Pah!
It was a swift backhand slap with his left.
Westin's head was slapped to the side, turning his gaze back to Ezra.
'Hmm?' Ezra was amazed. Westin could definitely feel the difference in rank yet he was still glaring.
"It seems you didn't get the lesson"
He then remembered. "Oh yes, and I accept your challenge"
Westin's crest shone, and from it, a transparent dome isolated them.
Immediately after…Pah! Pah! Pah! Pah! Pah!
Five slaps landed back to back, so fast the rest could barely
Ptui!
Westin spat blood, but his eyes had grown even fiercer.
Ezra felt annoyed. 'I can't kill him'
He didn't want draw any stupid attention.
'But this boy doesn't seem to want to quit'
The worst thing one could do was to leave an enemy half dead.
The enemies would stand up and then come back, several times more annoying than before.
He learnt this a long time ago.
But in the case where he couldn't put him down for good… 'I'll break that fighting spirit of his'
All the while, Westin glared with red eyes.
Mana coalesced in his right hand in the shape of a ball.
'We'll see if you laugh after this!'
He was going to pay back this humiliation, no matter if the other person had to die!
Ezra looked at the forming attack, yet did nothing.
Once Westin affirmed it was ready, he struck!
"That arrogance will cost you!"
Those behind watched closely as Westin's hand reached Ezra's body. And then…it stopped?
The hand was less than a meter away from Ezra's neck yet couldn't move closer.
The cause… "Hmmph!"
Ezra held his arm in place, looking at the orb of mana curiously.
He'd never seen mana used like such.
Westin grunted like a pregnant woman trying to force his hand closely.
It yielded nothing, and after two minutes of struggle, Westin gave up, the coalesced mana dispersed.
Ezra took that as his cue.
"You seem more incorrigible than a beast, but I'm going to teach a lesson. Make sure to remember it"
"Tsk! What's this bastard going on-
Ezra spoke, "We're on different levels"
Immediately, Ezra flung him upwards with his neck, almost reaching the ceiling before stopping, and then falling.
Westin flailed his limbs in the air, trying to catch something.
While falling, Ezra caught his legs and then…*BAM!*
Smashed the bastard into the ground like he wanted to kill a mosquito with a broom.
The building quivered, and dust covered the place.
Immediately the head office was opened with the Bald man rushing out first.
"What's going on here?!" he hollered. Swiping his hand to blow away the dust disturbing his vision.
It revealed Westin dug deep into the ground, his eyes white with his mouth open.
Other professors came out right after.
The bald man had his mind spinning.
'Westin?' he recognized the student immediately. 'But who could have put him in this state?'
He was flabbergasted, and rightly so.
One of their most promising prospects lay impaled into the ground, it was shocking to say the least.
He didn't think any of their prospects were able to beat Westin to such a level, apparently, he was wrong.
'But why did they take it to such a level?'
The other professors also noticed the spectacle.
"Who? Is that Westin?"
"Seems someone's been holding a grudge"
"Who did this?"
They looked to the four teenagers, who promptly shook their heads.
"Huh? If you didn't then who did"
One of the boys pointed. "He did"
The professors looked to see Ezra dusting his trousers with his back to the wall.
"You there!"
"Hmm?" Ezra raised his head.
The bald man, Mr. Drew identified him immediately, his eyes changed.
"Did you not hear my inquiry?!"
"Can you not stop shouting?" Ezra rubbed his ears again.
Mr. Drew popped a vein, Montera covered her mouth, while the last adjusted his glasses without a change in expression.
At that moment, footsteps echoed as the academy head came into the scene.
A look at Westin and the others gave her a rough scenario.
"Ezra" she called out. "What happened here?"
"I was merely walking when Westin challenged me for no reason. Deeming it childish, I ignored the fool. Unfortunately, I had to accept when he insulted my parents. This is the result of that" he pointed at Westin.
She looked at the other four. "Is this true"
They nod unitarily.
"Then it is settled. Mr. Drew, call for the healers to take Westin away for treatment"
He nodded and walked off.
