Volume 02, Chapter 20

  Rumors

  As I walk through the middle school gates, the familiar chatter of students fills the air. But today, the whispers carry a different tone—directed at me.

  “Hey, I heard he successfully raided an [E]-ranked Stargate.”

  “Really? I thought he was Manaless.”

  The stares that follow are sharp, tinged with disbelief and curiosity. How did this news get out?

  Someone must’ve seen me at La Centre Stargate and spread the rumors. This isn’t good. If Lumi catches wind of this, she might get intrigued enough to challenge me to a duel, and that’s a headache I don’t need. Avoiding her just got harder.

  At the same time… a part of me can’t deny it feels good. The rumors send a message—a clear one: I’m not the same Dominic they thought they knew.

  “Hey, Doms!”

  An arm slings around my shoulders, snapping me out of my thoughts. Turning, I see Arthur, his trademark grin practically splitting his face.

  “Hey, Arthur,” I reply, my tone warmer than I expected.

  “Uncle André told me you raided an [E]-ranked Stargate. That’s awesome!”

  So, André was the source. I should’ve guessed. His pride in me knows no bounds, apparently enough to share my achievement with the whole school.

  I can’t fault him for it. A parent has every right to be proud of their child. Still, his excitement inadvertently complicates things, especially since he has no idea I’m trying to stay under Lumi’s radar.

  “Thanks, Arthur,” I say, trying to match his energy.

  Arthur’s arm tightens around my shoulders, his enthusiasm bubbling over.

  “We should celebrate after school—my treat!”

  His heartfelt offer catches me off guard, pulling a genuine smile from me.

  “Thanks, but you don’t have to make a big deal out of it,” I say, though part of me is touched by his gesture.

  “Are you kidding?” Arthur says, his tone incredulous. “You, being Manaless, raiding an [E]-ranked Stargate? That’s huge, Doms! Even Magicians at [E] rank struggle with those!”

  “Really? I thought I didn’t do all that well… considering I got stabbed.”

  “Nah, injuries are part of the deal with Stargate raids, especially your first one,” Arthur says with a shrug, as if taking wounds in stride is just part of life. “What matters is you did it. That’s what’s impressive.”

  His words land heavier than I expect. For the first time, I begin to see my accomplishment through a different lens—not as a struggle I barely survived, but as something worth being proud of.

  “Alright,” I say, finally relenting. “Let’s celebrate.”

  Arthur’s grin somehow grows even wider, lighting up his whole face.

  “Awesome!”

  With that, he leads us toward the school building, the buzz of curious whispers and stares fading into the background.

  For once, I let myself enjoy the moment, the weight of doubt lifting just a little as we step inside.

  ════ ?★? ════

  Inside the classroom, a lively hum of whispers fills the air, each fragment of conversation adding fuel to the rumor mill.

  “Did you hear about it?”

  “Hear about what?”

  “Dominic. He raided an [E]-ranked Stargate. And he did it!”

  “No way! All by himself?”

  “Yes!”

  “But how? He’s Manaless, isn’t he?”

  The incredulous chatter spreads quickly, rippling across the room.

  From her seat near the window, Lumi raises an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. The snippets of conversation reach her easily, and though she keeps her posture relaxed, her thoughts are sharp and focused.

  “A Manaless, raiding a Stargate?” she mutters.

  The idea seems absurd to her. Even seasoned [E]-ranked Magician Stargate Raiders find such feats challenging. If Dominic had been part of a team, perhaps it would be believable. But alone? Impossible—or so she thought.

  -Creaaaak!

  The classroom door swings open, silencing the murmurs briefly as all heads turn toward it.

  Dominic steps in, Arthur’s arm draped companionably over his shoulders, his presence drawing even more attention. The hushed whispers immediately resume, louder and more animated now.

  Lumi’s gaze sharpens, locking onto Dominic with newfound interest.

  At first, it’s the rumors that intrigue her. But then, something else catches her attention—Dominic himself.

  He’s changed.

  The Dominic she remembers was leaner, more reserved, someone who blended into the background. Now, there’s a noticeable shift. His posture is more confident, and his frame is slightly more muscular. It’s not a dramatic transformation, but it’s enough to make her pause.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  The combination of this physical change and the rumors swirling about his Stargate raid paints a new picture of Dominic in her mind. It’s not the image of the Manaless boy she thought she knew.

