“Oh thank God,”  Leon sighed as he slumped on the warm sun baked earth outside.  It seemed fluffy felt the same way seeing as he was currently rolling around in the grass with a happy growl.

They had been in classes since early this morning.  First was the defence class with professor Termlo, then was a course in history, and finally was a class in hexes and offensive magics.

The last one was interesting, it was neat to see how Lira did with different magics.

Magic in this world appeared to be a fairly archaic form of magic, requiring both a catalyst and also a chant.  Some times blood, sometimes a powder of unknown origin, it just depended on which spell and the strength of the spell that the caster was going for.

As it would turn out Lira was great at defensive skills and spells, but in terms of offensive abilities, well let us say she was lacking.

Majorly so.

Most people would be able to cast a hex, especially by their second year at the school, in fact they would typically be able to cast quite a few at the end of their first term.

Lira on the other hand, well she had been trying for the past two years, and she had yet to even cast a single spell that had anything to do with offensive abilities.

And it wasn't for lack of trying.

She applied herself, to the task with a sort of vigor that was awe inspiring, sadly the results were less so.

With a sigh Leon picked himself back up and helped out the two girls who were currently setting up a blanket beneath a tree.

They were not alone, there was plenty of people that were sitting out here on the fields, it would appear that this is a common place for such things. Food was brought out to them by a servant in a basket.

Hmm, this was an odd way to go about lunch, but then again everyone here was some sort of aristocrat or noble, so having someone bring them there lunch was most likely a normal thing.  Inside were perfectly cut sandwiches, and bowls of some sort of red liquid, it might be a soup,  and somehow, even with the speed at which the basket had been brought the bowls had not spilled even slightly.

That was one skilled servant.

Lira opened the basket and handed out the bowls and a sandwich to each of them.  Leon, not waiting for anyone started to eat his fill, it would appear that it was filled with some sort of thinly sliced meat that had a peppery after taste to it and also a leafy green that tasted like it was lettuce but had a slightly softer texture to it.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

It was simple, but that is what made it so good.

“Excuse me,”  all three of them looked up at the group of people interrupting their meal.

A group of young men were standing on the edge of the blanket Lira and Krya had laid down.

“What is it Simon?”  Lira asked, her voice was slightly clipped, but not uncourteous.   

“I wasn't talking to you.”  he growled.  Leon closed his eyes for a brief second and though he didn't know what the boy had just said, he knew it was rude.  Leon tossed his sandwich over to fluffy, who happily caught it out of thin air and started to gobble it down.  Standing up he stepped in front of the visitors.

Leon was a full head taller than the biggest one there, add this with his beard, red eyes, the horns and the pure hateful look he was currently sporting and well he was an intimidating force to be reckoned with.

He didn't say a word, he didn't need to, it was more than enough to stand mere inches away from this boy’s face.

“I-I uh,”  the boy was clearly rattled by Leon’s aggressive demeanor, but to his credit he continued on. “I was here to ask if Miss Millsra would join us for lunch?”  he hid his fear behind a surprisingly effective mask of haughtiness.  “I am from Clan Hilron, an ally clan to your clan Gremor.”

“I see,”  Krya sighed, she was in a little bit of a pickle here, if she was rude to this Simon of Hilron then she would surely bring trouble to herself and her clan.  The alliance between clan Gremor and clan Hilron had only just stabilized, and was still sitting on the edge of another war.

She was about to get up and go with them when Lira spoke up. “You come in here, you act rude to me, and then you attempt to force my guest to leave, you have some balls going against the Vas Lirtus family like that.”  she said crossing her arms.

“Shut up you half breed bitch.”  Simon shot back, and when he did a hand clamped around his throat.  With a look of ease Leon lifted the posh mage off the ground and held him at arm’s length.

The others started to make a move to attack Leon, but all of them backed down when Leon turned his fiery gaze at them.  The boy in his hands struggled valiantly, kicking and hitting, but none of these things were doing anything to Leon, it was almost like he didn't feel them.

“That is enough!”  A voice called out, stern and commanding, looking over Leon saw the headmistress from this morning standing there. “Put him down.”  she said in a strong voice.

Leon didn't need a translator to understand what she was saying.  With a casual toss he deposited the boy on the ground with no ceremony or grace.  Simon just flopped there, panting before picking himself up and shouting in a rage.

“How dare this lowly beast put his hands on me!”  he started ranting, but stopped as soon as the headmistress shot him a look. “I demand punishment be given.”

“None will be given, you were the instigator, and as such you bear the responsibility of the action and reaction.”  the headmistress said in a manor of fact sort of way.

“What? This is preposterous! If you will not punish him then I will go to my father!”

“Thats right run back to daddy!”  Lira said with a smile, Leon had to fight the urge to burst out laughing.  

“Why you!”  He took a step forward, only to be blocked by Leon again.

“Miss Vas Lirtus, if you would please not instigate this or I may be forced to include you in my reprimandation.” she looked over at Simon “Mr. Simon, I will remind you that your father, and no other nobles have any sway over this school, it is one of the core tenets of my academy.”

“Fine if you will not punis them then I will.”  he pointed his hand at Leon, three fingers extended and the rest folded back towards his palm, with a quick motion he drew a straight line down his chest and held the hand there almost like he was waiting for a response.

“He is challenging you to a duel Leon.”  Lira told him.

“How do I accept?”

“Repeat the motion he just did.”

“Understood.”  and with a quick motion he matched Simon.

“It will be tomorrow at noon, I expect to see you there.”  he growled and turned away leaving.

The headmistress sighed and adjusted the glasses sat on the tip of her nose. “Lira, just make sure he doesn't kill him, it would be a hard thing to justify to his father.”

“Understood ma’am.” Lira nodded.