The classroom #2

Arthur sprints forward with a strong stride, nearly closing the distance between himself and Gregory. Slowing down, Arthur took one last drag of his cigarette before throwing it at Shawne.

“C-Crap!” Shawne cursed, blocking with both his arms. This defensive response was the result of his wariness toward the item. And his wariness was well-founded as the cigarette exploded when it came into contact with his arm.

Boom!

A large explosion erupted, producing a large black cloud of tar-infused smoke. Luckily for Shawne, the smokescreen was cleared away by the Academy’s constant strong winds, however, unfortunately–

Pow!

–Arthur was in the air, at the end of a spinning jump kick. His shin connected to Shawne's left cheekbone, smushing his cheek into partly covering his left eye. The momentum behind his strike rattled Shawne’s brain, pushing him back four steps and he struggled to keep his consciousness and balance.

“Y-You fugger—” he spat, seeing double. His stance turned rigid and ready to counter. With blood streaming down his nose, he stepped forward to throw a jab with his right arm.

Arthur stepped forward, baiting his punch—

“Haaagghhh!”

— before sidestepping at the last second. Twisting his body, he threw an uppercut with his left arm after looping it underneath Shawne’s right jab. Arthur’s knuckles collided with the tip of his chin.

Pow!

The sound crunched, making Leonard wince along with the crowd. The force of the punch finally knocked Shawne out and he fell backward into the sandy ground, seeing stars.

Arthur’s left arm was still in the air as he smirked triumphantly, glancing proudly at all the spectators on the balcony and on the field.

“N-No way!”

“S-Shawne lost!”

“Is he okay?!”

“He got hit twice pretty bad…”

Arthur took another cigarette and lit it up with a snap of his fingers. “Well Prof, are you going to declare the winner or what?”

“T-The Duel has ended!” He proclaimed to the aghast crowd. “What is your name?” Leonard asked Arthur.

Taking a puff from his cigarette, He just smiled as smoke escaped from the corner of his lips. “Arthur. Arthur Haile.”

“The winner! Arthur Haile!”

Arthur took another drag. “Yay!” he sarcastically whooped.

Evangeline rushed from the crowd and knelt beside the injured Shawne. “Holy light, wrap my hands with your embrace– [ Heal ]!”

powerful light with the brightness of blonde and the shade of green encircled her hands like gloves. As she touched his face, the light grew as it covered Shawne’s face. Slowly, his injuries started to heal; his broken nose propped into pace, his bleeding nose stopped, and then his swollen cheeks began to deflate.

Everyone was captivated by the sight, everyone except Arthur. “So that’s what healing magic looks like.”

When the ritual came to an end, Evangeline glared at Arthur with her emerald-colored irises. “Y-You cheated!’’

Arthur raised an eyebrow. “Pardon?”

She got up with her fist clenched. “I said, you cheated! That was foul!”

“She’s right!”

“There’s no way Shawne of the Gregory house could lose like that!”

“Booo!”

An eruption of jeers encompassed the arena. Everybody except, Ellis and the Professor said anything.

“Hahahaha!” Arthur laughed loudly, and the jeering died down. He clutched his side as if he was in pain. “This is way too good… hahaha!”

“What’s wrong with him?”

“Is he crazy?”

“He used magic!”

“He only aimed for the head!”

Arthur stopped laughing before turning to the professor. “Professor, if I may ask, What were the rules again?”

“Erm…uh…” Leonard stammered.

‘Nevermind.” Arthur sighed. “I'll repeat what Sir Leonard said! Two individuals shall fight until one is incapacitated. No killing, no crippling, and anything else is allowed!”

The crowd’s mobbing promptly expired.

“So tell me! Have I broken any of those rules?” Arthur asked, turning around and looking at the spectators. He scoffed. “Didn’t think so.”

Leonard felt nervous under the pressure. “He’s right.”

“But–”

“No buts! He is the winner and that is the final! Unless any of you would like to challenge him.”

Arthur raised his right arm to interject. “Actually Professor, may I be exempted from the remainder of the exercise? I broke my left hand.”

He pulled the hand from his pocket and Leonard could clearly see the crooked index and middle finger, probably the point of contact from his last punch. “Alright, use your student handbook to navigate to the infirmary.”

“Thank you, sir.” Arthur gave a respectful nod before walking out of the training area.

“Aside from the painful left hand, that experience felt exhilarating. I took out all the stress from trying to woo Shawne in the game, to beating him in my second life.”

[ Ellis Simmons's Favorability: +00.3 ] [ 1.05%/100.00% ]

Arthur navigated the maze-like Academy halls and stairs until he arrived at the infirmary, the large room with a small red cross. Respectfully knocking, he peeked into the room. “Good morning, is the doctor in?”

The room was luxuriously furnished and sparkling with beautiful embroidery and engravings– but the doctor was not present.

Arthur sighed, took a small piece of paper, and began to scribble his name, and class number. “Arthur Haile, I helped myself to your bandaged rolls.” He sighed, shoving the paper on the chair. “I don’t doubt that they’ll miss this.”

Doing as he said in the note, Arthur took a splint and a roll of bandages. Pulling on the two digits, the knuckles pop into place.

Pop!

“Ouch.”

Setting the splint that spanned the digits and into his arm, he rolled the bandage quite generously around his arm. “Much better, I’d give it at least two days before I have to remove it.”

