Tobey walked down the long lobby which seemed to have no end. There was no one following behind him. He turned and watched the wooden doors close at the entrance. The screams of those still outside slowly turning muffled, before finally dying out.
Bell took longer strides ahead of Tobey. She walked briskly towards the open door ahead of her. Part of her was wishing she would be able to catch up to Finn, but that was not going to be possible. He was nowhere in sight.
Tobey hastened his steps after Bell, occasionally throwing his head to his sides to stare at the portraits on the wall. Most of which were of the principal but some of which strange drawings. Seals, insignias of the five great tribes. He didn’t bother checking if his tribe’s insignia was there.
Tobey and Bell walked out through the open door and into the foyer where those who had gone before them had already gathered.
“Here they are at last eh?”
Tobey hated the fact that the gangly boy was here. Then again, he smirked relishing the fact that he might have a go at him sooner or later.
“Ten, eleven, twelve…” Bell counted the number of people who had passed. “…Thirteen,” she said as she locked eyes with Finn.
“Hmph,” Finn scoffed with a half-grin. Bell responded by sticking out her tongue at him.
Tobey walked to the large board where the names of those who had passed the test were written their scores.
At the top of the list were written in clear bold letters Kayla Arcstone. She had gotten a clear 100. Below her, was Hayden Arcstone, who had also gotten 100. The list went on. Eden, Cana, Finn, Mash, Gyokai…
“Ah!” Bell giggled as she pointed to her name on ninth place, she’d gotten 96. Tobey’s jaw was dropped.
Returning to the board, he kept looking and found his name just one place above the last. He rose a brow in suspicion. He had scored 92.
“Surprised aren’t ya?” The gangly boy walked over and stood beside him.
Tobey stared at the board still. “I don’t get it. He said only those who had ninety-five will pass.”
“Perhaps he had mercy on you eh?” The gangly boy laughed.
“Leave him alone Gyokai. It’s not worth it.” One of the boys behind them spoke.
“Huh?” the gangly boy, Gyoka, tilted his head to him. “What’d you say, Stoff?”
Stoff, one of the boys who had been around Gyokai sighed before replying, “He didn’t even get into the top ten.” He turned his eyes to the Arcstones. “There are already stronger opponents here,” he said as he narrowed his eyes.
“They’re all the same anyway,” Lizer, the other boy who stood beside Stoff said.
Stoff chuckled. “True.”
Tobey thought to himself. He knew he answered four questions including the last. One of them had been the one with 91. He had figured it would be the last one. Tobey looked at the last person on the list. Kain, who had scored 91.
If the last question was the one, how come only fifteen people passed?
“You’re not wrong,” Finn said to Tobey who was lost in thought. “The last question was definitely the one with ninety-one percent.”
Tobey stared at the tall boy who stood beside him from the corner of his eye.
“Harmod the Berserker, was it?” Finn said.
Tobey flinched.
“While it’s true that it was his name during the warring era, and it's probably what those who failed wrote down, it was only because the army and the mages had recognized his ability to use magic and his abnormal strength.” Finn continued.
Bell turned to Finn paying attention. The hall had fallen silent as Finn spoke. “As a result of this, when he became famous, he was known as Harmod the Berserker… But that was not his real name was it?”
“…” Tobey stood speechless.
“Your father’s real name was Harmodan Illed Vassar. And you are his son. The son of the traitor.”
By now a cold sweat had broken down Tobey’s body and he could feel his hands tremble. He clenched his fist to calm himself.
“Of course, now that you’re here, I can give my share of respect. But that does not mean I would give you anything beyond that. I have nothing against you. Though the fact that you survived and have been living is enough proof that the empire has lowered its standards.”
Finn turned as he felt something tug on his shirt. Bell had gotten a tight grip on his arm and narrowed her eyes at him.
“That’s enough. Leave him alone.” She said, her voice was blunt. Finn noticed a gauntlet on her right arm beneath her sleeve glowing a soft blue. She had the arm placed on her bow behind her.
Finn smiled and turned back to Tobey who stood silent still. He sighed and walked away.
Bell looked at Tobey without a word to say. She lived in the north all her life. She had known about the rebellion and its leader in a different way.
“It’s just like pretty boy says,” Gyokai said. “If the last question was the one with the most marks, then all of us here know who your father really was. We all know he was scum.” His face grew into a grimace.
“You’re wrong,” Tobey muttered.
Gyokai raised a brow. Tobey turned to face him, Gyokai didn’t fail to notice his trembling hands.
“What’s this now? You’re shaking?”
