21 A duel .. for the squad?

"As you know, you all are still basically fresher's, meaning you only get the bare minimum of education in this academy, and I'm afraid that isn't enough to come out with a successful career, you are better off dropping out if that is your aim…"

The male professor spoke, standing in front of multiple students who had gathered outside the academy building to listen to him ramble.

I was standing at the very back of the crowd, but I could still make out the words, well to some degree, even though I've spent three weeks at the academy I can barely tell half of what they do here.

Ranks? What are ranks? And why exactly do I have to stress myself to do it… I really don't know, everything all boils down to,

"Unnecessary work".

"And so, the only way you can rank up is to join the dagione tournament, you'll be given a group of four, each of you will face a total of 5 teams, keep in mind that can go up depending on the amount of participants.

Your rank goes as follows, God tier class, Royal tier class, Semi tier rank and Common rank.

You'd do well to attain at least a Semi tier rank, meaning, you should get about 50 in the school tournament." Explained the professor.

Ehhh? I have to do this? I smell work, isn't there a better way to do this then stress the students who don't even care about the academy to begin.

Sigh! And even if I wasn't to compete, going for Semi tier doesn't seem bad, I can stay low and still not soil the family name, I suppose.

Or… I could always just ditch out like I normally do in my former world when it came to economics exams.

"Aether! Aether! Why don't you join my group!" Yelled my friend beside me, Orland, you can say he is one of the few people I found clickable, he's a noble man also, although a low class.

"Eh?".

"Yeah true, if you join our squad, we can help you win especially, at least somewhere in the top ten." Uttered my second friend, Ruxian, another person I found clickable and yes, she's from a royal home, although I don't know the specifics.

"Eh?"

"Don't 'Eh?' Me! It's not like I want to help you or anything, but since you only have one vision, it's going to be difficult for anyone to accept you, got it! I'm simply being a good friend." She snapped at me.

"I mean .. I get that, but I don't exactly plan on joining the tournament." I responded, the look that came from them right after was a bit … surprising.

"Uhn? You're not?" Orland leaned closer to me.

"I mean… I don't exactly plan on…"

"Oh I see how it is… you think the tournament is optional, hate to break your bubbles, but it's not, if you don't compete in the tournament, you can be expelled." Ruxian utterred, before bringing out something from her pocket.

"See!" She exclaimed, placing the device right in front of my eyes, "It says so right here… failure to attain a rank in your first year will lead to a student being expelled from the academy".

"Ruxian…"

"Yeah?"

"Where did you get this… no… what is this called again?" I asked.

"Oh, you don't know it, well it's new I guess, it's not yet common, but it's called a phone, my father got it from me, it's rare so I'm basically amongst the lucky people to get to use this before it launches." She replied.

Every word she said went through one ear, and put the other, no… my main focus was on the phone she had in her hands.

I definitely remember phones being amongst the things I taught O'niel, but I really didn't think he'd be able to do it.

Thankfully I only taught him the flip phone, if not, the internet is going to ruin this world like it did my former world.

I might be underestimating my followers a bit, being able to make a phone with only the things I said is amazing in its own way….

"aether"

Ah, what other things could he have made?

I looked at the back case of the flip phone and noticed the name 'Red tricks', so that had to be the name of his company. I just have to find other products with the same name and it's all good.

"aether!"

Heheheh, since they basically serve me, whatever they have is also mine… I can already feel myself getting rich already, even though I don't like money all that well, the thought still excites me!.

"Aether!!!"

My eyes immediately snapped back to reality, Ruxian's face close to mine with a frowned expression on her face.

"W-What is it?".

"So we're a team right?"

"Well…"

"Right?!"

"I guess so, why not." I responded.

Her face beamed with joy before she took a few steps back, "I knew you'd come around, ha! It's not like I'm happy about it! I just think you'll enjoy it, that's all".

"Yeah yeah," I sighed, turning my head to the side I could Orland looking at the other way,

"Hey, you've been quiet, is…"

"Look over there." He suddenly spoke,

"Okay?" My eyes turned to the direction of his gaze, and I saw her, Ava and her servants walking towards our position.

"What is Lord Richardson's daughter walking over here for… oh shit! You think she fell in love with me at first sight?!" Orland grinned with a dumbfounded expression on his face.

"I highly doubt that,"

Those words left my mouth as soon as Ava was close enough and had closed the distance to a certain degree.

"Sweetie, have you been avoiding me?" That was the first thing she asked.

And she wasn't wrong, I have, not that I have anything against her, but she draws too much attention, people call her queen of the academy, that in Itself says a lot.

"What do you mean?" I responded .

"You've been avoiding me…"

"You're imagining it."

"I am?"

"You are."

"Hmmm?" She tilted her head to the side with an unsettling smile on her face.

"Hmm."

"Well it doesn't matter…"

"Good."

"Because you'll be joining my squad, darling." Ava uttered with a smile on her face.

Before I could even respond, Ruxian charged forward, standing in front of me to block Ava from getting any closer.

"Now hold on just one minute! Why did you call him darling just now?!" She asked, I couldn't tell what expression she was making since her back was facing me.

"Oh? Are you perhaps a friend of my darling? I apologize, but I'd like to borrow him for a bit." Ava responded, quite calmly.

"No one is borrowing anyone! Aether is already in my squad, go find someone else!" Yelled Ruxian.

"Darling, is that true?" Ava turned to me.

I sighed, "Yes, I did agree to…"

"Then I'll join your squad…"

"No!".

Eh? Is Ruxian angry? Damn, or did she perhaps hate Ava from the start.

"I do remember the professor saying the group has to be 4, and you are only three here, correct? So there shouldn't be a problem." Ava replied Ruxian.

"A duel," Ruxian muttered under her breath.

"A… duel?"

"Yes, I challenge you to a duel and if I win… you'll stay far away from this squad and Aether, but if you win… I'll let you join."

"Hmm, I accept then, Ruxian Hutchbrick".

What just happened? …What are they dueling over?