Chapter 14- The Five Phoenixes

"So what, you're really going to let him get beaten? Isn't that your cousin or something?"

In the enclosed box above the bleachers and with a wide view of the entire training area were the Phoenix Five, the group consisting of the five most powerful rankers in the Phoenix Academy. It was a luxurious place with armchairs upholstered with the finest material, bonboniere and a thick red carpet with gold embroidery.

Watching the fight take place below them was Elizabeth Kossler, the most powerful A rank cleric in the entire academy. She curled her finger in her perfectly wavy hair and watched intently the fight taking place below.

"Bairon is my neighbor, not my cousin! His father got to live in the Eagle District because he has money. And I have nothing to do with him! He can die for all I care!"

The boy next to Elizabeth was Teej Someriel. The rogue had greenish hair and shiny black skin besides an open and very friendly smile.

"Ah, I get it! So you don't give a damn about your fat neighbor. Got it. You really don't seem to give a shit, Beth." he said as he watched the cleric tap her foot repeatedly.

"Of course I don't care! A C rank like him can get beaten every week... but I think Linus is overreacting too... does he really need to beat Bairon like that? And why are they fighting again? Didn't they fight last week?" she looked away and saw that Teej was staring at her with a laugh on his lips "But who cares if the two of them fight, right? I don't! I guess they could fight every day and I wouldn't mind!"

Teej leans back in his chair and sees Bairon trying to fight back with his shield and strength and speed enhancements.

"You know that's how it works, Beth. As far as I know our beloved leader, the great and incomparable lord of the entire school, doesn't want rabble below B rank here."

"B Rank is still below, if you ask me."

Azhur Khan's voice came up at the entrance of the place and descended cold and heavy on the two. As they turned back the two saw the leader of the Five Phoenixes enter. Azhur's hair was golden and darker, like that of a cleric, but closer to golden. His eyes were like molten gold, and his dark skin seemed hard and solid, so that not even the best of steels could pierce it. He steps into the room, takes off his blazer and takes the middle chair, leaving the S of his blouse up.

"After my father left, that new A rank director is letting all kinds of vermin in." he says in a serious, firm tone.

"It's true...the number of low ranks have increased a lot since last year." said Elizabeth shrinking away.

"Didn't the principal put the new classes downstairs? They're so underground, Azhur, they won't bother." replied Teej reassuringly.

Azhur watched the fight for a while and nothing was said for a few minutes. He saw Bairon trying to protect himself and fight back. That irritated him more than it should have.

"With the Tower and all our worries we still have to lose space to these kind of people? This is disgusting! What do you think, Teodora? Wasn't it your sister who lost a spot because of these vermins?"

Elizabeth and Teej couldn't understand who the boy was talking to, but Teodora's voice came from the darker side of the room in a cold, frightening tone.

"My sister's failure is her fault alone. The feelings of the flesh caused her to fail and she overreached herself. A mistake common to mortals."

"That is not the point, my dear necromancer. The point is that she shouldn't even have taken a test. She, an A rank, had to take a test along with lower ranks. That is an abuse that we should not tolerate." Azhur replied without taking his eyes off the battle.

"Wait a minute, are you telling me that your sister failed a test that some lower ranks passed, Dora? Is your family so deep in debt that they can't even put an A rank here?" asked Teej debauchedly.

Teodora stared at him from the dark and for a moment her eyes were taken over by absolute black, like a paint that completely covers white.

"What my family goes through is not your problem, insolent mortal!" vociferated Teodora.

"All right! I take that back!"

And once again there was silence in that place. Azhur's pressure there was so strong that no one could breathe automatically, as if they had to think to do so. Teej turned to his cell phone, Elizabeth continued to watch the battle below without showing any reaction, and Teodora remained trapped in her thoughts.

This lasted only a few minutes, until Azhur spoke what no one there wanted to discuss.

"Apparently I will have to fight for my place as leader of the Five Phoenixes."

It was a sentence thrown to the wind, serious and without any trace of concern. And so the other members feared. One never knew if Azhur was serious or just commenting on something, and not knowing how to differentiate that could be dangerous.

"Oh, you mean the new S rank? Elynor, right? Relax, he is a battle mage and you are a paladin. Everyone knows that cleric magic beats mage magic," said Teej, trying to calm the situation down.

"It's true, Azhur! You are a warrior with the enhancements of a cleric. It's a one-man army. He can't beat you," Elizabeth amended.

Azhur pondered for a moment as he watched the cleric on the battlefield fending for himself in a corner while the warrior beat him violently.

"Yet just because he is a S rank our dear Gael has lost his rank here. Of course, I think it's completely fair and I think it would also be fair even if he beat me and took my place. What I don't like..."

His voice ceases as his interest in the battle increases. The fight below, the massacre he commanded for A and B ranks to drive all the other ranks away, was being interrupted by the one that disgusted him the most.

"So our dear Bloodless is really going to show himself that way? That will be interesting to see." said Azhur with a wicked grin.

"Good thing they stopped the figh... I mean, who's that guy stopping the fight?!" asked Elizabeth, clearly elated.

"Isn't that the Bloodless one, who is Elynor's brother? Didn't Elynor tell us not to mess with him?" asked Teej.

"The rules of the academy are clear. We can fight against the lower ranks, as long as it's a proper challenge." added Teodora.

Everyone saw the white haired boy turn to the warrior and point at him. On the screen above the image changed.

Kaito Arturis, F rank, challenges Linus Esperantir, B rank

Shall the duel proceed?

Everyone turned to Azhur, the only person there who could answer this. Theodora gave a deep sigh and said somewhat wearily.

"Professor Ilvario is not here, and two fights in a row in the same period are against the rules. I think it's plausible to refuse."

Azhur smiled feeling something warm inside him. He pressed a command on his cell phone and soon the fight was authorized, which scared everyone there, but when they saw what his face showed, no one there had the courage to protest.

"I want to see up close what that white trash has to show! I want to see him and his brother destroyed in front of the whole academy! This place is ours, and people like them won't change that!"