The Duel Invitation

“Franklin, how about I call you Potion-boy from now on?” Ai Ou proposed.

“Why give me such a nickname?” Franklin asked, intrigued.

“Because you drink spiritual energy potions as if they were ordinary water, don’t you?” Ai Ou explained with a chuckle. “So, I think ‘Potion-boy’ suits you perfectly, and it truly reflects your immense wealth.”

Upon hearing Ai Ou’s words, Franklin stroked his chin, muttering ‘Potion-boy, Potion-boy’ to himself. Suddenly, a wide smile spread across his face.

“You know, it sounds much better than just ‘Franklin’,” he admitted. “Potion-boy, that’s actually a great name.”

“Then Potion-boy it is,” Ai Ou confirmed. “Oh, by the way, Potion-boy, do you have a dog at home? Is its name Lil’ Chuck?”

“Of course, I have many dogs at home!” Franklin boasted, his chest puffing out. “Not just ordinary dogs, but even magical beasts like Thundercloud Hounds. I have them all! But why do you suddenly ask?”

Franklin’s pride was evident as he spoke of his family’s possessions, clearly reveling in the opportunity to show off.

“Oh, nothing much,” Ai Ou replied casually. “I just thought the name Franklin would sound much more flavorful if paired with Lil’ Chuck.”

“Is that so? Hahaha! Well, when I go home, I’ll rename one of my Thundercloud Hounds, then!” Franklin declared, laughing heartily.

****

Just as Ai Ou and Franklin were chatting quietly, Vivian announced from the podium, “Alright, that concludes today’s lesson. Class dismissed, everyone.”

“Ai Ou, let’s go together,” Franklin suggested after Vivian dismissed the class. “I’ll introduce you to some new friends.”

As Ai Ou was about to respond, a dark shadow loomed beside him.

“Hey, fatty, I don’t think your invitation will be effective today,” a voice sneered. “What do you think, freshman? Stand up for me.”

Franklin frowned, annoyed by the interruption. He detested being called ‘fatty’; he was merely well-built, not fat.

“Who’s that?! I hate being called fatty! Which audacious bastard dares… Fu-Fu-Furlan!”

Franklin stood up, his posture defiant for a fleeting moment, before his body began to tremble. It was an instantaneous transformation. Mere seconds after rising, Franklin shakily sat back down, avoiding Furlan’s gaze, unable to utter another word.

Furlan smirked wickedly, placing a hand on Franklin’s head and squeezing gently. “Heh, I’m not interested in bothering you today. Just a warning: stay away from the freshman, or else. You understand, right? Scram, you’re not needed here.”

Franklin continued to tremble. Though he dared not meet Furlan’s eyes, he didn’t leave. Despite his fear, a glance at Ai Ou solidified his decision to stay.

Seeing Franklin’s stubbornness, Furlan’s expression soured. He furrowed his brows and said, “Have you not learned your lesson? You’re being ignorant. Do you want some more ‘loving attention’?”

“Enough! Furlan, why are you bullying a classmate? Have you forgotten the school rules?” Vivian interjected, her voice sharp with anger. “And I haven’t even left yet! How dare you act so arrogant! Do you no longer respect your teachers?”

Vivian was furious. For Furlan to openly bully a student in front of her, especially one who seemed to be targeting Ai Ou, was a direct insult. It made her face burn with indignation that a freshman was being tormented so soon after enrollment.

“Teacher, please don’t speak nonsense,” Furlan said, a false smile plastered on his face. “I wasn’t bullying Franklin. This is just my ‘loving attention’ for him. Isn’t that right, fatty?”

He patted Franklin’s shoulder, a clear threat underlying his words.

“Y-Yes… yes, Furlan, he… he wasn’t bullying me,” Franklin stammered, feeling the heavy pressure from Furlan’s hand. He forced a strained, insincere smile.

Though it was obvious to anyone with eyes that Franklin was being threatened, if he himself claimed otherwise, there was no reason for others to intervene on his behalf.

“Alright, you’re dismissed. I’m here for the freshman. Your name is Ai Ou, right? You remember me, don’t you?” Furlan said, turning his attention to Ai Ou. Furlan reached out to pat Ai Ou’s face, but Ai Ou deftly dodged his hand, meeting Furlan’s gaze with an impassive expression.

Seeing his hand avoided, Furlan moved to strike Ai Ou. Witnessing this, Vivian shouted, “You wouldn’t dare! Furlan, I’m telling you, Ai Ou is a transfer student, a freshman! How dare you try to bully him right in front of me, your teacher!”

“Teacher, you’re speaking to me like this, all for a freshman?!” Furlan exclaimed, taken aback.

“What’s wrong with me speaking to you like this? I’ve always been this way!” Vivian retorted, her voice unwavering. “Ai Ou is my student, and I have every right to protect him. I will not tolerate him being bullied by you. Have you forgotten the school rules? Be careful, or I’ll report you to the Disciplinary Council and have you expelled! Even if your father is an Imperial Marquis, he won’t be able to save you!”

