Zero to Hero (Prequel/prototype)

Chapter 52. Escalation

"Lovetta, can you stop going at it with Luke? You have been getting so aggressive with him lately." Ken pleaded with Lovetta as the group enjoyed a nice breakfast on a Sunday morning 2 months into the semester.

"But he won't stop taunting you and he keeps on making snarky comments! I get so angry every time I see him!" Lovetta replied after she got in Luke's face once again when he was taunting Ken when they first arrived at the dining hall.

"Lovetta, his words can't hurt me, you know. But if you keep on getting in his face, sooner or later they will try something." Ken replied, trying to calm the wolf girl down.

With a rough start to the semester where Clare was on edge from the incoming marriage since day one. Having Luke getting more cocky and back to his taunting ways was putting everyone in a more tense mood, especially Lovetta.

With her protectiveness over Ken, She and Luke have been butts heads more and more often even when Ken wanted no trouble to arise from the situation.

While Luke has been a thorn for many years now, one thing about him that had always impressed Ken was his constant growth and when he said he would no longer lose to Clare, it would see that he was telling the truth.

When Ken saw Luke sparring and training in the training facility or during physical classes where both are attending the expert level with Clare and Lovetta. Luke has definitely improved greatly from just a couple of months ago and it would seem whatever tip he got from the second ranked hero Julius has really made a difference in his overall abilities.

Unlike Luke or even Lovetta, Clare is now struggling on the physical side of things. While her elemental magic and written classes have kept pace and been getting better steadily, her weakness on the physical side is definitely starting to show as she gets closer to master level and her growth starts to stall.

Ken on the other hand is only growing faster and faster. With the one on one training he received from Fintan and daily help from Cecilla while sparring and training with the rest. While it took him much longer to reach expert level in physical than Lovetta did and elemental than Clare did and is still a ways off from catching up to Cecilla. There is little doubt that Ken has now surpassed both Clare and Lovetta and Luke is the only person in their class that might offer a challenge for the young man from claiming the top spot for the class.

"Can we take it easy today? Let's head to town for some fun today. I am sick of studying and training." Ken suggested.

"Isn't there a play going on at the theater in town right now? We can do some light training and head out to town after lunch when Emma gets off work." Seraphina offered while Ken nodded in agreement.

After the group finished breakfast, the group headed for the training facility in a good mood, ready to get some training done and go have some fun in town.

Their good mood was soon ruined when they ran into Luke once again who was already hard at training and acting nothing like the usual spoiled noble with sweat running down his cheeks from the effort he is putting into his training.

"Well, at least I can say that as annoying as Luke is. He is definitely putting in the work to get stronger and isn't just partying around and doing nothing." Ken commented while guiding the group to the opposite end far away from Luke.

For the majority of the morning, the two groups ignored each other and minded their own business training and just when Ken thought they could avoid any trouble. Luke would not make things easy for Ken and the girls.

"Commoner! Come and be the dummy for my practice." Luke called out as Ken let out a sigh while walking over to comply with the request.

"Who are you calling a dummy!" Lovetta shouted as she rushed up to Luke before Ken could react to stop her.