Asclepius

IV.

Nobody expects a new chapter in less than 24 hours! Maybe.

Anyway, the chapter folks.

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While stronger mid tiers and higher loved to pick a fight and show off their abilities, the same could not be said for low tiers and weaker mid tiers.

For the 'lesser' part of society, flaunting their low-levelled abilities was far down the popularity ladder. Instead, it was common for them to search entertainment from others.

In term of entertainment, slander was one of the most popular. Other than that, drama.

"You must be John." 

A tall blond student gazed at the overly gelled hair with amusement.

When Wellston's newest Healer met Wellston's King in the hallway, plenty considered it as a spark of new drama.

"Yup, that's me." was the answer. "Have we met before?"

Hearing the junior's insolent, overly casual tone, the bluenette boy behind the taller third year made his presence known.

"You dare—"

Holden was instantly clamped by a cold glare. From that action alone, John had a good guess who he was talking to.

"So, what does he look like?"

"Blond hair, tall as pole, and has the smuggest face around," Remi stated matter-of-factly. "Seriously, you can't miss him."

"Ah!" John exclaimed as his light bulb shone. "You must be Arlo!"

That seems to increase a bit of his reputation in the upperclassman's book, if the small smirk was any indication.

"At least you aren't ignorant," the senior's voice tinted with unhidden arrogance and approval.

If John was annoyed with Arlo's attitude, the teen did well not to make it known. Instead, he gave a light-hearted smile and did what was considered a universal polite gesture.

"I am John. Nice to meet you."

He offered his right hand to Wellston's King, inviting the third year student for a handshake.

Arlo stared at John's hand, gone was the amusement in his eyes and the smirk from his lips. The King didn't respond, merely keeping his hands in his pockets.

"Meet me in the courtyard after school."

With that, Arlo departed, leaving the awkward John hanging.

He didn't feel offended, but...

Ouch.

Speaking of high tier student...

"Oh, crap!"

Time was ticking and if he came late, his English project partner would absolutely ditch him (if she had not ditched him already).

John did not know how resolute she was in doing the entire project alone, but he did not want to test her out on it.

The greasy haired boy entered the library and there she was, occupying one of the tables. He could not see her face from the entrance, but he bet she was reading the project material so, very, seriously.

After taking the much-needed book from one of the bookshelves, John pulled one chair opposite of her and sat on it, making himself comfortable.

"Sorry for the wait," he spoke in his most positive tone.

If only the Queen would repay in kind.

He swore, when Seraphina turned her gaze to his direction, he felt a bit of his soul withered.

"Why are you here?"

Oof.

It took a noticeable amount of effort for John to hold his eyes from rolling. Must every high tier be so hurtful? Should he call the authorities against this passive-aggressive behavior? Oh wait, they were the one who supported it.

"To do our project?"

Unsurprisingly, she wasn't amused.

"It seems I haven't made myself clear," she said calmly. "We are doing this my way."

A way that had been explained in class hours prior, one he could not bring himself to agree.

"Hell no. I entered Wellston to study, not to mooch off your back."

"That is not my problem."

"It will," John argued. "This is a group project. What makes you so sure that I'll just sit down and enjoy the ride?"

While John did not mind spending his time arguing, Seraphina, who wanted to spend her time productively on the project, did not share his sentiment.

"Homeschooling had made you ignorant, John." she glared, spitting out his name like poison. "I can send you to hospital right here, right now, and you know what?"

"No one will bother to save you."

The strict librarian would not stand from her seat.

The righteous teachers would turn a blind eye.

And those mouthful cowards would disperse as fast as they could after the first blow.

No one would bother to stop her.

The boy frowned which the Queen took as him realizing the gravity of his situation.

"Pfft!"

John gagged, trying to hold the dam which was his mouth and belly.

Short to say. He did not do it well, which did very well to infuriate her. Before she made her threat reality, John pulled out the card in his sleeve.

"Have you forgotten Headmaster Vaughn?"

At first, the question left Seraphina clueless, which only last for a couple of seconds.

The laser accident.

By arriving in timely manner to save the school's name from local news, he must had placed himself in the headmaster's good book.

Another point was John's performance. The fact that Isen had returned good as new after skipping only two class periods was a testament to his ability. More than that, Headmaster Vaughn himself had personally witnessed it, an achievement Elaine could not hold a candle to.

If the headmaster caught wind of her beating him--

"Look," The boy cut in. This whole conversation was getting more and more outrageous and he didn't plan to fuel it for longer. "How about this? We do the first part together and if the score was not to your liking, we do it your way."

Her growing annoyance urged her to give out outright refusal and worse, but she held those thoughts with great leash. "And why should I agree?"

John, who had been trying to be patient, frowned.

"Why must you be so difficult? This is a group project; it's not like you have seen what I can and can't do."

She pursed her lips. No matter how much she disliked it, her rational side stood against her. Her past experience clouded her judgment and her pride and ambition dictated her actions.

Reluctantly, the time manipulator gave it a thought. For Seraphina, relying on others meant unnecessary threat to her perfect scores. From another perspective, avoiding team works would not help her in the long run.

The Queen inhaled. Was it worth the risk?

Wellston had standard. Surely this annoying sass was somewhat capable to be enrolled.

... She would regret this, wouldn't she?

"Fine," Seraphina decided, albeit not wholeheartedly. "If you drag me down, I will throw you into the gutter, I mean it."

An agreement was made, and the two of them began their group project.