Chapter 630: Grievances

Perhaps the worst part was that the man hadn’t suffered any real punishment for what he had done, despite countless people witnessing it with their own eyes, at least from what Elion knew.

Elion had almost forgotten about him until now.

But as those memories resurfaced, anger began bubbling within his chest.

His breathing quickened ever so slightly as he wrestled with his own temper.

Truthfully, Elion knew very little about Professor Halbrecht beyond the rumours he occasionally heard from his peers.

The man was a powerful Archmage-level battlemage who taught seventh-year students, and he came from a mid-ranking noble family.

It was also quite obvious that he was an extremely proud man.

Perhaps that was exactly why he had reacted so harshly after being humiliated by Elion back then.

For several quiet moments, Elion said nothing.

Everyone waited for him to respond while he simply stared at Halbrecht with a tranquil expression.

Eventually, the anger boiling within his chest settled.

Elion released a cold breath.

"You know..." His voice was calm. "I just realised something, right now."

Halbrecht’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

"I have a very particular distaste for self-righteous hypocrites who refuse to admit when they’ve done something wrong."

Halbrecht frowned.

Lolanthe, standing beside him, showed almost no reaction apart from the slight rise of one elegant brow.

Halbrecht would have loved nothing more than to give Elion a proper dressing-down and put him back in his place as repayment for the humiliation he had suffered.

That incident still bothered him even now.

Never before had he suffered such humiliation in front of so many people.

However, out of respect for Elion’s newly established connection to the Vampires, along with the young man’s terrifying growth in strength, Halbrecht wisely chose to keep his temper under control.

This was no longer the first-year student he remembered from back then.

Even from Elion’s presence alone, it was obvious that he had become an unparalleled talent.

His rate of mana cultivation had already surpassed what most people would consider reasonable, reaching a level comparable to, or perhaps even exceeding, monstrous talents like Celeste Chronos and Xavier Dawncrest.

Halbrecht therefore chose his next words carefully.

"I understand that we had a misunderstanding in the past," he said. "But it’s also important that you learn to see the bigger picture, put aside personal grievances, and show some respect toward your elders."

To Halbrecht, those words were already a concession.

He was acknowledging that Elion had some reason to be angry without outright admitting fault.

In front of so many students, even responding this passively to Elion’s sharp accusation felt somewhat humiliating.

But since Elion’s anger was, to some degree, justified, Halbrecht had decided to take the first step back.

Naturally, he expected Elion to recognise that gesture.

To take a step back of his own.

To allow both of them to preserve some dignity.

Unfortunately for him... Elion had absolutely no intention of doing anything of the sort.

A condescending laugh escaped his lips.

"You know, I would probably be dead right now because of you if I hadn’t managed to escape, and now you expect me to forget everything and pretend we’re all friends here?"

Elion scoffed.

"How laughable."

Halbrecht’s frown deepened.

"So you’re saying you have no intention of making peace?"

His tone had become more serious now, and a faint pressure was already beginning to roll off him.

After all, if Elion had no intention of playing along, then why should Halbrecht continue being the one to take a step back?

"Oh, hell no," Elion replied casually. "None of that. I’m not one for putting up pretences. I don’t understand the ways of the nobility, after all."

He paused briefly.

"But I also don’t intend to vehemently act against you. I’m sure you’ll somehow find a way to twist anything I say against me anyway, so if you’ll simply let me do what I came here to do, I’ll be on my way shortly."

His gaze remained calm.

"As for the possibility of me returning to the academy, I still have no intention of doing so."

Elion’s lips curled slightly.

"Some of us actually have some honour, after all, and I wouldn’t go back on something I’ve already decided."

Halbrecht’s expression went through a wide range of changes.

Halbrecht didn’t seem to know whether he should be shocked that Elion actually had the gall to say all of that straight to his face, or furious that the boy had essentially implied that he possessed no honour.

But to Halbrecht’s absolute disbelief, Elion simply stopped paying attention to him.

He looked away from the professors, searched the surrounding crowd for the next person he had been hoping to see, and quickly found him.

Evander.

Of course, Elion had also spotted Xavier standing farther back, but the two of them weren’t particularly familiar with one another. Unless the handsome seventh-year decided to approach Elion first, Elion had every intention of ignoring him completely.

"Senior Evander!"

Elion called out as he started walking toward a stunned Evander, a light smile already returning to his face as though the confrontation from only moments ago had never happened.

Halbrecht seemed almost frozen in place, absolutely stunned. By the time he finally turned around, Elion had already walked straight past him.

He couldn’t believe what he was seeing!

His teeth clenched tightly, and for a brief moment, he nearly lashed out, but before he could do anything, a delicate, pale hand settled gently upon his shoulder.

Halbrecht’s eyes shifted sideways and met Mistress Lolanthe’s remarkably green ones.

Her voice entered his mind.

’Let him throw his little tantrum. He has earned that much, at least, and he is still only a boy. I’m sure he’ll come to his senses eventually.’

Halbrecht gnashed his teeth together.

Still, after a few tense seconds, he eventually nodded.

Yet beneath the calm expression he struggled to maintain, he was furious beyond words.

Once again, he had suffered a terrible humiliation at Elion’s hands.

’I will make him regret this someday!’

He had no intention of taking this disrespect lying down. It would not be now, but in the near future, he would have to teach this arrogant youth a valuable lesson!

He roared inwardly.

Brunna followed closely behind Elion as he made his way toward Evander, and a rather awkward conversation soon followed.

Evander looked visibly uncomfortable.

Every so often, his eyes drifted toward Professor Halbrecht and then toward Xavier, almost as though he was worried that either of them might somehow hold him accountable for Elion’s behaviour simply because he was speaking to him.

Eventually, however, he seemed to give up on worrying about it.

Whatever happened would happen.

With that thought, Evander finally relaxed and began speaking with Elion more earnestly.

Even then, neither of them touched on the things that truly mattered.

There were simply too many ears around them.

Meanwhile, Mira, Tessa, and Isolde had taken the opportunity to greet Maya, Mayumi, and the others.

That interaction, naturally, did not go unnoticed.

Lolanthe’s gaze stayed on the group for a few moments before she finally floated over, descending slightly until she stopped directly in front of Marilyn, who was obviously the one in charge.

"Hello there."

Everyone nearby turned toward her as Lolanthe offered a faint, polite smile.

"If you don’t mind my asking, how exactly do you all know one another?" Her green eyes briefly shifted toward Elion in the distance. "And how are you related to Elion Nova?"