Valeriana’s POV

"Can I sit here, Zeph?"

A boy, resembling Thalia, asked Zeph for a seat.

I wondered why he bothered asking when he could have just sat.

Perplexed, I turned to the boy.

"’Now, Bastard, let’s see where your image goes’"

Confused by his intentions, I couldn’t grasp his thoughts.

Was he trying to tarnish Zeph’s image, and if so, why?

Waiting for Zeph’s response, he seemed lost in thought.

Oddly, I couldn’t hear his thoughts; perhaps he was practicing meditation.

Realizing this wasn’t the first time he exhibited such behavior, just like how he used to chant his mantra before.

I considered he might be attempting some upgraded meditation technique, blocking out external distractions.

"Zeph? Alexios is asking something,"

Thalia’s voice broke my thoughts, revealing the boy’s name.

’Siblings’, I presumed due to the facial features of Thalia and that boy named Alexios.

Zeph finally engaged in conversation, and I couldn’t help but think Thalia should understand when someone isn’t responding, there’s a reason.

Like, this time, if he was not responding maybe he was thinking something important and I don’t think the reason Alexios was asking for his permission was legit.

He could have just seat anywhere, but nor Thalia understand neither that boy.

Observing them, I concluded they were indeed siblings due to their thoughts that seemed, really identical.

As I looked towards thalia, her thoughts resurfaced my mind.

"’Don’t tell me, is Zeph thinking about another woman?’"

Rolling my eyes internally, I couldn’t fathom Thalia’s naivety as she Doesn’t even know his preferences are different, as he was not into any women — Zeph was interested in men.

"’This bastard! How dare he ignore me, even after my sister spoke. Be glad that my sister talks to you,’"

I couldn’t believe the drama unfolding before me, a sister who just assumed things out of nowhere and a brother, whose thought is nothing sort of irritation.

In the midst of this brother-sister chaos, I decided it was best to stay indifferent to their melodrama.

Suddenly, I noticed Zeph nodding and gesturing towards my seat, ’Why is he doing this?’

I can’t help but feel uncomfortable, not because I have a problem with humans, but because this boy seems to be the brother of that girl and above all else he seems to be not much better than her.

In the whole class, I have figured out many students I need to avoid interacting with due to their unique personalities, and Thalia was one of them.

As Alexios took a seat beside me, I glanced at him and saw his apologetic face.

’At least he is not dense’

I felt relieved that he wasn’t as unique as Thalia.

He knew at least I was feeling uncomfortable.

I turned towards him to gesture that it’s okay.

"That bastard has definitely done some magic on my kind sister. She always was naive; that’s why I always wanted to protect her from such a con man. Even as a child, my sister this..my sister that..my..."

’Ugh’

Hearing his thoughts, my head hurts.

He is a mess just like Thalia or maybe even more.

I don’t know why, but today I am getting too many hidden secrets about people, and it’s really overwhelming — Zeph and Thalia are interested in the same gender, and this boy is weirdly sister-maniac.

Calming my mind, I took out my notes and started to revise them for the last time before classes began.

"Hey, isn’t she Alisia Quintain?"

"Oh my god, she is! I’m so excited."

As I heard these words, I took a glance towards a woman followed by another and some boys.

Unintentionally, my eyes fell on Alisia, making my passive ability kick in.

"’ He seems quite calm and cheerful, contrasting with what I know "’

What does that mean?

And whom is she talking about?

I didn’t see her eyes turning towards any boys.

I turned towards another girl accompanying Alisia.

"’ Once I complete this mission, I will once again prove my worth to Alisia and maybe even get a novel title ’"

’Is she stupid?’

How can she get a title without any big achievement, and Alisia is not even a princess who had a chance of becoming queen, that she will bestow a title to you.

Not understanding any of their words, I started going through my notebook.

BANG!

Suddenly, a loud sound made me come out of my thoughts as I noticed a third-year glaring at Zeph while his hands were in the desk.

What’s with his manners?

I can’t believe his outrageous behavior of smashing the desk like that.

If not for mana, the bench would have broken.

’" Now, I got you kid. I can make my dear Alisia impressed and even fall in love, by making you vomit everything in front of her ’"

Another one I can’t understand. Why is today’s day so exhausting?

I can’t handle these things; I ignored everything and immersed myself in my studies.

BOOM!

’Another one’

Lifting my gaze, I saw Professor Banzihum blocking Bruce’s punch.

I looked at the professor.

’" So, he is Zephyr Liander ’"

I just heard this much as the professor spoke, making Zeph take Bruce’s side.