  Dominic and Arthur head to their seats, seemingly unbothered by the attention. But Lumi’s gaze remains fixed, her curiosity growing with each passing second.

  Dominic, however, notices her scrutiny. The weight of her stare feels like a spotlight, making his skin prickle with unease.

  ‘Oh no, she’s staring at me,’ he thought.

  Sweat beads on his temple as he resists the urge to fidget. The whispers are one thing, but Lumi’s focused gaze is something else entirely.

  I hope she finds the rumors pointless and doesn’t challenge me to a duel, he thinks, desperately willing the situation to pass without incident.

  But Dominic knows better. Lumi isn’t one to let things slide.

  Though outwardly reserved, Lumi harbors an intense drive to grow stronger, a hunger rooted in her past traumas. Her father’s disappearance during a Stargate raid, combined with her history of kidnappings, has forged in her a relentless desire to measure her strength against others. For her, dueling isn’t just competition—it’s a way to ensure she’s never vulnerable again.

  Dominic sighs quietly, the weight of the situation sinking in. 'If she decides to challenge me, I’ll need to avoid her even more aggressively. If I see her, I’ll take the opposite route. No exceptions.' he thought.

  Avoidance has been his strategy, especially with key figures like Lumi. But André’s pride in sharing Dominic’s Stargate raid has, unintentionally, drawn more attention to him than he ever wanted.

  'It’s going to be even harder to avoid her now,' Dominic thought. His chest tightens as he considers Lumi’s perspective. Her drive to improve herself, combined with the rumors of his achievement, makes her curiosity almost inevitable.

  If Lumi decides to challenge him, it won’t be just out of idle curiosity. It’ll be to gauge his strength—to see if he’s someone worthy of testing herself against.

  ‘But I’ve got a strategy… and that involves sticking close to Arthur as much as possible.’ In Dominic’s mind, Arthur is the perfect buffer. His presence acts as a shield against unwanted interactions—especially with Lumi. With Arthur by his side, Dominic hopes to minimize any chance of confrontation.

  Turning to Arthur, Dominic pitches his idea and says, “Arthur, let’s sit next to each other.”

  Arthur blinks, a bit puzzled by the sudden request. “Sure,” he says with a shrug, flashing his usual easygoing grin.

  Internally, Dominic celebrates. ‘Perfect!’

  As they take their seats side by side, Dominic feels a small wave of relief wash over him. With Arthur close, he’s confident he can maintain his carefully crafted avoidance strategy.

  Lumi, meanwhile, continues to watch Dominic from her seat. Though she remains silent, her gaze doesn’t waver. She’s sizing him up, trying to make sense of the rumors and the changes she’s noticed.

  Stay calm, stay calm, Dominic tells himself, focusing on Arthur and ignoring Lumi’s piercing stare.

  -Poof!

  The classroom’s collective attention snaps to the front as dark blue smoke suddenly fills the air.

  Gasps ripple through the room as the smoke begins to clear, revealing Maurice casually dusting off his immaculate suit.

  “Did the professor just teleport?”

  “Wow!”

  The students murmur excitedly, their voices a mix of awe and disbelief. Maurice’s entrance is nothing short of theatrical, leaving most of the class stunned.

  Except Dominic.

  Dominic leans back slightly in his chair, unfazed. ‘Looks like Maurice is embracing his showman roots,’ he thinks, recalling what André had told him the day before.

  The flamboyant entrance is less a surprise and more a confirmation of Maurice’s penchant for flair.

  -Clap! Clap!

  Maurice claps his hands twice, the sound cutting through the chatter. His authoritative yet playful voice follows. “Alright, class, find your seats. Let’s start homeroom.”

  The students scramble to obey, still buzzing from the spectacle but settling down.

  Dominic glances at Maurice as the lesson begins, taking in the professor’s confident demeanor and dramatic flair. It’s yet another reminder of the unique talents and backgrounds of the people in this world—a world that continues to surprise him at every turn.

  Dominic feels a strange sense of calm with Arthur beside him, acting as his makeshift shield and Maurice commanding the room with his larger-than-life presence.

  He thinks for now, at least, casting a quick glance in Lumi’s direction. Her gaze has finally shifted away, though her curiosity still lingers like an unspoken question.

