NOVEL WEB CHAPTER 72: Factions
Rebecca and Trevor had similar thoughts as they stared at the new student with unmasked anger, their eyes burning with disbelief.
A little farther away, the boy who had tried to help Lian at the beginning watched the scene with an ironic smile. Sorry, kid… I tried to help you, but mentioning the headmaster so lightly… His thoughts laced with pity.
Lian tilted his head slightly, observing the three with a mix of confusion and curiosity.
The tension in the air was palpable, but he was not intimidated. On the contrary, his calm and thoughtful attitude almost seemed out of place with the frenetic energy surrounding him, like a still lake amidst a raging wind.
So the headmaster is such an important figure that it makes them react like this? He seemed so friendly… he thought, analyzing the situation, his mind piecing together the puzzle of their reactions.
The three boys in front of him emanated a very powerful aura. They were Bronze 5. Despite this, Lian did not think he would lose in a fight against them; in fact, he felt a quiet confidence stirring within him.
"It does not matter… why do you not explain the situation a bit? As I said, I am new. Who are you, and why are the seats reserved?" Lian's tone was direct as the curiosity of the situation captured him, his voice steady and inquisitive.
The three looked at him with thoughtful gazes. Each of them was thinking something different, trying to better assess the boy in front of them, their eyes weighing his every word and movement.
Lian's appearance was clean, his gaze resolute. Although he was weaker than them, he did not act scared, nor was he arrogant, his presence a balance of humility and strength.
Trevor was the first to recover, crossing his arms with an expression of interest. "Alright, it does not matter. I am Trevor, and as I told you before, I am the leader of the Red Dragon faction, the best in the academy!" His voice brimming with pride.
"Hey, why are you bragging like that in front of us? Do you want a beating?" Christopher roared with anger as he stepped forward, positioning himself directly in front of Trevor. "Do not listen to what he says. Join us, the Black Tortoise. We are the true rulers of the academy. Everyone bows before us."
Rebecca shook her head, her blonde hair moving lightly as a sigh left her lips. "Do not let their words sway you, Lian. The Red Dragons are just a bunch of hotheads who think they can solve everything with their fists, while the Black Tortoise are self-important guys who think the world revolves around them. In a way, they are very similar." Her voice sharp with disdain.
Rebecca's eyes were fixed on Lian, ignoring the glares and curses the two were throwing her way, her focus unwavering.
"I am not asking you to join us, the Silver Phoenix. Judging by your demeanor, it is a given that you will choose our faction." She added with a sly smirk. She knew how to capture hearts, her charm a calculated weapon.
Nothing special… Lian thought, returning the girl's gaze. Rebecca was pretty, sure, but she could not compete with Sera's beauty. Lian still remembered her long, silky red hair and her arrogant gaze as she called him "peasant" or "frog", a memory that stirred both irritation and nostalgia.
Moreover, she could not even compare to Seline's wonderful green eyes… Lian still remembered when she had approached him to ask about his meditation secrets. Those eyes were unforgettable. Also, she was soft… a fleeting thought that warmed his cheeks.
Lian's cheeks immediately turned red as he thought about Seline's chest, unconsciously lowering his gaze to Rebecca's flat chest, a fleeting glance he hoped went unnoticed.
Fortunately, Rebecca was too caught up in her role as the cunning fox to notice Lian's indecent thoughts about her figure.
"I understand," he said finally, his tone not revealing too much interest. "But I do not know anything about the academy; I cannot make a decision right now. So for now, I refuse all your offers." his voice firm yet polite.
Before any of the three could respond, a loud boom echoed from one of the rings in the center of the arena. The crowd erupted in enthusiastic shouts, drawing everyone's attention, the air vibrating with excitement. Lian turned instinctively, his eyes caught by the absence of movement on one of the rings, the scene frozen in triumph.
One student had his foot on the chest of another boy, who was lying on the ground, exhausted and breathing heavily. He had won the duel, and with it, honor and glory, a moment of victory bathed in the crowd's cheers.
There were several reasons why a student might participate in a duel in the arena. For personal reasons, for example, or because of a bet. Other times, it was just for the glory of being at the top, or to earn as much as possible with a series of perfect victories.
"Pathetic-" Christopher said with a disdainful look. "All this excitement just for a fight between Bronze 2s." His voice dripping with scorn.
"Why do you have to insult them? Were you not like them once?" Rebecca responded with anger, her eyes flashing with defiance.
"How about you stop wasting time? We are here to bet on who will win among the most promising members of our factions. Are you ready to lose all your belongings?" Christopher's tone challenging and smug.
Lian did not listen to anything. His gaze was fixed on the boy receiving the crowd's praise and acclaim. I want to participate! he thought with excitement, ignoring what the three were saying. He did not care about them playing at being leaders of nothing, his focus consumed by the thrill of the arena.
"Guys-" Lian interrupted the three's chatter, drawing attention back to himself, his voice cutting through their banter like a blade.