She looked at Ezra. "You were operating within academic rules, so I have no qualms on Westin's condition"
"However, I cannot say the same about the destroyed floor. Tell me, how do you intend to compensate me for this?"
Ezra frowned. "Compensation is not due here. Should the school have banned duels in front of the head office, this would've never happened, that it didn't simply mean you were prepared for this situation. But if you're hard pressed for compensation even then, take it from Westin, he's the one who lost"
"You're no fun" Elisa grumbled. 'He's not nervous'
Ezra shrugged.
A snap of her finger at the ground fixing itself.
'As expected, they had something prepared'
Ezra thought that with the amount of history the academy had for such a circumstance to not have happened in the past.
He was right.
Still though… 'For it to be Auto repair'
Like its name, it was a spell that had items repair themselves.
But there were a lot of variables involved.
For one, it couldn't just be carved on any item. It had to be something of gold rank or beyond.
Then, the ingredients to make the ink used to write it and finally, making the formation itself was no easy task.
Besides that, Elisa stared down at Ezra.
"I had thought that you were an intermediate rank because of your young age. Who knew I was so wrong?"
She sighed, then clasped her hands together.
"If you're already at Expert rank. Then you'll have no problem joining. So what if you-
"No" Ezra cut her off.
"What?"
"No, I will not be joining, as I assume that that's what you wanted to say. My scholar status suits me perfectly"
"…." She was speechless.
"I wonder what the Emperor will say?"
"If you try to force me, I'll just go to the academy"
"You can't do that!" She was alarmed.
She saw the other four looking at her with weird eyes.
"The rest of you, leave" she turned to her door. "Ezra, come in. Perhaps he can negotiate on this matter"
Without a word, he goes in.
"Sit" she says, back in her chair with a tea cup in her hand.
"Tell me, what exactly are you concerned about in becoming a student? It provides a wealth of opportunities you know"
"It's restrictive," he says. "I don't like that"
"Hmm? How so?"
"Inability to move as I wish"
She blinked in confusion.
"I cannot buy food from the restaurants around as a student"
"Yes" she nods. "That is to make sure the token system is not exploited. Tell me, what would be the use of tokens if students could simply use their money to buy things?"
"That would…" he trailed off.
"Exactly"
"But such things do not affect you. As an Expert, you get to sit within the top ten. There, you will live just as lavishly as you did in the palace. Not to mention, with our training schedules, you might be stepping into the realm of a master in just a few years"
"Hmm" Ezra stayed silent, his thoughts turning round.
"Remember that it was only because I thought you were weak that I accepted your proposal for a scholarship status"
"That is…true" he held his chin.
"What about my outgoings? If I want to travel, can I do so unhindered?"
"Yes. But you'll have to give stipulated time and a promise of return. We wouldn't want any other place to snatch you up"
"Sure" he nodded. "How long will I be here?"
"If you want to graduate right now, we can do so"
"Huh?"
"Any student of Expert rank is eligible to graduate-once your skills have been confirmed of course"
Ezra nodded in contemplation. "Hmm, can you tell me about my brother?"
"Your brother?"
"Triton"
"Ah yes. He graduated just three weeks before you came in"
"What was his rank?"
"He was late Expert rank when he left. Taking first place throughout his years here"
"I see. He must've set records then"
"Yes, he has quite a few. So, have you decided?"
"Almost. One thing, can I keep this as uniform. I like black"
"Of course,"
"Then…I guess I'll be joining the academy"
Her smile was radiant. "Good! I knew you'd make the right choice"
"Thank you"
"I assume you've read the guide book?"
"Yes, I have"
"Then that concludes this matter. I will hand you Westin's crest after you've gone through the trials"
"One more thing" Ezra hurriedly spoke.
"What is it?"
"I'm not going to take the trials. Simply place me at the weakest Expert, I'll find my way from there"
"And there's no way I'll get you to do it?"
"Nope"
She sighed, but didn't pursue the matter any further.
"Now then, shall I brief you on our evaluation system?"