  The day is just beginning, and Dominic knows it’s bound to hold even more surprises.

  ════ ?★? ════

  -Ring!

  The school bell signals the start of lunchtime, a much-needed break after a morning of lessons.

  History was a breeze, thanks in no small part to my prior knowledge from the web novel. However, Computer Magi-Science proved more challenging, though I’m starting to grasp its complexities.

  -Screech!

  The sharp, grating sound of a wooden chair dragging across the floor pulls my attention.

  Looking up, I see Lumi standing, her piercing gaze fixed squarely on me.

  Oh no.

  Panic surges through me. Is she coming over here?

  Without thinking, I turn to Arthur, tugging desperately on his sleeve. “Arthur, let’s head to the library!”

  He blinks, confused. “Why? Lunch just started.”

  There’s no time to explain. From the corner of my eye, I see Lumi taking a step closer, her determined expression unmistakable.

  I need to escape. Now.

  "Activate," I whisper.

  -Tick-tock!

  The familiar ticking sound of the Chrono Pendant fills my ears as time slows to a crawl. Around me, students move in sluggish motion, their chatter stretching into distorted hums.

  Grabbing Arthur’s arm, I pull him along, maneuvering us out of the classroom before Lumi can close the distance. The hallways blur past as we dash through them, directionless in our haste to escape.

  When we finally stop, I realize we’ve stumbled into the school garden plaza. The lush greenery and the soft murmur of fountains create a peaceful contrast to my frenzied state.

  -Chime!

  The pendant’s effect fades, and time resumes its natural pace. The world snaps back to life around us, students continuing their lunchtime routines, completely oblivious to our sudden arrival.

  “Hah… hah…”

  I lean over, hands on my knees, struggling to catch my breath as the adrenaline fades.

  Arthur, less winded but utterly baffled, stares at me. “D-Doms, what just happened? And where are we?”

  I glance around, taking in the unfamiliar garden paths and flower beds. It’s clear this wasn’t part of the plan, but at least Lumi isn’t here.

  “Just… needed to get away for a bit,” I say between breaths, hoping my vague answer will suffice.

  Arthur narrows his eyes, clearly unconvinced. “Get away?”

  Should I confess that I was fleeing from Lumi? No, that would only make things worse. Arthur’s protective nature would likely lead him to confront her, which could snowball into unnecessary drama.

  “You know what, Arthur? It’s nothing,” I say, forcing a casual tone. “I just wanted to leave the classroom and enjoy some fresh air in the garden.”

  Arthur raises an eyebrow, skepticism written all over his face. “Uh-huh… sure.”

  He doesn’t press further, but his tone suggests he doesn’t quite believe me. Still, for now, I’ve bought myself some peace.

  As I straighten up and take a deep breath of the garden’s fresh air, I can’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. Fleeing isn’t exactly a noble strategy, but when it comes to avoiding Lumi, I’m willing to bend the rules.

  At least I’ve bought myself some time… for now.

  “So, about that celebration... where do you wanna go?”

  Arthur’s question pulls me from my thoughts, snapping me back to the present.

  I pause, considering. I don’t have a preference, as long as it’s not somewhere expensive.

  “How about you surprise me?” I say with a small smile. “Something enjoyable, but not too pricey.”

  Arthur’s face lights up with an enthusiastic grin. “You got it. I’ll make it a good one.”

  -Growl!

  The unmistakable sound of my stomach betrays me, breaking the moment with its embarrassingly loud demand for food.

  “Pfft! HAHAHAHA!” Arthur doubles over laughing, his voice echoing across the garden.

  Heat rushes to my cheeks as I place a hand over my stomach, mortified. “C-Come on, Arthur…” I mutter, grateful that it’s just the two of us out here.

  Arthur wipes a tear from his eye, his laughter finally subsiding. “Seems your stomach has decided for us, Doms. Let’s grab some lunch.”

  “Sure, sounds good,” I reply, my voice still tinged with embarrassment.

  “Great! Follow me, then!” Arthur sets off with his usual energy, his good spirits infectious. I trail behind, my earlier worries about Lumi fading into the background.

  Despite the chaos of the morning, I find myself looking forward to the rest of the lunch break. Spending time with Arthur feels grounding—a reminder of the simpler joys amidst the complexities of my new life in Sylvestria.