Escalation

LUNCH HOUR HAD ARRIVED around high noon. The cafeteria at Phoenix Academy was housed in a separate structure behind the main building, approximately fifty yards away from the PMA Battle Arena near the East Gate, where key events such as the Opening Ceremony (save for this year) and combat classes were predominately held. Walking through the front doors, one could be assailed by the tantalizing scent of enchanted dishes wafting through the air, a melange of spices and magical ingredients that heightened the anticipation of an upcoming meal.

The interior was quite massive. A few long tables were positioned towards the walls of the cafeteria, creating an arch-like shape around six round tables in rows of three, providing plenty of free room for students to pass through and weigh their sitting options. The ground floor alone could seat the entire freshman and sophomore class.

Overlooking it from a massive balcony was the second floor, where the upperclassmen ate. The round tables up there had fancy tablecloths and menus made entirely from data magic. All that was required was to choose the food items desired, and a camp of catbats—among the easiest mabeasts to tame—would fly in with their orders under stainless steel dish coverings that were kept intact with sealing spells until said dish safely arrived at its destination. When it came to dining on fine cuisine, the upperclassmen of Taqora received service akin to that of nobility and for some…even royalty.

“Oho! So all of these are yer inventions? That’s so cool!” Amidst the hum of conversation and the occasional burst of laughter, Cady's voice resonated with excitement as she examined Emi's collection of mana capsules, her tail wagging with youthful vigor.

“Th-thanks…” Emi’s cheeks flushed as she worked. She was still unaccustomed to such high praise, especially when it came to her inventions. She had, after all, never shown them to anyone her own age before. Whenever she’d show her mother, she’d usually hear: “Mm-mm. This won’t work. Start from scratch” or “Not bad, but you could really benefit by going about it this way”. She’d gotten so used to that strict, yet constructive criticism that she wasn't sure how to properly react to Cady's unwavering adulation.

The two girls were seated at one of the round tables on the ground floor. They were among the first herd of underclassmen to arrive at the cafeteria. Having eaten her fill, Emi decided to work on her mana capsules some more while they patiently waited for Katsumi, Gayle, and Yuki to join them.

With her multi-tooled screwdriver, Emi carefully adjusted the tiny gears within the translucent capsule, her nimble fingers working with precision. The soft glow emanating from the intricate runes painted on its surface contrasted with the metal gears, creating a mesmerizing display.

Cady giggled, resting her chin in her hands. “Yer back at it, I see.”

“Mm-hmm. All of the school programs will start their scouting by the end of the week,” Emi explained, her eyes still glued to her work. “The Adventurers Program will no doubt get the most attention since a lot of aspiring mages in that field tend to become Voyagers.” She gave a slight smirk. “And everyone wants to see who will be brave enough—or foolish enough—to take that next dive beyond The Yolk. With that many young mages joining the fray, they’re bound to be keeping their eye on their peers who are joining the Support Program. That’s where I come in. You see, with my inventions, I…”

Emi stopped herself, finally looking up, her eyes met Cady’s, which were glistening with unshed tears. Emi panicked, her heart racing with nervous energy as her exterior turned red with embarrassment.

“Oh! S-Sorry!” She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Was I rambling?”

But this only made Cady laugh, shaking her head in protest as she picked up one of Emi’s mana capsules. She ran her fingers over its smooth surface, marveling at the delicate craftsmanship.

“Nah, yer fine, Em, really,” the dog girl reassured. “I just love seein’ someone get so passionate about their dreams, y’know?” She pumped her free hand into a fist. “Makes me want to give it my all, too!”

Emi felt the ends of her lips curling up. Never in her wildest dreams did she think someone—especially a girl her age—could have such a positive outlook on life. Just this morning her anxiety was nearly through the roof, but Cady’s mood had become infectious and before she knew it, her mood was beginning to improve as well.

“W-Well, thanks,” she finally said. “So how about you? I remember you mentioned wanting to become a patrol officer, right? So you’re aiming for the Law Enforcement Program, then?”

Cady nodded, beaming proudly. “Yup! It’s why I enrolled in PMA to begin with!”

“That’s nice.” Emi set her tools down and gave this conversation her full attention. Her curiosity overcame her. She didn’t know why, but she wanted to know more about Cady. “Hey, so um…”

“Hm? What’s up?”

“What made you…y’know…want to pursue that field? I-If you don’t mind my asking.”

“......”

After asking that, Emi felt a sense of instant regret. There was a slight shift in Cady’s demeanor, long enough for Emi to pick up on it. Had she touched a nerve? Had she asked such an intimate question far too soon? However, the dog girl’s smile returned before she had time to process.

“I made a promise to a friend,” she explained, running a hand through her long dark brown hair. “Her name was Victoria. I called her ‘Vic’. We both swore to each other that we’d one day become patrol officers when we grew up, to bust bad guys and solve big cases together like we’d always dreamed of…”

She paused, taking a deep breath before continuing.

