Celestial University: A Bully Romance

Chapter 39: Prince's Preparations

"Train...you?"

With his voice cracking, he swallowed down as much chocolate as he could, fighting the strain of his aching bones.

"Please! I won't forsake this opportunity! As I am now, all of them were right. I can't protect myself unless I can surpass them!"

Madam stared down at the shadow below him mimicking his every move.

His father always kept that power hidden. Then that means. "I'll have to consider a lot of things. After all, I've got a business to run here, and I've got my workers and employers to support if things go south."

"Oh right," pressing against his knuckles to keep him up. "And it'd be too much of a risk asking them since some of them are non-combatants. "Then hire me!"

"Wait, you mean like, in the store?"

He nodded coughing. "Yeah. I can learn from the customers about some of the workers, use my powers to help clean up for practice, and if anyone needs help with foreplay," pulling up and showing her a list of phrases and tips Val and him made together he claimed they made incase either one had to get into sex work.

Luan blinked. Holy stars, her eyes darting deeply with suggestion and sentences. She smacked herself. No, I can't get my friend's own child into this kind of work. "Okay, how about this? I'll train you into using your StellArts to help out here."

"My StellArts? But I haven't activated it." She pointed to the living shadow right below him. He shrieked at the sight, falling back on the bed before analyzing it. Every time he moved, it followed his movements, standing up like a shaded humanoid. "This is my StellArts?"

"Must be tied to Cardinal," she figured as it mirrored his movements, punching the air. Sehki dropped his tired arms but the mere thought of such action led to it smacking the open space.

"If that's the case," condensing enough steam and a whip of fire to grab a rapier and thrust it at Sehki. His brain thought of what he would do as his silhouette's arm thrusts blocked the blade with all their might until Madam stopped her attack.

"It means you're ready to take the next step. Try doing one of those Cosmic Bursts."

"Huh, now? But it'll destroy the room."

"Trust me."

He built up the energy but it never released. However, the shadow grew to slightly around his size and shape.

"What happened?"

"You must've awakened your StellArts on the night you got here. How much do you remember after they blasted you down the cliff?"

His head twitched trying to remember, just recalling the army of Vods and Herdsmen and his guiding star.

"The pain triggered my activation," searching deep in his soul and seeing half of his constellation lighting up. He mentally commanded his own shadow to stop in front of him. "Which StellArts?"

"I'm not quite sure. But the energy you'd use up and discharge can now go to your actual magic. If this is what we're working with, I've got a few ideas for your training regime. So, what will you do after my training?"

He checked his phone, disappointed in not seeing any hints Val got any of his attempts to explain, and let go, hoping to never drag her into this mess. He looked at the inner darkness, reflecting on everything that occurred since his arrival.

"Revenge. I want to take down each heir one by one and make them regret every trying to kill them. I'll break each of them from their yes-men, find out what's going on with the Astrovoids to stop them, then find the truth of my parent's actions. After that, I just have to win the Mightatholon and earn enough Starlight to go home."

Wow, you've got a plan already. But won't they find out you're alive?"

"They honestly think killing me will cause the death of the Voids. If I knock some sense into them and dip before the end of the year, they'll be angry enough to either get stronger to finish me off for good. Or they'll have no choice but to improve their skills when they attack again."

"You want them to improve?"

"Except for maybe Xia, they have almost never been challenged. If a human led organization is recruiting people to use the powers of our world's enemies, us, um, they're going to need to level. I need to find Flint, but I'm not leaving knowing we don't have a solution to a bigger threat that can hurt innocent lives."

Luan stared at her hands. "The day any of my workers end up in severe danger. For someone mentally alive in this world for three months, you sure care a lot than I thought."

He sighed. "That was my first mistake," acknowledging Delta and Calypsa's words flowing in his mind. "If I can't value the people I abandoned, why would anyone help me in the first place?"

"Decency exists in a cruel world, but it's rare to find. I just - hope you don't end up like them," pointing to the rage swelling in his face. "And Calypsa?"

"Don't worry. Wrath is a tool, not an excuse. As for her," he sighed.

"No matter how badly a man is treated, the best revenge is to live a better life and get the help we need," showing hints at a smile. "She said it herself, she can't work with someone too weak to save themselves. I just have to prove her wrong."

Luan pouted. "She's close with Saiban's heir and that one's the toughest. But I don't want you two to fight each other. Fine, but let me at least talk to her. For now, you still need to rest, so I'm going to give you your first exercise."

"What's that?"

"You have to leave this room without your hands touching the door, or breaking the door."

"That's it?"

She walked away about to close the door.

"Wait, where are you going?"

"I've got a business to run too, your highness. Hurry up, and you'll get the credit for improving our customer service," she teased before locking and closing the door with him in it.