After the tourney of winter, everyone returned to their respective routines and classes. Especially Algernon who kept up his very careful distance from Lucy while discreetly monitoring her. Although this time it was all very intentional as he kept remembering back to his father's words and the memory of their first meeting. He had to keep more vigilant, to remember the danger she was in if he wasn't cautious, but seeing her every day was quickly depleting all of his already thin patience.
And when his endurance would waver, Lucy would catch his eyes. And they would make her recall the tourney's ball and how he publicly shammed her into leaving. And it swelled her feeling of rejection too an almost excruciating extent.
Both of their thoughts kept them so fully distracted that the teacher's voice became ambient noises to their inner worries.
"Class, watch closely," Punditwood said, holding out his palm for all to see. "When you concentrate on synthesizing light energy you have to go into a state of complete focus." A ball of sizzling light formed in the hands of the professor, the size of a head and with his control, it began to compress, shrinking to the size of a large marble, while the power it radiated grew exceptionally.
"By consolidating the energy into a smaller state it forces a charge from the particles expelling off each other, magnifying the power significantly. Though synthesizing like this does take quite a bit of practice and concentration, it can be a great advantage in battle." Punditwood aimed the small ball of light at a statue he had set up in class for demonstrations. The magic exploded the stone, shattering it to pieces. "And a lot more dangerous."
"Of course, it's not as easy as it looks," Punditwood stated. "It's like threading together every channel of energy into one, and very hard to perfect, but by all means, I welcome you to try." He looked at class for volunteers, specifically one sweet girl who had seemed rather down on herself lately, but to his disappointment, it was Wilham who shot up from his seat.
Punditwood sighed and had no choice but to call the boy to the front. Wilham tried to form the ball in his hands but all he was producing was a small ray of light energy that shifted erratically in intensity.
"Concentrate Wilham," Punditwood said. "Not on supplying the energy but letting the energy bind."
Wilham looked at his palm but nothing formed but a throbbing vein in his temple. He grew frustrated and a beam of light energy from his hand burnt the top end of his bangs, creating a crack in the stone ceiling as dust fell on his head.
"He is a true idiot." Jasper rightfully noted. "And like all true idiots, he never knows when to quit."
Lucy didn't respond as her head was still in her thoughts. This was not the first time Jasper noticed Lucy downcast over the last few days, but this was the first time he thought of a way to improve it.
"Lucy," Jasper said, nudging her side. "Watch this." Jasper took his pen and held it between his center fingers and palm. He concentrated his magic on hitting the flat bottom of the pen to fling it across the room, sharp end first, to skewer Wilham in his butt.
"Ow!" Wilham yelped, rubbing his behind. "Who did that?" He eyed his classmates and his gaze landed on Jasper looking as inconspicuously guilty as he could.
"Fenney!" Wilham yelled, eyes of rage locked onto him. "Your ass is mine!" He said running down the row of desks to get to Jasper who immediately got up from his seat to run in the opposite direction.
"No, we switch off," Jasper replied, jumping over desks and students to escape his wrath. "This time I get to have yours."
"Not with the hole you just put in it!" Wilham yelled, chasing him still.
"No, just the one already in it." Jasper joked back with a wink.
The entire class laughed, including Lucy.
Wilham took a pen off of one of the student's desks and flung it at Jasper like he did to him but missed.
"If either one of you hit me I'm ripping you both a new hole." Pecilia threatened as the pen had passed just next to her head.
"Is that a promise?" Wilham asked, stopping his attack on Jasper to flirt. Jasper took the opportunity to get his original pen back and launch it at him again.
"Ow!" Wilham cried, while rubbing his sore butt furiously. "How did you manage to get it in the same exact spot!"
The entire class laughed, even Pecilia.
Punditwood chuckled along. The professor knew he should stop it but he rather enjoyed the antics sometimes too.
Jasper took the opportunity to look over at Lucy and was glad to see her laughing. He also noticed the only other person in class who wasn't smiling or laughing as Algernon stared at Lucy too, but with a detached expression. Jasper wondered just what that look meant, but didn't have long to ponder as Wilham tried to retaliate with another attack.
