Intriguing Encounter

Chapter 11: Intriguing Encounter

The first light of dawn painted the sky with hues of orange and pink as Valeron set out for his early morning jog. He moved with swift grace, his footsteps barely making a sound as he weaved through the winding paths of Black Rose Academy's serene campus. The rhythmic thud of his sneakers against the cobblestone ground echoed in the quiet morning air.

His jog came to a swift end, and Valeron decided to make his way to an open field nestled within the academy grounds. It was a space he had come to cherish for his daily exercises, a place where he could hone his combat stances and push his physical limits.

As he began his practice, moving through the precise stances he had learned in the previous day's combat training class, something caught his attention. Off to the side, near the edge of the field, a group of four burly students had surrounded a scrawny boy. The boy's glasses lay knocked off his face and into the grass, his expression a mix of fear and vulnerability.

Valeron couldn't stand by and watch as the scrawny student was subjected to the bullying of those larger and more intimidating than him. He approached the group with a determined stride and firmly told them to walk away, hoping they would heed his words.

However, the leader of the group, a hulking figure named Mark Ryman, responded with defiance. "He isn't going to be telling anyone, and neither are you," Mark growled with a threatening tone. "He's just a commoner."

One of Mark's underlings, however, had a moment of doubt. He pulled Mark aside and whispered, "Boss, that kid looks awfully like the heir of Clan Abyss. Can we really afford to mess with him?"

Mark snorted dismissively. "Please, he's just the heir to a Clan long dead," he sneered. "I seriously wonder how they are still considered a pillar Clan of the Kingdom."

Those words stirred memories within Valeron that he had tried to lay to rest. The disdain in Mark's voice reignited a burning rage, and before he could even think, he found himself swept up in a fit of fury. He acted swiftly, knocking Mark off his feet and delivering a series of punches until the bully lay unconscious on the grass.

The other underlings, witnessing their leader's quick defeat, scrambled away in fear. Valeron stood up, brushing dirt from his clothes, and retrieved the fallen glasses from the grass. He noticed they were surprisingly intact.

He handed the glasses to the scrawny boy, who had watched the encounter in astonishment. "Pretty durable," Valeron remarked, offering a small smile.

The boy accepted his glasses, adjusting them on his face with a shy nod. Valeron's curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn't help but ask, "Why do you let them push you around? I can sense from your aura that you are clearly more powerful than them."

Liam Dawn, as he introduced himself, scoffed in response. "How would that help?" he replied bitterly. "I'm no noble. Once I leave this premises, they would make my family's and my life unbearable. And do you really think a low-level grunt like Mark could go around bullying people on campus without the school board noticing?"

Valeron took a moment to contemplate Liam's words. The logic behind them was hard to deny. Someone with influence had to be involved to keep instructors from addressing such blatant bullying.

Putting aside these thoughts, Valeron extended his hand in greeting. "Hi, I'm Valeron."

Liam nodded, accepting the handshake. "I noticed. I'm Liam Dawn."

With their introduction complete, Valeron bid farewell to Liam and resumed his practice. He moved with renewed determination, his thoughts now focused on the upcoming specialization selection ceremony that awaited him in the main auditorium.