“I should head back to the training grounds. The Golem tech they have as training dummies. They have a four-meter circle or Killzone, step into the Killzone and it will target you. The closer you are to the power core in the middle, the harder it will target you.”

Letting himself out of the medical facility, Arthur retraced his steps back to the Training grounds.

“Well, it certainly has started.”

In the distance was Albert training with a training golem, or struggling with it. His sword was on a low guard. There was a golem, eight feet tall and two feet wide, covered in hand, and was lazily swinging its cushioned arms at students.

In the forefront was Gabriel diligently tanking the hits, Theodore was trying to freeze the joins, Albert was swinging his sword quite clumsily, and Oliver was emptying his quiver on the hay armor of the golem. Ellis was on his golem too, peppering it continuously with fireballs.

Leaning against a pillar, Arthur took a cigarette and watched.

“Not bad. The output is great, casting speed– not so much.”

In her hand was a wand and it summoned a small magic circle that summoned a fireball. She was doing great work shaving the armor off.

“You talk like you know much about magic, dearie.”

“That I do, Ma’am.”

Arthur turned to his left and looked at the grandmother beside him. She has Silver-gray hair, the white strands being more prominent than the silver; she was in a Gold and yellow dress, much like the student uniform but in a much more alluring dress.

“Her physique would be akin to that of a supermodel, and anyone would be surprised if they heard her actual age.”

Arthur took a puff from his cigarette. “Why are you here Madam Principal? Can I help you with anything?”

She removed her flower-decorated sun hat and looked at the young man beside her. “Well straight to the point. You see, I received a report a few minutes ago.” She hummed.

“What kind of report?” Arthur sighed. “I'm guessing it has something to do with me?”

“In a way, yes it has.” The principal just shrugged, looking at the boy. “I heard you used magic earlier. One of a superior kind?”

“Perhaps I did.” Arthur shrugged looking back at the gorgeous grandma. “What seems to be the concern?”

“Well, the point of concern for most of the professors is how a commoner such as yourself can learn such magic.”

“But I'm sure you have a different perspective on the situation. Isn’t that right Principal?”

“Aren’t you a sharp one! I'm more concerned about your identity, tell me Arthur Haile… who are you exactly.?”

Arthur turned away and had a long drag. “I'm not entirely sure who I am, I'm just an orphan from the outer city. When my foster found me, I was just a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes shoved in a basket with a first name.”

“I see, I apologize for bringing up a sensitive matter.” She coughed. “Well, concerning your identity, the professors are outright discombobulated by your performance against Shawne Gregory.”

“Hmph, I just bumped into him by accident. He was quite obsessed with honor, I can never wrap my head around how nobles are so fixated on such things.”

Arthur turned to the lady, taking a brief moment to pause. “Would you like a smoke?”

The principal just smiled sweetly. “Sorry, my tastes are of another quality.”

“I see, then suit yourself. Let’s stop dancing, shall we? Why did you approach me, madam president.”

“I had no other intention.” She smiled. “Why did you think otherwise?”

Arthur smirked. “Because I know you’re quite distrustful, hence the trusted spies you have stationed everywhere. Academy politics are quite important for many– isn’t that right?”

The principal lost her cheery smile. “Where did you hear that?”

“Sometimes, in bars, you hear drunken people bellyache about how difficult work was. One of your spies per se?”

“What do you know?” she asked, in a hushed tone– but it was obvious she was angry.

“The Principal elections are a few months away and factions have started to expand. You’re in need of trusted spies or intelligence gatherers, and I am a candidate.”

“How sharp of you.”

“The first day has barely begun and yet you’re scouting me already, does that mean that I fit your standards?”

“Yes.”

“Then I might accept, with a few conditions of course.” Arthur winked.

The Principal frowned slightly before leaving. “Oh, and before I forget, the Gregory Family have their eyes on you.”

“I can feel them already.”

Arthur turned to the academy grounds again, watching them struggle against the golems.

“I'm not all too fond of the principal and her character, she’s many things but dishonorable and a backstabber isn’t one of them. This complicates things. I acted like that but her offer puts my future prospects in jeopardy. What if the future changes again? but unlike the other candidates, she is not a misogynist– but nor is she easy to fool, or bribe.”

Arthur sighed, looking up to the sky. “My actions change the direction of the story, but what about purposefully not disturbing it until the waters simmer down and the story goes back on track?”

“In the game, she is still the principal anyway even after seven years– so there is nothing to lose, but everything to gain! Conforming to the story’s original path by staying out of the way is one thing, but securing my future by making sure the story stays on track is another! It's the more beneficial arrangement. With the principal, the highest power in these grounds, on a leash of information– it’s perfect.”

“Sorry principal, but I am using you as a stepping stone.”

Professor Leonard spotted Arthur leaning against the wall and jogged toward him. “Are you alright?”

“I am sir.” Arthur motioned to his splinted arm. “The doctor was not in so I helped myself.”

Leonard inspected the arm, marveling at the handiwork. “Well, the prince’s group is missing another person after you…”

“And you need a substitute?” Arthur cut him off. “I thought I was benched.”

“Well, they need another person and you’re still capable. Mostly.”

Arthur rolled his eyes, as he started to walk toward the field. Ellis spotted him as he walked toward her group. She had a bad feeling about it.