Chapter 234: A Perfectly Reasonable Request

Chapter 234:A Perfectly Reasonable Request

As the class bell rang, the students’ conversations gradually died down, and everyone moved toward the center of the training grounds to wait for the instructor. A few seconds later, a man who looked more like a street thug than a professor entered through the gate.

His messy hair had been carelessly dyed red, and a horizontal scar ran across the bridge of his nose. The silver earring in his left ear swayed slightly with each step, while the black hat on his head kept the sunlight off his face.

Professor Aemon.

He held an attendance sheet containing the students’ names in one hand. When he reached the center of the grounds, he stared at the list for a few seconds before letting out a long, reluctant yawn.

Under normal circumstances, he should have taken attendance first, but it was obvious from his face that he couldn’t be bothered to read the students’ names one by one.

He folded the list, shoved it into the back pocket of his trousers, and scratched the back of his neck.

"I assume you’re all here," he said. "If anyone isn’t, that’s their problem by now."

The students exchanged uncertain looks, not knowing how to respond, while Aemon gestured toward the weapon racks around the training grounds.

"Today’s lesson is quite simple. Everyone will find a partner and fight them until the class ends. Those without weapons can use the training weapons, and mages can use any spells they want as long as they don’t kill each other."

One of the male students near the front hesitantly raised his hand.

"Professor, aren’t you going to teach us any techniques?"

Aemon gave the boy a sleepy look before walking toward the wooden chair at the edge of the training grounds.

"No."

"But isn’t this a combat practice class?"

"Yes, which is why you’re going to fight."

The man settled comfortably into the chair, rested his feet on the low wall in front of him, and pulled his black hat down to keep the light out of his eyes.

"I’ll watch and evaluate you," he added before yawning again.

Since his hat completely covered his eyes, no one understood how he intended to watch us. An awkward silence settled over the training grounds for several seconds, but the students quickly accepted that arguing with the professor wouldn’t accomplish anything.

Everyone began looking around for a suitable partner. Close friends paired up immediately, while some students discussed their weapons and power levels before coming to an agreement.

It only took Felix and Rose a few seconds to pair up.

Layla, meanwhile, was still standing alone.

Since I had no intention of looking for a partner, I remained beside the stone wall. If no one wanted to fight me for the entire lesson, I wouldn’t consider it a problem.

However, a few seconds later, I heard someone approaching me with determined footsteps.

When I turned my head, I found Veris standing in front of me. His right hand rested on the hilt of his sword, and the stern expression on his face made it clear that his proposal wouldn’t be a friendly invitation to spar.

"Cassian," he said, pronouncing my name with unnecessary harshness. "I saw the strength you displayed during the entrance exam. Pair up with me, and let’s train together for the rest of the class."

Beneath the words that sounded like an invitation lay an obvious challenge. Rather than wanting to see my abilities, he most likely wanted to warn me to stay away from Celine or prove his own superiority.

I had no reason to entertain him.

I looked away from Veris and turned my attention toward Layla, who was standing alone on the other side of the training grounds. She happened to look at me at that exact moment, and our eyes met through the crowd.

"No," I said. "I already have a partner."

Veris followed my gaze and looked at Layla. She was still trying not to watch Felix and Rose, yet every few seconds, her head involuntarily turned in their direction.

Veris frowned suspiciously.

"I don’t see anyone around you," he said. "And I doubt you’ve paired up with her."

"Maybe not, but I already made her a promise."

"You haven’t even spoken to her yet."

The persistence in his voice was becoming increasingly annoying. I couldn’t understand why he was so determined to make me fight him. He had seen my strength during the entrance exam, and Celine must have told him enough about me afterward.

Despite that, he continued standing in front of me instead of leaving.

"I don’t see any reason for you to avoid fighting me," he said. "It’s only practice. Or are you worried that the rumors about your strength have been exaggerated?"

I slowly turned my head and gave him my full attention.

If Veris truly wanted nothing more than to test my strength, I could use that desire to my advantage instead of immediately rejecting him.

"Fine," I said. "Give that boy a good beating, and I’ll fight you."

I removed my hand from my pocket and pointed at Felix.

Veris turned in the direction I had indicated. Felix was still talking to Rose and smiling at whatever she was saying. Because of the warm aura surrounding him, he seemed to shine like a small sun among the other students.

After studying Felix carefully for a few seconds, Veris looked back at me.

"Isn’t he the one you beat like a psychopath during the academy’s entrance exam?"

"Yes," I replied without hesitation. I didn’t regret what I had done. If anything, I was proud of it.

During the exam, I had broken every bone in Felix’s hands and crushed both of his legs until he could no longer use them. I had wanted to see how far I could push his body before the academy’s protection system removed him from the area.

Calling it psychotic was a slight exaggeration.

It had only been a thorough assessment of his strength.

The suspicion on Veris’s face deepened.

"After already doing that to him, why do you want me to beat him now?"

"I don’t like his face."

"His face?"

He looked at me as though he thought he might have misheard what I said.

His surprise was understandable. Objectively speaking, Felix was incredibly handsome. His golden-blond hair, bright eyes of different colors, the warm smile he constantly wore, and the natural aura that put people at ease made him look like a hero from a fairy tale.

That was probably one of the reasons the girls at the academy had gathered around him so quickly.

Even so, I didn’t like his face.

Whenever I saw him, an inexplicable urge to punch him in the face rose within me. Perhaps it was because he was the Child of Dawn, because of the irritating goodness he radiated, or simply because he looked far too perfect.

The reason didn’t matter.

Without taking his eyes off Felix, Veris spoke again.

"I’m not going to attack someone for no reason unless you tell me the real reason."

"Understood." I shrugged and turned my back on him. "See you around, knight boy."

I began walking toward Layla.

I could feel Veris’s furious gaze against my back. He had been so insistent on fighting me, only to willingly throw away the opportunity by refusing the simple thing I asked of him.

I had no intention of wasting more time trying to convince him.

I had only taken a few steps when his voice rose behind me.

"Wait!"

I stopped walking but didn’t turn around completely. Tilting my head slightly, I glanced at Veris from the corner of my eye.

His jaw was clenched, and his chest rose and fell slightly as his gaze shifted between Felix and me. His sense of chivalry was clearly telling him that he shouldn’t beat another student without a reason, while his pride refused to let him lose the chance to fight me.

In the end, his pride won.

"I’ll do it," he said.

I suppressed the smile trying to form on my face.

"Good. I’ll be waiting, knight boy."

Veris gave me a hard look that made it clear he disliked the nickname, then turned away. The brown-haired girl called out to him in confusion, but Veris didn’t stop. Resting his hand on the hilt of his sword, he began walking toward Felix.

Felix had finally noticed the approaching knight. Rose also stopped talking and looked at Veris in confusion, while Felix’s cheerful smile was replaced by an uneasy expression.

He was about to receive a rather satisfying beating.

I turned toward Layla again.

She still hadn’t noticed me approaching. All her attention was focused on Felix, Rose, and Veris, who was now making his way toward them. Anxiety, jealousy, and the helplessness of not knowing what to do were all mixed together on her face.

I slowly ran my tongue over the corner of my lips.

It felt as though I were about to taste a delicious meal I had been waiting a very long time for.