While the nobles stare at Theo and his friends, he glances at the group dressed in black and gold luxurious cloths before turning his attention back to Sarah, with a curious expression. "Why do you hate them so much?"
"Because they're despicable," she responds quickly. "Those guys are the worst kind of vermin. Remember what I said about that one's family?" She points to Lorien, who returns to Theo's side. "The Dalemmar are so repulsive they make the Caelis look like saints!" Lorien laughs and nods. "She's right, those guys have quite the reputation."
A hostile gleam flashes in Sarah's beautiful eyes. "Wanna know the worst part?" When Theo and Lorien exchange curious glances, she quickly continues. "The Dalemmar and their disgusting allies have tried to undermine the Lyskarra family for generations, conspiring and attacking them openly, yet they send their young members here to become powerful Dragon Riders with the biggest fake smile ever!"
Theo doesn't understand anything about politics beyond the little that Eruina told him in recent days, but Lorien stares at Sarah with a thoughtful expression. "From what I know, the Academy isn't owned by the Lyskarra family anymore but is rather the property of the Four Kingdoms. Isn't it like that to prevent internal noble conflicts from weakening the Empire's overall power?"
"Fuck the Emperor and his troops!" Sarah exclaims, and several nobles shoot her disapproving looks, but she doesn't back down. "The Academy only remains effective thanks to Duke Lyskarra and his supporters, so his enemies shouldn't be allowed to simply walk through the front gates like that; it's so damn disrespectful."
Lorien just stares at Sarah with a cold expression, but Theo can't help smiling as he sees that fire in her eyes, which he particularly likes more and more. She notices Theo's gaze and expression, which makes her cheeks blush a little. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You admire this Duke Lyskarra and his family, don't you?" Theo asks in a curious tone, and Sarah smiles casually. "Naturally. It was the Lyskarra who built the Academy, and I always dreamed of being part of it, learning from all the legendary professors and becoming a powerful Witch."
Theo can see the passion in Sarah's eyes as she speaks, and without realizing, he ends up smiling because of how beautiful she looks all determined that way. She clearly notices his gaze, which makes her blush even more. "Are you going to keep looking at me like that forever?"
"If you keep being this cute." He responds with a teasing smile, and Sarah smiles too, but Lorien rolls his eyes. "Stop flirting, this isn't the time for that. Our turn in the arena could be any moment now, let's focus, ok?"
Theo looks ahead and notices the two competitors leaving the Arena, leaving them next in line. But before they are called by the Professors, Lorien notices something. "Looks like the Dalemmar are already preparing their move too…"
On the other side of the street, a few members of the black and gold group are talking to the people in front of them in line, getting them to switch places while other members begin pushing through the crowd of nobles.
"Good," Sarah smiles confidently. "If they want to face us so badly, we'll humiliate them in front of everyone again; it's what they deserve." She seems confident, but Theo focuses on the other members pushing through the crowd. "There's something strange over there…"
The trio looks in that direction and sees the nobles stepping aside from the black and gold men with surprised and slightly frightened expressions, revealing a massive guy, 2.5 meters tall and very muscular, also wearing black clothes.
"A fucking giant?" Lorien exclaims, impressed, and Sarah nods. "Something like that. That guy must be from House Durnek, close allies of the Dalemmar; and they're known for having an 'intimate' relationship with a small tribe of giants from the Eastern Frontier. The goal was, obviously, to produce individuals with superior physical abilities."
"Looks like they succeeded with that," Theo comments, also impressed by the size of the man with the Dalemmar. Sarah turns her attention back to him. "Don't underestimate that guy; he didn't just inherit the giants' incredible strength and physical resistance, but also his human blood makes up for the lack of agility of his less noble ancestors."
"You mean he's strong, tough, and fast?" Lorien asks in a mocking tone and smiles confidently. "Never mind, I can still take him down."
Sarah rolls her eyes and ignores Lorien; meanwhile, the members of House Dalemmar take the half-giant to the front of their line, and no other noble stands in the way. Those behind Theo's group even take steps further back, leaving the group isolated on one side and the giant on the other, accompanied by several Dalemmar.
All the other nobles there think that confrontation looks pretty unfair, including the young-looking professor in luxurious clothes who reappears. "You've already split into rival groups?"
"Let the young ones deal with their matters, Luke," a deep feminine voice rises, and everyone looks to the front of the line on the Dalemmar's side. Who appears is a tall woman with medium black hair, in a long black dress with silver details. She looks to be over thirty years old and has a mature aura, yet her beauty can still rival even that of young ladies.
"Vera?" Luke glances at that woman before staring at the Dalemmar, especially the half-giant, with a disapproving expression. But the woman smiles mischievously at him. "It's not so bad since they'll soon encounter the Academy's own House system, right? I mean, assuming they'll pass the test, of course."
Before he can say anything, Vera also throws an expectant look toward the half-giant with the Dalemmar. "Also, about our big guy here, there's nothing in the rules that prevents him from participating in the tests since his unique 'characteristics' are inherent to his bloodline."
