By the time they reached the training fields, a crowd had already formed. Starred students swarmed the area, buzzing excitedly.
Most of the Students looked like they'd rushed out of bed the second they heard the news. Loose academy pants, oversized jumpers and messy hair filled the crowd. Ester wasn't an exception.
"There's so many people..." She yawned.
"I know right?!" Saphy shouted back excitedly, looking around wildly. She wore her purple pullover over her academy sleepwear. "I wonder how-"
Her eyes widened suddenly.
"Isn't that Arthur?"
Arthur was surrounded by Starred Students, who squealed and fussed around him giddily. He looked deeply uncomfortable, and Ester almost felt sorry for him.
Even half-awake, hair messy and in academy sleepwear, he was still impossible to ignore. Difficult to approach.
Like staring into the morning sun.
"Arthur!" Saphy yelled, waving an arm. "Hey!"
He turned at the sound of her voice, his eyes widening with relief. He gently pushed through the group, apologising profusely as he escaped, earning several disappointed groans behind him.
Ester noticed the dirty looks the girls sent their way as he approached.
"Does that always happen?" Saphy asked, unable to decide where to look.
"Yes…" Arthur sighed heavily. "And it's always exhausting."
He noticed Ester staring at him a little too intensely before she quickly looked away. Arthur merely pursed his lips.
Saphy looked between the two of them.
"So…" he began carefully. "Who do you think is going to win?"
Both girls stared at him as if the answer was obvious.
"Hey, you never know…"
Ester glanced at him.
"...You think he can win?"
Arthur looked at her as if she'd lost her mind.
"No?"
Ester rolled her eyes while Saphy sighed.
The chatter of the crowd swelled around them as they scanned the field.
Some Starred students looked far more awake than everyone else, already dressed despite it being an off- day.
Others looked just as unbothered as the Starless.
"Seriously… why are there so many people?" Saphy wondered.
"...It's cos of me."
Before anyone could react, an arm slid around Arthur's.
Vanessa appeared beside him, smiling playfully.
"Hi."
Arthur went rigid.
"Hello…"
Vanessa studied him openly, eyes unwavering as she twirled a strand of her hair between her fingers. "Damn…" Her eyes flickered across his face, unable to control her excitement. "You really are gorgeous..."
"T-thank you..?"
Arthur shot Ester and Saphy a desperate look for help.
Ester didn't know what to say. She was more distracted by how uncomfortable he looked.
"Um… Vanessa...Senior?" Saphy asked nervously.
Vanessa turned her head.
"Hmm?"
Saphy glanced around.
"People are staring at you."
Vanessa paused briefly, the smile never leaving her face.
"I wonder why…"
Her grip tightened around Arthur's arm.
"Maybe it's because-"
"...Aren't you tired Nessa?"
Vanessa didn't turn around.
Three girls stood behind her. One who had spoke had short black hair while the other two stood silently beside her.
"Tired?" Vanessa replied sweetly. "Of what?"
"Of flirting with every single person you see?" The black haired girl snapped. "It's disgusting."
Arthur shifted awkwardly.
"What…"
"Aren't you aware of the rumours surrounding you?" the girl continued, glaring at Vanessa. "Your nickname?"
It took a moment for Vanessa to turn around.
A small smile tugged at her lips.
"Are you jealous?"
The girl froze as snickers rippled through the crowd. Her face was flushed with embarrassment, her fist clenched with rage. Her eyes began to flicker green and Ester immediately felt the air around her shift slightly..
Vanessa let go of Arthur's arm and lazily flicked her hand.
"...Let's not."
Immediately, the girl jerked backwards, shuddering. The pressure Ester felt vanished just as quickly as it came. Confusion flooded the girl's face as she stared at her trembling hands.
One of her friends quickly grabbed her shoulder, slowly calming her down. The girl reluctantly steadied herself.
All the aggression and anger she had expressed was now replaced with something else. Something involuntary.
"...I don't understand…" Her eyebrows narrowed as mumbled to herself. She glanced at Vanessa before her expression softened slightly as she looked at Arthur. "Why do it?"
Ester wondered what she meant.
"Why not?" Vanessa responded.
The girl paused when she heard this. Maybe she wanted to say more but nothing came out of her mouth.
The crowd suddenly erupted into cheers.
Lucius descended from the sky.
"Show off…" Vanessa snorted.
The crowd surged forward as Lucius landed. When Ester looked back Vanessa's arms were already around Arthur again. As if nothing had happened. The girls lost in the audience.
Arthur stared at her for a moment too long.
"What did you do to her?" His voice low.
Vanessa hummed dismissively.
"Flo manipulation."
She tilted her head slightly.
"More specifically….hers."
They all stared at her.
"Relax." Vanessa raised both hands lazily. "She'll be fine."
Ester frowned.
"You can manipulate people's Flo?"
Vanessa shrugged.
"Basically."
"That's possible?" Arthur asked.
"Yeah..." she replied while watching Lucius land near the centre of the field. "But it's different being a Pure Synchrite."
Then she looked back at Arthur.
"What about you?"
"...I wasn't a Synchrite."
Saphy's eyes widened.
