If You Say So...

*Pah!*

*Ouch!*

Suddenly, a hand came flying, hitting Pamil's back head. pamil turned around, feeling wronged, just to see Natalie there with a dark expression. His face froze for a second, and he looked away.

Well, Natalie didn't let go, though. "Why the hell are you scaring the newbie? Does it feel good or anything?"

Alvin, Connor, and their Familiars were taken aback. "Wait! Were they lying?!"

Natalie shook her head. "No, they were telling the truth." She looked at Milia right after. "Why didn't you stop him? Even worse, you joined the group and said everything."

Milia didn't seem to care. "They should know the truth. Simple as that. As part of the Floating Blades Faction, they will be soon or later exposed to it."

"It might be true," Natalie spoke. "However, that would only happen once they became Level Two Maguses and Familiars. The reason Rin even knows about it is because of her and Pamil's Rowester Entreprise background. She was raised in the midst of such intrigues, so she isn't affected by it. Alvin is different. You didn't need to throw it all on his face at once."

Linfel looked at Alvin. "They don't even know you yet, and they already think you are a weakling. Just how did you manage to get such a reputation?"

Alvin's concerned expression immediately changed into anger. Obviously, Linfel was talking about Alvin's unwillingness to take part in any of the Field Exams. "Shut up! I will get over it!" He then pulled Connor to his side. "My brother is also with me, so I can definitely get better."

"Cough, cough..." Connor quickly distanced himself. Connor said he would join the Field Exams with Alvin, but this conversation made him change his mind. "I just got a message that my dog caught fire. I need to go." 

"Your ass!" Alvin kicked the guy's but before he could take a single step. "You don't even have a fucking dog, so just quit the bullshit and bear the pain with me."

Tratil quickly joined the conversation. "He is right, Master. This is not the time to run away. If something really happens, you will need to be as strong as possible! If you are as weak as now by then... wouldn't you be selected straight away as a cannon fodder?"

Connor instantly straightened himself. "I just got another message. Seems like my roommate put out my dog's fire. Let's continue." Cannon fodder? That was even worse!

Alvin was speechless. How much more shameless can Connor be? Everyone had their own rooms in the dormitories. They are all Maguses, after all. There was no such thing as roommates. Yes, the academy was that big.

Natalie looked at Connor before speaking to Alvin. "Alvin, it is one thing that you now know about it, but another one for your friend here. You better make sure he keeps quiet. You don't need to worry about us going after him. If he opens his mouth, the academy and the government itself will make sure he will not see the sun rising tomorrow."

Connor was terrified of the notion. "I... will absolutely say nothing..."

Natalie nodded. "If you care for your life, then I'm sure you won't. In any case, you would also know about it once you become a Level Two Magus, although a lot later than Alvin here in the Floating Blades Faction."

"Alright, alright, let's end it here," Qanda intervened. "This conversation is getting too gloomy. What we were talking about was the Faction Wars, so let's continue that."

Linfel was happy to hear that. "Right! When is the next one? Also, what are the rules?"

"The rules are determined a day prior to the wars," Qanda explained. "As for the date, as I mentioned, it is every six months. It has been only two months since the second semester started, so it will only happen at the end of the year. Four months. We can try to do better in field exams, but with how little they contribute to the Faction Rankings, it won't matter much for us at the moment. Just do your best."

Linfel could only leave it at that. "Well, we will see when the time comes then."

The two groups then talked for a while as Qanda finished explaining some other rules in the Faction itself. In the end, the day gave way to the night, and it was time for Alvin and Linfel to go back to the dormitory with the others. 

On their way out, Qanda also mentioned. "The Faction equipment is open for its members to use all day long, even if you want to use it during the late night or early morning hours before the sun even comes up. There will always be an attendant at the entrance to attend to your requests as long as they are within his duties."

"Hum?" It was then that Linfel noticed something. "By the way, Milia, Pamil, Rin, and Alvin are only four members of the Floating Blades Faction. What about the fifth one?"

Pamil smiled. "You will meet him soon. Until then, it is a surprise."

Alvin and Linfel looked at each other, not understanding the reason for the secrecy. Nonetheless, it wasn't like they absolutely needed to know the guy. "If you say so..."

Alvin and Connor bid their farewells after a while before Alvin returned to his room with Linfe and Felia. 

"Sigh..." Alvin crumbled on his bed. "Could it truly be the case? Were we in such danger all this time?"

"Seems like it," Felia confirmed. "So, master, you must get strong to protect yourself and your father."

Alvin could only nod in the end. "I will try." He then sat on the bed and looked at Linfel. "Alright, the best way to do it is through our deal. Linfel, ready to clean some Low-Grade Magic Stones?"

Linfel nodded. "Sure. Will you take it all, or will you share it with Felia?"

"Share it!" Alvin didn't need to think twice. "We aren't really Master and Familiar. If one day you decide to leave, it will be only Felia and I again. It's not that I don't trust you, but I still prefer her."

Felia was happy to hear that, and so was Linfel. "You are right. I will stay in the academy for now but might leave at some point. Very well, give me the Low-Grade Yellow Magic Stones you have. Time to pay my debt."