Chapter 17: Impending Threat (II)
ASHER BLACKWOOD
School resumed in earnest and classes were currently fewer than when I first started the Academy.
The upcoming examination could be the cause of this sudden change.
The conversation I had with the man called Draneeve was still fresh in my mind.
He had an eerie aura around him although he says he never won in any of the futures we fought but I’ve learned from my past lives never to trust my opponent’s words.
"What’s on your mind?" Victor asked pulling me from my thoughts.
"Nothing much, just thinking about how to pull through the remainder of the school year." I replied with a smile.
He squinted his brows at me and then shrugged, the both of us walking towards the next class.
"Practical Magic," Victor said as soon as we entered the classroom. "I love this class."
I smiled at him as we both sat down together at the very back of the class. My gaze was focused on him as I wondered how one could live so freely.
A lot was on my mind and the entire Jardel family’s fate was on my shoulder. I needed to do something or else peace on the Planet would be no more.
"Good afternoon class." The entire class became silent, the person in front of them was none other than Prince Arin Jardel.
"I’ll be in charge of this class for the time being, the Professor for this course had other matters to take care of." He added.
My eyes locked on his as he smiled at me, it was just a few days ago that Draneeve impersonated him but all that was water under the bridge for now.
"Now as we all know, this is a practical magic class where we learn how to carry out magical attacks using mana." Arin started.
I noticed his immense confidence and the aura he exuded made no student’s attention wander.
"Seems he’s more suited for teaching." Victor whispered to me as he chuckled.
I smiled seeing it was true. I sensed a minor fluctuation in the space in front of me and I moved my head out of the way while simultaneously pushing Victor’s head down as well.
A loud noise like a bomb exploding rattled behind us.
Everyone turned to the both of us as we raised our heads up and turned them back.
A giant hole was on the wall and Victor turned his head in rage and then got up.
"What were you trying to pull?!" He screamed at Arin.
The Prince’s face calm, showing no intention of answering Victor’s question.
"What were you trying to do? Huh? Kill us?" Victor walked down the stairs and was just a few feet away from Arin.
I sensed Victor’s mana bubbling, I thought of letting him be but I’ve never seen Victor this angry before.
He was usually carefree and timid but this anger was a new side to me.
"Mr. Blackwood, would be please keep your dog on a leash?" Arin said and that made Victor snap.
His mana erupted, black smoke surrounded him and then black spikes emerged from the ground beneath Arin’s feet.
I looked around fearing for the Prince but as I expected, he was alright. He had conjured a barrier to protect himself from the attack.
"I didn’t know there was such a good opponent in a class filled with miscreants, besides Mr. Blackwood." Arin said as he enlarged his barrier to break the spikes.
As I looked upon them, Arin gathered mana in his palm and then snapped his fingers.
A giant tornado of fire erupted from beneath Victor’s feet and also from the sides as well, blocking any route for escape.
Shockingly, Victor was behind the Arin who turned just in time to block Victor’s attack.
The clash raised up gust and wind as everyone covered their eyes to prevent the dirt from entering.
"You’re good, but it seems you’re running on low mana." Arin grinned and then punched Victor directly where his sternum would be which sent him flying through the window and out of the class.
I ran towards the window to see Victor unconscious.
"Take him to the infirmary. There’s something up with that kid." Arin said to me as he left the class.
Victor woke up two hours later, he looked around and then steadied his gaze at me in surprise.
"What am I doing here?" He asked his tone showing imminent fear.
"Calm down." I said to him, patting his shoulder for further assurance. "You passed out after getting knocked out by Prince Arin."
"What do you mean knocked out by Prince Arin?" He retorted. "The last thing I remember was you pushing my head down and then I woke up here."
I tried to remain calm and hide the shock his words gave me. "You actually had a fight with Prince Arin."
My revelation made him laugh. His laughter filled up the entire infirmary until the nurse came in and told us we were disrupting the peace there.
"Sorry ma’am." I said to her before she gave us a scrutinized look and then walked out.
"You’re being serious aren’t you?" Victor asked as he saw that I wasn’t smiling or laughing about anything I had said previously.
"What gave it away?" I asked sarcastically.
"You all know I’m not that kind of person. How will I face him now?" He started panicking and fidgeting.
"Well, seeing as you could hold your own against him he shouldn’t give you any troubles." I laughed.
"It’s not funny, he’s someone who has the power to wipe me off the face of the Earth."
"Stop exaggerating. He usually cares about the stronger ones and you’ve proven yourself." I replied. "But you’re sure you don’t remember anything about your altercation with him?"
"I’m saying I don’t, I don’t even remember how I got here. I just woke up here."
I frowned my face and stared at him, it seemed something strange was going on with Victor but I couldn’t quite place my finger on it.