Vanessa simply hummed.
Arthur cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Why?"
She shrugged again, suddenly looking oddly distant.
"I wanted to see if there's a correlation…"
"Hey Arthur!"
Lucius shouted from across the field, walking towards them.
Arthur perked up immediately.
"Yeah?!"
"Where is he?!"
"How should I know?!" Arthur yelled back.
Lucius groaned dramatically.
"Maybe the kid ran away!"
The voice echoed from somewhere behind the crowd, causing people to burst into laughter.
Saphy quickly covered her mouth, stifling a snicker.
"They're coming."
The voice spoke directly behind them, startling Ester.
"Stop...doing that!" Ester snapped between shaky breaths.
Se'raf stood there fully dressed, amusement flickering in their eyes.
"No," they replied simply before turning toward the entrance of the HoS fields.
Three figures stepped into view.
Ezekiel yawned lazily while scratching his stomach, his headband now over the bandage wrapped on his head.. Kris walked beside him with a candied stick hanging from his mouth, one hand buried in his pocket, his hair still in a pony tail. Instructor Burnad escorted them both forward.
The crowd immediately exploded into cheers and chants as they approached Lucius.
"Why would he challenge him…" Vanessa murmured. "Makes no sense."
"It doesn't have to make sense." Saphy said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "But I'm kinda getting excited..."
Ester found herself smiling too.
Vanessa just huffed.
"Okay Students!" Burnad barked, the noise around the field slowly dying down.
He sighed, scratching the back of his head.
"For some reason, Instructor Markos has arranged a bout between Starless Lucius and Starless Ezekiel."
His gaze shifted toward the two boys, lingering on Ezekiel for a second longer before snapping back to the crowd.
"...Who even-"
Vanessa raised her hand proudly.
Burnad just rubbed his temple.
He exhaled before turning toward Lucius, who was staring absent-mindedly into the sky.
Burnad said nothing, but his demeanour changed.
Lucius immediately turned toward him.
"I've been ready."
Ester blinked.
"…Huh..?"
Burnad looked toward Ezekiel.
"Ezekiel. Are you ready?"
Ezekiel burped, yawned, then stretched all at once.
The crowd stared at him in confused silence as he causally warmed up.
Finally, he looked at Lucius before grinning at Burnad.
"I'm ready."
Burnad froze briefly before patting Ezekiel's back hard enough to nearly knock him over.
"Hmph… Alright."
He turned toward the crowd.
"Everyone. Make space."
Immediately, the field erupted into movement. Cheers, laughter, and mocking comments toward Ezekiel spread through the crowd as people backed away.
Ester watched Burnad instruct the two fighters.
Lucius looked distant.
Ezekiel looked relaxed.
Even Kris didn't seem remotely worried.
"...Can he actually win?" Ester asked quietly.
Se'raf looked at her as if she'd asked something stupid.
"This isn't a contest," they replied flatly.
Ester grimaced.
"Then why does he seem so…"
"Nonchalant?" Arthur offered. "Maybe he actually found a way."
Se'raf narrowed their eyes at him.
"There is nothing he can do," they said bluntly. "He is outclassed."
Ester noticed Saphy inhale deeply.
"YOU CAN DO IT ZEEK!"
Everyone winced.
"So loud…" Vanessa muttered.
Kris, Ezekiel, and Lucius all turned toward them.
Ezekiel immediately broke into a grin and started waving enthusiastically. He quickly said something to Burnad, who reluctantly nodded.
The three made their way over.
Ezekiel stopped in front of them, grin still plastered across his face.
He placed both hands dramatically over his chest.
"You believe in me, Saphy?" he asked innocently.
She kicked him in the shin
"I meant you can survive if you actually try."
Then she turned toward Lucius.
"You better not let him die."
Lucius folded his arms, chuckling softly.
"What? Like last time?"
Kris immediately snickered.
Ezekiel shot him a filthy look and he stopped instantly.
Ezekiel sighed.
"All I'll say is…"
He looked at all of them.
"I'm going to put on a show."
Then he turned toward Lucius.
Lucius said nothing.
"ARE YOU BOTH READY?!" Burnad shouted.
Ezekiel threw a thumbs up into the air while Lucius lazily gestured in response.
Burnad's voice cut through the field.
"Positions."
Ezekiel rolled his shoulders once before turning away.
"Wish me luck."
Saphy and Arthur immediately wished him luck while Ester nervously clasped her hands together.
She glanced toward Kris.
He was staring at Lucius walking away, taking an oddly shaky breath.
The field stretched wide as the two fighters walked in opposite directions.
A cloud began to darken overhead.
Ezekiel stopped first, turning on his heel. He slapped both hands against his face, loosening himself up.
Lucius slowly tapped his foot while staring up at the sounds of thunder rumbling.
Burnad stepped forward.
"The fight will stop when I deem it over or one side concedes."
Another crack of thunder echoed above.
"Begin on my signal."
Ester realised she wasn't breathing.
Neither was anyone else.
The entire crowd had fallen into a tense hush.
Ezekiel exhaled slowly.
Lucius simply stood there.
One second.
Two.
Three.
"BEGIN!"