“So, how can I help you, my ex-student? Need to learn some more spells?” Leena asks playfully, taking a sip of her chocolate drink.
Currently, Leena and I are sitting in a café near the Tree-palace. I asked her to meet me somewhere over text, and she suggested this place. It was a bit surprising how quickly she replied.
“No, it’s something different. And I have a feeling you would enjoy helping me with this more than you do teaching me,” I answer, also taking a sip from the weirdly green concoction I ordered— and instantly spitting it back into the cup.
Ew, what the hell? I asked for the most popular drink on the menu, and this is what it’s supposed to be?
First that awful spaghetti and now this drink— if Elven food continues disappointing me like this, I might officially declare it my most hated cuisine.
“Something I would enjoy more than teaching you?” Leena raises her eyebrows. “That’s a tough bar to pass. After all, teaching you is what made me indirectly defeat Ilyrana! Seeing her embarrassed like that on the day of the duel— nothing could’ve satisfied me more!”
[Except your dick!]
…
[Yeah, never mind. Not your dick.]
…
“What if I tell you that it doesn’t have to end with just that?”
“What do you mean?” She tilts her head with a confused look.
“What I mean is that I want to shame her further,” I tell her. “In front of the whole Elven academy. Recently, she beat Saria in a duel, and that has restored some of her lost reputation .”
The instant gleam that appears in Leena’s eyes startles me.
“Yes!!” She grabs the sides of the table and leans forward with a wide smile. “That’s such a great idea! Although I would hate to kick someone when they’re down, Ilyrana deserves it! She’s been cocky for way too long!”
…okay.
“So, we agree. Will you help me set it up? I need to gather a large crowd— you know, for a bigger spectacle. And I hope you can help me go over the things I can say to her. I want them as impactful as possible,” I request her.
“Hmm… by the way, when are you planning to do this?”
“Tomorrow, I don’t want to delay this. Ilyrana needs to get it.”
“Wow… when did you start hating her this much?” Leena asks me with side eyes.
“E-Eh…”
That’s one thing I don’t wish to get right now: questions. But I cannot escape them either, so I will just twist and repeat the same shit.
“Because she seems to have done wrong to a lot of people— especially you. That’s not easily forgiven.”
“T-That’s your reason?” Leena looks away, blushing. “Anyway, leave the crowd to me; I will handle that. As to what you need to say, it doesn’t really matter, does it? Once you beat her again in a duel, directly in front of academy students, her reputation will be blown to smithereens.”
“Oh… we seem to have a misunderstanding,” I quickly explain. “I won’t be dueling her this time. It will just be verbal abuse about her previous defeat.”
“What…?”
This news brings down her excitement by a few notches.
“But why? Just– Just, you know…” she lowers her voice until even I can barely hear it, then takes a look around to make sure no one’s listening. “… use that weird spell again. The one Illyrana couldn’t defend against.”
This is the first time Leena has mentioned anything about the spell I used that day to me. After Ilyrana’s defeat, she claimed to everyone that she taught me everything I know, implying that she also taught me Chaos Ball— which she simply didn’t.
She doesn’t want anyone to find out the truth, and neither do I. It’s too convenient for both of us.
“That’s the problem, Leena,” I lie to her. “I didn’t perform that spell knowingly. I don’t even know how to do it again. If I could, I would.”
“That makes sense,” she nods at once. “I actually already guessed as much. With your level, there’s no way you can muster up a spell that powerful. It must’ve been a one-in-a-million lucky chance occurrence.”
Wow, she ate that up easily.
“But Jacob, you shouldn’t tell anyone about this, okay? Because… because…” now she struggles to think of an excuse.
… because you don’t want to stop basking in the reflected glory and be called a liar.
“Don’t worry, I won’t,” I assure her.
“A-Anyway, I will do my part, but how are you planning to enter the academy?” Leena asks. “You will need to present a valid reason and a willing escort to get the guest badge.”
“Don’t you have that problem as well? Maybe we can both look for a way in together?” I suggest.
Leena raises her eyebrows at this.
“I think you forgot, but I am a princess, and that comes with certain privileges. I can freely enter the academy,” she explains rather stiffly. “But I cannot extend that privilege to others because I am not an official student there. You’ll have to find some other way.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it,” I tell her. “I’ll figure something out.”
Welp, Aeson it is then.
Hey, buddy. I’ve been wondering… You don’t think Leena might be the culprit?]
Culprit of what? Being too beautiful?
[No, dickhead. I mean, don’t you think she could have stolen the egg? She looks a bit too happy and willing at the prospect of humiliating Ilyrana.]
Nope. How would she even know about Nina or the egg?
[Who knows? She may have been informed about it somehow? I know you’re pretty set on Saria being the thief, but we shouldn’t stop considering other possibilities.]
Okay, that’s true. But still, Leena won’t resort to blackmailing me. I am confident about that.
[And the reason for your confidence is…? Don’t tell me she cannot do it because of her good personality or some shit.]
Nothing like that. It’s just that she wouldn’t dare to. Did you forget what I hold against her?
[You hold something against her?]
Yeah! She held my hand with her bare hands! Zakira already explained to us what that means, and what the implications of it may be for Leena if I ever decide to reveal it.
Of course, Leena doesn’t know I am aware of it, but still, there is no way she would dare to mess with me, knowing what I can potentially do to her.
[Shit, my bad. I cannot believe I forgot about the ticket to her panties. So, Leena is in the clear.]
Pink, you… Never mind.
*snap*
“Hey, you there?” Leena snaps her fingers in front of my face, looking annoyed.
“I am, I am,” I answer. “But let’s continue this discussion later in the evening. Let me first make sure I can even enter the academy tomorrow.”
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