“Last year, just a few weeks before our final year at primary, there was a big riot in Fableton, our hometown. Our mothers were bein’ harassed by some humans, our fathers stepped in, then so did many others from either side. We saw our parents in trouble so naturally we stepped in to help, but their numbers were too great, even with our combined efforts. I hurt my leg pretty badly and I could barely stand up. Then I turned and saw some psycho running at me with a cleaver! Just as he brought it down towards my neck…”

Emi’s eyes began to well up with tears. Her gut was already telling her what Cady was going to say next before she’d even said it.

“Vic stepped in between us.”

The Harbor’s Bay Horror. Flashes of images from many publications and news reports about the occurrence reached the red-haired girl's hippocampus.

“Oh, Cady…” She reached over and grabbed the dog girl’s right hand. Wiping away her own tears, Cady’s eyes met hers and she smiled sweetly, placing her other hand on top of Emi’s.

“Thanks, Em. But I’m fine. Honest.”

“But…it wasn’t that long ago…”

“I know. There ain’t a day that goes by where it doesn’t cross my mind. Not a moment where I don’t blame myself for what happened.” She clenched her right hand into a fist. “For a while, I thought our dream was over, but then I remembered what she’d said to me the day we met: ‘Don’t let this be how your story ends’.”

“......”

“Those words stuck with me ever since. Vic may be gone, but I’m still here. I can still make our dream come true.” As she continued to speak, her smile grew wider and brighter. “And as long as I continue to draw breath, I’ll honor her memory by seeing this through to the end!”

“Cady…”

This girl did not cease to amaze her. Never in a million years did she expect to hear something like this. The fact that Cady was sitting here before her despite all that happened showed Emi just how much her dream meant to her. The dog girl had talked earlier about Emi’s passion having motivated her. After hearing Cady’s story, a similar feeling was definitely coursing through her. That strong will wasn’t something that was taught and Emi greatly admired her for it.

“Sorry if that got pretty heavy, Em.” Cady’s smile turned into a sad one, seeing the tears stream down Emi’s face. “Didn’t mean to ruin the mood.”

“N-no, no, don’t be! I’m the one who asked.” Emi wiped away her tears and gathered her barrings. “I just didn’t think you’d open up to me like this…”

“Haha. Yeah, well, it’s because I feel like I can trust ya.” Cady laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head. “It’s kind of a beastkin thing; the more drawn we feel to others, the more comfortable we tend to be around them. Although that depends on the subgroup. Feline folks, for example, tend to keep to themselves unless a certain condition is met.”

“Wow, that really is something.”

“Ain’t it?!” Cady beamed, her tail once again wagging with excitement.

Emi thought of the catgirl from that morning. “I wonder what her ‘condition’ is…”

“Ah, no worries, Em, there aren’t too many beastkin ‘round these parts, so we’re bound to run into her at some… Hm?”

She cut herself short as her ears twitched and her head shifted to the right. Puzzled, Emi followed her friend’s gaze to see three students, two male humans, and one female red-oni standing over someone. Upon closer inspection, Emi’s eyes widened. Black hair in a short bob…large cat-like ears with tufts of white fur at their respective tips…arms and legs covered in gauze…

Cady turned to Emi. “Hey. That’s our girl, yeah?”

The catgirl was on her knees, favoring that left arm again. The contents of the lunch tray beside her had spilled to the floor. The students in question appeared to be responsible as they smirked and sneered down at her with purpose. This must have occurred only a few seconds ago, but the ambiance in the cafeteria was so great, that Emi hadn’t heard a thing. Had it not been for Cady’s ears, she probably wouldn’t have noticed. Looking around, the other students didn’t seem to pay the situation any mind as their chatter and occasional bursts of laughter persisted.

“Hey, hey, you’d best watch where you’re going, kitten.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty crowded in here. y’know. You could trip.”

“Oops. Looks like she already did.” The female red-oni snickered. “Guess she's more comfortable eating on the floor. How appropriate.”

What Emi didn’t understand was that among those ‘unfazed’ students were orcs, katsokaa, and other beastkin, all demi-human races who were well-known for their sharp senses, yet for some reason, they went on about their business as if there wasn’t a fellow demi-human being bullied right in front of them. This dismissive behavior made Emi’s blood reach the boiling point. Now she’d witnessed the bullying firsthand, she wasn’t about to sit by and watch this continue.

“We’ve got to do something!” She stood up and Cady followed suit but just as they were about to head over...

“Em, Look!”

“Huh?”

…Someone was already there. There he was, tray in hand, standing in between the catgirl and the trio. That familiar yellow lightning bolt strand caught Emi’s eye, her breath catching in her throat as the realization settled in.

Gayle…!

◆◇◆

At that very moment, the cafeteria had fallen dead silent. All eyes were now on the four students standing, and the lone beastkin still on the floor. Gayle stepped closer to the students, his eyes were like daggers.

“Oy, step off, you three or things are gonna get ugly.”

The leader of the trio sneered. “What’s this, Mazin? You stickin' up for the Nishikawa’s pet? A bit outside your family’s wheelhouse, ain’t it?”

Gayle’s nostrils flared at that remark. “What was that?”

“Aww... Did I hit a sore spot, there, bud?” The leader gave a smug grin as his lackeys yucked it up beside him. With that look in his eyes, the lad honestly believed he'd just got one over on the sapphire-haired boy. And that form of mockery only served to make the boy in question tighten his fists.