“You’re all wrong,” Tobey said as he took steps forward. He stared at Gyokai who kept his grimace.
“You don’t know my father. None of you does and that’s clear. So, don’t go talking about him,” Tobey said, frowning.
“Ohh?” Gyokai stepped forward. He clasped his hands together, ready to weave them for a chant. “Just because you’re in the academy doesn’t mean we can’t put you to death for your fathers deed.”
“Stop this Gyokai,” Lizer warned, slapping a palm against his face. Gyokai didn't budge, he kept glaring at Tobey who wasn't backing down.
“Why don’t you try?” Tobey said, looking him right in the eye.
The tension in the air had grown considerably. Bell could tell as could anyone present that these two were going to have a go at it. The mana in the air slowly vibrated in waves. The others backed off from the two and watched as they circled glaring at each other.
What do you know? I get to kick his ass earlier. Tobey grinned.
As the stare-off continued, Tobey was waiting carefully. He still didn’t know what sort of magic Gyokai used. And unlike Gyokai, everyone could probably tell what sort of magic Tobey used from his tribe.
Suddenly, Gyokai stopped moving and began weaving his hands.
“O great flame of Asland, burn through my veins.” he chanted.
Elemental Magic. Tobey hopped backwards as a golden flame suddenly erupted from Gyokai’s arms. It burned off his jacket and shirt. Tobey shielded his eyes from the light from the flame.
“You backing off eh?” Gyokai laughed weaving his fingers to increase the heat. It was scorching, intense. Others who watched stepped away from the duo.
“Show us some of that Morph magic your people used eh? Oi!!” Gyokai pointed a finger. The flames swirled to his fingertip; his mana collapsed to a single point. Ready to fire.
“Don’t get up,” Gyokai said.
The bolt of fire left his finger in a sudden burst. The heat burnt the very air in the hall as it flew towards Tobey. Tobey tilted his head, dodging narrowly. The bolt of fire ran past him and burnt a hole into the pillar at the wall. He had no time to blink as the next bolt came flying over. Tobey dodged the same way and the bolt ran straight towards Kayla who watched the fight.
Shit. Bell thought. But the white-haired beauty snapped her fingers and the fire vanished from sight. Of course. Bell took her eyes back to the tussle.
Hayden, Kayla’s brother who had just seen the bolt of flame launch at his sister, furrowed his brow, ready to take steps forward at Gyokai who still fired at Tobey.
“Wait,” Kayla said raising an arm across his chest to halt his steps. Hayden stared at his sister and without looking she rose a finger pointing to the balcony above them. Hayden looked above and hidden were masked figures who stared at the fight below.
Hayden was surprised at the fact that he didn’t notice them earlier. They had completely hidden their presence in plain sight, not from his sister of course. And even now they hid in the balcony above, their white masks the only thing visible under the chandeliers.
“We’re not the only ones watching,” Kayla said as they both stared at the shadowy figures. Kayla turned her eyes back to the one-sided brawl before them.
“What do you think, sister?” Hayden asked as they watched.
Kayla paused for a bit before replying, “…It’s almost over.”
Tobey lurked on the defensive, surprisingly without harm from any of Gyokai’s attacks. Rushing at an elemental magic user could prove costly for anyone. It was common knowledge he got from the streets. But as the fight dragged on, Tobey realized his single advantage.
He’s slow.
After watching his opponent evade all his attacks in succession, Gyokai grew restless. He joined both hands together ready to chant another spell.
Like hell, I’ll let you! Tobey dug his feet into the ground and took a long breath.
“Hear me, O crimson bone.”
In one second Tobey was more than five metres away from Gyokai. With one leap in the next second, he had his right fist driving into Gyokai’s face. He squeezed and pressed his hand forward. His punch smashed Gyokai right into the floor, cracking the marble tiles beneath them. A cloud of dust rose from the sudden impact.
He released his fist and hovered over Gyokai’s body…He had knocked him unconscious instantly.
“You’re not fit to see my tribe’s magic.”
As the dust settled from the instant attack, everyone around them stood speechless. Lizer and Stoff had their jaws dropped, they were more shocked than others. More so at how Gyokai had been defeated than how fast he was. Bell for one couldn’t understand what happened.
“What…What was that?” the words tumbled out of her mouth.
Hayden who watched turned to his sister. The frustration on her face made him smile. “You could not see it either.”
“…”
Hayden smiled. “Well, I wonder what our friends above think about this.” He turned above to look, but they had already gone.
The door at the side of the hall opened and everyone turned to see who it was.
“Well, well, well. Look what the mongrels have done.”
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