Chapter 50: The Burden We Bear
Jessica adjusted her grip on Tobias, shifting his arm more securely over her shoulder as Magnus did the same on the other side. Tobias, despite his usual bravado, barely grunted in protest—his exhaustion too heavy, his body too battered to fight back against their help. Blood still matted his hair, caking the cuts along his arms and staining the ruined fabric of his uniform.
Zyrenia clung to the back of Jessica's top, her small fingers curled tightly into the fabric as she stuck close, clearly determined not to be lost in the press of the crowd. She said nothing, but Jessica could feel the subtle pull on her uniform with every step, the slight hesitation in the way the little vampire stepped forward.
Jessica and Magnus moved in sync, their steps steady, careful—but not soft. Tobias might be injured, but he wasn't fragile. And neither of them were about to coddle him.
Still, as they maneuvered through the shifting bodies toward the stands, Jessica couldn't help but sigh.
"You know," she muttered, glancing at Magnus, "if he weren't in this state, I'd be tempted to just throw him over my shoulder."
Magnus snorted, his voice as dry as ever. "If he weren't in this state, he'd break your ribs before letting you try."
Jessica hummed in agreement. "Yeah. Shame."
Tobias, despite the pain lining his face, managed a hoarse chuckle. "Princess carry me and I'll haunt you."
Jessica smirked. "With what energy?"
Magnus adjusted his grip, shifting Tobias' weight more evenly between them. "He'll come back just to be annoying."
Zyrenia huffed from behind Jessica. "I think he's already doing that."
Tobias groaned. "Et tu, Princess?"
She only puffed up indignantly, her hands gripping Jessica's top a little tighter. "You smell like a dead animal. You don't get sympathy."
Magnus, for the first time, looked vaguely entertained. "She's got a point."
Tobias sighed dramatically, letting more of his weight rest on them. "I am surrounded by traitors."
Jessica only shook her head, adjusting her hold as they finally reached the stands. The students gathered there parted instinctively, whether out of respect or simple wariness at the battered, mud-streaked state of Tobias' body.
Hannelore stood at the edge of the arena floor, watching them go. Her gaze didn't waver—not from Tobias, not from the trail of blood he left behind, not from the fact that Jessica and Magnus had taken on the weight of carrying him without hesitation.
She said nothing. Not immediately.
Then, softly—too soft for anyone else to hear—she exhaled.
"…Idiot."
Tobias didn't look back, but his fingers twitched against Jessica's shoulder.
Hannelore turned away.
The Headmaster gestured from above, signaling the next match to begin. With a quiet sigh, he lifted a single hand, his fingers flexing ever so slightly as the ground beneath the arena shifted. Mud hardened into smooth stone, jagged craters seamlessly sealed themselves, and shattered walls rebuilt with almost effortless precision.
He did not let his expression shift, but there was a quiet sort of irritation in the way his magic moved—effortless, refined, but edged with mild indignation at how utterly destroyed the battlefield had become. This wasn't the first time he had to fix it, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. Still, his composure remained as he molded the arena back to its original state, ensuring the next fight would not be fought in a war zone.
Jessica, Magnus, and Tobias found their way to their seats, Tobias practically collapsing into his, groaning as he stretched his legs out. Zyrenia wrinkled her nose and immediately yanked on Jessica's sleeve. "I don't want to sit next to him."
Jessica raised an eyebrow. "Not my problem."
Zyrenia stomped her foot. "He smells awful! I'll get sick."
"You're a vampire. You don't get sick."
"I will from this."
Jessica exhaled as Zyrenia pulled on Magnus' arm instead, eyes full of indignation. "Sit between us. I want to sit next to her."
Magnus blinked. "...I don't take orders."
Zyrenia huffed, crossing her arms. "I'll bite you."
Jessica snorted as Magnus rolled his eyes but relented, shifting over so Zyrenia could climb onto Jessica's lap. She nestled herself comfortably, still scowling toward Tobias as if his mere presence offended her senses.
Tobias, watching the whole ordeal, gave an exhausted smirk. "What, Princess? Not a fan of the scent of victory?"
Zyrenia sneered. "That's not victory. That's decay."
Jessica bit back a laugh as Magnus shook his head. Tobias groaned, but the slight amusement in his expression never faded.
Finally, Magnus leaned back, watching the arena. "So… who do we think is going to win?"
Tobias exhaled sharply, his voice hoarse but steady. "Hannelore's got this. Ice magic is incredible. If she plays it right, she can pull out a win."
Magnus, ever the neutral party, tilted his head. "Could go either way. Alistair is more refined in combat."
Jessica said nothing at first, eyes narrowing slightly as she watched Hannelore preparing for the fight. Her posture was precise. Too precise. Controlled, but beneath that—something else. Something even she hadn't shown before.
Jessica exhaled slowly, her voice lower, more certain.
"I think we're in for a surprise."
Magnus shot her a glance, catching the way her gaze lingered.
Tobias hummed. "Surprise, huh?"
Jessica just kept watching.
Hannelore was going to do something no one expected.