King Darius

"Come on Luce, let's go."

"Fine, I had my fun either way."

After completing all of their tests, they headed towards their dormitories.

Novis was quite tense and his shoulders were stiff, but after relieving his mind of all the information he had to process his body started to alleviate.

on their way there.

"You didn't need to scare the Teacher so much, Luce."

"I know I'm sorry, it's dumb of me to show off my powers, if I ever do that again I give you permission to hit me."

"Really? You said it then too late."

"You seem a little too happy about that."

"Hey, it's a one-time opportunity."

"You're not wrong, but how were your tests overall."

"I think I got one hundred percent on all of them, but I'm still quite stiff over the stress."

"Really? I didn't even know you were stressed, maybe I'm a little too carefree, well anyways, if you want I do know how to massage well."

"Hmmm, promise you won't break any bones?"

"Of course, what do you think I am? A monster?"

"Well-"

"Don't answer that, but yes my hands can be quite soft and nice sometimes, here let's get back quickly."

The fool excitedly runs to the dormitory excited to impress Novis with his skills, although Novis may be a little worried, he thinks it will surely be fine.

Upon arriving.

"Great, now take your shirt off and lay down on your bed facing down."

"Do you have an obsession with me taking off my shirt?"

"OF COURSE NOT, IT'S JUST EASIER OK."

"Sure sure Luce, whatever you say."

Novis does as the fool says and gets ready into position.

The fool elegantly takes off his gloves leaving them on the desk nearby.

"𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴? 𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵, 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦."

The fool gets on top of Novis's back and starts his process, he gently yet with enough strength massages his shoulders, although they feel soft he can tell that they have been quite tense for a while.

"Impressed?"

"Very, please continue."

Novis eagerly enjoys the massage, though the fool makes a sudden question.

"Novis? Do you plan on following me forever?"

"Well, of course, why not?"

"You know that my path leads to bloodshed in the end, and I still need to go to the Sound Kingdom."

"I don't mind going with you."

"If you say so, but I will give you one last offer again later, alright?"

"Sure but my answer won't change."

"Thank you."

"For what? You're the one massaging me and who told me all about my core, without you I would still be bullied and harassed by the whole school."

"But still, It's the people around you that shape you, and because of you I became a bit more kind."

"You were probably kind to begin with, but remember Luce, whether I'm with you or not, always choose kindness over violence."

"Wow, didn't think you'd have it in you to say something at least somewhat profound."

"Only when I can be bothered, now continue for another five minutes please."

"Of course, of course, anything for a friend."

Eventually, Novis fell asleep, most likely due to the stress of the exams and being over-relaxed by the fool his body decided it was time to shut down for the day, the fool noticed this and tucked Novis in since his shirt wasn't on, and didn't want him to get a cold, he then went to his bed and slept till the next day.

The following day Erastus Blayde the Teacher of Magic Theory was knocking fiercely on their door.

"What's with all the racket?"

"Huh? What?"

Eventually, he barges into the room.

"You two, how did you do it?"

"What? We're just waking up can you wait a bit?"

He walks up to Novis and grabs him by his shoulders tightly giving him a fierce look straight into his eyes

"How. Did. YOU. DO IT?"

"DO WHAT? CALM DOWN"

"YOU BOTH SCORED THE HIGHEST GRADE ON YOUR TESTS, YET YOU READ USELESS BOOKS AND MEANINGLESS TEXTS, CLEARLY YOU BOTH CHEATED."

"Can you shut up down there already? if I don't get enough sleep I won't be as beautiful as I usually am."

"ESPECIALLY YOU, HOW COULD ANYONE LIKE 'YOU' MANAGE TO SCORE SO HIGH, HOW DID YOU CHEAT?"

"You say that we cheated one more time, and I'm gonna go down there and kick you out."

"I WILL FIND OUT THE TRUTH ONE WAY OR ANOTHER YOU CHEATING SCUM."

The fool has enough and does not like to be woken up so badly and aggressively, he snaps his fingers and his armor is instantly donned upon him, and with it, he quickly grabs the Teacher and puts him directly at the entrance of the Kingdom, he does this whilst yawning and aggressively insulting the man.

"Alright Novis, back to sleep."

"Thanks, Luce."

"No problem."

They both slept for another hour, afterward, they dressed up and got ready and awaited for the Teacher to come back furiously.

"YOU TWO ARE BOTH IN A LOT OF TROUBLE, HOW DID YOU EVEN MANAGE TO-"

"Yea yea shut up, can you take us to the King now?"

"WHY SHOULD I?"

"We scored the highest grade on all of the tests no?"

"WELL-"

"Luce and I are also quite strong so surely the King must be interested."

"YOU'RE NOT WRONG BUT-"

"Quit being biased and take us."

"𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘐 𝘥𝘰, 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵."

"If either of you beat me in a-"

They both walk past him completely ignoring him.

"Did you have a nice dream Luce?"

"Yea but I can't quite remember it, I think it had something to do with this person that draws a lot, they kept talking about robots that killed people."

"Really? How did you end up with that?"

"I'm not sure really, but they were a little goofy. though maybe silly is the right word? I'm not too sure."

"If you say so, mine was about this person that was obsessed with some skeleton, I think they wanted to marry them."

"A skeleton? What an odd choice."

"I guess, but hey I won't judge."

"I suppose so, never judge unless you truly have the right to."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Erastus was at a loss for words, no one has ever disrespected him this much, he stood still like a rock holding his sword out ready to fight one of them, and in some way, you could say they won, but instead of beating him with violence, all they had to do was beat him mentally.

But after walking for sometimes Erastus catches up somewhat apologizing.

"Alright you two have clearly earned a talk with a King, so I will gladly take you to him."

"Do you mind Novis?"

"Not really, you can lead the way."

Proudly he took the two of them straight to the King's lair, it was locked behind a special key to which only a few have access, though the fool could probably recreate a copy of the key in no time.

The key rattled a lot when it was inserted and Erastus seemed to struggle with it quite a bit until finally, it opened.

A giant steel gate with a massive lock had been opened, with all his strength Erastus pushed the two chunks of metal, and just within sight, a man with long red hair was sitting upon a throne of complete stone, his attire was very royal-like, and he grinned with joy the moment he noticed and sensed the two prodigies arriving.

"WELCOME MY STUDENTS!" He exclaimed with utmost joy.

Luce whispers "Is this guy ok?"

"I think so?" Says Novis shrugging.

Slowly they approached along with the Teacher, to which he then kneeled the moment he got near enough to the throne, it was as if they were inside a massive dome made of complete stone with just a throne.

"You two must kneel before the King."

"I don't know, I'm not really the kneeling type, what about you Novis?"

"Well me neither, unless it was you."

"Arrogant are we? Either way, kneeling or not, which one of you is Luce Solstice?"

"Are you talking about me?"

"Really? You? You're not even wearing the school uniform or anything, you sure are a outcast."

"It's not really my style, but it does look good on Novis."

"Anyways getting to the point, who are you to say that you are stronger than me? Clearly, my muscles are a lot more defined than yours, I have killed multiple dragons conquered territory, and both expanded and defended my Kingdom all at once, and you say you could do all that and more?"

"Way more than just that really."

Darius's grin widens and widens as he slowly walks down from his throne tying up his hair until he stands directly in front of the fool.

"A little small wouldn't you say?"

"I think you're just a little tall wouldn't you say?"

"I like you, BUT PREPARE YOURSELF FOOL."

Almost instantaneously Darius attempts to punch the fool straight in the face but thanks to his reflexes and future sight, he was able to foresee the attack just in time.