The Reborn Magus and His Prince

Chapter 33

True to Emilia's word, her shadows could not be seen after class, and went somewhere off to train. While Yulian spent his days before the festival idle, not willing to help his class for their childish cafe, and often ran to class A's to seek Alex. And most of the time, they would shoo him away because aside from being a part of a rival class, he's distracting their prince from playing a prince role. 

That's right. Class A's doing a play. Alex's role was a prince, Yulian thought this class must be off of its hinges. What kind of a play where a real prince act as he does every day. It will be a boring show. But, they kind of redeemed by making Luke the lead princess. 

Yulian cracked up at this one. Just imagining that forever scowling with long curly hair and frilly dress makes his stomach roll from the inside. He and the director of the play which was Leo spent their time laughing whenever his part would come. This earned a furious glade from Luke and almost threw him out of the classroom literally and since then, he got banned from coming to class A. 

Alex saw how united his classmates were at driving him away, so got no choice but promise Yulian he will find him when his rehearsal finish. 

Yulian felt a little bad at disturbing Alex, especially how he took seriously his role. So he told him it was okay and focus on their class' play.

And here he was, at their secret place. At first, Yulian waste his time by mostly snoozing the day away under his tree and would come back at dusk to join Alex for dinner. However, he soon got bored of sleeping and with nothing better to do and with Ignis urging, he started exercising his body. 

He trained his control of fires without using his enchantments and containing his aura as a magus. Though he had a full grasp at his ability and concealing his magus, during the tournament and in throngs of excitement in between his battle his energy might surge out from his body. 

One afternoon, a day before the start of the festival, Yulian decided to go back to the dorm early to prepare his things for tomorrow.

His hand had paused in mid air at the doorknob of his room. He felt a familiar presence that he had not sensed for a long time.

"What are you standing there for? Come in." The voice from the inside. His tone's formal and held no malice but for Yulian's ears, the way the man talked was as if he's the one who owns the room.

He pushed open the door and William Braun was there, standing beside his desk. He had one hand inside his pocket and the other held the book left by Tim. The book was opened on the page of Ruke.

"Professor Braun, what are you doing here?"

Braun looked up from reading his own journal, his brows rose.

"What? I am not allowed to visit my friend's son? Am I not welcome?"

Yulian laughed awkwardly and rubbed his nape. "Uh, no, that's not it, Professor. You're my benefactor, you're very much welcome here."

He pulled a chair and put it beside Braun. He had to at least give respect to the one who helped his town and who acted as the bridge between him and the academy.

"Please have a seat, Professor." He motioned for him to sit down. "What would you like to drink? I'll get it for you."

Braun waved his hand in refusal and remained standing. "Oh, no need. I won't be long. I'm just here to check on how you're doing. And seeing you right now tells me you're doing just fine."

Yulian maintained his awkward smile and keep him longer. "Thank you for believing in me, Professor. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have the chance to hone my skills."

"No matter, no matter, it is your destiny to study here, child."

Yulian wanted to slowly steer their conversation at the professor's personal life but he had not even opened his mouth yet when Braun beat him to it.

"I see you have read my journal," a melancholy passed on Braun's face. "You must be missing your parents right now."

"Ahmm... yes, that's right." Yulian nodded his head. His plan diverted. "They ... I saw their name and missed them badly."

Braun sighed, looking regretful. He closed the book and gently laid it down on the table. "It is okay to feel that kind of emotion but you also have to be happy in remembering, they would prefer it that way."

He walked to him and put his hand on his shoulder as an elder would. "I am sure wherever they are, they are proud of you."

Braun patted him before walking away towards the door.

"Professor!" Yulian called to him.

The professor stopped in his tracks and turned around to him. A look of question was written on his face. 

"Are you going to stay in the academy and start teaching?"

"Oh, no, child. I had a patient near the capital and decided since the academy's near might as well enjoy the festival. I will leave again by next week. Why did you ask?"

"Nothing, Professor. Just wondering."

