Rui didn't even know what to say. His image of her was shattered. He expected a cold, detached and arrogant temperament, but she came off as a scatterbrain girl with a lot of curiosity.
But one thing he did get right was that she was strong.
Her passive mental pressure was deep, she was strong without even trying. Without even wanting.
Just her very curiosity alone exerted weight on his mind.
Rui suspected she might have even been a Squire candidate, though he wasn't sure.
Soon, he headed to the cafeteria. To his surprise, the other representatives had not only arrived but had also gathered around the same table. Only then had recalled that they were all acquaintances with each other for the most part, since they were all part of the Martial community.
They exchanged glances.
Rui could feel their scrutinizing gazes even as he scrutinized them.
('They're strong.') He smiled just a little.
"Rui." Squire Kyrie called out to him.
"Instructor." Rui turned, facing her.
"Eat quick. Also, feel free to join them." She gestured. "Although you are competitors, you are all the best of your generation."
"I don't particularly care to interact with them over dinne-" "Hey RUI!" The voice of a girl called to him.
He recognized it instantly.
He wordlessly turned, facing Fiona.
She gestured to an empty seat at the table they were all seated at.
Squire Kyrie smiled wryly.
Rui stared at her for a moment before shrugging.
There was no harm to be done. Although he didn't care enough to go out of his way to reach out to them, he would not refuse a direct invitation. He was curious about them.
Even as he walked over, one of them men in the group threw looks of disdain at her.
"Going out of your way to invite a mongrel commoner to your table." He grumbled. "Fiona, you haven't changed at all in the past two years."
"Is it that big a deal?" She threw him an inquisiting look. "You're the only one complaining. Aren't you curious about the commoner boy who beat Kane, Fae and Hever?"
"No." He coldly retorted. "Even if I did, I wouldn't invite him to eat at my table. You're as careless of your status as always."
Rui was more amused than offended. Generic insults weren't really a big deal, and he had frankly anticipated snobby behavior from some of the representatives
She shrugged, unperturbed. "I care for what I care for. He's interesting, so I'm interested. I'm interested so I invited him."
He snorted wordlessly, turning towards Rui, scrutinizing him condescendingly before sighing. "To think Kane lost to a commoner with dirty hair and eyes like yourself. Why the Martial Community thinks his talent is on par with mine is beyond me."
Rui tilted his head as a realization flashed in him. "Ah, you must be Ian Nepomniachtchi."
"Oh?" Ian chuckled. "Did Kane mention me?"
"He did." Rui nodded. "He described your insecurity and inferiority complex quite well, I have to say."
Ian's eyes narrowed at those words. "Bold words coming from a commoner. You dare insult me?"
Rui shrugged with a wry smile. "Only an insult if you want it to be."
"And what if I do?" The mental pressure he exerted on Rui increased. The other representatives at the table watched silently in interest.
"Well..." Rui scratched his chin. "Then the Martial Contest is truly conveniently timed, isn't it?" He said with a playful smile.
Ian stared at him as a mild smirk cracked on his cold face. "Finally, we can agree on something. I'll educate you in front of the entire empire. Free of cost, of course." He chuckled. "I know your poor plebeian ass doesn't have the funds to pay me."
"Don't worry, I have a habit of returning favours." He shrugged. "With interest."
The tension at the table escalated.
"If you want, I can give you that free lesson right here and now." He said coldly. "No need to wait for the Martial Contest."
"That's not allowed." Fiona chirped. "You'd get disqualified, you know? Ah maybe that's for the best. Please continue, don't mind me."
She said, breaking the tension. She was entirely unbothered by the mounting irritated pressure the Ian exerted on her.
"Hmph." He snorted, closing his eyes and getting up. "We'll continue this in the Martial Contest." He said. "I'll have to educate both of you, it seems."
"Well." A girl broke the silence. "He hasn't changed in the past two years either."
"Indeed." A boy with orange hair said. "He's as arrogant and domineering as always."
Rui recognized his features, and also the insignia on his clothes. They belonged to the Garmor Martial Family.
Which made him representative Freund Garmor of the Villimaine branch. He had a heavy pressure to him, he was strong without a doubt.
"He's boring, let's stop talking about him." Fiona said. "What I'm more interested in is..."
She turned to face Rui with curious eyes. "You. Seriously, how did you beat Kane, Fae and Hever? That's so much more interesting."
"Do you really think he'd tell you?" A girl besides her asked. "He's a competitor, he's not going to reveal anything meaningful about his combat."
Rui identified her as well. Representative Ferlicia Ernand of the Fritzer branch. She had a calm demeanor that painted a picture of confident power.
"Yeah, but aren't you curious?" Fiona asked.
"To say I'm not... would be a lie." Her eyes turned towards Rui with some interest.
"Is it really that hard to believe?" Rui smiled wryly.
"Very." Another man among them replied. He was gigantic, his presence was like an imposing mountain. "Kane is prodigiously talented, and is also part of one of the most powerful Martial Families in the Kandrian Empire. Yet here comes along a commoner who beat him despite having broken through only after he joined the Academy. It's an almost absurd tale."
Rui identified him immediately. Arjun Erigaisi, the defensive powerhouse.
Rui smiled. He did agree that it was an absurd tale. Frankly, the reason he was able to grow strong enough to beat Kane was due to truly otherworldly circumstances.