This day has been really uneventful... until now.
I had my required classes with Crowbell, and my first ever monster learning class. I was a bit surprised to see that Enyoll is also the teacher for that subject.
So, it'd be smart to get on his good side—he teaches me two subjects, after all.
As for Kafka, not only is he assigning more work than the other classes, but he also repeats himself constantly.
If it weren't for the fact that he's still butthurt about what happened the other day, I'd probably be having a much easier time in his class.
At least I can eat with Fran without anything weird happening.
The next big event should be—
A loud slam on the table we were eating in snapped me out of my thoughts.
The one who slammed the table Fran and I were peacefully eating together was a tall student with a blue mohawk
"I've finally found you! I'll make sure you pay for what you did!!" Blue hair. Mohawk. There's only one guy like that in Aurum Academy.
"I, Ximuss Yolte, challenge you—Alen, the one who disrespected me the most—to a duel!"
In the game he used to be ranked twenty on the S class. Now, thanks to me changing the events, he should be rank one in the A class.
Duels between students can be watched by anyone, and they're the fastest way to earn points.
"Nah. Not interested in wasting my time on duels."
I'd also prefer to keep my tricks to myself.
"Have you no shame? A true knight challenges you, and you won't accept?" He laughed mockingly.
"I guess that's to be expected from someone who bribed his way into Class S. You don't want to lose your precious rank."
Say whatever you want. I gain nothing from fighting you. Points aren't what I'm after right now.
"Are you mentally challenged?"
I nearly choke at the cold, direct question from Fran.
Ximuss takes a step back, clearly feeling the icy tone in her voice.
"You really think the prestigious Aurum Academy would accept bribes?"
She stands up and glares at him.
"He's not even from a noble family. He couldn't bribe anyone if he wanted to." She scoffs. "Only someone whose brain developed wrong would believe such idiotic rumors."
I try to hold back my laughter, covering my mouth with my hand.
"Uh... that doesn't matter! He still wronged me, and I swore I'd make him pay!"
Ximuss tries to resist the pressure Fran is putting on him.
"He's crazy if he thinks he can challenge the guy who's friends with Princess Von Themys."
"I heard Alen can cast ten high-tier spells at once!"
"I saw him go toe-to-toe with Cecil Treyaro!"
The crowd that's formed around us starts whispering.
"I think this duel is a great idea, actually," says a voice from the crowd.
And out steps...
"Who are you?"
Black hair, bangs covering his eyes, glasses... Nope. No idea.
He flinches.
"What do you mean 'who'? I'm Herdon Teriris, current rank nineteen in Class S!"
"That name sounds familiar…"
"No shit it sounds familiar—I'm in your class!!"
No, I mean from somewhere else...
"You know what? Forget it." He adjusts his glasses.
"I personally think this duel is a great idea. Don't you, Alen?"
If he's from Class S, that means he should be a playable unit...
"Are you even listening to me?!"
"If he doesn't care what you have to say, why should we?"
Fran tries to make Herdon go away before he embarrasses himself further.
Herdon composes himself by letting a sigh escape his lips. "Oh no, you care, Princess Themys. Just like we all care about this duel."
He seems to have given up talking to me directly.
"You see, Alen's become a bit of a celebrity among us first-years. We all want to know what he's really capable of."
"I do want to see what makes him so special to the teachers."
"He fought well against Cecil, but... I heard he didn't even go all-out."
"Well... those were just training matches."
Herdon Teriris...
"And I'm sure you're no different, Princess," he says, pointing his glasses at me.
"What's so great about him that the greatest prodigy in history—Hellen Goldenlaw—took an interest?"
Fran glances at me. She can't refute what he said. Herdon makes a good point.
"That's why... Alen, accept our duel—Ximuss and me, against you!"
"Oh! Now I remember who you are!"
...
Herdon Teriris. A mediocre mage. I'd rank him D-tier. Like all S-class students, he becomes recruitable mid-game. He offers nothing special that other mages don't. You only pick him to fill an empty party slot.
