Long white hair. Hollow cheeks. Dark circles that made his eyes look almost carved in.
He looked sickly, like an addict who hadn't slept in weeks.
Normally, that kind of appearance would be deeply unattractive.
But of course, exceptions always existed.
'Some girls do go crazy for the skinny, pale, crackhead-type, I guess.'
Odeus scratched his neck.
"So, who are you anyway?"
He could already tell that the man was related to Jeanne. Not just because of the pale skin or white hair, but because of the Ether, as his resembled Jeanne's massively, making it probable that they shared blood.
'Hm…' The question had fallen on deaf ears. 'He's so mad that he didn't hear me. An overprotective father? He looks a bit young, but I can't really tell.'
No one felt Lucien's anger more than Jack, whose arm was starting to ache and burn due to the aggressive, freezing Ether emanating from the Ice Maniac.
"Your date tonight, huh?" The latter muttered while cracking his knuckles. "We'll see if you can make it with both your knees broken. I'm sure my Jeanne will feel a bit sad about being stood up, but it's for the best." His gray eyes emitted no light. "I can't let an asshole like you get close to my sweet and innocent sister."
"Sister, huh? Can't we get along, then? How about trying to get to know me? Since I am trying to date your sister."
Ice-cold Ether erupted explosively from Lucien's body at once, knocking Jack a couple of steps back.
'Oh, fuck this!' The latter shouted internally, barely remaining on his feet after stumbling. 'I'm getting out of here!'
The next second, Jack was running away.
Odeus only looked at him for a moment. It was clear that he had gone to find Jeanne's brother out of jealousy. Still, Odeus wasn't too bothered by it.
He knew Jack wouldn't get too far anyway.
"You're fucking dead!"
"I really would rather not have to beat up my date's brother…" Odeus' words trailed off as the area where Lucien stood a moment earlier was covered by kicked-up dust. "You're quick." He whistled, a clenched fist inches away from his face.
Meanwhile,
'Fuck, fuck, fuck!' Jack cursed continually as he ran away. 'This was a mistake. Was it a mistake? What if he gets seriously hurt or killed?! Goddammit, I apologized as soon as I saw Lucien, yet he still beat me up! How is this guy being so arrogant and…' Jack gulped, and ran even faster. 'He's from the boonies! He's only been at the Academy for three days, of course, he hasn't heard of the Ice Mania! Shit! He's so dead!'
Jack went past the abandoned coliseum's entrance, circled around the wall, and leaned against it to catch his breath.
"Shit." He cursed.
The deposit of ice on his arm was pretty bad, and he could barely feel his muscles.
Still, a day or so would get him back in top shape.
"I need to get as far from here as-"
"Oh, you're not going anywhere." Saphyra said joyfully, palms together. "This is a coliseum, with a ton of space for people to cheer."
"Who are you?" Jack asked with a frown. Though it was torn, she was wearing the Academy's uniform.
"We're going into the stands to watch." Saphyra added with a nod, completely ignoring his question.
His protests were ignored as well.
***
"You…" The look in Lucien's eyes was much more serious than it was before. "Who are you?"
Odeus remained silent.
"You're no ordinary Second Year. In fact, you're no Second Year. You might not have dodged my attacks, but you blocked my punches, keeping up with the speed and strength I displayed." He stared. "I heard you were some peasant, but there's no way that's true. Your Ether Levels haven't been checked, have they?" Lucien continued. "A Second Year with your strength, I would have heard about it. In fact, everybody would have. It would have made waves throughout the Academy, and beyond."
Asmodeus was amused to hear that. 'W glaze.' He thought.
"So, tell me, who are you?" Light bluish Ether started rising from Lucien's fists and covered his arms. "If you don't give a satisfying answer, I will assume that you are an enemy, a danger to my sister's safety, not just to her innocence, as if that wasn't enough of a crime."
'Just… Who are these two?' Jack gulped, forcefully brought onto the stands. 'My Ether Level is at 4100 goddammit! I might be at the limit, but I'm still a Third Grade! I couldn't do anything against her!' Not only had he been brought to the stands, but Jack had been perfectly immobilized through Saphyra's magic. 'And this guy… This fucking guy… How is he still standing?! He should already be on the ground, begging for his life! I need to… I need to do something-'
"Focus." The word cut Jack's thoughts and caused a shiver to run down his spine. "It's about to get real," Saphyra muttered, elbows resting on the edge of the stands, chin buried in her palms. "It's not every day that you will get to see a fight like this."
"I can't focus if I don't know who the hell you are! And why are you with him?!" Jack blurted out, talking before thinking things through.
"I'm…" She turned towards Jack, and pointed with a thumb behind her. "The same as him. The same as Asmodeus."
"As… Asmodeus?"
"Yeah," Saphyra nodded. "We're Demons." She nodded again, stared for a moment, then turned back towards the center of the coliseum. "Now, focus… And stay silent."