing Leonard’s arm. The gate was just ahead. But he couldn’t find a way out of the prickling feeling that he’s forgetting something.

“Beat up. They stomped her on the ground. Most of the students in Class U too, except one got away.” Leonard answered. “Teachers won’t do anything about it, I tell ya. They’re probably still at the PA facility right now. If teachers interfere, student’s are gonna complain about favouritism after all.”

Kazu turned back, marching at a greater speed. He knew bullying can turn ugly anytime, and that was still back in Japan. What about with supernatural tools students can use to bully the target? With that, bullying can turn for the worst at any given time.

“Kazu, remember, only if its life threatening.” Mel commented.

“Aah, I know.” Kazu answered. Leonard was no longer behind them. Both Kazu and Mel breezed through the empty path. Taking the westbound path, they saw some students outside the entrance of A-2 facility, looking inside.

Ignoring them, Kazu entered with Mel. They saw everyone in class U, except Riona, huddled in one of the rings. Riona was passed out in the adjacent ring covered in dirt and burns. Her gym clothes were ripped showing more skin, but none at her private or vital parts. At this sight, Kazu let out a sigh of relief.

“Kazu look, its that dumb guy from this morning.” Mel pointed.

The man pointed at Kazu and Mel at the same time while whispering to the other man beside him, who was much bulkier. However, since Riona’s life still wasn’t at risk, he sat down at the side of the entrance. Kazu patted the space beside him to signal Mel to sit down with him, and sure enough, she did.

“So sly Kazu. Hehe.” Mel grinned. “Look at what you did, he’s coming towards us now.”

“Heh, let him come. I just wanted you to sit down with me.” Kazu smirked.

“Time to cause trouble?” Mel joked.

“Maybe trip him.” Kazu answered.

Kazu formed a small gust in his hand. Then, he threw it at the two men walking up to them. When the gust reached them, they tripped, planting their faces on the dirt.

“Hah, you tripped all of them. You’re in trouble.” Mel laughed.

“Wasn’t me.” Kazu followed up. “Right guys?” He looked at the students crowding the entrance.

Kazu knew they saw nothing. Wind magic was the most covert of all the wind elements. Detecting the activation of wind magic itself was hard. Only if one was a wind mage, then they could detect it, but that would mean they’d have to be stronger than him to detect the weak gust he formed. So, the students shook their heads and said “Nothing. We saw nothing.”

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Nodding to their answers, Kazu saw the three men towering over him. Both of them had 2 vertical bars on their pins; they were second year students, and now, it all makes sense.

“You from class U?” The bulky student asked.

“So what?” Kazu replied.

“Uwaah, tripping from nothing. Aren’t you embarrassed?” Mel snickered.

“Hmph.” The bulky student ignored Mel. “Aren’t you going?”

“Go where?” Kazu yawned. “Mel, you have any idea where I’m going?”

“Nope. He probably has no idea what he’s talking about. He looks like a gorilla.” Mel laughed.

“Oh, that’s right. He’s a gorilla. Why am I talking to a gorilla?” Kazu asked.

“He’s pretty smart for a gorilla. I’ve never seen a talking one before. Puhahahaha.” Mel burst into a laughing fit.

The bulky student’s face became a bright red, “Who you calling a gorilla?!” He sent his head sized fist towards Kazu’s head, but he missed. The fist created a crater on the wall beside Kazu’s head.

Suddenly, the student grabbed Kazu by the collar and threw him onto the ring. None of the students heard a loud thud that was supposed to happen a few split seconds after the throw. Instead, a cloud of dust covered the four rings in the center. Anyone observing couldn’t see what happened to Kazu.

Soon, the dust cloud settled and the figure of Kazu could be seen. Kazu laid on his side with one of his legs up and his head resting on his hand. He wore a lazy expression, even yawning.

“How dare you mock me!” said the gorilla. “I am Gorn Igg, Earth intermediate 4th rank. I’ll make you regret making fun of me like the rest of your class.”

“Earth? That fits your gorilla appearance. Hahahaha!” Mel laughed.

“Gornilla, hahahaha!” Kazu held on to his stomach, laughing.

The ground under the Gorn violently pushed up for an instant, rocketing him towards the rings.  While in the air, he shot some rocks at Kazu, but none hit their target.

“For someone who runs his mouth, all you can do is dodge?” Gorn smirked.

“Can’t blame me.” Kazu shrugged. “I couldn’t tell if that was shit you’re throwing or dirt.”

“Hmph. Keep talking. You won’t have a mouth soon.” Gorn’s smirk left his face. “Eat this!”

