ACT II
MONAMI

Chapter 48
The Bothersome Second Year

  It was the second day for the first years and Hans had squeezed some nap time in between morning Exercise and breakfast. His sweet sleep came to the end with Chris's constant stare, being sensitive has its own disadvantage. He opened his eyes and found Chris’s face near his, which startled him and he jumped out of the bed. His stare was not as bothersome as the foul smell of sweat that was enough to burn his nasal hairs.

  After his defeat, the only thing which occupied his mind was to perfect the flaws of his sword technique. For a knight, there was nothing more humiliating than getting beat up in a sword fight with a mage. After the annoying morning Exercise, he also squeezed some time but for sword training rather than nap like Hans. He went on his own to practice swordsmanship and just returned to see the source of his damaged pride sleeping soundly.

Hans yelled at his sweaty friend,
You need a shower, and lots of cologne, you stink like a dead dapple lizard.

Chris smell his own clothes and made a pleasant face, he replied to him,
Ah, this is the smell of hard work.

No, it's disgusting you freak, go take a bath or flush yourself

  After he got himself clean, Hans noticed an odd mark on his right palm. Chris detected his gaze and explained to him,

oh, this, when you were sleeping, all knights trainees were called, this is called measurement mark, it keeps telling us of our aura capacity.

Can't you just tell yourself?

Only high-grade knights are capable of that.

  Hans did not ask much after that and both of the boys went on for their breakfast. The third and uninvited guest came and sat beside them. She was looking at him with annoyance. it was all because of him that she got scolded.

But Hans couldn't bear the glare and asked her,
What now?

Just having a thought of smacking your head.

Why don't you try and see what happens?

  Chris got baffled to hear what Hans said, arguing with her was one thing but his friend was outright provoking her. Hans resolved that he was not going to take this any longer. She could do whatever she wanted but he won't be submissive ever again.

  Surprise to them, she didn't refute this time and just finished her plate. Her silence was more effective than her arguments and Hans suffered indigestion once more. They had all the day for themselves since there was only a single class in the evening and in addition, it was a guest lecture.

A book was strapped into his waist which was piquing Chris’s interest since they left the room. Finally, he couldn't hold his curiosity back and asked him,

What's with the old-looking book?

Hans looked downside and strapped off the book and waved it in front of Chris,
Oh, this, it's just an empty book, I ought to look like a mage, right?

Carrying the accessories won't make you smart, but the library will, buddy.

I was born smart, it's the knowledge I lack.

Can’t you let me win once?

Not gonna happen.

But you let her win.

Hans turned at her and said while provoking her,
It was not by choice but she could very well try now.

  But unlike his expectation, Delimira was still maintaining her calm and once again Hans failed to incite her. It was bothersome that she was behaving passively. They finished breakfast and left the cafeteria. there were many familiar faces from all four sections, talking in groups, and creating their own factions within the first years.

  It was just the third day and Hans's two House members, Cassidy the princess of Sunfall and Garen the dwarf were already leading the factions with more members than others. Hans was neither interested in joining nor creating his own and, Delimira and Chris followed the same thinking.

  They reached the detached temple-like building, it was grand and twice the size of the academic building where they attend lectures. Hans thought he would find some upperclassmen here but Delimira enlightened these ignorant fools that the entrance for first-years was separate.

  They arrived at the reception and were required to register once to use the facility. There were two receptionists, a young man and an older woman. Chris went ahead to charm the lady and the young male receptionist was enchanted by Delimira. the young man was not staff in the library but was only doing part-time work in the library to earn some more coins.

  Hans sighed, in his company, one was a fly and another one was the bait for others. He worried about his future self and went ahead to register first. The woman who was conversing with Chris noticed their badges.

  There was a single sword badge on the left pocket of his black uniform, making it clear that he was the first-year representative of knight discipline. She turned over to check the other two and noticed the girl accompanying the boys.  Delimira also had a badge in the form of a circle, donned on her left pocket of the white uniform.

