041 Playing Games

"Baron Randall, you have to do something about those peasants!" Complained Sir Fredrick. "They have no respect for the nobles. If we don't make them understand the might of our title, they will treat nobility as nothing more than common."

On the balcony overlooking the student hall's garden, Baron Randall, a green robed students with three stripes, landed a piece of white stone on a go board. His opponent, Marcus Yulu, another green robed student with three stripes, examined the move and began re-strategizing. They were surrounded by a group of young nobles and young clan masters.

The noble families sent their children to the Academy to learn the basics of magic and cultivation, but the main reason was for their children to build social relationships and connections with other nobles, clans, and even royalties.

"You sure have a lot of time on your hands, Fredrick, getting yourself into trouble with peasants," remarked Baron Randall. "You should hang yourself rather than kneel after losing to them."

It was unusual for anyone under eighteen to receive a title, but Baron Randall Carrigo was one of the exceptions. His father was an Earl and a high ranking member of the Pasadine Empire, an empire directly south of the Kelseran Empire. As the oldest son, he was bestowed the title of Baron.

The Carrigo Clan was also a powerful clan in the Pasadine Empire, holding onto a lineage dating back to the Kinbarl Empire. After Empire Sharon Paradine successfully usurped the Tesdine Empire 300 years ago, it was mainly due to the support of the Carrigo Clan.

"But Baron Randall, it wasn't just those peasants, Ashe was also fighting!" Sir Fredrick explained.

"Hmph! You let that pretty boy beat you up as well? Then you deserved it!" Sir Terrun sneered from in front of the crowd. Sir Terrun was Baron Randall's right hand.

Baron Randall clenched his right hand against a piece of stone and stared into Sir Terrun's cowering eyes. "I thought I told you to isolate him from everyone else."

"But Baron Randall, we've forbidden his presence on the 2nd floor!" Sir Terrun quickly tried to excuse himself. "We can't do anything if he makes connections with people from the first floor."

"I want you a find a way to expel him from this school," Baron Randall commanded.

"Baron, that might be difficult."

Sir Fredrick thought of something. "Baron Randall! We may be able to request help from Sir Ian."

Baron Randall looked curiously at Sir Fredrick. "Explain."

"It seems that Ashe is acquainted with Vincent."

Baron Randall nodded. Marcus raised his brow across the table from Baron Randall, he was curious to hear what these nobles were planning. Marcus was in Professor Aseroth, so he knew what had happened.

"I heard the rumors, do you know much about it?" Baron Randall asked Marcus.

On the first day of Professor Aseroth class, everyone was scheduled to arrive in the Professor's private study room, located in the Cultivation Hall. There were twelve seats in the room. The first row, lined with four seats, was usually reserved for the top students. Hobin Lancet, Sir Ian Camber, Obi Conway, and Marcus Yulu would naturally sit in the front.

Marcus walked into the dark, but warmly lit room decorated with manabeasts heads displayed as trophies on the wall. It was his first time in Professor Aseroth's study. The Professor wasn't there, so he walked up to the front where he normally sat. He was surprised to see the new student seated in front. It was likely that the new student didn't know about the customs of the school.

Hobin was already in their seats, but he didn't talk to anyone, typical.

Marcus sat next to Vincent.

"Hey, you're new?" Marcus asked.

Vincent nodded.

"You're Vincent?"

Vincent nodded.

"I'm Marcus. Just a little hint if you want to survive in this academy, you should sit in the next row."

"Are the seats assigned?"

"No, but the top students have always sat in front."

"So it's not required," it was all Vincent needed to know, and he didn't feel like moving.

Marcus wasn't the type to say more than necessary, and waited to see who would happen.

Obi walked in and he was also shocked to see a new student. He sat next to Marcus.

"Who's the new kid?" Obi whispered.

"Vincent."

Obi recognized the name and nodded.

"Did you warn him about the seating arrangement?"

Marcus nodded.

"Ian is last to come again, he's going to be pissed that his seat is taken."

"His fault for not coming in early."

At that moment, Sir Ian walked into the room. He moved right in front of Vincent.

"Move." Ian commanded and stared down at the new student with arrogant eyes.

Vincent craned his neck up to look at the student standing before him.

Vincent blinked twice, and then faced the front, looking directly at Ian's stomach as though there was no one present.

Ian grabbed a hold of Vincent front robe, dragging him up from the seat.

"Come on Ian! He's new," Marcus jumped and attempted to defuse the situation.

Bang!

Ian flew all the way back, knocking into the magical infused wall. Any other type of wall would have been destroyed on impact.

Vincent had head-butted Ian and punched him in the stomach right before Ian could attack.

Everyone was shocked by the event, even the top four students.

"Holy s***! Did the new student just knock down Ian?"

It was one thing to knock down Ian, but it was another thing to see Ian's head bleeding. The Windel robe and force barrier were supposed to prevent that from happening.

"Haha, never thought I see the day when Sir Ian gets his ass handed to him by a newbie," Norick laughed from the back corner. "Quite impressive."

Sir Ian glared at Norick, but he prepared himself to charge directly toward Vincent.

Professor Aseroth walked in right as Ian got up to retaliate. Looking at the position of everyone, Professor Aseroth could decipher what had happened.

"Sir Ian, I would hold off if I were you," Professor Aseroth warned. Professor approached Sir Ian to briefly inspect the injury, and cast a light heal spell. The blood stopped bleeding, but the wound was still apparent. "Go take a seat."

Sir Ian wiped off remaining blood from his forehead and stalked his way to the second row. He whispered something to Vincent as he passed by, but Vincent remained expressionless.

Vincent did something that everyone thought was unbelievable, his attack completely ignored the force barrier.

After rethinking the events, Marcus decided to stay out of the conflicts between the nobles and Vincent's acquaintances. Marcus didn't say more than what was rumored.

Sir Lougram, sitting by a nearby table, couldn't resist joining the conversation. "You're really keeping mum about Vincent's technique?" Sir Lougram asked Marcus.

"I really don't know much about it, so I would rather not speculate."

"What special technique does he have?" asked Baron Randall asked Sir Lougram.

"His attacks can ignore force barrier. We aren't sure about body aura, but assumes that he can also ignore it. We went to train in Grisham Range for a couple of days, and let me warn you one thing, with his technique, he can become a terror to the manabeast terrors."

"It looks like I should really keep an eye out for this new kid," Baron Randall placed another white stone on the board.

"You don't really think Sir Ian will assist you just because Ashe knows Vincent?" Marcus asked Baron Randall.

Baron Randall chuckled. "Of course not, inflicting harm on the new kid won't affect Ashe. I'm just excited about more players entering the game." Baron Randall grinned deviously "If I recall, Vice Dean Araba is Ian's grandfather."

Marcus eyed Baron Randall suspiciously.