Brown light formed around his foot. Stomping his foot, cracks began to appear on the ground. The cracks forming on the floor began to drift towards Kazu. It was Kazu’s first time seeing this kind of spell, so he made a slight hesitation on deciding whether to dodge it or not. And when the crack reached him, the violent cracks emitted a terrifying low buzzing noise. The crack shot out numerous spikes made of earth. A spike missed Kazu’s cheek by a hairline, and blood dripped from the scratch.

“Not bad.” Kazu wiped the blood. “But what’s the point if it can’t catch anything?”

“Hmph, we’ll see later.” Gorn rebutted. “Prepare to die, lowlife.”

Gorn immediately launched himself to Kazu. A brown aura formed around his body. When Gorn got in range of Kazu, 6 spikes went up from the ground, blocking Kazu’s exits. The giant fist Gorn wielded looked menacing as it got closer—at least to anyone other than Kazu.

To Kazu, the fist looked slow, like a lobbed ball up in the air. He could easily dodge it and maybe even yawn in between to show off. But no, that would blow his cover. Instead, Kazu let Gorn hit him, albeit being cushioned by wind so he takes no damage himself.

At the moment of impact, Kazu flew back a few meters. During his flight, he noticed the cracks on the ground follow him, surrounding where he would land. So, before landing, he redirected his trajectory with one hand to slip out of the encasement.

—That was a wrong move. Gorn had a face filled with excitement.

Just as Kazu flew pass the encirclement, spikes shot upwards while he was in mid air. It trapped his leg, and he could no longer move. The dirt was hard, more rigid than rocks and felt more like metal rather than dirt.

“A fly will in a trap will always get caught. Hmph.” Gorn chuckled. “Now, let me rip off that loose mouth of yours.”

“Look, I’m sure we can work this out. No need for violence right?” Kazu forced a smile.

“Violence is for the strong. Weak little wind mages should just stay put and be quiet.” Gorn stomped his way to Kazu who was a few meters away. Each step he took gave an illusion of a small earthquake.

“Now, what did you say I look like?” Gorn asked.

“None of this has to happen if you just walk away.” Kazu tried pulling out his stuck leg. “No one has to get hurt.”

“You said I was a gorilla?” Gorn shot Kazu a scornful look. “Come on. Say it. Say it. I’m telling you to say it!”

“Alright alright, if I say it, you’ll leave the whole class alone right?” Kazu pleaded.

“That’s up to me. Heh, you weaklings need to learn your place.” Gorn punched him in the stomach. “Now say it. Say the thing you said earlier.”

“Promise me if I let you beat me up, the rest of the class goes.” Kazu coughed. His fist were tightened, but he couldn’t retaliate. He didn’t know what would happen if he disobeyed Sage’s instructions. That was the only thing keeping the gorilla in front of him alive.

Gorn stomped on Kazu even more. The pathetic look on Kazu’s face thrilled him. Each stomp sent pleasure to every fiber of muscle in his body. No, it wasn’t the stomp that sent the pleasure. It was the fact that he was dominating another live intelligent being. “You worthless puke.”

Students wanted to stop Gorn before he could kill Kazu, yet none of them moved. Kazu was different from them. He had black hair, black irises, and different facial structure. His traits could only lead them to see a demon. However, their hearts told them that this was a classmate who passed the aptitude tests a week ago. They never thought that such a violent scene would appear in front of them in the first day of classes.

“Maybe after I’m done with you, I’ll go get that girl of yours.” Gorn whispered closely to Kazu’s ears. “Look at her.” Gorn lifted Kazu’s head by the hair. “She’s so cute. Say, what type of mage is she?”

“Wind.” Kazu grinned. “-Ugh!”

Gorn gutted him for grinning, but Kazu kept his grin. “That’s too bad. Wind mages are weak. Useless. Maybe I’ll take her as a mistress? I’ll violate her until she screams hahaha-”

“—You shitty gorilla.” Kazu’s voice filled him with a chill. White light faded in, creating an aura on Kazu. A large gust formed around him, then it flew outwards, sending Gorn several meters away. Sure, it was one thing that Gorn beat up his classmates. He didn’t have any emotional attachments to them yet. However, something deep down, Kazu didn’t like the sound of Gorn talking about Mel. “Didn’t I goddamn say I didn’t want to fight?”

“Like wind mages can even fight. Wind can’t even attack!” Gorn laughed.

“Oh it can’t?” Kazu threw a few wind blades at Gorn, although they were dull. Reacting in an instant, Gorn set up an earth wall harder than metal. The wind blades fell apart on impact with the wall.

“Pathetic little wind. I’ve never fought against one before. Not one. They’re always knocked out early in the beginning of tournaments.” Gorn belittled as he turned away from Kazu. “I could walk up to your girl right now and probably violate her. Hahaha!”

Kazu’s anger reached its boiling point. He no longer cared about the circumstances in his actions. Instead, he declared it. “Sage! If you can hear me right now, then screw your stupid orders. You don’t control me. You don’t control anyone! I’ll do what you want my way.”

