Luminary Institute

105: An Unexpected Confrontation

Angelica didn’t hold her for long, and after a couple more transformations, Nyssa left with the rest of Class Zero. With a newfound pep in her step, she held hands with Celeste as they wandered away from the Class Zero building situated in a secluded corner of campus. Feeling fatigue tickle at the back of her neck, she blinked it away as the others began debating. 

“Noodle place... AGAIN? Come on, we’ve eaten there so much recently,” Conrad rolled his head back, grumbling after Titus’s initial proposal. 

“Recently my ASS!” Albion retorted. “We just got back from a trip! But, also, yeah, I’d rather not go there either, I’m kinda tired of their noodle broth.” 

“Why oppose me then? We’re on the same team, what’s the point??” Conrad grabbed Albion’s shoulders, shaking him for a couple seconds until ice began spreading across his hands. “Okay, fine, I’ll stop, no need to try and freeze my ass...” 

“Do you two have any preferences then?” Titus looked back towards Celeste and Nyssa, who shook their heads in sync. “What about you two then, Albion and Conrad, if you two are such geniuses.” 

With Titus’s inflammatory words, another argument blossomed, and they came close to brawling until Celeste pulled them apart with a few words. “Why don’t we go to the rice bowl house? The newly opened one. I’m pretty sure none of us have gone, unless you three went right before we left?” 

“No, we haven’t,” Conrad rolled his sleeves down while glaring at Titus. “I’m down to go there, if these two bozos can agree though.” n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

“I’m fine, I wasn’t the one who started this all,” Titus sent another verbal jab in Conrad and Albion’s direction. “Food is food, no need to get so heated over it.” 

Albion, rolling his eyes, gave a thumbs-up. “I’m fine with it too, let’s just get going since the sun is already beginning to set, and I’m starving.” 

--- 

By the time they reached the restaurant located on the opposite side of campus, the sun had already set. A snaking wind seeped the warmth from their bones as they began crossing the final courtyard to reach the restaurant’s door into light, warmth, and sustenance.

“Oi, Titus? What the hell are you doing here?” A voice called out to them from the side. A jet of flames crossed their vision, illuminating the courtyard in a reddish-orange glow. “With your little posse too.” 

“What do you want Troy,” Titus turned to face Troy, a dark expression crossing his face as his frustration began to boil. First an argument—though more light-hearted—with Albion and Conrad, and now this?

“I just want to ask how you’re doing,” Troy smirked, putting a hand on his hip. “It’s not often I see my rival just out and about, so I had to give a greeting. How’s Class Zero? With all your special little perks and what not. Is that what you get for only hanging out with people younger than you?” 

“Man, I do not have the energy for this, why even talk if you’re just going to taunt me like this,” Titus resisted the urge to cuss Troy out. “I’m just trying to get some dinner with friends. Why are you just wandering campus alone like a loser.” 

“Me? A loser? I mean, not as much as you,” Troy snorted, rolling his eyes with a grin. “Can’t even take a few words? Just think of it as advice from a kind senior who’s looking out for you. I wouldn’t be caught wasting my time like you.” 

“You’re literally the one walking around campus, alone, in a bad mood ready to taunt people. Who here is really wasting their time?” Titus grit his teeth, balling his fists up. A faint glow emanated from his fists as his hair began to smolder. 

“Come at me then, let me prove why I’m not the one wasting time,” Troy beckoned, grinning as his emotions ran wild. “That’s what I came here for, a spar. I want to see how you’ve grown Titus. I want to see if you’re really worthy of that Class Zero moniker.” 

“Then get it,” Titus growled, sending a bolt of flame forward as the others backed off. Among the rest of the Class Zero students, Albion took a few steps forward, only to get pushed away by Titus. “Don’t involve yourself, this is my fight.” 

Troy tilted his head to the side, letting the bolt of flames soar past him. Feeling the heat by his ear, he laughed. “Oh, not hot enough my good friend.” 

Without delay, Troy sent his own burst of flames forward. His, a crimson red, began eating through Titus’s. They formed a dragon’s maw as they rushed forward, flickering white-hot as the light reflected off the cobblestones. 

Rolling out of the way, Titus used one hand to send a continuous stream of orange flames forward while wreathing his other hand in flames. The flames in his other hand grew into a ball, anchoring in place after a couple seconds, allowing for Titus to pull out a blade of pure flames. “Sword of Mars, come to me!” 

He swung the sword forward, cutting through Troy’s dragon while rushing forward. In his other hand materialized a shield with a gorgon’s face, this one though, let out jets of flames from its eyes and mouth in neverending streams. 

“Come!” Troy cackled, stomping the ground to send a wall of fire forward. His flames, though a deep red, burned at extreme temperatures, charring the cobblestones he and Titus fought on. Leaping backward, he wove the flames in his hands into a soaring dragon of pure fire. It towered over the courtyard, coiling for a moment before it came crashing down on top of Titus. “Show me, if you’re summoning these weapons, how you can play the hero!” 

“Are... you sure we shouldn’t help him...” Nyssa trailed off as Celeste, Conrad, and Albion stood beside her with stone cold faces. 

“Yeah, he’ll be fine,” Albion tapped his foot, watching Titus cut his way out of the fire dragon. “I’m more worried about his clothes. All his clothes are made to be fire-resistant, but that doesn’t mean they’re meant to sit inside of Troy’s fire for extended periods of time. He burns hotter than anyone else I know too...” 

“I think they won’t let us into the restaurant if Titus is naked,” Conrad sighed, one of his hands wandering to his sword and drumming its hilt. 

“HEY, HEY, STOP!” A voice shouted from the top of one of the buildings. “The hell are you two fighting in the middle of a courtyard for!” 

A flash of purple lightning came crashing down between the two fire users, revealing Electra’s form as Ryker and Olivia hopped down from the nearby building. 

Ryker, turned towards Titus, and Olivia towards Troy. Within seconds, they began scolding their respective classmates. Ryker, in particular though, after giving Titus a light talking to, leaned over and patted him on the shoulder. “Hey, good fight though. Stood up for yourself and didn’t get your ass beat. I’m sure you would’ve won, but we can’t just let you fight in the middle of a restaurant courtyard, it puts too many people in danger.” 

“I understand, I’ll be better,” Titus nodded, cooling his head off as he stared off into the night sky. 

As for Troy, he got chased off by Olivia’s contracted demon, Alecto after getting a thorough scolding. 

“Go bother the other Class One students, you dumbass. Why are you bothering underclassmen! I know you have weird ideas, but keep them in your head. RESPECT. We’re seniors. We can’t just go around doing this.” 

“Yes... yes...  yes...”