While Ziona and Kevin remained focused on learning the skill, I continued to work on honing my mastery of it, and we practiced it until the bell rang to signal the end of class.
"Okay, let's finish up here," Bianca said as she left the practice area.
"Fuck! I'm not interested in learning this skill anymore," Kevin complained as he writhed on the ground, drenched in sweat.
!?
Kevin was making a fuss again, but Ziona and I just ignored him as we were accustomed to it by this point.
"Hey Ares, Do you intend to attend our training session today or will you skip it like you have been doing the past few days?" Ziona questioned while using a towel to wipe away her sweat.
"I can't say for sure because, as you know, I already have a lot on my plate these days," I replied as I started to leave the training grounds.
"Yeah, I know that, so why don't you bring me along when you're going to fight someone? Fighting people to death could be a good life experience for me," Ziona stated as she trailed behind me.
"...You've never killed anyone, have you?" I asked, turning to face Ziona who was now walking beside me.
"Yes, I didn't kill anyone, but I did send a lot of people to the hospital," Ziona revealed.
"...Well, you'll have to at some point, whether it's to protect yourself or someone close to you," I conveyed.
"Although I don't have anyone close to me who needs my protection,...but whatever, will you take me along with you when you're going to fight someone?" Ziona inquired, her ambitious gaze fixed on me.
"Oh, of course, I'll let you know when the time comes," I replied, smiling.
And as I was speaking with Ziona and exiting the training ground, I noticed a girl waiting outside the training area, leaning against a wall.
She has enchanting crimson-red eyes, long blonde hair, and a curvy body.
...Of course, it was Erina Valdemar.
"Oh, you arrived at last. Let's find a different location so we can speak," Erina said as she prepared to drag me away whilst holding my hand.
Though she tried to drag me, but I didn't budge an inch, so she was unable to do so.
"...."
When she realized she couldn't move me, she slowly turned to face me.
"Hmm, I don't know how to properly ask this, but ...would you kindly accompany me as I need to discuss some important matters with you? Does this sound okay?" Erina asked.
Hearing her Ziona smiled awkwardly, but I just stood there blankly staring at her.
"...P-Please?" Erina requested as she sensed my blank stare.
"All right, this is much better, let's go Ziona, our senior seems to have some important matters to discuss with us," I said as I turned toward Ziona.
"...Are you planning on bringing her along?" Erina inquired, somewhat hesitantly.
"Is there a problem?" I questioned.
"...No, it's okay," Erina replied while shaking her head.
"Eh? What about our following class then?" Ziona inquired.
"I'm skipping it; what about you, do you wish to attend?" I asked as my gaze fixed on her.
Ziona pondered for a moment before replying.
"...Nah, screw it! Let's go, I don't even understand what he is teaching anyway," Ziona responded and shrugged.
I just shook my head and smiled when I saw her reaction because I knew she hated studying, just like other regular teenagers.
Then we soon left the academy premises, followed Erina, and arrived at a massive mansion a few minutes away from the Academy.
"Welcome back, princess!" Many students who stood outside the mansion's front door bowed slightly as they greeted Erina.
"I appreciate you always working so hard, boys!" Erina said, giving them a lovely smile as she walked toward the door.
Her smile was so enticing that any guy would fall head over heels for her.
And, sure enough, her smile worked wonders on the boys guarding the entrance, as they all appear to be in a trance after witnessing her smile.
"...."
"Wow, you guys don't attend any classes, do you? I believe I now understand why so few second and third-year students are included on the ranking list," Ziona remarked aloud.
!?
Erina stumbled in her steps as soon as she heard Ziona's remark, but quickly regained her balance and coughed aloud.
— Cough! — Cough!
This caused the boys guarding the entrance to snap back to reality and they started staring at Ziona and me.
"A-Ahem! T-The third year has only two days of classes per week, a fact that you'll fully understand once you are in the third year," Erina clarified.
"...I see, so on days when you don't have classes, you guys hang out here playing princess and her knights," Ziona commented.
"...."
The second time they heard Ziona's remarks, the students' glares at her became even more ferocious.
And the manner in which Ziona responded caught me off guard as well.
"Did she wake up on the wrong side of the bed today or something?" I mumbled as I controlled my laughter.
"She seems to have wanted to pick a fight with them, so she could enjoy beating them," Irethiel said, laughing.
"...But at least I'm still a princess!" Erina said abruptly turning around and staring at Ziona.
And Ziona returned her stare with a huge grin on her face.
"...."
Meanwhile, I just stood there watching their staring contest.
"Whoa! She irritated even the cool-headed Erina," I exclaimed inwardly as I noticed them staring at each other and their auras colliding.
"Why don't we continue our conversation inside?"
After a few moments of staring, Erina shook her head, regained her composure, and suggested, turning toward the door, and soon one of the students opened the door and beckoned us in.
"All right, shall we go in?" I said as I patted Ziona on the shoulder and moved inside the mansion behind Erina.
While the third-year students continued to stare at her, Ziona chose to ignore them and follow behind me.
"I welcome you to my faction's main stronghold, Ares," Erina turned toward me and said with a smile as we entered the mansion.
As I walked into the mansion, I took a look around at the interior, which seemed rather opulent and it had a staircase in the middle leading to the upper floors.
But there were no students in sight, and the area appeared to be deserted as I peered around.
"Erm, Ares, It's this way," Erina said.
When I heard her, I focused my attention on her.
She then moved toward one of the rooms, motioning for us to follow her.
!?
So we decided to stop admiring the mansion and followed her into the room she had just entered.
And as we entered the room, we noticed that it appears to be a huge meeting room.
While some students were already seated around the table in the room as if waiting for Erina to start the meeting.
"I apologize for being a little late," Erina said as she sat in the leading seat.
She then motioned me across the table to the opposite seat.
"Please take a seat, Ares—oh I mean The First Year Representative!" Erina stated.
***