Arthur looked at their group with amusement. First was the quiet Ellen, who was wary like a mouse as she nibbled on her food. Then came Oliver, who was as chatty as a jammed radio that wouldn't turn off. Then there was Rae, the threatening first ranker who all she cared about, for the most part, was food and fighting.
This was the mayhem of a team with no qualities that would make them cooperate. However, they were still gathered here because of one reason.
"Food!"
Rae demanded as she stretched her hands without looking. Arthur sighed and handed her another piece of meat.
"Rae, I wanted to ask. Why haven't you passed the test yet?" Arthur probed as he was sure that someone as strong as Rae had the capabilities to do so.
"Well, I would have loved to be the first ranker again. Num. Num." Rae said as she chewed her meat. "But someone beat me to it, so it doesn't make a difference anymore. I'll just eat and have fun."
"Oh," Arthur snickered inwardly as he imagined Jonah as the first ranker. The chaos that brought to the top rankers, who were eyeing the first place, must have been unimaginable.
He imagined Jonah now, on the outside, being the center of attention of Jerano's students and staff. He liked that image.
"I'm not going to help you," Rae said. "I fight alone." She said with a grease smudge on her chin. Arthur smiled and handed her a napkin. She coughed and snatched it.
"That's even better, we won't be fighting. Not all of us." Arthur said with a smile. "Oliver and Ellen," He had introduced everyone earlier, including himself. "Will be the one targeting the crystals. You and I will be having…" Arthur paused as he saw the interest in Rae's eyes. She was hooked. "A competition."
"A bet?" Rae licked her lips.
"Uh, yeah sure." Arthur smiled helplessly. "A bet it is. Whoever takes down more knights will be the winner."
"What are we betting on?" Rae asked with a childish smile. Arthur felt that she was just like a child, impulsive and dangerous. However, he would need her to take down the ancient knights.
"How about a favor?"
"That's boring. Whoever loses becomes that other person's slave."
"You're kidding." Arthur was taken aback. "That's absurd." He thought it was a prank, but Rae looked at him with confusion as what she just said was normal.
It was then that Arthur felt a disharmonious withdrawal from reality. These people were different from him and their ideologies were also different. Jerano was an international college, meaning that most of these people were from different cultures.
Being the elites that they are, they talked in most languages. The Yalveran language was widespread on the continent of Anera, learning it was a necessity. However, that didn't mean they thought the same way.
Slavery was a taboo in most countries and the media always advocated for a slaves-free world. However, was that the case in the ranks of the upper class of societies? Didn't the feeling of strength also compel people to have others submit to them?
"No." Arthur rejected with a frown. "You can leave now." He said curtly. Rae stared at him silently as if she didn't understand his reaction.
She stood up from her seat to leave but Oliver suddenly bolted from his place and blocked her path.
"Miss Rae, please wait!" He then turned to Arthur and gave him a knowing look. "There's no need for us to fall apart after all we've been through together."
"Only half an hour." Both Rae and Arthur said at the same time. They glanced at each other with discontent and looked away.
"Yes, but you know what the great maestro Angelyan once said: a bond of food lasts a thousand years." Oliver adjusted his sleeve and coughed. "A small misunderstanding shouldn't make us petty. Let's talk rationally, a life of slavery is too much over a small bet. How about we bring it down?"
"I'm fine with that," Rae said as she crossed her arms. "I still want to beat this ignorant fool."
"Hah, a fool?" Arthur laughed. "You're the one who came sniffing here like a dog."
"What did you say?" Rae glared at him and her eyes glowed scarlet. She looked quite intimidating with her unnatural white hair, but Arthur didn't back down.
"A deaf dog, even." He stood up and looked her in the eye. Tilting his head to the right, he continued. "Just because you're the first ranker, that doesn't mean you get to throw your weight around. Oh, excuse me, the ex-first ranker."
His words made the tension rise further and both Oliver and Ellen were sweating buckets. The two glared at each other and Rae was the one to break the silence.
"A bet it is. Whoever takes down more golems wins. The loser has to writes 'I'm a dog' on their forehead for a day in the academy."
