Chapter 9: Barrett

“What happened to your hand?” Alice asked as they waited in line to grab their lunch.

“I had a duel that went a little too far. I was told I could get it healed at the infirmary, but it’s out of the way, and since it’s not that deep, I figured I would go after my last class.”

“You better. If you come back to the room with that thing on, I’m kicking you out.”

“It’s not like I’m wearing it as a fashion statement. I would rather not have an injury getting in the way.”

“Anyway, it’s impressive, isn’t it?” Alice directed Ariella’s attention to the large assortment of food.

The Royal Academy had several divisions that started as early as eight years old, and while they didn’t notice it when they first arrived, the education sector was basically the Academy itself, and because it was so large, there were several cafeterias. While the food at the previous cafeterias they ate at was good, the one they now had access to far exceeded the old ones, and it was purely because of how the Academy worked. Although only the gifted are welcomed at the early age of eight, families are allowed to apply for their children’s entries when they turn fifteen and can enter their higher education courses. That part of the school, while being the largest because of how open it is, was cut out from the rest of the Academy. The dean made it a statement that no student could ever even step foot in the buildings designed for the gifted, and if they did, they would be expelled regardless of whose child they were or even if they were a previous student. So because of how popular their academy was, there was no end of the rich willing to throw as much money as possible to enroll their children into school, and since there were not only nobles, but royalty that attended, they needed to make sure some aspects of their living met their status. But luckily for everyone else, the Dean made sure everyone was equal, and that included the food.

“Is that all you’re going to get?” Ariella asked. “Why not try some other things too?”

“It’s not like the food is going to run away. I can always try something tomorrow.”

Ariella shrugged as she grabbed a small plate of pasta. “It is impressive, though. I would have never imagined such food or even such finely crafted utensils would ever exist if I had never come here.”

“Well, I’m not different. Sure, I definitely lived in a more advanced village than yours, but everything here is so much better quality.”

“I wonder what the kitchen is like.”

“Probably just as impressive.” After grabbing the food they wanted, they looked for an empty table. The cafeteria was packed, but the place was large enough for everyone.

“So, what are you reading now?”

“Same one as earlier,” Ariella placed her plate of food down before waving the book in Alice’s face.

“Is there really nothing else in the library that you haven’t read yet?”

“I’m sure there’s something, but I haven’t been able to look around enough just yet. The libraries were so small, but I heard this one is pretty big. Has its own building and everything.”

The two of them sat down and ate their lunch. While Ariella picked up a large assortment of food, Alice went with something small and simple. She wasn’t a big eater, but it was hard to pass up a salad with chicken.

“Are you serious about… that?”

“About what?” Ariella looked at her display of food, and after deciding on the pasta first, she swirled some around with her fork and dug in.

“The dragons. Do you really plan to defeat them?”

“You ask me this every year.”

“I’m just wondering if your thoughts have changed.”

“They never will.”

“Ariella,” a familiar voice interrupted their conversation.

“Barrett,” she looked up at the older kid. “He’s the one who cut my hand,” she told Alice nonchalantly.

“I’m sorry for that,” he said, his head hung low and his face filled with remorse. “I know it’s not an excuse, but it felt as if you were mocking me and mocking the duel, so I got angry.”

After hearing his words, Alice smacked Ariella across the head.

“What was that for?” Ariella rubbed the back of her head.

“So it was your fault.”

“I just wanted to learn some things from the duel. I wasn’t trying to mock anyone.”

“Oh? Then let’s hear it, what did you say? I would love to know.”

“It’s fine,” Barrett stopped her. “Either way, it doesn’t matter. We aren’t allowed to use magic in the duels, yet I ended up using my aura. I also took advantage of our wooden weapons, and that last attack was too much, even though you stopped it with your hand.”

“It’s fine. I don’t mind. I prefer fighting with everything available, but after that duel, I get why we can’t. It’s not a class where we are supposed to rely on magic. Plus, there’s no way the wooden weapons could handle it.” Ariella took a bit of her food while Alice glared at her.

“Do you mind if I ask you a question?” Barrett raised his head and looked her in the eyes. His apologetic expression was quickly replaced with curiosity.

“Sure?” Ariella tilted her head.

“How did you do it? I mean your enhancement ability,” he sat down at the table and leaned over. “I’ve never seen enhancement magic used in the way you did, even though it’s a warrior’s go-to."

“Oh god, another battle fanatic,” Alice rolled her eyes.

“When I grabbed your sword?” Ariella asked. “Regular strength enhancement wouldn’t have stopped your wind, so I had to coat my hand in mana alongside the enhancement I used.”

“And you did that while keeping the one on your weapon to block my shield?”

“Is that hard to do?” Ariella’s question was filled with honestly. Her strength had made her believe the things she did were normal, and the only person to tell her otherwise was Alice, and she didn’t care nor knew anything about enhancement magic or swords.

“You’re being serious?” He looked at her, then at Alice, who shrugged in response.

“That’s just how she is,” Alice explained. “She doesn’t understand what’s normal and what isn’t.”

“Well, it is. I thought it was weird when you used it, but enhancement magic isn’t something you can pick where to apply it. You either use it on your weapon, or on your whole body. It’s the base I used to create my aura, but if what you said is possible, then…” Barrett began mumbling to himself about all the possibilities. He never thought what Ariella was doing would be even remotely possible, but if she could do it, there was no reason he couldn’t.

“I can help you if you need it,” Ariella said. “That’s if you’ll teach me aura. I’m sure that’s a good trade. If you learn how to separate and apply it to different parts of your body, then you’ll be able to hear for once, and maybe you won’t be draining your mana as much as you were.”

“So you noticed?”

“Hard not to.”

“Would you even be able to teach me? It didn’t sound like you completely knew how you were doing it to begin with, and besides, you’ll be learning how to use aura in a year or two. I wouldn’t say this trade-off is worth it for you.”

“Sure, but they won’t teach me what you did, right? That’s what I want to learn. If I could figure out how to do that, then there’s no limit to what I could do with enhancement magic.”

“Hmm,” Barrett once again lost himself in his thoughts. Her offer was tempting. He wasn’t sure how long it would take for him to figure it out on his own, but he had the key right in front of him to do so quickly. But the price was quite high. That said, so was the trade-off. If they could meet in the middle, they both could learn and improve on their auras tenfold, and to him, that ego of being the only one who knew how to use his aura like he did was pale in comparison of what could be gained.

“Fine, I agree,” he stuck his hand out for a handshake. “Besides, I have a feeling you’ll grasp how to do it yourself if given enough time, so I might as well take advantage of that brain of yours.”

“Then we have a deal,” Ariella shook his hand.

“That’s great and all, but you should probably finish your food. Lunch break is almost over,” Alice warned them, and as if answering her warning, the bell tolled, and the two of them scarfed down their food as quickly as they could.