It was confusing, but I had already known too much today.

So, not gonna give another look this time.

....

"So, this is it for today,"

Professor Banzihum ended his lecture session without giving any glance to anyone and left the classroom.

Alisia and Jenny stood, preparing to leave.

Bruce followed after some time before interrupted in his path by a nostalgic voice.

"Hey, Senior, aren’t you gonna show me the washroom?"

Hearing the same thing again, Bruce snapped, irritated by the repetition of same words about Toilet and all.

As he made his way towards Zeph, Alisia smiled, unnoticed by Bruce.

Upon reaching Zeph, Bruce observed others to measure their extent of reaction, Thalia seemed to glare at him, while Valeriana, standing to leave, didn’t care about anything happening around.

"Come, Junior, I will guide you to your destination,"

Bruce said with a forced smile, veins bulging in his forehead from anger.

Zeph, observing his facial expression, smiled, and both of them, like childhood buddies, left the place with their hands wrapped around each other’s shoulders.

Thalia looked at the disappearing back of Zeph but couldn’t follow him inside due to the gender-specific toilets.

"Alexios, go help Zeph,"

Hearing his sister’s words who seemed to fallen too deep for that guy, Alexios can’t help but sigh, before following in their direction.

SWISH

As he reached some distance from the classroom, Alexios’s body suddenly became invisible and his presence mixed with the surrounding mana, making him hard to detect.

’Now, I will see what you are made of, Zephyr Liander.’

.

.

.

Zeph and Bruce entered the washroom, both wearing smiles.

"What’s the plan now?"

Zeph asked with curiosity, Bruce’s expression twitching as he withdrew his hands from their friendly grip.

BANG

Suddenly, a loud sound echoed as Bruce threw a punch, but Zeph effortlessly blocked it with a smile.

"Listen, Senior, I endured humiliation for you, just to save you from embarrassment in front of the entire class,"

Zeph explained thinking about, how he had to lower his image by using toilet word several time, just to not beat this guy infront of so many people.

Hearing his word’s and understanding meaning behind them, bruce’s mind finally snapped and fueled by anger, he channeled all his mana into his body to strengthen his muscles, Activating his Physical Enhancement

While Awakened abilities varied from person to person, it depends on the person if they wanted to utilise them, as not everyone’s Awakened ability was useful.

Dariants like Bruce relied on physical strength. Mana enhanced their muscles, but unlike Zeph who used a Bracelet, Bruce had to continually supply mana.

Veins bulging, Bruce tightened his fist in Zeph’s grip, forcing him back with a powerful punch.

"That was something else,"

Zeph remarked, intrigued by experiencing Dariants’ strength firsthand as he felt the heavy punch on his palm.

Zeph, aware of his future and the importance of Zendal, silently instructed, ’Zendal, supply more mana.’

Bruce’s eyes reflected determination, and with a swift motion, a black-haired boy with golden eyes vanished before reappearing with a powerful punch.

BANG!

Bruce slid back but stood strong.

He uncovered his face by removing his crossed hands, revealing red marks and torn clothes from the intense pressure of Zeph’s punch.

"That looks good, isn’t it",

Seeing Zeph’s smile his anger surged and he launched himself towards him.

.

.

.

"Lea--me, y-bas--rd,"

Bruce’s face submerged in water, struggling to speak.

Zeph, pressing with his legs, watched Bruce’s face in the toilet seat. With a mischievous grin, he taunted, "Sorry, but I don’t understand. What are you saying?"

Flushhhhhhhhh

As Zeph cleaned the flush button, Bruce’s struggle intensified.

A firm voice interrupted, "Leave him, Zeph, or he will die."

Zeph’s heart skipped as he turned to Professor Adriannel, he smiled as ruffled his hair attempting to pass it off as a joke.

" You can ask him, I didn’t do anything"

Ignoring Zeph’s shameless explanation, Adriannel focused on Bruce who was struggling while pressed by zeph.

" y-bas--rd"

"He just fell into the toilet, I was helping him," Zeph defended, but Adriannel remained stern.

As Zeph removed his legs, Adriannel urged Bruce to speak while glancing at his broken state, "Bruce, are you fine"

"Haa.... haaa..... professor, he tried to kill me— smack! "

Zeph, feeling cornered, kicked Bruce to change the narrative.

"Professor, don’t believe him I have something important to tell you,"

Zeph insisted, drawing Adriannel’s attention as reached towards his ears, In a breathless moment, Zeph inhaled the mouthful of air before dumping it completely.

"You can’t enter men’s Toilet, Alisia!"