Gayle, as incensed as he was, couldn't deny what the bully had said. The noble House of Mazin rose to prominence during the early Middle Age, when they made their fortune by hunting and defeating exotic monsters that erupted from the many warp zones surrounding Taqora. Farming them for parts could yield quite a bit of capital if sold to the highest bidder. It was also during this era that beastkin, vampires, and crystal demons were classified as 'monsters'. The Mazins did quite well for themselves in those days, and hunting the aforementioned races for their parts had them set for generations.

Needless to say, Gayle's defense of the catgirl behind was viewed as quite the oxymoron.

It wasn't just the trio who thought so. Several murmurs and whispers echoed throughout the cafeteria, echoing similar sentiments. Other comments focused on the catgirl, her bandages, and what exactly Gayle thought he was doing standing up to three other students on his tod. He didn’t care about that other stuff, but it always irked him how unwilling most people were to stand up for someone in need. He gritted his teeth. Bunch of pissing cowards, the lot of ‘em!

“Listen up, Sport. As a Hunter, there will come a time when you're faced with a choice..."

“......!”

Just then, words that his late father once told him as a little boy came to mind.

“...and each choice can dictate one's fate, so there's no room for hesitation.”

Those words were something that even now he struggled to abide by. And yet, every so often, whenever he could feel his anger beginning to rise, those words...would find their way back to him.

“So whatever you choose to do, commit to it.”

He took a deep breath. Will do, Father. Will do. He'd made his choice the second he decided to come to the catgirl's aide. As much as he wanted to deck these jerks, he needed to be careful. He was already going to serve a week's detention for vandalizing Class 3-A, and the last thing he wanted to do was give Sis another headache.

Plus, I dunno if my ears could stand another tugging from her...

Gayle returned his attention to the bullies, he could notice the subtle change in their demeanor. The leader, realizing the gravity of the situation, took a step back, his smirk faltering. His lackeys, sensing their leader's uncertainty, glance nervously at each other.

Gayle stood his ground, his posture firm and unwavering. He knew that this moment could define not just his fate, but the fate of the catgirl behind him. With a calm but authoritative voice, he addressed the bullies.

“I won’t repeat myself a third time. Step off. Now.”

As he said this, his body emitted a glow similar to his sapphire-colored hair. A surge of electricity flashed around him like the lights of a neon sign. His tone brooked no argument, and the bullies, sensing his determination, slowly began to retreat. The onlookers in the cafeteria, who had been murmuring moments ago, fall silent again, watching the scene unfold.

“Hey Mazin,” the leader trudged over to the boy, leaning over and whispering something in his ear. Gayle simply nodded in response. And with that, the trio turned on their heels and disappeared into the crowd of onlooking students.

Gayle scoffed and rolled his eyes. He'd dealt with punks like this all the time in primary school and where he was, the first day of secondary, once again with his hands full. Gayle turned towards the catgirl and squatted, meeting her at eye level. He sat his lunch tray down on the floor next to her. She eyed it curiously for a moment before flicking her gaze back over to him.

“Look,” he started, scratching the back of his head. “It’s not like I’m famished or anythin’, so if you want my food, you can have it, I guess.”

“U-Uhh…” She looked back down at the tray of food, examining its contents. On a white plate was a stack of asparagus alongside four sizable slices of steak from the leg of a basilisk, and a side of orzo rice. The catgirl's mouth watered, her ears twitching and her tail nervously flicking to and fro, unsure what to do. Annoyed, Gayle clicked his tongue at her indecisiveness.

“Or just sit there and stare at it...” The boy stood up straight, feeling like he wasted his time. “Do what you want…I gotta go take care of somethin’.”

Just as he turned on his heel, the catgirl held out her hand.

“N-No, wait!” She grabbed the tray and looked up at Gayle, her eyes wide with mixed disbelief and gratitude. “Thank you...”

She gave a slight bow. Gayle didn’t turn back, but he raised his arm and gave her a thumbs up as he walked away, his heart still pounding from the adrenaline rush. Antsy for what was about to happen next.

◆◇◆

Emi watched as Gayle left the cafeteria, her jaw hanging agape as if she’d just seen an almiraj frighten off a tri-hound.

“Um… wait so…hmmm…” Cady blinked, scratching her head in confusion, not quite sure what had just gone down. “So those kids had a three-to-one advantage, but once Sapphie went all blue on ‘em, they just…left? I don’t get it.”

She was right about one thing. Gayle was completely outnumbered there, yet he was able to fend off those bullies without so much as lifting a finger. Of course, there was an explanation for this: that being the gigantic mana that partially shook the very building they occupied. Every student present with a decent enough mana pool could feel it, hence why the majority of them were still standing around, processing the prior incident that had transpired.

“Uh, Cady you didn’t feel anything just now?” Emi asked. “Like that rumbling under our feet when Gayle…ahem…‘went all blue on ‘em’?”

She perked up. “Oh, yeah! Wait, Sapphie caused that?!”