"Hehehehe…" The half-giant starts laughing sinisterly at Theo's group, making Luke frown. Yet, the sharp professor gives a sorry look to the trio. "She's right, it's the rules. One of you will have to face the big guy, or you all back out until someone in line accepts the challenge."
"I'll do it!" Lorien steps forward with his eyes glowing with confidence, but Sarah quickly pulls him by the arm. "Did you forget this is a physical aptitude test only? It's not allowed to use any kind of magic or trick… And I don't think you can take down a half-giant with those delicate… lady-like fists of yours."
Theo holds back a laugh when Sarah mentions Lorien's delicate hands, but the white-haired boy doesn't get upset; he just lets out a soft sigh. "Maybe you're right…"
Sarah turns her gaze to Theo. "I'm in a similar situation. Well, I could take that guy down with body-enhancement magic, but that would also be against the test rules."
"It's fine, I can handle him," Theo says calmly, making Sarah smile. But Lorien throws a concerned look at him. "Big brother? Are you sure you'll be okay?"
Theo smiles and nods to Lorien. "I may not be so smart and skilled in magic like you two, but I know how to handle myself in an unfair fight." He starts walking toward Professor Luke, but Sarah also stops him, getting close to whisper in his ear. "Don't finish the fight too quickly, make that brute regret siding with the Dalemmar, and I'll properly reward you later."
"Oh?" Theo can't help but feel excited with that promise, especially when he smiles at Sarah and she blushes a little, becoming even cuter. "Let me hold it." Sarah also grabs Theo's leather bag, and Lorien shakes his head at her with a disapproving face, but she winks at him teasingly while Theo follows Professor Luke.
"This way," Luke points to a stone circle on the ground in front of his table. The entire place is open, without walls, but with some furniture and tables in front of an improvised wooden arena overlooking the lake. A few meters to the side, the Dalemmar's half-giant friend stands in a similar circle while Professor Vera analyzes his body.
"Stand still," Luke asks and Theo stands in the circle too. He feels a fresh breeze surround his body and gets a bit tense, making Luke laugh. "Don't worry, I'm just checking if your body isn't under the influence of any magic or external substance right now."
Theo wonders if the Professor will notice his flames or Eruina's necklace, but Luke quickly steps back and sits in the chair behind his desk, picking up a scroll and an inked quill. "Alright, it seems everything's fine with you, sir…"
"Theo," he responds, and Luke starts writing things on the scroll. "This is just standard procedure, Theo. I noticed your aura seems pretty dense, but I didn't see any noble house crest on your clothes…"
"Hmm…" Theo stares at Luke with a neutral expression. "It's complicated." Luke stares back at him for a few seconds, but then goes back to writing on the scroll. "That's not really my concern either way, I'm just here to assess whether your physical abilities are good enough for the Academy."
Theo nods in silence, and Luke looks at him again after a few seconds. "About the test, you students often ask why we don't have you lift weights or run around the village… Well, it's because the Academy is a place to create powerful warriors, not athletes."
"Of course," Theo nods, and Luke continues. "Your goal isn't to defeat your opponent, but to show that you have what it takes to handle a direct fight without external tools or magic. Fight well, and both of you might get high marks; Try some clever trick, and I'll mark your name with a big red X."
"Understood," Theo responds in a respectful and calm tone, then Luke approaches him while glancing at the other Professor and the half-giant on the other side. "Just between us, Vera is a good professor, but she has a terrible lack of appreciation for the Academy's rules and an even worse taste for the chaos. She's going to unleash that brute like a mad dog on you, so I hope your confidence means you are strong enough."
"I can handle it," Theo comments calmly, and Luke looks at him with a curious expression. "Alright, anyway, I'll step in if things get too dangerous. We don't want fatal incidents on enrollment day, do we?"
"…" Theo says nothing, after all, just based on the way the half-giant looks at Sarah, Theo can already tell he's the kind of person who doesn't deserve mercy.
Luke signals for Theo to head to the middle of the arena, and he does it while Professor Vera also instructs the half-giant. Their gazes meet for a moment, and Theo notices a strange gleam in the eccentric professor's beautiful black eyes.
While Theo doesn't know what to think of Vera, the half-giant in front of him has a clearly hostile look, making Theo return the look in kind. They stand across from each other at the center of the arena when they hear Vera's voice. "The rules are simple: when one of you stands unconscious, the fight is over."
"Or one of you gives up," Luke comments in a louder tone and shakes his head in disapproval at Vera. "Just say it out loud, raise your hand, or make any gesture that I may consider a sign of surrender. And of course, I can also stop the fight at any moment, so stay alert or be punished accordingly."
"BORING!" Vera shouts loudly. "Let these amazing young men show what they're capable of." Her words make Luke let out a tired sigh. "Alright, boys, on three you start, get ready: one… two…"
"THREE!" Vera exclaims quickly, and Theo sees his opponent, a man massive in every sense, move toward him as fast as lightning. "SHIT!"