Saturday afternoon was proof that civilization occasionally made good decisions.
No classes.
No instructors.
No mandatory lectures.
No assignments.
No one attempting to explain theoretical mana circulation before breakfast.
For the first time since arriving at Galia Academy, life felt peaceful.
Students filled the academy grounds dressed however they pleased.
Training clothes.
Casual attire.
Expensive noble outfits.
Even a few fashion disasters.
The only requirement was simple.
Your academy badge had to remain visible at all times.
I personally chose comfort.
Black training trousers.
Light combat boots.
A fitted dark shirt.
Simple.
Practical.
Comfortable.
Most importantly—
easy to fight in.
Which was useful considering today's schedule.
At the moment however, I had far more important matters to concern myself with.
Specifically—
the purple berry bush.
As I sat comfortably beside my newest source of happiness, the warm afternoon sunlight filtered through the trees of the Library Garden.
The garden itself was beautiful.
Stone pathways.
Flower beds.
Small fountains.
Quiet reading areas.
And most importantly—
berries.
The sunlight settled gently across my skin.
Or more accurately—
across the crimson scales covering much of my arms, neck, and portions of my face.
The scales reflected the sunlight beautifully.
Gold.
Crimson.
Violet.
Azure.
Tiny waves of color danced across their surface.
I could actually feel them relaxing beneath the warmth.
It was pleasant.
Comfortable.
Like sitting beside a fireplace during winter.
Another advantage of possessing a dragon bloodline.
Some people preferred hiding their bloodline traits.
I considered those people strange.
My scales were proof of my heritage.
Proof of my blood.
Proof of who I was.
Besides—
they looked cool.
Which was obviously important.
A berry disappeared into my mouth.
Life was good.
For once.
While enjoying my afternoon, I opened my status window.
Name: Astaroso Ashford
Title: Soul Walker
Race: Avalonian
Species: Dragon
Class: Dragon Knight
Subclass: Pyromancer
Skills
Fireball Lv.1
Fire Sword Lv.1
Dragon Aura Lv.2
Dragon Scale Lv.1
Techniques
Dragon Fist Lv.2
• Pulse Breaker
• Wall Breaker
• Meteor Impact
Resources
Mana: 15,000
EXP: 2,470
I stared at one particular entry.
Meteor Impact.
"..."
Another berry vanished.
"...that's literally a haymaker."
The status window remained silent.
"A really strong haymaker."
I pointed accusingly at the technique.
"Meteor Impact sounds like the sort of thing that destroys mountains."
I made a fist.
"It is a punch."
Nothing.
No defense.
No explanation.
Coward.
Half the names attached to techniques sounded as though they had been created by an overly excited teenager.
I paused.
"..."
Then wisely chose not to continue that train of thought.
The afternoon breeze drifted through the garden carrying the scent of flowers and freshly cut grass.
Students moved along the pathways surrounding the library.
Some noticed me.
Others didn't.
The reactions were entertaining.
A group of first-years spotted me from a distance.
Immediately turned around.
And left.
Fair.
Another group spent several minutes pretending not to stare.
Less fair.
A student passed carrying a stack of books large enough to qualify as a structural hazard.
Six books.
Then eight.
Then ten.
The pile rose above his head.
I watched him wobble.
"You're going to hurt yourself."
Three seconds later he walked directly into a tree.
Books exploded everywhere.
I nodded.
"Called it."
The afternoon continued peacefully.
Then I spotted Tay Valen.
The Hero.
Of course.
The blond-haired first-year crossed one of the nearby pathways surrounded by several students.
Congratulations.
Questions.
Admiration.
Endless attention.
To his credit, he handled it well.
Most people his age would already be insufferable.
What caught my attention wasn't the crowd.
It was Tay himself.
Specifically—
the complete absence of visible bloodline traits.
No horns.
No scales.
No wings.
No tail.
Nothing.
Which was odd.
Very odd.
Tay was from Elarion.
A place where bloodlines were practically a regional pastime.
Most people possessed at least some visible trait inherited from an awakened bloodline.
Yet somehow the Hero looked entirely human.
A rare sight in Elarion.
I filed the observation away.
Then noticed the dark-haired girl again.
The same girl.
The one Tay had been attempting to impress since orientation.
She walked directly past him.
Ignored him completely.
And continued on her way.
Tay's smile twitched.
I nearly choked on a berry.
"Still losing."
Some battles simply couldn't be won.
The Hero looked powerful.
Talented.
Chosen by fate itself.
Yet somehow—
he continued suffering defeat at the hands of a girl's complete lack of interest.
A truly terrifying opponent.
I silently wished him luck.
Again.
He still needed it.
Unfortunately for me, fate eventually remembered I existed.
A shadow appeared across the ground.
Then another.
Then another.
I looked up.
Five first-year students stood before me.
All armed.
All wearing training attire.
All looking directly at me.
Ah.
There it was.
The reason today existed.
The duel queue.