“Mm-hmm,” Emi nodded. “It’s common practice for mages to know when and how much of their mana to reveal. This is typically done to intimidate possible threats. In Gayle’s case, he made sure to emit just enough to match or exceed the combined mana pools of the bullies. This proved too much for them to bear, so they left.”

Gayle’s Affinity Test was doubly impressive. The orb had emitted a near-blinding radiance that alternated between green and yellow. This demonstrated a great aptitude for both aero and electro magic, easily making him one of the strongest students in PMA's freshmen class. As expected from House Mazin’s issue.

“Wow! I didn’t know he was hiding all of that energy in that skinny body of his. Especially against three upperclassmen.”

“Upperclassmen?” Emi raised an eyebrow. She couldn’t get a good look at the numerals on the student’s neckties from where she was standing, but something like that was no problem for a beastkin like Cady.

“Yeah, they had two numerals on their ties,” the dog girl recalled, “so I reckon they’re sophomores, then?”

“I see…” Emi found it extremely concerning that a group of upperclassmen would stoop so low as to bully an unsuspecting freshman, surely that would reflect badly on the sophomore class as a whole if this behavior was commonplace. As the cafeteria went back to its lively atmosphere, her eyes returned to the lone catgirl, still sitting on the floor, Gayle’s tray was still in front of her.

Suddenly, she could see the sapphire-haired boy in her mind’s eye.

That aura, Emi thought. He only gave off a fraction of that earlier this morning, and it was enough to put me on high alert. But just now…

She replayed that moment within her mind’s eye. And then it all became clear to her.

Someone could’ve gotten seriously hurt had things escalated… She exhaled. But… The more this first day went by, the more overwhelmed she felt. For the most part, children with massive mana pools were akin to ticking time bombs if they lacked the proper guidance. All it would take was for the wrong buttons to be pushed for something to go terribly, terribly wrong. This was the case for a certain mage named Milton Gaspard, better known as ‘Rush’, who served as a cautionary tale for young mages who ‘fly too close to The Yolk’.

But he wasn’t like that at all, was he? She sat down in her seat. Gayle managed to compose himself in the heat of the moment, he had stepped in to save Freya when no one else did, and he’d even given the catgirl his lunch before departing! And yet…

“What kind of monster would do such a thing?!!”

As Emi recalled this, she felt a pang deep within her gut that was more intense than anything she’d felt all day. Gripping her left wrist with her right fingers, she struggled to make sense of these feelings.

Yeah, he was a proper jerk earlier this morning. He’s loud, and has no sense of tact or personal space! In fact…he still owes me money for stealing and drinking my coffee! And yet…despite all that, he came to Freya’s rescue, exposed his mana pool to protect her, and forced those bullies to retreat! And yet…I…I accused him of something so awful!

Katsumi was right. Gayle was certainly crass, but he was far from the bullying type. That much was now known. And the guilt Emi was feeling began to overtake her.

“Ooh, ooh! Look, it’s Yu-yu and Mr. Kitty!” Cady exclaimed, pulling Emi out of her reverie. She jumped from her seat and bounded for the two Hōjinese students kneeling next to the catgirl. Emi took a deep breath and went over to join them.

“Are you well, Miss Freya?” Yuki looked the catgirl over, her amber-colored eyes filled with worry. She leaned in close, her face closing in on Freya’s. “Those three didn’t hurt you, did they?”

“O-Ojou-sama?”

“Come, let’s get you to a table,” Katsumi said, offering his hand. “The floor is no place for a fair lady to dine.”

“Kusanagi Ouji-sama, too…?” With Gayle’s lunch tray still in hand, Freya looked between Yuki and Katsumi. She suddenly yelped. The look of panic was apparent on the catgirl’s flushed face as she leaned backward.

“H-Hey! Ojou-sama, Ouji-sama you two…sh-shouldn’t get too close!”

““Hmm?”” The doting noble kids tilted their heads in confusion.

“Heeeeey! Yu-yu! Mr. Kitty!”

As Cady and Emi joined them, the catgirl’s eyes cast over towards the scarlet-haired girl.

“Hey there.” Emi gave her a small wave. “Remember me? I ran into you earlier this morning.”

Freya nodded silently. Her tightened lips betrayed her embarrassment.

Seated back at their table, the five students engaged in deep conversation. Katsumi brought Yuki up to speed on what transpired earlier that morning, starting with Emi finding Freya drenched in coffee as well as her subsequent altercation with Gayle.

“I see,” Yuki said, picking up her chopsticks. As she dug into her bowl of rice, she looked over to Emi. “That explains the odd tension between you two. Sacchan never took kindly to false accusations. Calming him down can be difficult once that temper gets a hold of him.” She paused to take a bite. “He was like that ever since we were little. The only person who could calm him was…”

She stopped herself, casting a surprisingly nervous glance at Katsumi. He put a hand over her free one and gave her a reassuring smile. An uneasy feeling came over Emi. That smile…there was something sad about it, similar to the one he had during their previous conversation. When he’d mentioned the Kageryuu Massacre.

Kat’s response seemed to put Yuki at ease. She smiled back at him before returning her attention to the girls.

