TBATE - Brother's Once More

Duelist

Jayden Leywin

I pushed the pair of doors open and took in the look on Tess' face.

You'd expect after knowing the princess of a nation that there couldn't be a new expression to see.

Tessia Eralith's face begs to differ.

"This..."

I almost chuckled at the sight of her expression as I nudged her with a smile. I grabbed her hand and pulled her down the stairs to the inner ring.

"This is what you'll be seeing more often now that I'm here to drag you around. You can be the Lunar Goddess all you want but at the end of the day, I see Tessia Eralith."

I jumped over the ledge, waiting for Tess to do the same.

We walked together and I pulled my coat off, handing it to her.

Claire caught sight of me and waved us over to her and the others.

"Jayden, you made it just in time! You're up after Leo!"

I acknowledged Theodore's presence, nodding at him before bringing my gaze back to Tess.

"I'm sure this comes as no surprise, but this is Tessia Eralith. I brought her along to have some fun. I know she's kind of in the same predicament as me but do you mind at all?"

Claire wrapped her arm around my neck, waving off my concerns.

"Oh yeah, it's fine! The Xyrus Ranking won't be under way until tomorrow, so we're just messing around tonight!"

I shot Tess a glance as I nodded.

"Great. Let me know when I can have some fun too, I'm gonna show Tessia around."

"Got it! Whoo! Go, Leo!!"

We made our way out of the crowd surprisingly easily as I dragged Tess through the amphitheater.

"This place is awesome, isn't it?" I asked.

"It's... more than just that. Words can't even begin to describe it."

Man, does she always do this?

"It's the spirit of Xyrus Academy. Look at the school, and all of its students. Even after all the clubs and sports this school offers, there's still a place where everyone can unwind.

It's a tradition kept alive by each passing generation that becomes more tightly wound as its legacy reigns."

The next few minutes were spent in one-sided silence as I directed Tess around the amphitheater.

From the target shooters to the competitive elemental constructors, I explained the less obvious activities going on as we went about.

That is, until a chill ran down my back and I felt magic coming my way, and fast.

My body spun around just in time to overwrite and catch several arrows made out of multiple elements. Including one that almost got Tess square in the chest.

"Well, how 'bout that."

"H-how... Wha-? How did-?"

"Don't ask, an answer isn't what you're getting."

I crushed the spells in my hands and scanned the area for bold-hearted Billy and his group of lackeys, finding a group of popular-looking brats running my way.

The faster brats among them reached us first with an orange-haired kid in the lead.

"Hey! Sorry about that!" He huffed out, leaning on his knees with a hand up.

"Some of our newer members lost control of their spells and had a misfire. Are you guys okay?"

The blood drained from his face as he got a good look at who his newbies just shot a spell at.

"M-Mister Leywin! Princess Tessia?!"

The remaining members had finally reached us and a pair approached us, huffing lightly.

They bowed so low that I would've called it a kowtow had they not been standing in front of us.

"Please allow me to offer our sincerest apologies, Mister Leywin, Princess Tessia. We had no intention of hurting you at all, truly."

The girl's vocal control sounded forced enough for me to check off being terrified.

I looked at Tess, who responded with a nod.

A deep sigh escaped my mouth, and I silently agreed with her.

Yeah, I guess no harm no foul. Couldn't even sense killing intent.

"Alright. Since the Princess is fine, this is your one 'get out of jail free' card. I'm going to be nice enough to let this one pass. I would've done a lot more if those weren't misfires, which I knew regardless of your telling me."

Somehow, their heads managed to fall even lower. Drops of sweat fell from a certain cluster in the group and I guessed enough to know.

"Thank you, truly thank you..! We will ensure it never happens again!" A particularly vocal boy shouted out.

"Uh-huh. Now get out of here. Go have some fun. Don't forget to be careful this time while you're at it."

They all straightened and the girl visibly deflated, letting out an awkward chuckle.

"Of course, Mister Leywin. We all wish you both a much calmer end to your nights."

**

"Seriously, Jayden! How did you do that? Aren't spells that have already been conjured impossible to control?"

I could feel the blood drain from my arms because of Tess' vice-like grasp on me.

Knowing Tess, she'd likely bother me until I told her.

No fucking way she won't. Maybe I should give up. Nobody's a hawker like Tess.

Tess asking questions had to be the biggest trap I'd ever fallen into. It just doesn't stop with her.

Simple answers don't do shit, and she can't understand the real ones! There's no end if it's her!

"Come on! Tell meeeee!"

The bratty Elf rebel that had been kidnapped after running away from her own home was now being dragged across the terrain of an academy battle arena by her childhood friend.

How exciting school life will be. Yaaaaaay. Just kill me already, goddammit.

**

"So, how do you feel?" Claire took a seat next to me as I slipped into an armored vest not unlike the training weights I made in the Beast Glades during my free time.

A smile tugged at my lips.

"Well, I'm pretty pumped to say the least. Can't say I wasn't expecting Theodore to challenge me first."

Theodore's strength as a Deviant alone put him out of the scope of a normal mage even amongst most adults.

Getting the chance to fight a Deviant with as much potential as him made chills run down my spine in excitement.

"Hm..."

While finishing up my preparations, the corner of my eye caught a strangely amused expression on Claire's face.

"What is it?" I asked, tightening the straps on my side.

"Oh, it's nothing. Just... I've never seen you look like that before."

"Claire, Claire, my red-haired friend. It's never good to assume the people you meet can't show you more of who they are."

A warmth in my body rose, like I'd been set on fire from the inside. Blood rushed through my body and the world felt slow even without the destructive rush of Lightning mana Impulse forced through me every time I activated it.

"And this time, I'm gonna show you just what the power of four elements can do."