Cael met Raelis’s gaze. "You dealt a bit of damage to me, and as much as I’d like to fight you here..."
A faint smile appeared on his face. "I have a special mission tomorrow. If I lost another one of my bodies, I’d get a bad grade... and you know how it is with bad grades, I’d be screwed."
With that, he stepped past Raelis and walked up to the limp body.
He placed a single hand on it, causing it to vanish into smoke like some illusion. Soon after, he approached the body holding the shield and made it vanish as well.
Cael dusted himself off and tapped the hilt of his sword before flashing a nod at Raelis.
"We’re all going to be living on the same floor, so let’s meet in the living room sometime. Take care, will ya?"
Just like that, Cael stepped off the elevated platform and walked back into the academy.
"Hmm... the match is over," Julian said in passing, then sighed. "Are you going to continue?"
Raelis’s gaze traveled over to Jean, who was also staring at him.
"Give me a moment," Raelis said and walked over to Jean, slightly limping.
Whatever was on that dagger was working wonders. In a bad way, of course.
Raelis stopped in front of Jean and took a deep breath.
"What do you say, should we spar?"
"Nope." Jean shook his head without hesitation. "You seem promising, but if I fought you now, it wouldn’t be fair. I could beat you easily, but if I do it while you’re weakened, you’ll start thinking you actually stood a chance at full strength."
He chuckled and continued. "So we’re going to have to take a rain check on our sparring session. Unless you want me to crush you here and now?"
"When do you want to have this spar?" Raelis asked with a determined look.
Jean’s smirk grew. "Whenever you’re ready. As the goofball earlier said, we will live on the same floor. If you feel like you’ve grown strong enough to defeat me, then call me out. We can have a duel behind closed doors or in front of the whole academy. It’s all up to you."
Raelis was a bit surprised by his words. After all, he had come across as some sadist earlier, and now... he was a more understanding sadist.
Even so, the two exchanged glances for a few moments until eventually, Jean took his leave, heading inside the academy.
And just like that, there were no seniors left in the courtyard.
"Well, I guess this is where I congratulate you, Raelis," Julian said, walking closer. "Your performance out of all the students present was remarkable."
Julian placed his hand on Raelis’s shoulder.
"But do remember, showing off is not always the best of ideas. You will acquire enemies, annoying enemies. All because of simple jealousy," he added. "Where that jealousy will take them, well... I can only imagine."
He let go of Raelis’s shoulder and gave him a thumbs-up.
"You’re free to leave."
Raelis nodded in understanding and limped toward the academy.
But not even a few steps later, Julian coughed, getting his attention.
"Right... I mentioned it to the others, but who would you like to have as your special instructor?" Julian asked. "No pressure though, it’s a difficult choice since every single instructor in the Furnace Academy is talented."
He tilted his head slightly. "I would suggest someone like Vivian Varekan. Her personality might be a bit feisty, but she’s a good mentor. Especially since she also wields fire like you."
"It’s fine. She wouldn’t be able to help me with my flame," Raelis replied with a faint smile. "I’ll choose someone else, thanks for the suggestion."
Again, before he could walk away, a cough resounded.
Raelis’s brows twitched, then he turned around.
"Why not pick me then?" Julian asked with a hum. "I’m pretty strong."
"N-No rush, I was just kidding," Julian added with a chuckle. "You’ll have a pamphlet in your room with all the instructors that are willing to take you in and teach you. Pick one today and hand me the pamphlet tomorrow."
Raelis nodded. "Can I go now?"
"Right! There’s the—I’m kidding." Julian rolled his eyes. "Just pack something lightweight for tomorrow. You’ll be... never mind, you’ll find out tomorrow."
Raelis didn’t really guy, but even so, he left the inner courtyard and walked through the academy hallways.
His vision was still blurry, and his breathing seemed to get worse.
He was sure this wasn’t poison. After all, his flame dispelled most poisons.
Without realizing it, Raelis ended up in the infirmary. He didn’t want to come here, but since he was already here, he stepped inside.
He saw several healers running around, panicked.
"Contact the headmaster and her family!"
"Start the reconstruction procedure!"
At the same time, Raelis felt the temperature of the room increase drastically, then drop, sending a shiver down his spine.
He rubbed his eyes slightly and stepped forward.
To his surprise, he saw someone lying on a hospital bed surrounded by healers, and it was none other than Zeri.
Her eyes were wide open, her right hand outstretched into the air. It was as if she was trying to grasp something, or someone.
Then she opened her mouth, and strange sounds came out, nothing resembling speech.
Her voice was gone. When she realized that, she clenched her hand into a fist, then twisted her body sideways, delivering a punch to one of the healers present.
The healer’s body exploded, drenching Raelis in blood from head to toe.
He stared in disgust, but when he locked eyes with Zeri, he froze.
A single tear streamed down his cheek as she gazed at him, her expression one of pure rage.
She pushed herself off the hospital bed and limped toward him, pink flames spreading across her arm.
Raelis was about to counterattack, but he realized he couldn’t even draw his mana anymore.
That arrow disabled my mana circulation!
However, before things could escalate, one of the older-looking healers stepped forward and stabbed Zeri with some sort of massive needle.
Moments later, she fell to the ground, unconscious.
The doctor glanced at Raelis with a bored look, then let out a chuckle.
"You’re fine, kid. Eat something and take a nap, you’ll feel better in the morning," he said, his expression softening. "So if you don’t mind, please leave. We need to take care of an emergency patient."
Raelis nodded, dazed.
Just like that, he stepped out of the infirmary and wobbled over to the dormitories.
At the same time, he furrowed his brows in unease.