But he was alone now. And yet, to him, the most infuriating thing was not having no one to talk to.
It was the constant taunting that was irritating.
Every time he would see Onia, she would sneer at him. Make a haughty joke and laugh at him with her friends. Or just go up and speak with Alice, while staring smugly back at him every once in a while.
The brown-haired boy sighed, as he was heading towards the cafeteria. He was getting sick and tired of this. It was genuinely annoying to him. But his mood only worsened when a voice called out to him.
"Oh, look what do we have here? It's a dirty peasant walking around the prestigious halls of this Academy."
A dozen other voices accompanied it.
"That’s terrifying, Lady Onia!"
"What do we do?
"Should we call the guards?"
But the main voice spoke over all of them.
"No, no, Ilyse. That’s Adrian. He’s just a student here."
"A student? Are you sure? I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to him before!"
There was a gaggle of laughter.
Adrian tried to ignore it. He continued walking, as the person continued. That was, until he heard what Onia said next.
"Of course not. He has no friends. Why should us nobles befriend someone of a commoner like him? But you can. So why don’t you go make friends with him, Alice?"
Adrian spun around at that. He saw Onia facing the blonde haired girl. Then she turned to him, as Alice answered.
"I do not wish to, Lady Onia. There is no reason for me to talk to him, for he has made a grave insult against you. And simply your presence is more than enough for me."
She spoke in a monotone voice. Adrian could tell she was uncomfortable saying that. That she did not even enjoy being around Onia. But she had no choice— she could not get into trouble.
The pink haired girl nodded. She played with her hair as she addressed everyone else.
"Well you heard her. Then I guess there’s no reason for us to talk to him." She declared. Then she slowly turned back to Adrian, and grinned. "Unless, of course, the peasant decides to beg for forgiveness for his offenses against me, and kiss my feet to show his sincerity."
Adrian wanted to snap back at her. To yell an expletive back at her. But instead, he stayed calm and collected.
"And why should I do that?" he asked innocently.
Onia’s smug look disappeared. She frowned, and stared at him in disbelief. "Are you really asking me that? Are you that braindead, you peasant?"
The boy raised his shoulders in a nonchalant shrug.
"I don’t see why I should apologize, Onia," he said emphatically, and she colored at his casual use of her name. "It’s not like you did anything to prove me wrong."
"Huh?!"
"Yes," Adrian spoke over her outburst. "You’re still so childish and can’t do anything by yourself."
"I can’t... what?!" the noble girl sputtered. She gestured back at her posse, then at Alice who was ducking her head in silence. "I took away your only friend, and stopped everyone else from talking to you. How is that not something I've done by myself?!"
"You made others do the work for you, and hid behind your father’s influence." The boy nodded along. Then he smiled politely at her. "So you’re not just incapable, but you’re also a coward. Got it."
"You!" Onia pointed at him. "I will turn your life into Hell unless you apologize right this instant!"
"I told you, I don’t have a reason to say sorry." Adrian sighed over exaggeratedly. "But if you insist so much, why not make me?"
"Make you?! I will have you—"
"No, not with any of your noble powers. Prove yourself in a duel, and I will take back what I said. I’ll even be your servant if you want."
"You want to duel me?" The girl laughed. "I’ve been studying how to duel since I was seven. You’re a farm boy who never even picked up a sword until Saint Theron showed you some pity and brought you here!"
"I’m not from a farm, but ok."
"Y-you—" Onia snarled at him. "You really don’t know what you’re doing. Fine. I’ll duel you, and if I win, you will be my servant. Forever."
"And if I win?" Adrian asked.
The noble girl harrumphed and folded her arms. "You won’t win. But if you do, I’ll take back everything I said to everyone including your commoner friend, and I’ll apologize to you."
She looked at him expectantly. And he grinned.
"Sure."
"Why do they even need to duel? Lady Onia is obviously superior. He’s a commoner!"
"Look at him, he barely even knows how to hold a sword!"
"And didn’t he just turn 12 years old? Why would they let someone as young as him into the Academy."
A crowd— not just Onia’s clique— gathered to watch the duel.
But Adrian ignored all of them. Well, except for the last one. He wanted to smack whoever said it in the head. They were only a year older than him. It made no difference. He knew that for a fact. Because… of Melas.
She was a year younger than him. And she killed a Chimera.
He remembered that very clearly. That was the day she saved his life. And it was also the last time he saw her.
The brown haired boy shook his head, and focused. He had to deal with what was in front of him first. He turned around—
And was met with two big blue eyes.
Adrian blinked.
"Alice?"
"Adrian, don’t do this," the girl pleaded. "I’ve seen you duel— and you’re good. But Onia is different. She’s one of the best duelists in our class!"
"And I’ve fought Monsters. Real ones. I’ll be fine, I promise," he reassured