Jasper plunged out of the way at the last second but it hit Punditwood instead.
The professor glared at where the pen had landed at his feet and the stain it left on his best white shirt.
"Oh shit." Wilham and Jasper said at the same time.
Punditwood formed a small ball of light magic in both palms and dispatched the energy at the boys. Jasper was swift and bright enough to put up a defense field though he was still slammed back on his ass.
Wilham didn't think to create one and flew until his back hit the back wall.
"Now then back to today's lessons." Punditwood declared, adjusting his collar. Jasper strolled back to his seat, and everyone left Wilham at the back of the classroom moaning from his injuries.
After class Jasper cornered Lucy.
"Lucy, what's wrong?" He asked when no one was around to hear it.
"Oh, it's nothing," Lucy said, feeling that voicing her concerns would only make her more insecure.
"Like nothing you want to tell me, or nothing like when girls say I'm fine and they're really not?" Jasper asked.
"The first one."
"Alright," Jasper said. "But if you want me to pretend to listen and nod my head and agree with everything you say just let me know."
Lucy released an honest laugh. "How do you know so much about women already?"
"I mean it's an interest of mine," Jasper replied. "As is making sure my friends are happy." He said, smiling at Lucy.
Lucy smiled too but when she noticed Algernon behind his shoulder it's fullness waned.
"Hey," Jasper said, noticing her drooping demeanor, "I think there's something I could do to cheer you up tonight."
Lucy raised an eyebrow questioning the implication behind his fake flirtatious tone.
"Not that." Jasper denied, rolling his eyes. "Plus you're not my type."
"Of course, I'm not," Lucy said. "You're too much a masochist for me to be your type."
Jasper only winked at her incrimination.
"You're not really thinking of bringing her to the party tonight are you?" Pecilia chided Jasper, after overhearing their conversation.
"Sure I am," Jasper declared, smiling back at her scathing look. "Besides what's the good in her sulking around alone by herself?"
Pecilia caught sight of Algernon self-isolating brooding off in the distance. "You've got a point."
"Another party!" Freya cheered, brushing past her friend to be the first in the cafeteria. "I hope this one will have better food," She sang, skipping merrily forward to the sweet-smelling honey-glazed croissant rolls. On her way, Freya saw the boy she had been most often seen with at parties and smiled at him, expecting more than a few luscious treats in store. Renzan in turn looked rather flustered and averted his gaze.
"I wonder what's got her so caught up in that boy," Jasper said, knowing Renzan was not one for conversation or much else really.
"My guess is he must be exceptionally large." Pecilia stated, watching Freya beam up at him.
Lucy nodded in agreement because nothing else about him stood out as exceptional, besides perhaps being too modest.
"What kind of party is it?" Lucy asked Jasper.
"A more intimate gathering." He divulged, "Hosted by the students and their unique take on the day the god of destruction destroyed the plague of Emora."
"In what sense of a unique take?" Lucy asked.
Jasper contemplated telling her but decided against it. "You'll just have to see once we get there."
"Is it anything like the welcoming party?" Lucy asked, remembering how the temple of creation had basically been converted into a sex lounge.
Jasper pursed his lips. "It's worse." He admitted, but heeding the look of distress that passed Lucy's face added, "But I promise we will be long gone before the stripping portion."
"What stripping portion?" Lucy asked, suddenly very concerned.
Jasper smirked. "Just get there with Pecilia by the time it starts."
Lucy paused by the door wondering what type of event this was going to be when Luke came upon her after overhearing the tail-end of their conversation.
"Oh, you're going to tonight's festivities!" Luke rejoiced to his little commander.
"Should I?" Lucy asked, still concerned.
Luke contemplated the potential problems as he felt a brisk gust of cold air rush his spine. He didn't need to turn around to know it was Algernon's glare on his back. "Most definitely you should come! It'll be so much more entertaining that way." He tactfully announced loud enough for Algernon to hear, and inwardly added, for me.
Lucy wondered the meaning behind Luke's ominous tone as Cecil brushed past her.
