"That damn guy."

Eliza's anger knew no bounds. Those passing by her, including her shadow Jack, could tell she was furious. Just the sight of Levi's face was enough to set her off, but the way he had talked to her had sent her blood pressure soaring.

Eliza had been sure that Levi would leave the academy if someone bothered him long enough. As a commoner, he couldn't count on others to deal with Jack, who, unlike him, was a noble. What's more, the Levi she used to know was timid and could be easily pushed away. But now, his personality had taken a sharp turn. He was fierce, confident, and a lot more irritating.

"Jack, are you unable to do your job properly?"

Jack remained silent. He was at a dead end. Defying Eliza would make his life miserable at the academy and in society. A word from her, and his father would disown him.

On the other hand, he was up against a force he couldn't hope to overcome in a hundred lifetimes. If he had known Levi was such a formidable opponent, he would have preferred to leave the academy on his own terms.

Eliza despised Jack for ignoring her question. Her mana surged out of her, and Jack struggled to catch his breath as he leaned against the wall for support.

"I simply asked you to get that guy out of my sight. You couldn't even intimidate a commoner. You're a disgrace to us nobles."

Once again, Jack didn't utter a word. He was still trying to regain his breath.

'This guy is useless. I'll have to take matters into my own hands.'

She reigned in her aura and allowed Jack to enter the classroom first. She wanted nothing to do with him.

As she was walking down the hall, she saw Blake, her classmate enter the classroom.

"This might work."

With a devious plan in mind, she strolled into her classroom with a sinister smile. She headed to her seat which was empty.

'Irene and Rose aren't here yet? They usually arrive earlier than me.'

Both of them had a habit of showing up in class before she did.

Eliza took her seat, not bothering to hide the wicked grin on her face.

"Have you finally shed some weight?" Flynn taunted, wearing a smirk. Harper, seated next to him, facepalmed, knowing where this was heading.

Eliza turned around and smacked Flynn's head with her book.

"Shut up with your nonsense before I knock your head off."

"I'd love to see you try."

Eliza's gaze shifted to Blake. She glanced back at Flynn and whispered, "Do you know the guy that sits at the back?"

"Levi?"

Flynn replied in a hushed tone. Harper didn't care about their conversation, he was busy copying assignments.

"Yeah, that guy. There's a rumour going around that he badmouthed the Soron Family in front of a group of nobles."

"Soron?" Flynn exclaimed loudly. Blake's interest was piqued, and he began to eavesdrop on their conversation, just as Eliza had hoped.

"Shh... don't shout."

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Flynn immediately lowered his voice and continued whispering. "What did he say?"

"I don't have all the details, but he dissed their spear technique, and called it the worst he'd ever seen."

*Bam*

The entire class turned to look at Blake. He had slammed the table in anger, drawing the attention of the entire room.

Flynn glanced back at Eliza and asked her, "Does he have a death wish to insult a family's art?"

Art was like a family's heritage, passed down through generations. Ridiculing it was akin to declaring war on that family. Blake, as the heir to the Soron family, was livid.

Eliza smirked. Right now, she couldn't distinguish between right and wrong. All she wanted was to see Levi kicked out.

If Irene and Rose had been there, they would have interrogated her further. But Flynn trusted her without question and Blake though Eliza wouldn't make up stuff. After all, why would she have any reason to lie? That was what he thought.

Eliza fell silent as Irene and Rose entered the room. She cautioned Flynn not to tell anyone about this, as it could lead to further problems – for her, that is.

Levi, walking into the class, noticed three intense gazes fixed on him. Flynn looked at him as though he were already a dead man, while Eliza continued to flash an evil smile.

'Why is Blake staring at me like he wants to murder me?' Levi wondered, glancing back at Eliza. 'What's she up to this time?'

******

"Apply the mana conjunction technique I taught you during your training," Fiona instructed her students as they headed to their usual training spot. Everyone except Blake was training alongside Levi.

"Train with me," Blake told Levi. The entire training hall's attention turned to the two of them, and Irene noticed Eliza's smile growing.

'She's getting stranger every day.'

Fiona couldn't help but be curious about this interaction either. Levi, however, remained uninterested.

"Thanks for the offer, but I'd rather train alone," Levi replied.

"No, go train with Blake, Levi," Fiona insisted. She believed that training with someone skilled in close combat would help Levi see his weaknesses and how to improve.

"This will help you gain a new perspective on your weaknesses," Fiona reasoned.

Levi had no choice but to comply. He and Blake walked to an open area on the training ground.

'What did Eliza say to Blake? Levi wondered as he felt the change in the atmosphere around him.

Just minutes ago, Blake had spoken to him as if they were training partners, but now his golden eyes radiated hostility. Levi was used to Blake's mood swings, given that he was often angry or distant, but something felt different this time.

"Do you know there's a famous saying in the Soron household?" Blake inquired as he summoned his spear from his ring.

"What is it?" Levi asked, preparing to defend himself with his bow and arrow.

"Be friends with those you feel comfortable with, always compete with those who match your strength, and destroy anyone who disrespects the name of the Soron family."

*Bam*

Blake launched himself toward Levi.

'When did I ever insult his family? Did the previous Levi do something like that?'

Levi barely managed to jump out of the way, narrowly avoiding Blake's spear. Levi fired an arrow, but he didn't use his full strength or activate his [Essence]. Revealing his true strength to Blake would only complicate matters.

Blake deftly deflected Levi's arrow and continued his relentless assault. Levi kept evading his attacks, growing increasingly wary.

"He's quite fast," Levi thought as he leapt and fired another arrow. It, too, was blocked by Blake.

"He's trying to kill me," Levi realized as he dodged Blake's increasingly powerful strikes.

Levi looked to Fiona for help, but she merely watched the confrontation with a neutral expression. She knew Levi was more than capable of handling himself, and she wasn't about to halt the "training."

With a sigh, Levi aimed his arrow at Blake's leg. Blake shifted his spear to block the arrow, but Levi's shot swerved and grazed Blake's leg.

That was a new technique Levi had acquired through his "common archer style" art. While it sacrificed some power, it was useful for deceiving the enemy.

Blake smiled, more determined than ever to defeat Levi. He assumed a stance, and Levi, realizing what was coming, stood his ground.

"Dragon Slaying Spear: Scale Shatter."

Blake's spear expanded and hurtled toward Levi's chest, cracking the ground as it went.

"Sigh... I should have dodged it." Levi's thoughts raced as he faced the oncoming attack.

*Ting*

The attack got blocked right in front of Levi's face. Blake's spear was stopped in mid-air with a barrier.

Fiona was quick to stop the fight before it caused any serious issues.

She walked towards the two and scolded both of them.

"It is supposed to be a training session, Blake. Try and control yourself."

Blake didn't say anything back and walked away.

Fiona could only sigh seeing this behaviour of his.

'Why are kids these days so prideful?'

She then looked at Levi and started lecturing him as well.

"Why did you dodge the attack?"

"I was too fast for me."

Fiona knew he was lying. She didn't know why he was trying to hide his strength.

She didn't say anything further as the class ended. Gabriel approached Levi and asked him.

"What did you do to gain attention from the infamous, heir of Soron himself?"

"I don't know, but-"

He then looked at Eliza and the grin on her face.

"I do know whoever did this, I will make them pay for it."