Braun smiled gently, it looked like he misunderstood that Yulian wanted to study under him. "Don't worry, I will be back on graduation day, and maybe next year, I will settle down here for good and start teaching again."

With that, Braun bid him good night and left his room. 

Yulian straightened his back and rolled his stiff shoulders, gone was the image of him being a polite and respectful student. He had not managed to dig anything from Braun but one week, he has one week to extract pieces of information from him. In order to do so, he had to suck up Braun but this is better instead of waiting for a long time and he will hear everything from the man himself.

On that night, Yulian went to bed with going every strategy he could think of in order to get close with the professor. He thought hard that the tournament had completely flown off from his mind. 

So, the next morning, he woke with birds singing on his window. He did not get up and enjoyed the lovebirds pecking at each other until a loud boom rang out in the sky. Startled, the birds flew off. 

Yulian also got startles awake and wanted to put his finger on the bastard who set that bomb so early in the morning. But then, he stilled... That loud sound was followed by another and another. It's not a bomb but firecrackers! And it is not early anymore!

By gods! The festival is starting! 

Like a flash, he changed his pajama to his gym clothes and bolted out from his room. 

The outside was devoid of any souls save for himself. He ran faster than he had ever in his second life. 

He panted when he reached the gymnasium, almost his tongue hanging from running. He dragged his feet to get inside.

In an overnight, the gymnasium had transformed into a huge open arena, and on its center was a circular stone platform. The arena can accommodate all of the academy's inhabitants which he guessed were sitting inside. 

Yulian found his class among the crowd and sat at the back row of the seat. No one paid attention to except for those who sat in his row. He ignored their stares and acted oblivious to the fact that he was late.

Fortunately, there was no major event that happened, only the principal had signaled for the festivities to start. By the faces of the students, he guesses he had to thank the principal's long winded speech. He had not missed out much except for those boring speeches by anyone who has a title on their names.

Yulian's name was called by the pres and told him to go down together with Emilia. The host will soon announce the start of the tournament.

He and Emilia were ushered by a professor to sit on a front row bench with a steel barricade. There were other students sitting already, he saw the twins at the other end of the seat. Leo noticed him and waved which he returned.

Their seat had a full and close up view of the stage. 

And just like the pres had said, the host announced the start tournament soon after. The crowd burst in cheer, finally, the spirit of festival returned.

It even escalated when tiny particles of magic compacted together floated above to form a large screen. 

The images and names of the participants were displayed right in front of everyone. 

Those popular ones especially the twins had the loudest cheer while some relied on their classmates and friends to shout for them. And the most pitiful ones were the outcast and by outcast, that means Yulian and Emilia.

Well, at least Emilia had her friends to cheer for him. While Yulian probably heard one or two cheers. He's sure one was Alex somewhere among the crowd and the other was probably the pres who wanted to bring their class to fame.

The tournaments had a total of twenty participants and they were divided into two categories, Set A and Set B. Within the set, they have to defeat each other and the emerging five winners will battle with the other set's winners.

Yulian belonged to Set A, on Set B were the twins and Emilia. So, he won't be able to fight the three yet. 

Set A was scheduled this morning and most participants were the unpopular one so half the crowd left. 

No matter, he will finish his battle real quick.

The sequence of the fight had already been ready. Yulian and a boy who's in the first year class were the first to fight.

His opponent had the ability of wind and sent in his directions after the signal to start the fight sharp winds that can cut his bones. 

Clearly, the boy still had milk in his mouth. His techniques were deadly but lack coordination and control. He would recklessly just throw his sharp winds wherever Yulian's landed after effortlessly dodging his attacks one after another. 

From Yulian's palm, his slender whip fire came out. He lashed and it caught the opponent's ankle. The boy shrieked in pain at the burning sensation of the whip and unwittingly grabbed the whip to remove it. Another curling scream rang out. 

To save the foolish boy from further burning himself, Yulian flung him out of the ring. Making him the victor of that fast and funny battle.