As always, the artifact user was habitually annoyed or tired, or more likely both. Everything exhausted Cecil. This school, this country, this weapon that weighed down his ear so heavily he had to constantly rest his head on his desk. Cecil wished, more times than he could count, to disappear into his own world where he could sleep his life away. But Boyce would find him no matter where he went and scream and torture him relentlessly into insanity, where he then would be crazy enough to take on the mantle of his artifact. So he accepted his fate, and went about doing the minimal amount possible needed. His droopy eyes were also a side effect to his position, which always looked like he was about to fall asleep with his next blink. That was until his eyes arrived on Freya, who was in the middle of emptying an entire tray of honey croissants onto her plate. They immediately alit with burning fury. "Stop that mouse!" Cecil screamed, sprinting over.
Freya grabbed one more pastry before scurrying away, but Cecil was hot on her tail.
"If you're a human act like one!" Cecil yelled in midst of his pursuit, while Freya maneuvered agilely between people and tables.
"What's up with him and mice?" Lucy asked with her eyebrows furrowed in concern for Freya, and Cecil for that matter.
"Well when your nickname is the blood lion, what can you expect?" Luke offered back without knowing the real answer either as they watched Freya expertly twist away from Cecil to escape behind a bench and somehow not lose a single croissant.
Cecil jumped up onto the table, scattering all the dishes of food as he unlocked the artifact from his ear.
"There's only one way to rid pests like you." Cecil loomed, his eyes glowing a dangerous hazel. Freya shivered. Luke was about to intervene as things took a dire turn, but before he could take one step in defense of the girl, Cecil lunged at Freya. While he was mid-air, Freya saw the look of death in his eyes. She knew this was the circle of life. The food chain that ruled over the world, and she would be eaten by the bigger creature as was the way of nature.
Before Cecil could reach her he was grabbed out of the air by the back of his collar.
"No bullying the freshmen!" Rowland yelled at Cecil, like a head dog trained to stop the younger pups from fighting. "And leave some food for everyone else!" Rowland then scolded Freya. "Or I'll skin you both alive!" Freya shrank into her shoulders, sensing an even more dangerous predator in Rowland.
"Now you're bullying the freshmen," Luke sighed, apprehensively observing the concerning scene.
One of the professors passing by overheard the commotion and stepped inside to see Rowland holding Cecil up by the scruff of the neck. The teacher began reprimanding Rowland for picking on the underclassmen, to which he got so flustered and embarrassed he couldn't plead his case and just accepted the castigation.
"Lucy!" Freya called, running to hide behind her.
Cecil escaped Rowland's grip with the professor's involvement and marched towards Freya with eyes of murderous intent. Just from standing within the vicinity of Cecil's anger, the cuffs on Luke's wrists started to vibrate from the danger they sensed.
Cecil grabbed Lucy's shoulder to move her aside, but from behind her peered black eyes slanted in the most menacing expression he ever beheld.
Luke turned around to witness the same look on Algernon's face. The cuffs vibrated even more frantically with the promised death of Algernon's gaze if Cecil's hand remained on Lucy any longer.
Cecil reacted instinctively, still sore from his last fight with Algernon, and pulled back. He walked away, but with one more glare at Freya.
Lucy questioned why Cecil had left so abruptly and turned around to see Algernon behind her.
Now she wanted to hide behind Freya.
"Algernon," Luke greeted, trying to diffuse the awkwardness. "It's rare for you to be in the cafeteria."
Algernon didn't respond as he stared a little too long at Lucy.
"Enough, you sad little cold boy," Pecilia grunted, dragging Algernon away by his ear before he could ogle Lucy any longer.
Lucy silently thanked Pecilia as her heart rate quieted the farther Algernon got hauled away.
"The food chain is scary," Freya remarked. She wondered if that seemed accurate with Pecilia at the top but she knew the food chain at least started with her eating these croissants. She worked it out in her head as something like,
Croissants<Freya< Cecil<Rowland<Algernon<Pecilia?
Freya's comment made Luke imagine his own food chain but in his mind, the diagram went,
Mouse<cat<dog<man<woman.