...
"You were still stuck on that!?"
The crowd can't believe I ignored him that hard.
"I've seen you around the academy."
"OF COURSE YOU HAVE—I'M YOUR CLASSMATE!!"
His glasses fall off, and Fran laughs.
"A two-on-one fight? Are you insane?"
Did he really think I'd accept?
"You've got no choice, peasant."
Fran steps next to me, giving a slight nod for us to leave.
"I'm not a peasant!"
"Wait! You can't deny the duel! Duels can be declined between different classes or when there's a large rank gap, but same-class duels between close ranks have to be accepted!"
Herdon makes his final move.
And he's right. In-game, this was a method for fast rank progression.
"Rank nineteen challenges rank eighteen. And once you're rank nineteen, Ximuss can challenge you too. You'll have to accept both."
As annoying as he is, Herdon is right. The closer students are in range, the less they can decline duels from happening.
"Then... Herdon Teriris, I accept your challenge."
There's no way around it.
"Great! Let's go to the arena right now!"
"Hey, this wasn't part of our deal," mohawk guy chimes in.
"Don't worry. Once I win, you can fight him and earn your rank back."
He laughs, proud of himself for using poor Ximuss.
"I can't believe how disrespectful they are to their superiors," Fran mutters, arms crossed, cheeks puffed.
"Ha. I think it's funny."
We start walking toward the arena.
"Hey, glasses—go present the duel to a teacher. We'll be waiting."
"At least you're calm," Fran says.
"He won't be tougher than anything I've already fought."
"Is it true you've cleared over a hundred dungeons?"
"Low-level goblin ones, but yes. Apparently."
"Apparently?"
"So it seems."
---
In the changing room at the arena, I start prepping my spells.
I haven't learned any new ones yet. Not surprising—this is only my third day here.
I chant and reserve:
Strong [Sandstorm]
Neutral [Wind Scythe]
Strong [Wind Ram]
Neutral [Sandstorm]
Now that they're ready...
Herdon is a mage, which means he's weak in close combat. Not even Mage class passives will help him much.
His unique passive is [Adrenaline]—his attacks become stronger when he drops below 25% health. His... physical attacks et stronger... not his magical attacks...
Unique passives are tied to the character, not the class, so more than one person can have them. For example, Liana and Zagressa share that same passive despite both belonging to very different classes.
Some passives are truly unique, though. Like Hellen Goldenlaw's [Great Sage's Left Eye]. Only she has that one.
Herdon will probably try to keep his distance and cast spells.
If I remember right, he has water, fire, and earth affinity, with a pretty high mana pool—but none of his affinities are particularly strong.
---
The arena is much bigger than during training.
Almost all the first-years are here to watch.
On the right, I spot the teacher assigned to oversee the duel.
Rick Tramer.
"Tch." He clicks his tongue as soon as he sees me enter.
Across from me, Herdon arrives in the standard sports uniform.
"I, Rick Tramer, have been assigned to oversee the duel between Herdon Teriris and... Alen, both of Class S."
He practically spits my name.
"As per Aurum Academy's rules, each participant has fifteen seconds to cast a spell before the duel begins. Movement is not allowed until time is up."
"Begin!"
"Unshattering rocks, used by all to protect what they hold dear. Grant me advantage—create pillars that—"
"A tier-two Earth spell?!"
"Is the S-class really on this level?!"
"Look—Alen isn't casting!"
"What?! Why isn't he using his unique magic?!"
"What's your plan, Alen?"
Fran seems confused by my choice.
"Heugk!"
He bites his tongue mid-chant.
"You!!"
"Your fifteen seconds are up!"
"Not only did you disrespect me by forgetting I exist, now you mock me during our duel!!"
He has a visible vein popping out of his forehead by now.
"I'll let you cast your spell, as an apology for making you bite your tongue."
If I win this, I'll probably move up one rank and be safe from challenges for a while.
"This cocky behavior will be your downfall."
"What is your plan, Alen?"