“What about you, Arcus?”
“I just wanna make something of myself.”
“So you wanna be a state magician like Crucible?”
“Yeah, so first I just need to focus on the NDS. I’ve probably got a ton of hurdles to face before I can even get there.”
“Got your sights set high, huh?” Rusiel looked at Kane again. “It’s not like him, y’know, to come make a point about every little thing.”
“No?”
“He gets along with pretty much everyone, so it’s weird to see him...antagonize you? I’ve never seen him treat anyone like that. I guess he’s frustrated that you stole the top spot from him.”
“I might not’ve if they hadn’t given us Ignited Soul for the practical exam. If it’d been Stone-Sharpened Sword, or even Fluttering Flame, I’m pretty sure he would’ve beaten me.”
“You sure about that?”
“Kane’s better at southern magic than fire spells. Most of the magic they teach at Harveston is focused on rocks and manipulating matter, right?”
“Yeah, the teachers there seem to like those sorts of spells. They literally taught us that weight equals power. I wish I was joking. They’re weirdly proud of their southern magic, saying it built the foundations of our kingdom and all that. So of course, some of the lecturers here are like that too. That teacher who gave you grief over your aether? He’s from the south. You probably guessed, since he mentioned going to Harveston.”
“You can stop depressing me now.” With a sigh, Arcus slumped forward and leaned his chin on the desk just like Rusiel. Though he had come to the Institute with a no pain, no gain attitude, he really would have preferred to go without the weird political stuff weighing him down on top of that.
“The difference in spells shouldn’t matter though, right? I mean, I bet you use Ignited Soul all the time,” Rusiel said.
“Nope. I’ve tried it a couple times, but that’s it. It’s too weak to use on the battlefield, so I never really bothered with it.”
“That’s what makes a spell worth knowing to you?”
“My uncle could literally punch fireballs like that out of the air. Then he’d shout at me for using a ‘weak-ass’ spell.”
“Wow. I get he’s a state magician, but that’s messed up.”
“Oh, he’s super messed up. He’s practically invulnerable to fire magic. It’s actually crazy.”
“And you have mock battles with this guy?”
“I wish they were ‘mock.’ He basically wails on me and my attendants. It’s closer to bullying than anything else.”
Although, to be fair, Arcus asked for it—in the literal sense of the phrase. When Craib got serious, there was nothing he, Noah, or Cazzy could do but scatter like mice and try not to get hit.
“Y’know, I reckon Kane wants to be friends, but he also wants to compete with you,” Rusiel went on. “That’s probably why he comes off majorly awkward. He’s not usually like that.”
“No?”
“He’s great at making friends. He can talk to any stranger completely naturally, and he always reads the room perfectly. I’ve never seen him try to...provoke anyone like he does with you.”
“I’m special, huh?”
“Yeah. He’s never really had to deal with competition before, so he’ll probably be a bit funny like that till he gets used to you. Good luck dealing with him.”
“I’ll be fine as long as he doesn’t hate me.”
Kane didn’t seem the type to let resentment build up and fester. He was a reasonable sort, and that was enough for Arcus. However, there were times—and they were few and far between—when he would look at those around him with melancholy in his eyes. It gave him a hollowed-out look, like he was peering into a bottomless well. Arcus couldn’t help but wonder what it meant.
“Is Arcus Raytheft here?”
Arcus looked up to see someone he vaguely recognized as one of Claudia’s followers at the door. He stood up and approached the boy at once. “That’s me. What’s the matter?”
“This is from Lady Claudia.”
Arcus groaned internally as the boy passed him a letter. He had a bad feeling about this—particularly about the fact that it wasn’t something she’d wanted to express verbally. But ignoring it wouldn’t make it go away.
Claudia’s handwriting was prim and proper, and she expressed herself perfectly politely. Much of the letter was a dense mass of formalities, but the salient part was thus:
“You will pitch your magic skills against mine. Should I emerge the victor, you will withdraw from the Institute.”
Arcus looked at the messenger awkwardly. “What if I don’t want to accept?”
“You can try turning her down if you want, but there’s not much point.”
“I didn’t think so.”
If he refused, she would only use her influence to make it happen anyway, and perhaps let it be known that the boy with an Order would run away from a challenge. Her letter written and delivered, Arcus no longer had any choice in the matter.
“I accept,” he conceded, then returned to his seat next to Rusiel and showed him the letter.
“Sucks to be you, huh? I swear, it’s like there’s a target painted on your soul.”
“Fate has it in for me. That’s gotta be it...”
Going out to buy some silver had gotten him wrapped up in a war, after which he was approached by one of the Twin Phantoms and asked to avert a prophecy. And then there was that girl from the Heoga Tribe. If that wasn’t a ticking time bomb, he didn’t know what was. Didn’t these people realize his aether sucked? Was it too much to ask to be left in peace?
Even his heavy sigh came too soon.
“Hey, Arcus! What’s that? A love letter?”
“For a love letter, it’s a little too passionate. Take a look.”
“Yikes... She’s coming on way too strong. Tough break.” Setsura grimaced at the letter. It had to be bad if even she was put off.
Next, Lecia scampered over. “Has something happened, brother?”
“Something’s happened, all right. Here.”
“Thank you.” She took the letter from him. “Oh, my... How, um...”
“Tyrannical? It’s got real ‘how dare you question the judgment of your dictator-for-life’ vibes. You’d think she could let it go. You can’t tell me a girl like her’s got a lot of friends.”
Lecia laughed nervously.
“Y’know, you can be pretty scathing sometimes, Arcus.” Setsura’s remark didn’t bother him in the slightest.
“What’s the matter?” The clamor had attracted Kane’s attention.
“Could you pass that letter to Kane, Lecia?”
She did as he asked. Kane’s eyebrows lifted as he read it.
“Yup,” Arcus said.
“I don’t think you want to be dueling her. If it were me, I’d just apologize for whatever got you into this mess.”
“Apologize, huh?” If only that were an option. “I wouldn’t be able to stay at the Institute if I did.”
“You just need to show her you’re sincere,” Kane said. “I’m sure she’d listen to reason.”
“People who send out threatening letters like this aren’t usually the type to be reasoned with.”
“I guess not. But still, her grandfather is a duke, and she’s got so much aether. There’s no way you’re beating her if it comes to a battle of magic.”
“I won’t know unless I try. Though I admit I’m at a disadvantage...”
“You’re definitely a good match for her when it comes to technique and knowledge. But even then, her aether’ll be too much for you.” Kane was adamant. He might well have been one of those who valued aether above all else.
His followers agreed.
“You’re screwed.”
“There’s no way.”
“You’re just gonna embarrass yourself.”
Kane continued, “You should have a really good think about this. I’d hate it if she made you leave. Especially over something so dumb.”
“I appreciate the advice. I’ll see if I can come up with a way to get outta this mess,” Arcus replied, throwing his hands into the air. Regardless of Kane’s views on aether, the boy was sticking his nose in a little too far for Arcus’s liking. It really did sound like Arcus’s absence would be a disappointment to him, which lined up with what Rusiel was saying earlier.
“Arcus! I heard something fun was coming your way!” Sue had entered the classroom and bounded up to them.