novelraw Chapter 157: It’s Time
Chapter 157: It’s Time
***
Back In The Present
The combat hall echoed with cracks of Divinity barriers resetting, the low rumble of chatter, and the scuffing of boots on the polished arena floor.
John, the Inquisitor, stood alone in the center circle, calmly adjusting his glasses.
While watching the students, he combed back his short black hair, straightened the collar of his dark gray combat uniform, and tugged his sleeves into perfect lines.
The moment he was done, the doors creaked open behind him.
A group walked in, noisy and far too self-assured, especially for a late group.
It was Ignotus, his House, and his cohort... so that was almost immediately accepted.
’Oh.’
John paused just enough for irritation to spark.
It was the first time Ignotus had attended his class since that one mandatory day. He had skipped every single session after, even though the man clearly needed structure.
But John said nothing. He simply inhaled, exhaled, and resumed his lecture:
"Runebearers are not martial artists."
The students quieted.
"We do not follow the ’Way of the Sword,’ nor any of those flowery philosophies you children like quoting, especially not when most of them are from bedtime stories."
He paced slowly with his hands behind his back.
"Being decent with a sword feels nice, I’m sure. It’s very good too. But being ’good’ at using your Runes is better. You are Runebearers. Always remember that as you seek your fighting styles. Many of you, it seems... have already lost sight of that."
A few students lowered their eyes guiltily.
Ignotus didn’t of course; rather, he bluntly nodded as if agreeing, making John’s eyebrow twitch.
"It seems that we need a reminder."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small spherical item.
With a click, the orb lit up, casting a shimmering leaderboard above the entire hall.
Once eyes were laid upon it, gasps rippled through the students, and for good reason.
—
Lykos — Rank 1
Merlin — Rank 2
Ulv — Rank 3 (tied)
Aurelia — Rank 3 (tied)
Gaia — Rank 4
...
...
—
And far down the list...
Somewhere in the middle...
—
Ignotus — Rank 31
—
All S-level attributes, but his attendance had dragged him down, averaging a miserable C.
John expected Ignotus to wince, or panic, or maybe even show the slightest shame. He didn’t. Instead, John watched in disbelief as Gaia hurried to Ignotus’s side, clasped his hand, and whispered something reassuring.
"It doesn’t matter. These rankings mean nothing."
Ignotus gave a slow nod as if to say, "I know," and John found himself feeling much like Lothar, nearly grinding his teeth.
What irritated him wasn’t just the warm way Gaia comforted Ignotus. It was the rings. Those matching rings.
’Married!’
Ignotus and Gaia were married.
Who the Hell was he to marry before his teacher?!
’I’m still searching for someone!’
Indeed, that was the main reason...
’Am I not handsome?!’
The man was envious.
Envious enough that his once serious and calm personality was absolutely destroyed.
He wasn’t the only one to react, however. The students around them noticed too, and jealousy spread through the hall. Whispering and staring, envy hanging off every word.
"Why him?"
"How did Ignotus get her?"
"Why is he popular?"
"He doesn’t even come to class!"
John quickly shook it off, though, and cleared his throat.
"Before we continue, there’s something else."
He looked directly at Ignotus.
"You... are the first year’s Stellae."
***
Ignotus looked down.
’Stellae.’
He knew the title, just not like this.
In his past life, he thought Stellae was simply a bragging-rights title for whoever topped the Academy leaderboards by doing and saying the right things—the most popular, the star, the favorite.
Ignotus hadn’t gotten close to obtaining it, of course; he wasn’t even in the damned Academy in the first place!
Yet somehow, after regressing...
He had become a Stellae without knowing.
"I don’t have time for this..."
Yet he didn’t even want the title.
Being popular was one more chore in a schedule full of chores. He didn’t need another label, expectation, or thread to take care of... his hands were full already.
Besides, he was sure the title held a lot more weight than simply being a noble’s bragging right, and he was damned sure that it was far from something he wanted to be dealing with.
’Hm.’
Ignotus looked back at Gaia.
She had revealed his apparent popularity to him just now, something that he didn’t realize yet. Meanwhile, and apparently, the students weren’t done either.
Because someone jogged up to him.
A familiar someone.
Oliver of House Ash, son of Mark.
He was the brother of the kid whose arm Ignotus had cut off. The magma kid from the first Colosseum Trial, the one Ignotus had absolutely demolished at every turn.
"H-how did you find love so early?"
It seemed he had turned over a new leaf.
Ignotus blinked at him.
’Ah.’
That question.
He didn’t marry Gaia for love; he married her for land, and that made him, essentially... a land digger. Ignotus would never say that out loud, though. Gaia would cry herself to death.
So, with no options coming to mind, he nodded wisely and did what he could best:
"It comes naturally; just do your thing."
Act, or in this case, specifically, it was to talk... Ignotus was great at that, the kid’s eyes sparkling with hope being evidence enough.
"Hm, yes..."
Seeing his reaction, Ignotus continued, smiling helpfully.
"As a Wise Fool once said, love is like the... act of killing someone. If you have to force it, you’re probably leaving—"
"Already stop right there."
John cut in immediately and resumed class at once.
He knew where Ignotus’s advice was going and didn’t want them to have any part in it.
With that, the students moved to the arena for sparring drills. Except for Ignotus and his people, they simply sat in the stands in lotus positions.
They completely ignored the training while discussing among themselves, talking about their own abilities, understanding each other’s improvements, and so on.
It was obviously in preparation for a big event.
John pretended not to notice, continuing to do his own thing.
Hours passed, and the lesson was over before they knew it...
’It’s time.’
Indeed, they were to begin.