Law; A sullied name

Ever since that class, whispers around the hallway would spread.

“Do you think August seems different in a way?”

“Right? He seems calmer, more approachable.”

“And attractive~ His swordsmanship is so clean and graceful, like he had six more years training.”

Some would even approach August, more open to befriending him. Still, Heilke walked past him, although a little more curious than before.

Everything seemed to have returned to the academy years in August’s memories. People were friendly, came up to him, admired him and praised him the way they did back then. The content of each class was the same, the quizzes and tests were the same, the answers were the same. Although there were aspects that he did not remember, it was more as if he was uncovering a lost memory as opposed to making a completely new one. Almost as if he simply travelled through time as opposed to being transported into a different timeline.

It was time for the annual law excursion, where the future lawmakers would visit the main prison and survey it. They would observe the technologies used to keep the different prisoners captive, like the magically enhanced bars for the jail doors, and the anti-magic handcuffs for the prisoners that were capable of some magic. As they went further in, more constraints and reinforcement was applied in the ashy compartments.

“This quarter is for those assassins who have attempted murders on people like you all.”

The place was only lit by the few torches hung on the wall, casting shadows from the bars. The inside of each cell was barely visible, especially further into the back, where the weak light of the flames did not reach.

Would the one August encountered be here?

As August walked through the corridor, a sudden loud bang came from his left. August faced the cause of the sound, just to see two hands gripping the metal bars. The hands belonged to a familiar face—the one who tried to kill him when he was 17.

“August Vin Gardner, it should be you in this cell. If only I hadn’t tried to kill you back then, you would already be in here.”

August furrowed his eyebrows. “Didn’t you do it out of jealousy?”

“Jealousy? Right. Of course you see it that way. No, it was because you don’t deserve your status. You sully your parent’s name, you piece of trash,” the assassin growled.

August stood there, dumbfounded. This was a reminder that this was not the place he was used to. He was not the person he remembered himself as, and others did not see him as such.

“Could you please go further into detail?” August asked. “I might not be trustworthy to you, but I promise I will be better, even just for the sake of others.”

The assassin glared at August. 

“Can’t you already tell? It’s not worth trying to tell you.”

August grasped the bars. “Please tell me. Does it have to do with alcohol? The people ‘I’ hung out with? I don’t do that.”

With a scowl still plastered on their face, the assassin leaned in to take a closer look at the spectacle that is the ‘changed’ August, as if to confirm his sincerity.

“August, what are you doing? Hurry up or we’ll leave without you!” a voice called.

“I’ll be right there!”

August looked back at the assassin with knotted eyebrows and a hint of a frown. They still had that temperament, and the fact that they had made an attempt on his life still stands, though the attempt seemed more justified. He wanted to know the full reason as to why they tried to kill him in this timeline, but did not have the time to. August sighed.

As August went to catch up to the group, the assassin spoke under their breath. 

“Don’t be a bastard, August Vin Gardner. Especially to ladies.”

*

August moved through the ornamented hallway of the school, the afternoon light softly washing the place in an amber hue. Not far from where he was stood Heilke, her turquoise hair glowing like an emerald, her profile illuminated by the sunlight. After being entranced by Heilke for a while, August noticed a few other guys. It was the people that came up to August the first day he regressed.

“'Sup girl,” one of the guys said in an extremely sleazy manner. “Let’s hang out.”

“Yeah, instead of that pathetic August Vin Gardner, you should hang out with us,” one that seemed like a lackey chimed.

The first one moved closer to Heilke, reaching for her arms.

August could not hold himself and promptly walked over.

“What are you doing, Malther Swain?” August called.

Malther stopped in his tracks, his hand awkwardly suspended in the air.

“I wasn’t doing anything, Gustie.” He put both his arms up. “See?”

August stood there, head tilted slightly to indicate how he was not impressed.

Malther dropped his arms. “I got it, alright? Geez.”

As he and his group walked past, Malther tapped August on his shoulder. August dusted the place he tapped immediately after, then turned to the ever-so deadpan Heilke.

“Are you alright, Lady Crowell?”

“Yes, thank you.” She curtsied. “Although you did not need to do that.”

“Do wh—" August's voice trails off. He lowers his head. "Oh. My unsolicited help.” 

Heilke observed August silently, about to say something.

“I don’t like seeing you in trouble,” he muttered. His eyes widened upon realising what he said, glanced at Heilke and looked away. “I’m sorry, I’ll leave immediately. Sorry.”

August speedily walked across the hall, oblivious to having Heilke’s eyes on him.

It was hard to believe that this hallway was the same one as last night. It was now brightly lit from the morning sun, bustling with students getting to class.

That must be the reason Malther threw his glove at August at this time.

“August, I challenge you to a duel!”

August did not budge.

“For what reason?”

“You’re hogging Heilke to yourself!”

“Yeah! Stop gatekeeping!” Malther’s lackey echoed.

Although his expression did not change much, anyone could feel the much more intimidating glower August had. He snatched the glove from off the floor and stated in a lowered voice.

“I accept.”

The guy started to sneer, but was interrupted by August’s next lines.

“Just to make it clear, I’m not hogging Heilke. Nor gatekeeping, or anything along those lines. She’s not an object, and is just choosing not to interact with scum. Like you.”

His sneer turned to a scowl, just how anyone would expect a stuck-up vermin would.

Students in the hallway cheered. Some ran to call for their friends about ‘the great August who defeated the instructor’ accepting a duel. Some whispered ‘hypocrite’, but were still going to watch the duel. Others did not join in the commotion, but were interested in the duel anyway.

It was time for the sequel show; ‘Was the August, who kept pining for the princess-like Heilke, finally get her attention after this duel?’