"Guys, I think I left my watch at the restaurant." Gideon quickly thought of an excuse intending to give Azzy and Claire, some privacy.
Azzy offered to tag along with him but Gideon rejected his help saying that he'll back soon and urged them to go on before he left from their sight.
Hitting the streets, Gideon grinned, "Azzy is so dense. It's amazing that he still hasn't figured out that Senior Claire likes him. Well, if Azzy had feelings for that girl from the Moon Academy, then, I can only wish for their happiness but until then, I gotta try to support Senior Claire…
Who knows… if they become a couple, he might change his decision of becoming a rogue warrior and follow her to the Sun Academy..." "Hmm?"
Suddenly, the grin on his face was wiped off and replaced by a puzzled expression as he halted his steps. A familiar middle-aged man was standing in the way. "It's been a while, Gideon…"
"Uncle Ryland?" Gideon didn't expect to meet his eldest uncle of all the people here. "Are you on a mission?" He asked.
The rank-6 expert shook his head with a smile, "No, I'm here to inform you that you can return to the clan village, right away."
"Eh?" Gideon was taken aback in surprise. He wondered why.
Looking at his nephew's expression, Ryland Crescent explained, "I've watched your recent performance in your school tournament. I reported the same to the clan. The Violet Pavilion is willing to offer you a spot if you return with me and prove that you mastered our clan's Crescent swordplay."
"Violet Pavilion?" Quickly, a frown appeared on his face. Gideon then bowed and apologized, "Sorry uncle, but I think I need to pass this opportunity. I still haven't graduated from the academy."
"Graduation?" His uncle also seemed to be displeased with Gideon's statement. "You are rejecting the opportunity to train in Violet Pavilion over that mediocre academy of yours? Are you crazy?"
"Don't misunderstand me, Uncle. I have my reasons, not one but four of them…" Gideon adjusted his glasses and raised four fingers. "One, I don't intend to serve the main branch.
Two, if I have a graduation certificate, even if something happens and I'm forced to move out of the clan like my parents, I would have a place in this world regardless of my combat abilities. After all, I'm confident to score high CGPA in the graduation exam.
Three, I'm happy with normal life. I don't want to go there and spend my teenage life away in training.
And four, I'm content with my current progress. I'm not in a rush to raise my combat capabilities."
After Gideon finished explaining his reasons, Ryland just stared at him for a while in silence.
At first, he got angry at Gideon's first reason as Ryland is someone who was loyal to the main branch. But, then, after listening to everything, Ryland tried to think from the perspective of this genius nephew of his and can't help but remember his deceased younger brother and sister-in-law.
After Gideon's parents died when he was only 3, Ryland's younger sister and Gideon's paternal aunt Isabella was the one that took him to the clan.
However, just after three years, after convincing Isabella, Gideon's grandparents sent him more than 8000 miles away from the home in the name of education so that he will not have the life of a slave to those people from the main branch…
In fact, Isabella is the one that taught him the Crescent clan techniques every summer where Gideon goes to Egrein to spend time with her.
If not for the fact that Ryland requested the clan leader, the Crescent clan didn't even know the existence of Gideon who even awakened a gold grade Arcana and now, even mastered their clan sword technique at such a young age. This puts him at the level of a genius.
Now that he reported to the clan about Gideon, Ryland was sure that the clan won't let him get Gideon to do what he wanted to unless he forsakes the clan and cut ties with his family forever.
Thinking deeply for a while, Ryland opened his mouth, "Gideon, you are fourteen now. Since you will be an adult in a few years, I'll give you the time. On your 18th birthday, if you don't return to the clan with me, then, I guess, you will have to cut off your ties with the clan and well as your family."
After Ryland left Gideon alone, the latter stood there while clenching his fists. "Main branch… Some day… Some day…"
***
<strong>Elite division male dormitory;</strong>
"Hello there…" As Azzy returned to the dorm and climbing upstairs to go to his room, on the way, he was stopped by Prince Vann who was followed by his two new followers from the Aclein Academy. "I was waiting for you for a while. Good thing that you aren't too late." Vann maintained a smile on his face.
Azzy first glanced at the two tenth graders from the dropout division. 'Winter: 4 one-stars, 11 two-stars, and 4 three-stars. Joel: 21 two-stars, and 2 three-stars.' He said to himself in his mind.
Although never met, Azzy recognized the two of them from the list Vajra read, which was transferred to his mind by the Reaper.
"Need anything?" Turning the attention to Vann, Azzy asked him.
In response, Vann raised a paper. "Just like you asked, I got permission from your Vice-principal. Now, you are willing to spar with me?"
"You want to spar me, right now?" Azzy raised his eyebrows. He couldn't understand what's going on within this guy's mind. The Champions League will start the next morning, and this Prince of Hildegard wanted to get beaten up badly?
As if Vann read Azzy's mind, he spoke, "You aren't participating in the league, anyway and I will graduate this year. Since I'm already at rank-6, I won't pursue higher studies either. So, it's unlikely that we might be able to spar against each other after today. I wish to have a serious battle with you.
Your Vice Principal Ms. Fauns will be overseeing this battle. So, you don't need to worry about get losing control or getting killed…"
Prince Vann purposely added the last sentence to protect his own pride and also provoke Azzy into accepting his challenge or else, it wouldn't look good for his image.
"Fine then, I accept, however, just on one condition." Azzy raised his index finger and provoked him in return. "I want two proctors. One that is ready to save you at any time."
"Fine." Prince Vann shrugged his shoulders while agreeing to Azzy's condition almost immediately. Azzy's provocation failed as Prince Vann already expected those words after understanding his personality. "With our instructor present, I won't need to use my trump cards.
Soon, as the two of them set out to the Arena-3 together, the two followers of Vann spread the matter to everyone.
Before they even get to the Arena which was booked by Prince Vann, the matter was even spread to the girl dormitories.
***
<strong>Elite division female dormitory;</strong>
Leah and her roommate sat together with some girls from other academies at the rooftop garden.
They were having a little girl talk among themselves while basking under the moonlight.
"C'mon, Leah… It's impossible that no one has yet to proposed you." Like others, Luciana dropped all the formalities in this little girl talk, showing her disbelief after hearing from Leah that she didn't get proposed for once much less dating a guy. She further commented, "Are those princes and nobles in your academy blind or something…"
As Leah bitterly smiled at her direct words, her roommate said, "Well, it's not their fault. Leah has her Royal knights with her all the time except during the classes, or tea ceremony.
If not for the rules, her knights would have tagged along to even this place. Passing those four rank-7 knights, no one is daring enough to propose to her."
"Oh!" The other girls exclaimed in unison. Luci shrugged her shoulders in response, "That can't stop her from liking someone else."
Looking at Leah, Luciana further questioned, "Surely, with so many handsome princes in the academy, you must have liked someone, right?"
"No, it's not about whether…" Just as Leah hurriedly waved her hands and tried to explain, suddenly, a girl stood up on her feet, "girls, it seems there's a battle going on between Prince Vann and the Necromancer Prince. C'mon, let's hurry up."
"Necromancer Prince?" Leah tilted her head in confusion to hear such a strange nickname. Is he some royal prince with necromancy abilities? She wondered.
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