“Nanaya.” There was a note of pain in her voice when she said that name. “Kabō’s twin sister. She was the only one who could quell Gayle’s temper.” She looked down at her miso soup. “I always found myself at my wit's end trying to reel him in, but for Nanaya, she made it look effortless. Her patience for him was unmatched.” She let out a small laugh. “I often envied her for it.”

She looked back up, her amber-colored eyes peering into Emi’s. That same searching expression from earlier returned. At that very moment, Emi’s heart rate increased. There was something heavy in the air. The surrounding cafeteria chatter had morphed into white noise and it felt like everyone else around them had just…stopped.

What the…?!

“......”

“......”

After what felt like ages, the raven-haired girl took a sip from her miso soup and suddenly the sound returned as if a pair of earplugs had been removed. Emi could also sense movement around her again. A shiver ran up her spine.

What…was that just now…? Emi couldn’t make sense of what just happened. Was that magic, or was it her anxiety getting the better of her again? Yuki then sat her soup down beside her bowl of rice and folded her hands in front of her.

“We…lost Nanaya during the massacre.” Yuki let that sentence hang in the air for a spell. “Ever since then, Gayle’s been…all over the place…”

Emi remembered where she was on the day of the massacre. She and her mother were staying in Central City, Boone when the headlines caused a lot of unrest in what was originally a nice and peaceful day. The size of the death count had shaken Emi to her core. She could still see the cold expression on her mother’s face when she’d heard the news. That was also the last day Emi trusted her.

“So, when I compare what he did this morning to the mettle he’d shown just a few moments ago…exposing his mana pool like that to protect Ms. Freya….” Yuki brought her fists to her temples and rubbed them. Emi couldn't help but notice how adorable this made her look. “Hmmm. My head is spinning. I don’t know whether I should pop him in the forehead or praise him.”

Emi shook away her impure thoughts. “Wait, you guys saw him help Freya, too?”

“Mm. The two of us were in line with Gayle when we saw what happened,” Katsumi explained. “Despite Yuki’s protests, he rushed over just in time to save Miss Freya. I too was taken aback by the way Gayle handled himself. Typically, he’d have issued the first blow.”

“Yeah, I bet.” Emi looked over to the catgirl in question only to find a peculiar sight waiting for her. Freya was sinking in her chair nervously while Cady was leaning over her nose-first, sniffing her hair.

She raised an eyebrow. “Uh, do I even want to ask? Another ‘beastkin thing’, I take it?”

“Yeppers!” Cady then leaned in closer, holding up a strand of her long brown hair and offering it up to Freya. The catgirl eyed her cautiously. But then, just a few seconds later, she brought her nose over to the strand and took a whiff.

“Mmm…primroses?”

“Yyyep! Freya, was it? The name’s Arcadia Reynoso.” She pointed at herself with her right thumb. Emi’s best guess was for emphasis. “You can call me Cady!”

“N-Nice to meet you…” The catgirl’s cheeks flushed and her gaze veered downward, still too nervous to look anyone in the eye. It seemed to have taken her a lot of courage just to get those words out. Cady, on the other hand, looked plenty satisfied despite it all if her constantly wagging tail was any indicator.

“Say, where did Gayle run off to, anyway?” Emi wondered aloud about the sapphire-haired boy’s whereabouts, recalling his departure shortly after those bullies had left.

Yuki, with a rather nonchalant tone, replied, “Oh, Gayle went to duel with those students.” She took another sip of her miso soup. “The Terra Edict states that in duels on school grounds, only one-on-one bouts are permitted. So even if they wanted to, they couldn’t jump him, not unless they wanted to risk suspension or even expulsion on opening day.”

“You don’t sound too worried,” Emi remarked.

“If he were facing anyone else, say, the upper forms in the PMA rankings, then yes, I would be,” Yuki stated calmly. She set down her bowl and gave Emi a warm smile. “But neither of those sophomores even qualify in the top fifty. And out of that trio, I wager only one of them could stand to compete against Gayle.”

Her smile then faded.

“Even so…”

“Hm?”

“After the stunt Gayle pulled, I managed to smooth things over with Valcour Harvester…” Yuki began, but her voice trailed off. In Emi’s periphery, she could see Freya flinch at the mention of that name. She briefly thought back to those siblings she’d seen in the first-floor halls when Yuki’s voice pulled her from her reverie.

“...but I couldn’t find Radical Red anywhere. His mana signature is just too belligerent to miss…”

◆◇◆

A gust of wind brushed across the well-trimmed grass fields where the four teenagers stood. Gayle was by his lonesome, staring down the three bullies. Their leader had told him to meet them outside earlier, which could only mean one thing.

“Right, then. Let’s not beat around the bush, shall we?” Gayle cracked his knuckles, eager to release some pent-up frustration after missing out on sparring with Katsumi. “I take it ‘meet us outside’ ain’t a direct challenge from youse, but rather a direct order from your boss.”

The leader simply chuckled. “You’re more perceptive than you look, Mazin.”

“Pshh! It was bloody obvious!” Gayle snarked, looking each of them up and down. “Judging how youse reacted to my mana back there, I knew damn well this wasn’t just youse acting on your own!”

