THIRD PERSON'S POV
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They were all sprawled out in the living room, each with a book in hand.
Except Donald.
He was sprawled across the couch, finally dressed in normal comfortable clothes, one arm thrown over his eyes while the other held an ice pack to his injured area.
Lily kept glancing at him occasionally, causing her to reread the same line over and over until she finally snapped her book shut.
"Don't you think you're being a little dramatic?"
Donald peeked at her from beneath his arm but said nothing.
"Has Ivy ever hit you? Just a normal hit?"
Albert asked calmly while writing in his notebook.
Lily opened her mouth to answer but paused to think.
"No... But it's probably not that painful."
Albert, Donald, and Nathan all stared at her like she had personally offended them.
Fiona laughed lightly.
"Nathan, you too?"
Forced by the chatter, Zoe and George finally lowered their books as well.
"Have you forgotten the Country A incident? The one where she rearranged my leg?"
Fiona's smile immediately froze.
Though they hadn't witnessed it themselves, the image alone made them shiver.
And Nathan wasn't someone who exaggerated things, so it had to be true.
Ivy calmly flipped to the next page.
"I used only twenty-five percent of my strength to kick you. If you're still talking, you're fine."
Silence.
Everyone stared at her.
Zoe squinted before scoffing.
"Yeah right. You're barely half of what Donald and Boss are. Stop acting like you're some god-level fighter."
"Have you seen Daniel on campus since the day Albert and I kicked him around?"
Another moment of silence passed as they thought about her words.
It was true.
They hadn't seen Daniel since the tournament, yet his name still remained on the academy records.
Albert chuckled and rested his head on Ivy's thighs while continuing to read.
"He's stuck in the hospital. His parents are anti-supernatural, so they refused to use sorcery to heal him."
Lily's mouth dropped open.
Donald's grip on the ice pack tightened.
George frowned.
Fiona covered her mouth in shock while Zoe stared at Albert in disbelief.
Nathan remained calm, like he already knew.
"Well, considering the combined strength both of you used, he might not even return for second term."
Nathan paused briefly before adding:
"Unless it's in crutches."
His words did absolutely nothing to ease the group's shock.
A slow, sly grin spread across Donald's face.
"See? You actually like me. That's why you didn't use your full strength."
"Not really. I'm just pitying all the girls hovering around you. Can't destroy one of the reasons they want, can I?"
Donald shrugged proudly.
"True. But you could also just be thinking that you'd eventually need it—AH!"
George had thrown a pillow directly at his face while Fiona covered Lily's ears.
"What is wrong with you? There's a minor here!"
Fiona glared at him.
"But I didn't even say anything inappropriate."
"Yet,"
George added flatly.
Donald rolled his eyes but decided to let it go as everyone gradually returned to studying.