As the auction hall was engulfed in flames, Sky looked towards Rood and Ren, thankful that they helped her out. She bowed courteously as a gesture of gratitude. "Thank you for saving me back there. I owe you both a favor."

Rood shook his head. "It's fine. You helped to constrain Shicmuon and saved those people. I should thank you too... I haven't asked. What's your name?"

"Lotus. That's my magician name. I will tell you my real name when we both are comfortable in revealing our secret identities." Sky chuckled.

Rood nodded in agreement. Soon, he left with Ren as they headed back to Opion together. Sky went back to the Helios dormitory and made a high jump as she reached to her room's window, which she left open.

"My name is Lotus. Release awakening." Sky's mana goes back into her body and she lets out a tired sigh. She laid down on her bed and stared at the ceiling, recalling the events at the auction hall. "Damn... I must have lost my mind to piss off that red-head bastard like that. It was... dangerous. But fun..." She laughed as she felt proud that she hit Shicmuon on the head. I haven't had such fun for such a long time...

~ • ~ • ~

Days after the incident at the auction hall, there was no news of the black magician. Sky could not find Blow after the incident so she decided to focus on her studies in Helios for the time being. During her time in Helios, she started to notice something peculiar in class. There was a guy with long gray hair covering his eyes and everyone in Idun seemed to avoid him.

Out of curiosity, Sky asked around to gather more information on the mysterious gray haired guy. It turns out that the guy's name was Lidusis Dien Artian. He is the second son of Duchess Dayner Artian and Duke Artian. Rightfully, Lidusis was a noble but he did not receive the respect or treatment, like other nobles in Helios.

As Sky started to observe Lidusis in school, she realized that he was not even treated as a proper human being. Many Iduns had called him a "monster", while the Klads and Heresis were constantly making him do chores. Unable to tolerate the students' attitudes towards Lidusis, Sky walked up to Lidusis and tried to strike up a conversation with him. But Lidusis ran away from her before Sky could greet him. It did not seem like he wanted help and that was what Sky couldn't understand. He could have asked one of the teachers for help but he didn't. At the same time, she felt bad to see him being bullied by other students. Other than his seemingly shady looks, she did not find anything wrong with Lidusis.

During a class break, Sky was taking a walk in the hallways and saw a Klad tripping Lidusis while he was holding a box of magical supplies to the teachers' office. Frowning at this sight, she quickly ran over and picked up the mana stones scattered on the ground. As she picked up the stones, she took a closer look at it. The mana stones were not of high class but they were capable of training students as it is able to draw out the magic within the students, who have not awakened as magicians yet.

The atmosphere around Sky slowly started to quieten down as several people in the hallway stopped walking and stared at Sky and Lidusis. Sky was annoyed by their stares. I'm just helping him... What's up with these people and their weird looks?

She sighed as she placed the final mana stone on the ground into the box Lidusis was holding. "There you go, Lidusis. Are you oka-"

Before she could finish her sentence, he quickly ran off to the teacher's office. She blinked and stood up slowly, staring at the direction he ran off to. That was really weird. Why should he be running away from me? I didn't do anything to hurt him.

She continued to walk in the hallways until three Klads walked up to her. She stopped her steps and looked up at them calmly, "Yes? May I help you?" One of the Klads placed a hand on her shoulder and instantly, she felt uncomfortable.

Although she was a guy in disguise now, deep down she was still a girl. She had the urge to slap his hand away as she could tell from his eyes that the Klads did not have good intentions towards her. She clenched her fists tightly as she held back her temper. Since these guys don't know I'm a girl so technically, it isn't their fault.

"Nothing. You seem new around here so we are here giving you a piece of friendly advice. Stay away from the monster." She shrugged and looked at them straight in the eyes, "I have never heard of a monster in the academy before." The Klad immediately narrowed his eyes and pulled his hand away from her. "Look kid, you know what we are talking about so stop trying to act smart with us, Idun."

Sky lightly smirked as she was relieved that the Klads had finally put down their "kind" act. Ahhh...... There it is. The tone of a person looking down upon someone because he thinks he is more superior. Now isn't that easier than pretending to be friendly and kind to me from the start?

She chuckled softly. "I do not give a damn about your so-called advice. And so what if you are a Klad? Does that mean as an Idun, I have to listen to you? Know this. Even if a Heresis or a Professor tells me the same thing, I don't give a fucking care."

Feeling humiliated by an Idun, one of the Klads raised a fist towards her. But she took a step back quickly dodging the fist heading towards her face. Luckily, the school bell rang in time and that meant that the Idun's classes were starting. She smiled and waved at the Klads, "Sorry, guys. No time to play with you. I need to go to class. I can't go to the class with a bruise on my face, can I?"

The Klads were rendered speechless by her words and actions. Because of the ranking system, almost no Idun dared to talk back against the upperclassmen. The Idun students in the hallway, watched in awe as Sky returned to class. After the break had ended, it was Professor Heil's history lesson on famous magicians. Sky thought as she listened to Professor Heil. Man, this professor really loves talking about powerful magicians. I wonder what rank he is...

After classes ended, Sky returned to her room and laid down on her bed as thoughts of Lidusis occupied her mind. Lidusis did not seem like a monster. She sighed as she recalled the events that took place in school today. Suddenly, she sat up on the bed as an epiphany hit her.

Right after, I helped Lidusis... Klads went up to me and warned me to stay away from him. Was... Lidusis avoiding me because he didn't want me to get bullied by them too?

Sky gritted her teeth as she felt affirmed of her suspicions but had no way to prove it. Soon, it became difficult for her to sleep as she began thinking of ways to help Lidusis. "Damn it... Those people who are bullying him... They are the true monsters."

The next morning, Sky had bags under her eyes as she walked into the classroom. She couldn't sleep well last night as she thought of ways to help Lidusis, but she felt that none of her ideas would work.

In class, Professor Heil walked in with a smile. "Alright, everyone. There will be a new student attending our class today. Because of an illness, he could only join our class late. So please welcome Mr. Rood Chrishi."

The students turned their heads and looked at the entrance with anticipation. It was widely known that the new student was the first person to score perfectly in Helios' entrance exams. Rood walked into class and stood next to Professor Heil as he looked up at the class filled with students staring at him. This is really awkward...

As Sky watched Rood walk in, her eyes slowly widened and she stared at him standing in front of the class. This guy...... He looks awfully familiar. Where have I seen him before?

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