First of Lumis, year 984, 3rd Cycle
Rho stepped off the entrance platform and looked around carefully. Around him was a great hall full of people, all walking towards their own destination. It seemed like a cathedral, with a high ceiling and great windows that let through the morning sun. The sound of people talking to each other and chatting cheerfully was resounding through the air. He could easily distinguish the countless powerful auras from the people here. There were quite powerful people around here, probably the protecters of some of the students.
This specific array was designed to let people enter the realm of the Magic School of Cyria, entering through the protective barriers and layers of defence against attacks. So it was only natural that young students were guides by their guardians, since there were a lot of important and strong people were here. Of course, there were others that were alone as well. They simply did not have a guardian or were confident in their status or ability.
Rho walked towards the food stores while still paying close attention to everyone around. His awakening had improved his senses by an insane amount, and with his knowledge from both worlds and his previous lives, he was way more aware than nearly anyone around. That was also why he realised he was being watched from nearby, and that it was a young person. The reason he went to a food shop was because he wanted to try out the new kinds of food, but also to inquire about various things. And more importantly, to hear some of the rumours. It is strange that no matter where you are, it seems that in any eating establishment, you can hear the latest rumours. People forget whom they're around when they're eating with comrades.
He walked inside one of the more average-looking ones. When he walked in, the people all momentarily shut their mouths and looked at him to gauge the level ofdanger that just walked in. When they saw his face and his clothes they all looked back to their food and friends, since they all saw no threat in him. Rho chuckled lightly. He walked to the barkeeper and ordered a drink and was checking the dish of the day.
He had just finished ordering his meal when behind him a cold voice resounded. "Make way for Maru from the House of the Silver Dragon!"
Rho looked behind him and saw a young man standing there. He had long wild brown hair that reached to half of his back, a strong jaw, strangely bright purple eyes, and a large scar on his neck. The look on his face made him seem like a quite nasty person, someone who would be violent for no reason. And above all, he had a very arrogant voice, look and posture. Needless to say, Rho didn't like him at all. People who were arrogant because of their background were rarely ever really strong, since they never had to fight for real in their sheltered environment.
Rho didn't bother looking at him for more then a few seconds, and turned back around to make his decision. The youth walked to the bar and looked at Rho. His eyes turned cold when he saw this person not moving our of his way and even ordering his own food. The youth immediately walked up to him and wanted to violently pull him out of the way. He was someone with both strength and status, and not a lot of people would want to stand up against him, especially those of his age. He was, by his ages' standard, in the top of this school, and since this was a meeting point and gateway to the school, there would be very little daring to challenge him outside of the children from the other houses.
Maru looked at the person in front of him and said "Why haven't you moved yet? Can't you see I want to order food?" Rho looked at him coldly and spoke in an icy tone "I don't think I need to move for someone that spouts such great words but can't back them up" Maru looked at him with a stunned expression, soon followed by a furious look in his eyes. "You think you can just go against me and get away with it? Do you know who you're talking to? Huh?"
Rho answered with an ice cold tone: "If you have the skill to back it up, prove it. Challenge me to a duel!" Maru looked at him in complete shock. He then started to laugh like a madman. "Ahahahaha, you think you can win from me? Fine, I challenge you to a duel! The winner gets to decide the loser's fate!"
"Fine by me." Rho coldly replied. They both walked outside towards the dueling area. This was a small square designed with powerful battles in mind, so it had a strong protective spell around it that was being supplied by an etherion gatherer. All the leftover magic power was absorbed and used to power various applicancies. Since there were a lot of mages there would naturally be an abundant amount of energy. Maru looked at Rho and said in a haughty tone "You with such a low level of mana, what is your name? I will grant you the favor of remembering your name even after I stomp you into the floor."
This statement made the people watching look at this particular field with interest. Good or bad, Maru was someone with at least some status in the younger generation of mages, and he also came from a large, well-known family.
Rho smiled wryly. It was true that he had a very low amount of magical energy at his command. This subsequently meant he could not do major spells. But that did not mean he was weak. There are various ways to overcome a deficit of magical energy. He shook his head and said "I don't think you need to know until I beat you, since you will be under my command then!"
Maru looked at him with a look of disbelieve and anger. "Are you for real? Are you serious? Are you an idiot? Power is everything, and to get what you want you need power too!" He had a strange look in his eyes when he said that. Gilgamesh narrowed his eyes when he saw that. People who are driven by some sort of goal, with all they want is power, that's quite similar to me. " He thought to himself.
"Are you ready to get beat up?" Rho asked.
"Ready when you are, you little bastard." Maru sneered.
"Duel commence!" A cold and emotionless voice, hard to determine gender, resounded through the air. In that instant, the two dashed forward.