The boy leaned in close, fixing the younger boy with an icy glare. “You nobles really piss me off, you know that? So full of yourselves all because the gods blessed you with your little ‘gifts’.”

“Your point being what, exactly?” Gayle squinted his eyes in confusion. “Say what you want, but I had to pass the entry exams just like everyone else! And last I checked, only two Project Galanga members have bloodline techniques, so what’s your excuse?”

“Ignorant brat! Try saying that again after you’ve survived freshman year.”

Gayle waved him off. “Yeah, yeah. You extras are startin’ to bore me! Where’s your boss, already?!”

“Why you, little…”

WHHHOOOO-DOOOOOOON!!!

A massive figure plummeted from the sky, shaking the ground upon landing. As the dust settled, Gayle looked up, eyes widening at the towering figure before him. The subject stood at a staggering six feet and seven inches tall, with red skin, two short horns, and long white hair that cascaded past his shoulders. His sharp, glowing yellow eyes locked onto Gayle.

J-Jaycob of Dargrum…

“Haha! Gayle Taron Mazin!” The red oni boomed, his voice thundering across the field. Gayle could feel his bones rattle with each syllable. “So you’re the little troublemaker Val’s been making a fuss over, eh? Gotta be honest, ya don’t look like much.”

Gayle clenched his fists. Jaycob of Dargrum, a student who had been expelled from Basilisk Academy in New Dragonia for his wild, destructive antics—damaging city property, threatening civilians, even raising a hand to school officials. After serving a five-month detention, he had enrolled at Phoenix Academy for his final year, a controversial decision by Headmaster Blûd Payne.

The epithet “Radical Red” seemed fitting for a young man with his reputation. Gayle looked around and noticed a transparent force surrounding them like a dome. Jaycob saw his confusion.

“Oh, that?” Jaycob gestured to the female red oni standing behind him. “Heh, cousin Marta’s got us covered with her barrier. Layered five times over. Keeps any loony shaman from spoiling the fun.”

Gayle’s stomach dropped. If Marta’s barrier was as powerful as Jaycob claimed, they were practically invisible to the average student mage—and even Phoenix’s strongest mages would have trouble detecting any aura through it. Worse yet, whatever Jaycob planned to do would likely go undetected. Considering his reputation, that worried Gayle most of all.

“Why go through all this trouble, sport? Insulting not only me but Val, too?” Jaycob sauntered closer, each footstep sending tremors through the ground. His aura was overwhelming, like a tidal wave crashing down on Gayle’s senses. He wanted to run, but his pride and his conscience forced him to stay put.

This is what I wanted, Gayle reminded himself, gripping his fists tighter.

“Show any sign of weakness and your target has already won”, his father’s voice echoed in his mind.

Jaycob held up his MCP smartphone, pressed a button, and projected a large digital screen. On it was a picture of a blackboard covered in yellow spray paint—Gayle’s handiwork. His heart sank.

“Had Instructor Cuthbert forward it to me,” Jaycob grinned. “With his moderate mana pool, it didn’t take much to get him to comply. Heh. The only time you humans seem to know your place is when the gods don’t grant you enough aura to rival the rest of us. Oh, the irony.”

He turned back to the floating screen. “‘Val-whore and Radical Dread can eat shit and die!’” Jaycob read aloud, his grin widening. “Heh…haha…” He threw his head back and roared with laughter, his lackeys joining in. “Hahahaha!! Very creative stuff! I think ‘Radical Dread’ has a better ring to it, don’tcha think, guys?”

Gayle gritted his teeth at their mockery. After a few moments, Jaycob stopped laughing and stepped closer, his towering form looming over Gayle as he leaned in, scrutinizing him.

“What exactly did we do to piss you off so badly?” Jaycob asked curiously. “Seems to me like you acted purely on impulse. Heh, and I know a thing or two about that.”

Gayle exhaled sharply, summoning the courage to speak. “Jaycob of Dargrum, it has come to my attention that you and Valcour Harvester insulted my lady, and I can’t let that slide.” He raised a finger, pointing straight at the red oni. “I challenge you to a duel, here and now!”

A silence fell over the field. Only the wind whistled softly, the weight of Gayle’s words sinking in.

“Ha! Defending the honor of your lady, eh?” Jaycob chortled, shaking his head. His eyes then lit up. “Oh! Haha! You mean Lady Kageryuu, don’t ya?! Aww, how valiant! Risking your neck for her sake. Truly a grade-A vassal if I’ve ever seen one!” His expression darkened as he muttered, “Y’know, I’ve hospitalized fools for a lot less.”

Gayle’s heart pounded in his chest. Jaycob then walked up a small hill overlooking the field and sat down cross-legged, letting out a sigh.

“But alas, if I’m to have a proper bout with Black Fang, I must play by the rules,” he said, folding his massive arms. “Since you’re a freshie, if you want to duel me, you gotta get a few wins under your belt from someone at least a year above ya.” He nodded toward the three sophomores. “You beat them, and I’ll accept your challenge. How’s that?”

Said three sophomores whirled around in shock.

“““W-Wait, what?!”””

“S’fine by me!” Gayle said, cracking his neck.

Jaycob’s grin returned. “Well, then. Let’s see if you can back up those words with action, then!”