The white aura around Kazu turned gray. He held up a sword made of solidified air in front of him, striking a pose. In one gentle sweep, he let out a single strand of Forward Gale—only one blade.

The blade sliced into Gorn’s wall like butter. It split the wall into two parts, revealing the man, Gorn, behind it. Before Gorn could even turn around, a sphere of wind, as hard as metal, hit the back of his head, knocking him out unconscious.

“You’ll pay for that!” Gorn’s underling came running at Kazu. It was the male student who picked a fight with Kazu at the gate. Looking at his face, Kazu knew he had no idea what just happened. He doesn’t blame him. None of the students probably knows what happened either. Wind magic is invisible after all.

With a simple dull wind blade, Kazu threw it at the male student’s face, also knocking him out unconscious. He ignored the crowd of students gathered at the door who most likely had no idea why the male student fell, and the noise they made fell into the background.

Turning around to face Riona, he knew she was watching ever since the beginning. He felt her ragged breathing as early as when he and Mel entered the facility. Her breathing wouldn’t have been so rough if she was unconscious.

Riona, realizing she had been caught, picked up her body and looked up at Kazu. “What? You’re going to say I’m pathetic for not being able to defend myself from these bullies?”

Kazu sighed and said, “No. I came here to apologize.”

“What?” Riona’s eyes widened. “For what?”

“For earlier.” Kazu crouched down to her level. “Its not that I don’t want to practice. Its that I’m just lazy by nature, and that can’t be solved by you. Besides, I have my own ways of practicing.”

“But that won’t help me or anyone in the class to achieve our teacher’s assignment!” Riona argued.

“That’s not my point.” Kazu smiled, tilting his head. He copied Sene’s way of scolding a child and giving advice. It worked especially well for stubborn, and most of the time clueless, children. “If you keep this up, you’ll break. No, everyone will break. So relax.”

“I get that, but-”

“Shhh... I’ll tell everyone a secret tomorrow that’ll help us achieve the goal in 3 months.” Kazu stared into her eyes with full confidence.

Riona’s eyes trembled when she saw his eyes. There was no way she could believe him. But for some reason, something told her to believe him. Maybe it was his confidence. Or maybe even the spectacular performance he just showed. She knew he was hiding something.

Kazu stood up and marched back to the door. Mel also stood up waiting for him to get near. She didn’t act when he was getting beat up since it was all a show. This sort of kindness he presented to people were what attracted her and the bits of memories they held together in the past flooded in with intense feelings. When he held her hands, a green light flashed, healing Kazu’s bruises. It was her reward to Kazu for showing her the nostalgic scene of a helping hand.

On their way out, Leonard stood on the path, blocking their way. “Don’t you already have a reason?” Leonard probed.

“Reason for what?” Kazu asked.

Leonard’s eyes quickly glanced at Mel then back to Kazu. “Your reason for strength. Earlier, you were saying at how it's meaningless.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Kazu dragged Mel along with his steps.

“Kazu! You’ve already found your own meaning for seeking strength. Haven’t you?!” Leonard shouted from afar.

Turning around, Kazu replied, “Aah, that’s right. Strength is meaningless if you seek it blindly. Its sad to say that Riona is going forward through that dark fog. I found mine a year ago.” His grip tightened on Mel’s hand.

Kazu and Mel left without waiting for Leonard’s response. Mel taught him that strength is meaningless without skill and both combined can be called power. But Mel had also taught him there was no meaning behind it if you don’t have a motivation behind that search. She had taught him all of that in that dungeon and now, he wants to earn a place beside her—despite the large gap he felt he had to close.

At least, that’s what he thought. Mel had already accepted him, placed him beside her and valued him much more than even herself. She knew what he thought, and she was the single person who fully understood him. So, she looked at him and said, “You know… I did say that I was forced to go with you on that trip.”

“So you did, and I do remember.” Kazu replied.

“Nope, you don’t remember at all. Hmph.” Mel pouted. “After that, you said “you didn’t have to say it like that” right?”

“That’s right.” Kazu confirmed.

“After that, I dragged you to a bench and told you that I forced everyone to force me to go with you.” Mel added. “Because I thought I might not get enough courage… you know? I needed a little help from the class hehe.”

“I see.” Kazu sighed in relief. He held her close to his chest by her shoulder, glancing down at her flushed cheeks. “Then I guess all my worries were for nothing.”

“Jeez, so embarrassing. I’m not repeating any embarrassing things from the past anymore. Hmph!” Mel kept her pout and ran ahead, waving Kazu to hurry up.

“That’s right…” Kazu took a deep breath. “I get mad at you, I got mad for you, and you also do the same for me. I won’t let anyone ruin this.”

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Thanks for reading.

Ty SilentComfort :D