This was the only way they could tackle the issue.
And I was their most frequent patient before being taken to the hospital to be taken care of by Cynthia. It made sense why she wanted me to avoid visiting the dungeon now that I was a direct target.
Unless the Disciplinary Committee were unable to resolve this issue, the academy wouldn’t address it immediately, as this would undermine the committee’s authority.
I would have been afraid for my life and holed myself up, only going to classes and returning, but with Felix here, there was no need for me to be scared.
A second-rank cybernetic magical beast? There were currently no first-year students who had advanced to the second rank.
However, Emily Palgram was expected to be the first to ascend to the second rank.
I don’t know if she had also heard about the current rumour about me....
Probably! She would have to be deaf not to have heard of it, given my infamous reputation. But what she thought was of little importance to me.
"I should go to sleep."
I lay back down on my bed and tucked myself into the sheets.
Though I was glad that I had gotten a good night’s rest, this only meant that they were plotting something more vile. Or they didn’t want to take any risk, considering that it was the first day I had been discharged from the hospital.
There was no need to think about such an issue right now. I need to prepare for class so that I can arrive on time.
I resummoned Felix and walked towards my kitchen.
I arrived at class on time. Neither too early nor too late. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself.
However, I soon realised that, given my reputation, that was no longer possible.
"Thrust your blade forward, then withdraw. Shift your weight to the rear foot, to deliver a feint!" Fredric’s voice resonated across the training ground as he executed the move.
Our class was held in a vast, circular training hall that stretched nearly 91.4m (350ft) from end to end. At the centre was a stage over 61m (200ft) across. Surrounding the stage were rows of elevated seats that rose in clean arcs from the bottom to the top, resembling a coliseum.
This training hall was equipped with cutting-edge technology, serving both as a classroom for lecturers to teach students how to utilise their capabilities and also as a venue to conduct mock tests and exams.
To avoid injuries, it was well-maintained and adequately cared for at all times. It could only be used by the teacher, unlike the training ground outside, which was available to students at any time.
Even the prestigious Grand Avalon Academy realised that it would incur a financial loss if it allowed this state-of-the-art facility to be utilised by a group of egocentric noble descendants.
Alternatively, they were being frugal and unwilling to pay the cost.
The students were lined up in an orderly formation, dressed in their combat uniforms and executing the sword form that he had just demonstrated.
I was at the back with only a few students besides him.
At the forefront were the top rankers learning firsthand.
Teachers utilised holograms to teach students due to the size of their class. However, students who were at the back were either commoners who had managed to secure a scholarship into the academy or had gained admission in some other way.
Or they were students from fallen nobleholds trying to redeem the glory of their former prestigious households.
Not everyone was as talented as Ivory, who could awaken a Rank Two trait, or Esther, who could defeat a Rank One awakener who had awakened a Rank Two trait on the same level.
Awakening a Spirit vein was enough proof that one was gifted compared to the rest of the outside world.
I looked at the hologram of Fredric before me, replaying the moment he perfectly executed his demonstration, before attempting to perform mine.
Fredric and I weren’t on good terms. No one in Class three possessed a talent that could attract his attention, so I was safe here.
The only way one could attract the attention of an instructor from this section was if they obtained their favour. Once the class was completed, I won’t linger around.
Fredric walked through the stage, surveying the students and correcting their forms to ensure they could execute the technique effortlessly.
I realised that he was headed towards my direction.
The students besides me also noticed.
They began to swing their swords harder, correcting their pose to execute their sword moves.
I pretended not to notice.
I maintained the rhythm of my movements.
Until he arrived before me, he stood right in front of me.
Sigh! Can’t I train in peace?
It was hard to pretend that I hadn’t noticed him at this point, and continuing to do so would be rude.
"Hmm... You are executing the technique well, Ezekiel. However, it needs a little more polish. Raise your blade forward up your shoulder, then realign it slightly below it," Fredric instructed.
I halted. I hadn’t expected the two-faced wolf to compliment and give me an instruction.
I glanced at him, noting his serious expression as his eyes wandered around my body before meeting my gaze.
The information that I had received the day before emerged from the back of my mind, regarding the rumours that I had paid off Fredric and Serafina to cheat in the duel.
For him to take this approach to be so friendly to me, then this was most likely the plan that the descendants of the Zahara clan had in mind.
(Status updates as milestones are reached.) ]
At this point, the students around us had also heard him. Their eyes widened in surprise as they stared from the sides and in front of us.