Gayle’s pulse quickened. This could go bad—really bad. But backing down wasn’t an option. Not after what they’d said about Yuki.

◆◇◆

“Now, this may be a sensitive issue, Freya, but I must know. Who was it that harassed you this morning?” Yuki’s gaze shifted to the catgirl as she took one last sip of miso.

Freya stiffened, her lips pressing into a thin line. She avoided eye contact, staring down at her now-empty plate.

Emi held her breath. The Lady of Little Hōjo had finally asked the question that had been gnawing at her all morning. Surely, Freya would open up to her.

“I…I do not wish to burden you with my troubles, Ojou-sama…”

“Nonsense!” Yuki’s voice was firm yet reassuring. “If you are in trouble, it is my duty as your senpai to aid you however I can.” She met Freya’s hesitant gaze. “No one has the right to treat another as though they are lesser than dirt.”

Yuki…

Emi nodded. “Yuki’s right, Freya,” she added. “If you need help, we’re here for you. We all came to this school to learn and grow. Those who want to be here have that right. You deserve to feel safe, just like anyone else.”

Cady grinned and gave Freya’s shoulder a reassuring pat.

“I concur! Now, if ya don’t mind blabbin’...” She cracked her knuckles. “Who do we have to go and beat up?”

“Cady!”

“What? Oh, c’mon now, Emmers, I know we’re all thinkin’ it!”

“That isn’t the…” Emi blinked. “‘E-Emmers’?”

“Mm-hmm! That’s yer nickname!” Cady beamed.

Emi groaned and covered her face with her hands. Her name was already short enough—why did she need a nickname?

Now’s not the time for this…

She inhaled deeply, refocusing. “D-Don’t mind Cady,” she assured Freya. “That’s just a… strange habit of hers.” Adjusting her glasses, she cleared her throat. “Look, Freya, it’s like Yuki said, we just want to know who’s responsible for pouring coffee on you. Were those jerks from earlier connected to them?”

Emi tried to keep her tone even, but the memory of Freya that morning—drenched, humiliated, trembling—stirred something deep and raw inside her.

Freya hesitated, fingers twisting together. “I… um… I bumped into this girl. She fell and scraped her knee… it was an accident, but then her brother walked over… saw me standing over his sister and…”

She trailed off. Yuki shot up from her seat.

Emi’s gaze snapped to her, heart skipping a beat. The look in Yuki’s eyes—sharp, unyielding—was unlike anything she had seen before.

She put it together that fast…

“Valcour Harvester!!” Yuki’s voice rang through the cafeteria, cutting through the noise like a blade. Silence followed, all eyes turning toward her. Seconds later, a boy with auburn hair leaned lazily over the balcony railing.

“Ah! Well if it isn’t Lady Kageryuu,” he said with a queer smile—one of those polished, insincere grins Emi had seen nobles wear like masks. “As pulchritudinous as ever! To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“Uh…Pul-kra-what now?” Cady muttered beside Emi, but neither took their eyes off the unfolding scene. The air had shifted. Emi could feel something on the horizon.

Yuki crossed her arms. “I’ve just been told that you hurt one of my dear friends this morning. That a misunderstanding caused you to lose your temper and lash out.”

Valcour’s smile vanished. His gaze shifted downward, landing on Freya, who didn’t dare look his way. That’s when Katsumi rose from his seat and stood beside Yuki. Then Cady. Then Emi.

Yuki remained firm, her voice unwavering. “That said. I would like for you to apologize to her.”

Valcour's face twisted in disbelief. “Heh…Excuse me?”

“Hmm. Funny. I could’ve sworn I was speaking at a decent enough volume.” She shrugged sarcastically and cupped her hands around her mouth. “I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO APOLOGIZE TO MISS FREYA!”

“I… heard you loud and clear, Milady! Trust me.” His fingers tightened around the railing. “Ai.”

Right on cue, a green-haired automaton materialized beside him. “You called, Young Lord?”

“Be a dear and get me down from here,” he said, eyes never leaving Yuki. “I wish to speak to Lady Kageryuu face-to-face.”

“Acknowledged.” Ai raised a hand, and her glowing aqua-colored eyes pulsed with energy. A square platform of digital light formed mid-air just beyond the balcony. Without hesitation, Valcour hopped over the railing, landing smoothly as the construct descended, placing him a mere step away from Yuki and the others. The moment his feet touched the ground, the platform dissipated.

“Right, now we may speak properly.” He cleared his throat.

Away from prying ears, you mean… Emi thought, watching him closely.

“Under normal circumstances, Milady, I’d agree with you,” he began, voice carefully measured. “But understand that I was merely looking out for my dear sister. Therefore, I see no reason to apologize..”

What?! Emi’s hands balled into fists. This guy is unbelievable!

Yuki’s eyes darkened. “And pouring hot coffee over a girl's head was your way of 'looking out' for your sister?”

“Tell me this, Milady: If you saw a barbarous and unpredictable creature standing over your loved one, how would you respond? Wouldn’t you go to any length to ensure their safety?”

His gaze flicked toward Emi and the others. “Wouldn’t any of you?”

