Few days have passed since I started studying magic theories to further deepen my understanding of magic, thanks to Iris' help I've made some progress, I guess?
And i can say that day are peaceful days, heck it's not peaceful at all. There are a lot of rumors about me like I'm actually just a bastard son from the Althrone family.
Vermillion Academy, for all its prestige, wasn't much different from the world I once knew—just a shinier stage for the same tired performances, people's with power playing power games, normal person clawing for scraps, and the rest simply trying not to drown.
I had no intention of playing their game.
Unfortunately, that didn't mean they'd leave me alone.
It started with whispers, quiet at first, like the rustling of dry leaves. But rumors have a way of growing teeth.
"They say he's not even a real noble."
"He's the Duke's bastard son isn't he?"
"No wonder he never shows his face at social events..."
I didn't care. Let them talk. Words couldn't kill me anyway and why should i care.
But it was irritating.
Especially when they began avoiding me in the hallways, casting glances filled with fear and disgust. I'd walk into a room and feel the air shift, conversations dying mid-sentence. It was amusing, in a way. They feared what they didn't understand.
They feared me.
I could almost laugh.
Today's lesson was in the upper library, a place rarely visited except by the most dedicated or the most insufferable.
Iris was already there when I arrived, her eyes buried in a thick tome, glasses sliding down her nose. The sunlight framed her figure, violeat hair catching the light like strands of silk.
"You came again huh"
Iris didn't look up, her voice laced with disbelief, but she didn't really care either.
I sat beside her without a word.
"Didn't think this was your kind of thing"
I pulled out my notebook, unfazed.
"It's not. I was just bored"
"Just don't slack off and drag me down"
"Relax. I'm not here to impress anyone anyway"
We studied in silence for a while, the scratching of quills and turning of pages the only sound between us.
Iris glanced at me, frowning.
"You've been the subject of... attention lately"
"You mean the gossip?"
I smirked.
"Let them bark. Dogs need something to do"
She hesitated.
"You're not... bothered?"
I turned the page, unbothered.
"Do I look bothered?"
"No"
She admitted.
"You look like you want to burn the entire academy down"
"Tempting"
I said, almost smiling.
"But too much effort."
She shook her head.
"i see"
Silence again.
Maybe she was starting to see it. The others watched from a distance, but Iris... she was different. Not kind, not exactly friendly, but not afraid.
It's somewhat feel weird? Like why? Is she the type who doesn't believe anything as long she don't see it in person?
Well, let's see how long that lasts.
...
By the time I returned to the dormitory, the rumor had already evolved.
Scrawled in crimson ink across boy dormitory:
"BASTARD SON – KNOW YOUR PLACE"
Damn, did they not afraid getting caught by profesor?
Students crowded around, feigning shock, though many barely hid their amusement. The whispers had grown bolder, turning into snickers, then laughter.
I stood in front of it, silent.
No reaction. No anger. No shame.
They waited for me to snap. I didn't.
They weren't worth it anyway.
I entered my room, locked the door, and sighed. The stench of fear and ignorance clung to this place like mold.
As I sat at my desk, a knock rattled the door.
I debated ignoring it.
But the knock came again and louder.
Opening it, I found Cedric, standing there with his usual confident posture, wearing his signature gauntlets massive, metal gloves that looked as though they could crush stone.
"What is it?"
He look puzzled
"Let's duel"
Is he going to bully me or what? Like, seriously? I just rest in my room and it's not even 5 minutes since I'm here and here he is, asking for duel
"Why?"
"Just come to training ground"
And he left.
...
Later, in the academy training ground, i can see Cedric already here, standing right in the middle of the arena.
I can heard footsteps approached, a lot in fact.
And i can see a lot of students come here, well probably just want to see our duel.
I didn't bother looking up to them.
"You saw it, didn't you?"
I said.
"Everyone did."
"So, pick a fight with me becauss I'm just some illegitimate son?"
His eyes narrowed.
"So it is true huh?"
I stood, meeting him eye to eye.
"Yes. I'm illegitimate. Is that what you wanted to hear?"
He didn't respond immediately, studying me like he was trying to measure something invisible.
After a long pause, he snorted.
"Tch. What a load of crap."
"Excuse me?"
"I don't care about bloodlines or titles. What I care about is whether someone's all bark and no bite. So far, I haven't seen anything from you worth talking about."
Huh? Wait what? Isn't his personality different than in the game? Isn't he someone who hate commoners? Did something happen?
He cracked his knuckles.
"You've got two choices. Prove you're not just talk, or get out of my way."
I tilted my head, intrigued.
"You're serious."
"Dead serious."
The tension was thick.
He tossed the sword at me.
I caught them with ease.
"let's duel"
I stared at him, confused.
"Sigh, fine"
Cedric smirked.
"Yeah. Now we understand each other"