The rest of the lesson was spent without any problems. At least for Ashton. Amaira was pissed because well, she wanted to teach the mutt a lesson. Instead, it was her who was taught a lesson by the director.
Not because she was targeting but because of how terrible Hugo's condition was. Even with magic, it would take him a couple of weeks to get back to his feet and that too on his first day in the academy.
Also, the Del Rio family was angry but they could not blame Ashton as he had not broken any rules. He just did what they were told to and fought their son. As a result, all of it was blamed upon the professor for not stepping in sooner during the duel.
Amaira might have been pissed, but something good came out of it. The student of his year got to know it wasn't a good idea to mess with him directly. As once Ashton stopped holding himself back, there wasn't much they could have done to stop him.
But it wasn't like Ashton was left unpunished. He was called into the director's office, everyone thought he would get lectured on and then suspended. But nope. he just got a slap on the wrist and was told to take others' strengths into consideration while duels.
This annoyed some of them including Amaira, but even she knew there was nothing more she could have done on her own. Not after the warning, she had received from the director.
After all, that mess was sorted out, there wasn't much to do. They did not have any more lessons for the day and it wasn't like there was anything these new students could have done either. So they headed back to their dorms where a surprise was waiting for them.
The seniors wanted to conduct their annual ritual of ragging the new students. However, the S and the A rankers were left alone. Mostly due to the fact most of them had a strong family to back them up and the low ranking seniors did not want to anger them.
However, somehow Ashton did not make the cut and was called into the field next to the arena just like the rest of them. But him being him, he ignored the seniors and went inside his room. He had already had his share of fun today. The seniors would have to wait for some other day to become his playthings.
"Why do they think I need to follow their every command?"
He Sighed heavily before going into the balcony to enjoy the sunset. After all, it was the only time he got to enjoy the sun without suffering from his stat reduction and the bit of migraine which accompanied it.
"What should I do next? I can work out or I can try to scout some hunting areas nearby..."
Since Rose was a part of the Academy, he could depend on her to gather his food supplies. Not the ones he had during the day, but his late-night bloodied feast of blood and bones. Still, he wanted to be independent and hunting by himself was the right answer for that.
"Maybe I should visit the black market instead? Oh, I forgot I can't do that because of the patrols." Just then there was a knock on his door, "I swear if it's that love letter crap again, I might kill someone tonight."
But to his surprise, it was something entirely different.
"Mistress, why are you here?" Ashton blurted out absentmindedly.
"I am still your guardian. At least, according to the academy. Here, I got you some food."
She handed a nicely wrapped packet to Ashton before walking inside as if she owned the place. Her bodyguards and the human slaves followed behind.
'Here goes my freedom... damn it!'
"A nice place you got yourself here. Also, congratulations on achieving S rank." The mistress mumbled ad sat down on the bed like she always did.
"None of it could have been without your help and efforts, mistress."
Just saying those words made Ashton want to puke his guts out and rip them apart himself. But he had to do what he needed to. Even if that list included him sucking up to her.
"So how was your first day? Eventful I hope?"
"By eventful if you mean to have a duel and win, then yes."
"Now that's something I would like to hear about. But come sit by my side first."
'There's the perverted woman I know and hate... fcking always wanting to get close to me.' Ashton thought with a forced smile on his face.
But rather than doing as she asked, he pulled a chair and sat in front of her instead before telling her what had happened in the arena today.
"What was the name of the other kid you said?" The mistress asked once Ashton was done recounting the tale.
"Hugo Del Rio."
"You beat the crap of a Del Rio?"
"Should I be concerned or anything?"
It had just occurred to him that he had fought a noble, and he did not have any idea about his family background. He might have been strong enough to fight them but if their families started coming after him, he would be in quite a lot of trouble. At least till he was strong enough to take care of them by himself.
"Not at all. Del Rios are nothing special." The mistress shook her head, "In fact, you did a good job breaking that kid's bones. All of those fckers deserve something like that to happen to them."
Ashton did not try to inquire much about the Del Rios afterwards. But judging from the way the mistress talked about them, he got a rough idea that her relationship with the Del Rios was not good. That was the only reason she could be happy.
"Now coming down to why I came here." The mistress mumbled in a serious voice, "Have you seen Donovan or Disha recently?"
"No. Not since yesterday when they came to see me off for the examination."
"Hm... that's all I needed to know." Saying so the mistress got up and prepared to leave.
"Is something wrong with Disha or Donovan?"
"Nothing that you need to be concerned about. Work hard while you're in the academy. Also, try not to instigate a lot of people."
She continued, "Having too many enemies at a young age does not work for everyone. The slaves will stay here to help you out as well.. No need to thank me."