Back at the academy grounds, around the main corner, a group of kids were laughing.
Commoners knelt on the ground, acting as chairs. The ones sitting on them were noble children.
One noble stretched his legs across two commoners like a footrest. Another noble rested an elbow on a commoner's head while chatting. The commoners did not move or even speak. They only stared at the ground.
The leader of the group had red hair. His name was Ronan, the duke's son of the Sauvageot family.
He sat on top of a commoner and relaxed his legs on another like a foot chair. His friends laughed and conversed around him, but Ronan felt bored.
"Aaaah." He sighed deeply.
Everyone flinched.
One of his comrades spoke. Long black hair. Unsettling purple eyes. Elric, the count's son of the Duchamp family.
"What's wrong?" Elric asked. "Is something bothering you?"
Ronan folded his arms and looked away. Watching everyone move freely made his mood worse. This institute was boring for him. Everyone below him praised him and respected him. He was looking for someone to challenge. Someone interesting.
Of course, that did not include Zack Vessara.
Elric leaned closer. "Is it Zack again?"
"No." Ronan clicked his tongue. "That fool is not worth my time."
"Then what?"
Ronan did not answer.
Two girls walked past the group. They whispered to each other.
"Hey, did you see that white hair guy?"
"You mean the commoner? He was about to jump through the window. He was leaning on it."
"Pff. Is he planning to die?"
"Well, he should die somewhere else. We don't want to see something like that in this academy."
The girls laughed and slowly walked away.
Ronan's ears caught every word. He knew who they were talking about, a slow grin spread across his face. He showed his full teeth.
"That bastard Adam wants to end his life, huh?"
Elric smiled, at least Ronan's mood had improved after hearing Adam's name, but why did such an insignificant person matter so much to him?
"Hey, Elric."
"Yes?"
"Where is that other servant?"
"I am here!" A guy with black hair and deep green eyes stepped forward. "If you want, I can bring Adam here myself."
Elric stared at the boy. Unlike the other commoners in the academy, this one was a bit special. He had a good seal of constellation Ignis, a combat trait class, and he was also staying at the commoners' residence due to his fallen family from Langley. He was a baron's son.
"Right, Kaida." Ronan stood up from the commoner's back and stretched his arms. "You can go bring out that guy. The last time I beat him up, he was glaring at me despite the pain." He pointed a finger at Kaida's chest. "Make sure you do not do anything to him."
Kaida nodded quickly. "Yes, I promise. Leave it to me."
————-
Adam sat cross legged in his dorm room.
Mana swirled around him, spreading through the space and lifting every object up, Books floated, the bed frame hovered, a chair spun slowly in midair, everything defied gravity.
He was deep in meditation. His seal began to glow.
The Breathing method was called 'Astra Convergence Method'. It meant drawing the power of stars into oneself.
Right now, Adam pulled all the surrounding mana and spread it around, focusing every drop of energy into his seal.
Then he visualized the constellation. The lines on his arm, shaped like a coiled snake, started glowing red.
Once the mana gathered inside, he drew the energy inward and let it flow through his veins and bones.
A warm sensation spread through his body, like sitting in a hot bath after freezing in the snow.
Bathomen watched from the corner of the room, his tiny arms folded.
[This brat sure has an impatient spirit. I guess I should wait and see how he succeeds.] He smiled wickedly. [Actually, no. I pray he fails and dies in the process. That way, his body will be mine.]
Bam!
The dorm door swung open wide. Bathomen turned and saw a strange kid walk in with a deep frown on his face. A dorm roommate, probably.
[Pff. What is this? An enemy in the middle of meditation? How dramatic.]
"Hey, bastard!" Kaida yelled, staring at Adam.
He paused. Since when did Adam know about meditation? His frown deepened.
"Don't tell me… did he steal my—"
Adam exhaled slowly and all the mana dispersed. The floating furniture and objects fell back to the ground with a series of thuds and clatters. He opened his eyes.
Kaida stomped toward him. "Did you steal my formula to meditate? Did I not tell you not to touch my things? Those were personally given to me by Ronan!"
Bathomen watched the ruckus and grinned. He floated toward Adam's shoulder.
[ Well? Are you going to do something about this, or do you need my help? Just give me this damn body, and I promise I will immediately get rid of this mortal. One punch. Maybe half a punch.]
"Ah, shut up."
Adam got up from the ground and flicked Bathomen away with his finger.
[You brat!]
Kaida's face twisted. "Did you just talk back to me?"
Adam paused. Strangely, Kaida could not see Bathomen but that did not matter right now. This guy was one of the people who made his life miserable.
"Answer me, you bastard!" Kaida could not bear the silent treatment.
"Stop shouting, you fool."
"Ah?" Kaida laughed and covered his face.
"Should I punish you like last time? You know the difference in power between us, right? You worthless piece of shit. You are not even a complete Primus."
He stepped back. His seal began to glow and then burst into flames.
"Let me remind you the difference between a no name seal and a higher constellation seal!" He raised his hand. A massive spear made of lava formed above his palm. Droplets of molten rock dripped onto the ground and melted through the wooden floor. "Inferno Punto—"
Adam's hand was already on Kaida's face.
He slammed him down onto the ground before he could finish the incantation.
Bathomen's mouth dropped open.
[What?]
"You think I would let you finish using your skill?" Adam said.
Kaida struggled beneath him. "You bastard!"
"Clench your fist, Kaida."
Adam raised his fist and began punching.
Each punch was enhanced with mana. The first blow split Kaida's lip.
The second knocked out a tooth.
The third left blood splattered across the floor.