A low, guttural growl rumbled beside Emi. She turned to see Cady, pink eyes burning with fury.

“Now, you listen here, ya no-good poltroon—”

Just as she stomped towards him, Katsumi stepped forward, raising a hand to block her path, holding her back without taking his lone eye off the boy. Freya, meanwhile, stood frozen, head bowed, trembling.

Valcour smirked, sensing victory. “You see? And it’s not just me, mind you. Many here would’ve done the same in my position. Beastkin are unpredictable. You never truly know what they’re capable of.” He rubbed his temple, lost in thought for a moment, before continuing. “Besides, with that enhanced durability of hers, I highly doubt it even hurt that much.”

Yuki seethed. “That’s enough, Valcour! Such a pathetic excuse. You should be ashamed!”

His eyes flicked briefly to Freya, then to Cady—her hostility almost tangible—before settling back on Yuki.

“It wasn’t the first time my sister was put in danger,” he murmured. “I was careless then, and she paid the price. I won’t make that mistake again.”

His voice was softer now, almost reflective. Then his gaze sharpened, and he regarded Yuki and Katsumi with something unreadable.

“Of course, you two would know better than anyone what that kind of fear is like.” A knowing smirk crossed his lips. “Wouldn’t you, Lady Kageryuu?”

Katsumi, who had remained quiet for much of the exchange, finally spoke.

“Trying to turn this on us, are we, Valcour?” His voice was measured, but there was an edge beneath it. “I understand wanting to protect your family. I sympathize, truly. I’m even glad to see your sister doing well. But to compare your situation to what Yuki and I endured? To the lives we lost that day? That is both insensitive and misguided.”

His words struck like a blade, cutting through the tension in the room.

Cady inhaled sharply, her fists still clenched, but she eased back as Katsumi gave her a small nod. Then, with deliberate steps, he moved forward, positioning himself between Valcour and Yuki. His hand rested on the strap of his shinai bag—a silent warning.

Emi watched him, heart pounding, caught between awe and apprehension. This wasn’t over.

Not by a long shot.

“I'm sorry about what happened to your sister,” Katsumi said, his voice steady but firm. “But that doesn't excuse your actions today. What you did was reckless and unjustifiable. You owe Freya an apology, and you need to understand the weight of what you've done.” He exhaled sharply before adding, “And if you refuse...”

He reached for his bag, unzipping it with deliberate slowness before pulling out a forty-inch bokken. A quiet ripple of magic pulsed from his lean frame, sending a shiver through the air. Rising up with his back to Yuki, he closed the distance between himself and Valcour, his expression unreadable.

“...Then I shall make you.”

The students' collective shock and curiosity were echoed across the cafeteria by the declaration. Emi was also taken aback. It was already unlikely that a freshman would challenge an upperclassman. But Katsumi had an aura about him, and it wasn't only his mana output; it was his sheer presence, which demonstrated to any mage worth their salt that he was no ordinary freshman.

Whoa… 

Yuki’s breath hitched. “Kabō…” she murmured, placing a hand over her chest.

Valcour smirked, unfazed. “Is that so, Milord?” He tilted his head, intrigued. "I've always wanted to test my mettle against a Kusanagi. There are countless tales of your father’s exploits on the battlefield. Let’s see if The White Tiger’s one-eyed cub is worthy of the name.”

“Oh? A duel?”

An airy female voice from above cut through the tension. All eyes turned upward.

Shina Urahara sat cross-legged in midair, her body suspended effortlessly as if lounging on an invisible chair. She hummed a little tune to herself, idly bouncing one foot, the bells on her tricorn hat jingling with each lazy movement.

“Urahara-senpai?” Yuki gasped, eyes widening. The implications of her presence settled over her in an instant. She exhaled sharply, regaining composure before meeting Katsumi’s gaze. “There’s no turning back now, Kabō… Are you certain?”

“Do you even need to ask?” he replied, his tone unwavering.

Emi's eyes shone with realization. So that's his angle…

She understood now. Katsumi wasn’t just reacting to Valcour’s cruelty toward Freya—he was standing up for the honor of Little Hōjo itself. A noble from another territory had insulted not only its people but its liege lady. Any loyal vassal would have done the same.

Yuki, too, seemed to grasp this, letting out a sharp titter. She shook her head and smiled. “Of course not. That was rather silly of me, wasn't it?”

“Harvester… Kusanagi… Hmm…” Shina’s voice drew everyone's attention once more. Her piercing gaze flickered between the two boys, measuring them like a scholar examining an old relic. The bells on her tricorn jingled softly as she tilted her head.

Emi swallowed hard. The cafeteria had gone utterly silent.

It was the same suffocating stillness she had felt that morning in their homeroom. No whisper of mana in the air, yet the sheer weight of the moment pressed down on every student present.

Only a member of Phoenix Academy’s upper forms could command such an atmosphere.

“I…will oversee this bout,” Shina finally declared.

A collective inhale rippled through the crowd. Even Emi found herself holding her breath.

Then, the enigmatic shaman turned her full attention to Katsumi.

“Katsumi Kusanagi… you are the challenger.” Her voice carried an almost ceremonial weight. “What are your terms?”