Furlan’s face turned ashen at Vivian’s words. Seeing Furlan’s grim expression, the other students quickly retreated, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire.

Furlan seemed to be deep in thought for a moment before a smile slowly spread across his face. He turned to Vivian and said, “Teacher Vivian, the academy states that students are not allowed to harm each other, but it also clearly states that duels are permitted. Ai Ou, do you dare accept my duel invitation?”

Vivian’s face drastically changed. She immediately cried out, “You! Furlan, I’m warning you, don’t push your luck! Ai Ou, you can refuse him. As long as you don’t agree, he can’t do anything to you! Furlan, aren’t you ashamed? You’re a Second-Rank Mage, almost Third-Rank, bullying a freshman!”

Ignoring Vivian’s warnings, Furlan’s gaze turned sinister as he addressed Ai Ou. “Do you enjoy hiding behind women like this? If you’re a man, accept the duel invitation. I imagine you wouldn’t be the type to hide behind a woman and rely on her, would you? How long can a teacher protect you? I, Furlan, am now issuing a duel invitation to you. Do you dare accept?”

“Ai Ou, don’t fall for his provocation! The academy rules state that as long as it’s not a duel, no student can lay a hand on another within the academy. He can only engage in a war of words. Ai Ou, don’t take the bait.” Vivian’s heart pounded with anxiety.

While Saint Roland Academy prohibited students from harming each other, if two parties agreed to a duel, not even a teacher could intervene. Only if one person conceded could the duel be stopped; otherwise, no matter how dire the situation, no one could interfere.

Ai Ou felt a warmth spread through him upon hearing Vivian’s words. He then turned to Furlan and declared, “Though I know this is a provocation, your words still annoy me greatly. I accept! Come on! Let’s go to the dueling arena!”

Vivian’s face turned beet red at Ai Ou’s acceptance. “Student Ai Ou, you shouldn’t have agreed! He can’t do anything to you.”

“I know, Teacher,” Ai Ou replied calmly. “Trust me, I have it handled.”

Upon hearing Ai Ou’s acceptance, Furlan burst into maniacal laughter. “Freshman, you’ve got guts! Let’s go, to the dueling arena!”

The news that the freshman and Furlan were going to duel in the arena instantly spread throughout the second-year building. Furlan’s reputation, or rather, his infamy, was already widespread. Everyone knew Furlan as an arrogant and unreasonable individual who constantly threw his weight around, formed gangs, bullied classmates, harassed female students, and even collected protection money. The students dared not voice their anger against him.

Coupled with his father being an Imperial Marquis and Furlan’s own decent talent and strength, no second-year student could consistently defeat him. Those who could were not interested in such trivial matters, preferring to focus on arduous cultivation, which allowed Furlan to dominate the scene.

“How pathetic. It looks like the freshman is going to get a severe beating from Furlan.”

“Sigh, the freshman is quite handsome, what a pity he provoked Furlan. I wonder if his face will be disfigured.”

“Furlan is ranked seventh among all second-year students. The freshman just enrolled; how can he possibly fight him?!”

“Exactly! Why would he agree to a duel? The world of magic is different from the world of ordinary people. The freshman can’t possibly think brute force will solve this, can he?”

In the dueling arena, as Furlan and Ai Ou stood on the platform, the audience below whispered amongst themselves. Most did not favor Ai Ou, for despite Furlan’s infamous reputation, his power was undeniable.

“Freshman, I never thought you’d have the courage to duel me. For this display of bravery, I won’t kill you. At most, I’ll just knock you unconscious. Thank me!” Furlan declared, looking at Ai Ou on the dueling platform.

“Do you know something?” Ai Ou suddenly spoke. “In most novels, words like yours are standard lines for a minor character. They usually don’t last more than three pages.”

“What?” Furlan was clearly baffled by the reference.

“My point is,” Ai Ou clarified, a dangerous glint in his eyes, “people like you die quickly!”

Furlan’s expression darkened at Ai Ou’s audacious statement.

“Fine! You disrespected me at the freshman party, and I couldn’t do anything then. Now you dare get so close to a teacher, and you dare say such things to me! In the dueling arena, no teacher can protect you!”

“Furlan, you’re bothering Ai Ou over such a trivial matter! Is that the extent of your magnanimity?! No matter what you do, I will never like you. Give up!” Vivian, who had followed them to officiate the duel, exclaimed.

She was there to act as the referee, fearing for Ai Ou’s safety. While she couldn’t intervene in a duel, as it was a sacred and inviolable right, she resolved to step in if Ai Ou’s life was in danger.

When she heard Furlan was bothering Ai Ou over such a petty issue, her face became exceedingly grim. She had never rejected any man, whether student or teacher, who expressed affection for her; she would only smile and say nothing. But today, for the first time, she explicitly told Furlan it was impossible. This enraged Furlan, and he decided to vent his frustration on Ai Ou.

“This is all because of you! Die, transfer student!”

With that, he swiftly drew his magic staff—a special one custom-made by the academy’s alchemy master. It could boost his casting speed and enhance his magic damage, allowing him to wield power equivalent to a Third-Rank Mage.