Chapter 51: A Bitter Taste of Justice
Torian fell hard on the arena and he clutched his thigh where Reynold’s sword had slashed him. He tried to push himself up, but blood was already dripping from the wound and staining the ring’s floor in dark red drops.
Torian face twisted in pain and anger, his cheeks burning red. He had never been humiliated like this in his life, not even in front of the entire academy like this.
Kael also watched from the sidelines, his own expression crumbling into embarrassment as well. His carefully laid plan to use the self-guilt on Reynold did not even work. The other highborn cadets standing close to Kael shifted uneasily, their faces flushed with a mix of shame and rage. Two of their own top representatives for the Quadrant Tournament was taken downed by a lowborn scrub. This was already making their power in the academy to be shaking, and it stung like salt in an open cut.
But Reynold did not even have the time to wait. He stepped out of the ring with out a word, and his gaze swept the arena before landing on another ring. He strode toward it, while taking his time to dust the invisible dirt on his shirt. He was heading straight to Valen Bronze’s ring.
Seeing this, rhe crowd gasped and their voices were rolling like thunder. Murmurs erupted immediately, their voices overlapping in a frenzy.
"Looks like the Starweaver boy is going only after the highborns one by one," one of the cadet in the stand muttered, eyes wide.
Another voice sounded from the stand, the voice was sharp and filled with excitement. "Yeah, he seems to be picking them off like flies. About time someone shook things up here."
A third voice snorted in disgust. "This lowborn thinks he is a hero? We Highborns won’t accept this nonsense."
Reynold’s face remained blank and unreadable like a mask carved from stone, making it hard for people to know what he was thinking. Not even a hint of triumph or hesitation, just cold focus.
One of the highborns could not take it anymore. He rushed forward, pointing accusingly at the teacher in charge. "This is nonsense! The Starweaver boy can not just keep going like this. Stop him!"
The highborn crowd agreed as agitation spread like wildfire. Their murmurs turned to shouts.. If Reynold kept defeating their highborn representatives, how could they hold onto their status in the academy? It might make the Lowborns to stop cowering and start pushing back. The thought made them more angry.
"Someone go get the professors!" a voice yelled from the group.
Another voice added, the face twisted in outrage. "He is breaking the rules! You defeat one opponent, you take their spot. That has always been the rule. Now he is hunting every highborn like this is personal!"
"What the hell is that cunt trying to prove, huh?" another voice snarled, with his fists clenched.
The highborns were all mumuring with fury, their voices rising into a chaotic roar, but Reynold paid them no mind. He was already in Valen’s ring, standing ready.
Valen Bronze, is a dragon rider with no magic. Seeing Reynold entered his ring made him snorted like he was staring at an intruder. He had attended dragon classes together with Reynold for months, but never exchanged a word. Valen kept to his highborn circles. This was his first challenger all day. He forced a smile, though it did not reach his eyes. "Well, well. May the best man win."
They took positions with their swords drawn. The official barked, "Begin!"
Valen moved first, his strikes was heavy and quick. Being a dragon rider was also an advantage and also the years of training with his father who was also a dragon rider was showing in every swing Valen made.
Reynold parried the first two, their swords clashing with sparks, but Valen’s power pushed him back. On the third attempt, Valen feinted high and swept low, hooking Reynold’s leg making Reynold to lost his balance and tumbling to the ground with a thud.
Valen did not hesitate as he quickly raised his sword for a finishing slash. "Got you now, lowborn."
But Reynold rolled aside in a hurry, the sword biting into the floor where his head had been. He bounced up like a coiled spring, his sword whipping out in a counter-slash that caught Valen’s arm, drawing a sharp line of blood.
Valen hissed, staggering back, blood trickling down his sleeve.
The crowd gasped louder than before, the sound echoing off the arena walls. Curses were coming from from the highborns’ side.
"I hate that bastard’s guts and his ego," one spat, with his veins bulging in his neck.
"Take this fucking bastard away!" another yelled, slamming a fist into the barrier.
"Is there no one to put this cunt in his rightful place?" The third voice roared.
Their face were filled with rage.
The highborns all had the same matching looks of disgust and fury, their anger boiling over.
Meanwhile, nearly half the lowborns had smiles on their faces, quiet smile but real. For years, highborns had ruled over the academy, making life hell for them by bullying, rigging challenges, stepping on anyone beneath them. Now, watching one of their own bleed? It felt like justice, a bitter taste of their own medicine finally served to them.
...
Meanwhile, From top of a nearby building, through the window looking down at the challenge field were Professor Valerius, Sergeant Veridian, and the Headmaster. The three stood watching the trouble unfold.
The Headmaster murmured as his eyes narrowed. "That boy seems to be something else."
Sergeant Veridian’s face was pure blank. It was impossible to read what she was thinking. No flicker of approval or concern.
The Headmaster glanced at Valerius. "You really think he is worth fighting for? That you did the right thing, not letting them puppet him?"
Valerius met his gaze steadily. "He is worth more than that."
Sergeant Veridian chimed in, her tone even. "You must have a lot of faith in this cadet, Valerius."
Valerius nodded slightly. "The boy has too much potential. It would be a shame to puppet him just because some fear what they can not control."
The Headmaster shook his head, sighing. "Better keep an eye on him. Now that everyone knows he is a Two, there will be more coming for him."
Valerius did not respond, just nodded once.
The Headmaster pressed on. "And do not let the power get to his head. Too much power like this, when not controlled becomes a a disaster waiting to happen. Since you are vouching for him, keep a close watch so it does not overwhelm him."
Veridian spoke up again. "He does not strike me as the type power overwhelms. From what he’s been through, his personality... he has his own way of doing things. Every action has a reason. Like right now, what he is doing down there. The power balance between highborns and lowborns is rotten. One way or another, someone needed to teach them a lesson."
The Headmaster crossed his arms. "Hope you two are right and making the right decisions."
...
Back in the arena, the students every efforts to fetch Professor Telas had failed badly. No one came. It was like the academy had turned a blind eye to the uproar. No professors swooping in, no officials stopping the show. Complaints fell on deaf ears, leaving the highborns fuming in frustration.
Reynold had not stepped into another ring yet. He was just standing still, his eyes scanning the remaining representatives.
The lowborns were Silla, Rebecca, Moir, Jaxson Storm all standing in their ring but their bodies were marked with cuts and bruises from earlier fights. Jaxson and Silla, the strongest among the lowborns, had fought off more than two challengers each, their body was tired but they were trying to maintain their stand.
Briar Coldwater, the dragon rider and the unchallenged king of the highborns, stood firm in his ring. No sweat, no scratches, no one had dared challenge him all day.
Reynold’s expression stayed blank, his thoughts locked away and not easy to guess. He just stood there in silent.
Briar held his powerful posture, exuding his normal confidence, but the lowborns exchanged nervous glances. What was Reynold’s next move? Would he go after Briar? Or turn on one of them?
The crowd started murmuring again, guesses flying every where.
"He’s eyeing Silla next. It has to be."
"Nah, maybe he will let the lowborns be."
"This guy is unpredictable. Who is it gonna be?"
Seeing Reynold make a move, the lowborns in their ring had to exchange a terrified look. They do not know if they could take any more challenger in their weak state like this. Several hours of fighting already made them weak.
Kael who was outside the ring had his hand clapped together like he was praying to whatever gods that was listening. Even the crowd was waiting patiently to see who it would be.
"Not the lowborns please.." A lowborn murmured.