59 Filthy Casual
The next day…
Ethan was feeling more excited, and more tired than normal.
After watching the moonlit sky with Luna several hours ago, the Ethan had been unable to sleep until dawn.
“You look different today, Ethan,” Chloe said. “I’m sure that today isn’t your birthday, so why do you have that cheeky smile plastered on your face?”
“Cheeky smile?” Ethan asked back as he touched the corner of his lips.
Chloe sighed and made a circular motion with her wand. 𝒐𝗏𝐿xt.𝗇𝓔t
“Magicae Speculum.”
A magical mirror appeared in front of Ethan, which reflected his face. A single glance was enough to tell him that Chloe was right. There was indeed a cheeky smile plastered on his face.
“I don’t see it as a bad thing,” Chloe stated. “In fact, I like it when you smile. I just want to know if something special happened today, which makes you happy.”
“Well, nothing special has happened yet,” Ethan replied. “But, maybe something special will happen later?”
“Oh? What will happen later?”
“No comment!”
Chloe pouted and lightly pounded Ethan’s shoulder because the handsome teenager was keeping a secret from her.
Ethan and Luna would be doing a secret ceremony that night, so he couldn’t tell anyone about it.
Not even Chloe.
It was not because Ethan didn’t trust her. On the contrary, Ethan trusted Chloe very much. This was why he had explained what happened to him before coming to Brynhildr Academy to his cousin.
The matter with Luna was a sensitive issue. For the angelic beauty’s safety, the blue-haired teenager knew that the less people that knew about it, the better.
“So, are you going to train again after classes end like usual?” Chloe asked.
Ethan nodded. “Yes. We only have a few more weeks before our Practical Test starts, and I don’t want to be extra baggage for you.”
“You know that’s not true. I wouldn’t have gotten far if you weren’t with me during the Initiation Ceremony.”
“Now that you mention it, you’re right.”
“See?”
Chloe smiled sweetly, which made Ethan blush.
Since they were kids, they really got along with each other. Although there were differences between their personalities, the two of them could depend on each other when they needed it the most.
While the two of them were walking down the hallway of the Academy, they saw one of the pillars of the First Years, Langston, and his entourage walking on the opposite side, and headed in their direction.
“Well, look what we have here,” Langston said in a teasing tone. “If it isn’t the Filthy Dud and his sidekick.”
His entourage laughed as if they found the handsome blonde-boy’s words funny.
“Well, look what we have here,” Ethan replied in his own teasing tone. “If it isn’t the Pillar who didn’t even pass the Initiation Ceremony, and even lost the very first ever recorded duel of this school year. You Filthy Casual.”
Chloe covered her lips and chuckled after hearing Ethan’s snarky reply. Although she didn’t understand what a Filthy Casual was, it had a nice ring to it that made her laugh.
“You…” Langston narrowed his gaze as he looked at the blue-haired teenager who looked at him arrogantly.
“You what?” Ethan asked. “Filthy Casual.”
The two of them were the Pillars of the First Years and seeing them in a confrontation made the people in the hallway look at them with curiosity.
Langston had gained a following because of his family’s background, and due to him being one of the Pillars, his popularity had risen considerably.
However, this popularity had taken a toll after he had lost to his duel with the Scarlet Witch, whom he challenged in order to boost his popularity a few weeks ago.
Just as the two sides were about to start a ruckus, Professor Violet appeared with an annoyed look on her face.
“Why are you kids loitering here in the hallway?” Professor Violet asked. “Classes are about to start. Are you all playing truant?”
After seeing the Professor appear, all the students scattered like wild ducks that had heard a gunshot.
Even Langston, who came from a High-Ranking Noble family didn’t dare cross a Professor of the Academy, especially one of the Professors that belonged to his own manor.
“This is not over,” Langston declared before leaving along with his entourage, who all glared at Ethan as they walked past him.
When only three people were left in the hallway, including Professor Violet, the blue-haired boy finally relaxed a bit and gave the professor a respectful bow.
“Sorry, and thank you, Professor Violet,” Ethan said. “I don’t know what might have happened if you didn’t arrive to settle this matter.”
Professor Violet sighed before lightly rubbing her forehead. “I know that Langston came from a Noble Family, so it is normal for him to look down on Duds, who don’t possess much magical powers in their body.
“You see, there was a proposal a few years ago that the Dud Manor should be closed down to prevent the Academy from being contaminated by parasites, who can’t even use magic properly.”
Ethan smiled after hearing the Professor’s whines. “Let me guess. It is Langston’s Family who is behind the proposal.”
“Right.” Professor Violet nodded. “Surprisingly, there were other Noble Families who supported this petition. However, Professor Rinehart rejected their proposal saying that Brynhildr Academy was founded by Fortis Dud, and because of this, the Dud Manor could not be closed down.”
“The Magical Bureau as well as the Magistratus stepped in as well, siding with Professor Rinehart, forcing the Noble Factions who wanted a Dud-less Magic Academy to shut their traps.
“With the two powerful organizations backing up the Headmaster, there was simply no way that their petition could go through.”
Ethan could only shake his head because this was something that was out of his control.
“For now, stay away from Langston,” Professor Violet stated. “Although he doesn’t show it, his defeat against the Scarlet Witch had taken a toll on his ego.”
“Professor, aren’t you one of the Guardians of Schwartz Manor?” Chloe asked. “Aren’t you supposed to be on Langston’s side?”
Professor Violet eyed the young lady with an amused look on his face. “Being in the same Manor doesn’t mean that I have to turn a blind eye on bad behavior. Our reputations as Wizards and Witches who practice Black Magic are bad enough, so I can’t help but step up when I see an injustice happening in front of me.”
Professor Violet then flicked Ethan’s forehead, making the latter yelp in pain.
“Remember this, Ethan,” Professor Violet said. “Wizards and Witches look up to those with strong magical powers. Sooner or later, you will face people that are several times meaner than Langston.
“All Duds will always face discrimination. That is just the way things are. You should ask your Head Prefect, Henry, how to handle these kinds of situations. He has spent four years in the Academy, he will be able to share his experiences with you. Now, enough talk. Classes are about to start.”
Ethan and Chloe no longer tarried and left in a hurry to go to their next class.
When the two could no longer be seen, Professor Violet stared at the ground beside the wall and snorted.
“I thought you didn’t like drama, Chessy,” Professor Violet commented. “Why are you here?”
“… I still don’t know how you are able to see me even though no one should be able to do it unless I showed myself,” Chessy appeared out of nowhere and looked up at the only person in the academy that could see through his invisibility magic.
Professor Violet shrugged. “I can faintly feel your mark on Ethan. Just what kind of trouble are you stirring up this year?”
“How rude,” Chessy replied. “I’m not stirring up trouble. I’m just helping people.”
“Tell that to the Magistratus and see if they will believe you.”
“Why would I waste my time talking with those stuck up people?”
The Chesmire Cat snorted before turning invisible again. It had been passing through the hallway and saw the commotion, which was why it came to see what was happening.
Professor Violet of course, didn’t know about this. For her, the Chesmire Cat was a walking time bomb that might explode at any moment.
Although it had already had an agreement with Professor Rinehart, the beautiful professor still believed that Chessy always had a purpose for visiting the Academy every year.
As for what that purpose was, no one, except the Chesmire Cat, knew what it truly wanted in Brynhildr Academy.