Chapter 62: The Darkness of Power 6/10
Friday's practical combat class, logically, should be a pseudo-random arrangement based on student performance.
The purpose was to allow academy students to duel as many suitable opponents as possible, to achieve progress in actual combat.
But on Luca's second day of enrollment, Aisha had to have a practical combat test with her.
It was the same with Kevin, who was arranged for the expulsion battle before.
At critical moments, Aisha always felt targeted by the supposedly random arrangement system.
This wasn't random at all.
"Xiao Ai, were you happy sharing a room with the beautiful girl transfer student last night? Or perhaps, You Ling should be the happiest, being able to admire the golden-haired beautiful girl at all times, truly enviable."
Because Aisha finally got a roommate, Yilin, who lost her qualification to stay over at Aisha's dorm, her old vinegar jar (- slang for someone easily jealous) started sloshing again.
Aisha gave an awkward smile.
"No, Lin-chan. Student Luca didn't return to the dorm last night."
"Didn't return to the dorm, why?"
"Luca said her luggage containing daily necessities hadn't arrived at the school yet, so she temporarily stayed at a hotel outside the academy for a night."
That's right, the Elf Continent also has express delivery services, with Gryphon Knights responsible for airlifting any luggage; the efficiency is no lower than that of technological civilizations.
It just lacks online shopping services, otherwise, even staying in the academy, one could enjoy the degenerate life of a shut-in until the end of time.
"No wonder I didn't see student Luca."
Yilin looked around the duel field; wherever the beautiful girl transfer student went, she would definitely be surrounded by enthusiastic and curious classmates.
As a result, including the second-years who came to watch the excitement, there were quite a few people, just that the crucial petite figure of Luca Slint was not seen.
Still at the old spot in the distant stands, Irena and Kyma, after a long time, came to watch the first-year practical combat test again.
"It's all these people's fault for being overly enthusiastic, scaring the transfer student from showing up early."
"Hmph, no matter how cute she is, if her dueling strength is lacking, she's just a pretty vase."
Kyma Set, arms crossed, calmly looking down, uttered lines almost identical to what Kevin said yesterday.
"That's what you say, but actually, Kyma, you're also very interested, right? The true strength of an Xyz Academy student who could suppress Kevin in a summoning competition."
It's not an exaggeration to say Fusion Academy simply can't keep secrets.
With so few students in total, what happened in the first-year classroom yesterday only needed a day to spread to the second years, which was tantamount to spreading throughout the entire academy.
"I'm more concerned about Aisha Carlos's duel. If she loses to the transfer student from the Slint family, it would be the Set (賽特 - Sài tè) family's second disgrace!"
The first disgrace referred to Aisha defeating Kevin Set as a dead last; Kyma would definitely find a chance to get revenge for this.
But no matter what, Aisha Carlos now bore the name of having defeated Set.
Before this grudge was settled, if she was defeated by other Duelists, especially from a prominent major family of another country like the Slint family, the impact on the Set family and even the entire country would be extremely adverse.
The world of the powerful and influential, it sounds fantastical, but it's just that realistic and dirty.
If such an outcome occurred, Kyma could already imagine. Various sarcasms, rumors, and conspiracy theories about the Set family and the Sitelin family would absolutely be overwhelming.
At that time, the Carlos family, a declining noble house caught in the vortex of power, would very likely be easily crushed by the ugly dark side.
"Aisha Carlos, she should know what this duel represents, right."
"I think she has no idea."
Irena hit the nail on the head.
Looking at Aisha's current performance, her overly naive nature had clearly never been involved in the intrigues among nobles.
To expect the current Aisha to see through the power plays between national nobles behind an ordinary practical combat test was too unrealistic.
"I actually think this is quite good."
Compared to the serious Kyma, Irena looked relaxed.
"A heart untainted by dark ugliness, that's Aisha. Don't put too much pressure on yourself; it's easier to perform during duels then."
"If only it were as you say."
However, Kyma's ominous premonition did not disappear, whether regarding the outcome of today's duel or Luca Slint herself.
The young lady of the Slint family, specifically transferring to Fusion Academy, no matter how one thought about it, seemed like a precursor to a storm.
...
"Erupt!——Inferno Fire Blast (!"
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh! I can't accept this!!"
Shuiyue Wu LP: 100→0
The black dragon's flames scorched the earth; Kevin once again won the practical combat duel test with overwhelming force.
The overall progress of the morning's test was past halfway, yet Luca's figure still hadn't been seen.
"Could something have happened?" Yilin started to worry.
A girl as cute as Luca, if she were staying alone in a hotel outside the school, was indeed very dangerous if one thought about it carefully.
After the duel ended, Teacher Aileen flipped through the list in her hand.
"The next practical combat test, Aisha Yuna Carlos versus Luca Trins, please take your positions."
"Teacher, student Luca seems to not have arrived yet," Aisha raised her hand to indicate.
"Still not here this late?" Teacher Aileen frowned slightly, "Student Luca did ask for leave yesterday, saying she would be a bit late. But I didn't expect it to drag on this long..."
"I-I'm here!"
From the outer edge of the crowd, a girl's tired voice came.
Then the surrounding crowd very consciously made a path for the girl.
Only to see Luca struggling to drag a suitcase even larger than her petite body, arduously advancing towards the duel field in the middle of the crowd.
You Ling: "Is that the luggage Luca said contained daily necessities? Just what daily necessities could fill that much."
The person isn't big, but the luggage is bigger than the person.
A steel-straight man like You Ling would definitely not understand a girl's concerns when staying outside.
However, someone like Luca, even after the academy had already provided the most basic living necessities, still dragging such a large piece of luggage to stay in the dorm, was also quite rare.
"Sorry, I'm late, teacher!"
"Mm, hurry up and take your position, student Luca."
Putting down her luggage and stepping onto the duel field, Luca swept away her tired expression, smiling at Aisha opposite her.
"Kept you waiting, student Aisha. Let's begin, a delightful duel!"
Slightly different from yesterday's cute-style attire, the most conspicuous and eye-catching part about Luca today was her slender legs, wrapped in black and white stockings of different colors on each leg.
It looked like she had heterochromatic eyes ( different colored eyes, used metaphorically for stockings).
"Mm, let's both do our best, student Luca."
Aisha lifted her short skirt and drew out her deck.
Tinkle~!
Faintly, You Ling once again heard the sound of a wind chime clinking.
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