"Fine." Arthur stretched his hand for a handshake and Rae gripped it. The two clenched each other's fists and Arthur was amazed that their strength was around the same.
What did this girl go through exactly to be this strong? However, he wouldn't back down. Even though their fight began for a difference in ideologies, slavery wasn't forgivable in his opinion.
He can accept murder in the path to become strong. It was unavoidable to make enemies and some people deserved to die. However, slavery wasn't a forgivable thing in his opinion. To strip people of their rights had nothing to do with benefit, but a twisted mindset.
The two ended the handshake and began marching toward the ruins without a second of delay. Ellen and Oliver looked at each other before following after them hurriedly, leaving their food behind.
"Brother Alexie, what's the plan?" Oliver asked as they were walking.
"The plan is that I win."
"Are you doing it in your dreams?"
They were about to bicker again when Oliver sent a gust of wind in their direction, making them stop marching. Rae glared at Oliver but he was unfazed.
"I do appreciate that you two are excited about this, but don't forget that we're also a part of the team. I won't simply throw away my chance of passing for your bet." He said with a despondent face.
Arthur sighed and nodded. He looked at Ellen, who seemed uncomfortable with how this going, and berated himself inwardly. He was forgetting the reason why he was doing this.
Helping his friends.
"I'm sorry, the plan is as follows. Rae and I are going to fight the ancient knights. Oliver, you're to help Ellen so that she can sneak in and steal the crystals."
"Do you think that Miss Ellen is suited for this task? It's dangerous." Oliver said with a frown. Arthur was glad that even at this moment, he was concerned with her safety. It might be due to the fact Arthur introduced her as a friend, but still.
"Yes, I trust her." Arthur nodded toward Ellen and she looked at the ground with haste, fidgeting.
"I don't care as long as I get to fight. Oh, and I'll be the one writing the words on your forehead." Rae said with a grin that Arthur wished he could slap away.
He was used to be the mellow guy in a conversation, trying to get people on his side unless they were foul. However, he was getting tired of people mistaking it as a weakness.
With this, they began heading toward the ruins. The trip was filled with Oliver's chatter now that he was more relaxed. There were also a few snarky remarks, but it didn't dissolve into a fight.
Finally, they reached the valley of the ruins. Arthur used his detection rune as he crouched beside a tree and found that there were a lot of people around the valley.
Furthermore, there were a big group of people spreading around the ruins. Arthur frowned as he realized that someone was using their tactic too, only with bigger numbers.
"A change in plans," Arthur said. "Oliver, take Ellen and head in that direction. Go around the valley and infiltrate the group of people trying to take down the ruins. You two need to sneak in as me and Rae create a diversion to attract both the knights and the awakeners."
"Brother, are you going to be okay?" Oliver asked worriedly. He then came closer and whispered in Arthur's ear. "You can't think you can win against her, do you? It was just baiting her to help us, right?"
"I'm not that dumb." Rae snapped and then grinned at Arthur. "I've seen what this little rat can do."
"You heard the dog, now go." Arthur sent the two away as he looked at Rae, who was glaring at him.
"I'll make you swallow your words."
"Sure, good job acting tough. Now, let's go in there and split some heads open." Arthur loosened his neck as Rae and he began walking toward the ruins.
"Ah, this is fun." Rae smiled. "We need codenames. You'll be Stinky Rat."
"Then you'll be Crazy Dog."
Arthur can see the ruins in the distance as they bickered. He could also see many people starting to appear from the forest and descending into the valley with them.
The group was a myriad of people and nationalities. Arthur spotted a few people, who seemed to be the one in charge, coming their way.
"Miss Rae!" The second ranker came forward in his suit. "I thought you didn't want to team up with anyone." He glanced at Arthur with disdain and disgust.
"Stay out of it, Trevor," Rae said. "We're having a bet of our own."
"A bet?" Trevor raised a brow. "I'm sorry, but the only one emerging victoriously is me. Everyone!" The people took a step forward. "Let's raid these ruins!"