  Since knights wore black and mages wore white, she looked at Hans who was also in white. It doesn't take a genius to understand that this trio was probably the strongest group in the first years. She belatedly recognised professor Aredhel’s daughter and stopped her idle chatting with Chris.

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What can I help you with, miss Winters?

Hans mocked her without giving Delimra any time to answer,
And people say this place is free of discrimination.

The receptionist lady looked down in embarrassment but Delimra came to save her and said,
Just process my registration.

  After successfully registering, the three casually traversed the library with the exception of Hans picking up the books he liked and at the end of their ground floor tour, he was carrying many books in his trolley.

Chris asked in amazement,
Are you gonna read it or are you just showing off?

Kinda both, didn't I tell you my hobby is reading?

  Chris and Delimria both looked at him like he said something unbelievable. By no means Hans looked like a book worm but soon they understood what he s really the truth. Once he started reading there was nothing that could break his concentration.

  Even after lunch, he maintained his reading streak, most of the books were about geography and bestiary. Alchemy rarely intrigued him but since Concordia’s main source of income was alchemy, there were many books on elementary knowledge of it, so he just browsed them casually.

  There were many things he found different from what he knew from his collection at ghost isles. All of his knowledge was outdated since his books were not updated frequently like in this library. He also gained knowledge of newly discovered species but he didn't find what he was searching for.

He went and asked the receptionist,
Where can I find books on red demons or any information related to them?

The receptionist got baffled and another person who was looking down from the first floor replied to his question,
Here on the first floor, first years. Wanna come here, I could grant you some special privilege.

  Hans looked at his uniform, he was in black clothes with two swords in his badge, making him the second-year representative. He found nothing wrong in his intention and was gonna move towards him but suddenly Delimra grabbed his shoulder and replied to the senior above instead of Hans.

Stop scheming, Gazel.

The second-year knight Gazel laughed and asked her,
So, is it your toy, you should have told me?

  The transformation was undone, his appearance changed completely and his uniform converted from black to white alongside his badge. He was an elf and representative of second-year Mages. Hans had no idea that he was using a transformation. He used the ManaVision on him and found that this person was a third circle mage making him a senior mage. But his words were ticking him off.

Delimira increased her strength in the grip to warn Hans not to be impulsive. She replied to Gazel,
Only a prick like you calls someone a toy.

Chris and Hans turned to her instantly, her past actions and words did not match a bit. Gazel responded to her with a wicked laugh and she returned the favour with a remark,

You inconsiderate fool, this is a library, stay silent.

He got serious and said,
And who will report me? You? You don't wanna take a step in Clandor again.

  Hans removed her hand from his shoulder, it was not his problem so he just wanted to move away from it but Gazel had some other plans. He provoked Hans,
Hey you short bastard, do you know how much money you cost me?

  Hans turned to him, it was his first time listening to this crap which made him surprised. He never knew this Gazel but he was claiming that he owed him money. Before he could ask how this happened, the second-year added,

I used to run an information agency, your background check request came and overnight my organisation was wiped clean, just who are you, bastard?

Hans looked at him calmly and responded,
If it is true then shouldn't you be afraid of me?

  Hans’s words felt like he ordered that to happen and Delimira finally understood what her mother was trying to hide from her yesterday. She turned to see Hans’s expression and found him confidently glaring at Gazel.

  Gazel was startled, he didn't know why his organisation vanished yesterday so he was just shooting in the dark while investigating their latest requests. He looked in anger at him and asked again,

Who the hell are you?

Hans annoyed him again by saying,
I don't wanna tell you.

Gazel was boiling in anger meanwhile Chris thought Delimira was a bad influence on Hans, and he was turning as condescending as her. The senior clenched his fist and finally exploded,

I don't care who you are but you messed with the wrong person, you have taken something of mine so I am gonna take something of yours...

Gaezel's threat was still ongoing but Hans stopped him by pointing his index finger toward Delimira and shamelessly saying,
Take her, she is my best friend.

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