Everything was pretty much similar except for the atmosphere becoming more vibrant and lively. Students were brimming with energy and were working extra hard to show off in the Tournament.
Lucas' absence of 20 days didn't have any major impact. Some were filled with curiosity while some were just indifferent to it but finding Harris's absence naturally drew some suspicion but it was said that Harris had gone for some work and as for Lucas, he had taken a leave for personal reasons to visit home.
However, for Ezekiel and a few others who were looking forward to finding Lucas and causing him trouble, it was a period of restlessness.
Ezekiel tried to look for Lucas through his channel but everything was for naught. Let alone him, even Lucas's friends couldn't find him.
The moment Lucas' arrival reached Ezekiel's ears, he puffed his chest and looked for Lucas to issue the challenge and declare his sovereignty promising to crush him in the Tournament, but his words struck seeing Lucas' sharp piercing gaze.
The boy who looked frail, was now giving an aura of someone way stronger than him.
Ezekiel was at the peak of 3-Star and with the help of blessing, he broke through to early 4-Star. He was quite close to making another breakthrough but he wasn't able to so he had to burn his energy to make a breakthrough before the Tournament but seeing Lucas at the peak of 3-Star, he screamed inwardly wondering if Lucas had taken any potion cause in no way a person can a jump almost a whole realm in 20 days.
Frederick's breakthrough was already a shock for him and now Lucas' advancement left him in bewilderment.
Finding all this suspicious, he just issued a small verbal challenge, thinking about the scene of crushing Lucas.
But after his retreat, many rumours found their way into Horizon.
"Have you heard about Frederick and Lucas' rise in strength?"
"Huh! What's the problem with this? All of this was the effect of the blessing." A student spoke with confusion.
"You are just a dimwit. How can a blessing help to advance so quickly? If this was possible, why didn't the strength of the others rise rapidly as well?"
"Yeah, now that I think about it, That foul blood is quite close to the filth blood and only the two of them have increased their strength in this way."
"There is only one possibility. Either they have taken a miraculous potion or used some kind of drug to gain sudden strength to perform well in the tournament."
"Yes, that's it!"
The students of noble lineage who were discussing this suddenly felt enlightened as if they had cracked a huge mystery.
No one knew who started this first or who was behind all of this, but the rumours started to spread like wildfires.
While many criticized Lucas and Frederick, some even tried to pry into this and asked for the source.
Lucas who was pretty much nonchalant was suddenly carrying a black pot of taking drugs.
'Damn, which bastard started all of this.'
'I will skin that guy alive if he is caught by my hands.'
Huffing and puffing in anger, Lucas swallowed his words and asked Julian to pacify it, however rather than helping him, Julian gave him the cold shoulder.
On top of that, the moment he entered the office he was bombarded with work that took a whole week of sleepless nights to finish. He was ordered to sleep in the office and visit his room only for minor things.
As he was forced to busy himself to work, the rumours started to calm down and he found that Julian had acted but this didn't quell his anger so Lucas wrote down the names of the bastards who were enjoying themselves and promised to tear them down in the tournament.
.....
Meanwhile, large-scale preparation for the upcoming Tournament was coming to an end and things were quite hectic.
For Lucas, this was the most troublesome and busiest period as he had to accompany Julian to oversee all the things.
For a note, there was a Vice-President who should also oversee all these things but for Issac, it would be demeaning for him to work. In his opinion, all this should be the work of servants, not a noble like him.
Moreover, since Julian finds him disgusting, she thought that it was better to work alone than discuss with Issac who would try to stir things up.
'Which bastard made him Vice-President? Because of that asshole, I don't even have time to eat properly.'
"Can you stop cursing Issac?"
A soft voice rang in Lucas' ears startling him.
"How did you know?"
"It looks as if you are gonna murder someone."Julian chuckled, startling Lucas.
Lucas' expression eased a little seeing Julian laugh.
'I think working like this is also not that bad.'
Julian, whose voice had always sounded cold and distant, had been quite warm and melodious recently. Unlike that blank icy expression, Lucas could see various emotions reflecting on her face.
After he came from leave, he was subjugated to Julian's frosty expression but under repeated attempts, Lucas finally managed to calm her down.
Instead of ice, she feels like a warm sun radiating sunshine but it's only when she is with him.
It didn't mean Julian had changed. Rather she acted like her true self and was a bit unrestrained around Lucas. After all, at the end of the day, as a human being, she is bound to crave for freedom and enjoyment but she has suppressed all her desires until now.
Walking around the grand stadium, Lucas stared at the bright sky shaded with a reddish-orange layer cast by the setting sun.
The entire stadium was empty except for the two.
Enjoying the soft breeze ruffling his hair, Lucas felt a sense of peace like never before. This was truly the first time he felt peace.
And he knew it wasn't because of the beautiful sunset but the majestic beauty beside him.
Lucas stared at her deeply and as Julian met Lucas' unchanging gaze, her expression softened.
She didn't avert her eyes nor did she shy away. On the contrary, she is also searching for the answer to her recent behaviours and actions.
At that time, she saw Lucas opening his lips and a sense of anticipation welled in her heart.
"Your Highness, how is preparation going on your end?"
Julian's smile cracked a bit and anger flashed over her face but it disappeared as soon as it appeared.
Lucas could only smile bitterly inside.
He wanted to speak some beautiful lines but he felt cringed thinking about this.
'Let's just leave it to the future.'
Knowing what Lucas meant, Julian stared at the sunset and answered."We have restricted the access this time. The Tournament was like a festival and also a source of income for Horizon."
Lucas nodded as he saw the butterflies flying around her.
Stalls of various things and companies would be set up in Horizons and a part of the profit would be taken by it. The stadium can hold 200,000 people and tickets would start from 500R and reach up to 50000. The VIP rooms cost 100,000.
So naturally, Horizon earns a lot within this period.
"But since there is a huge threat looming over us this time, we decided to block the common people. Only nobles will be allowed."Julian answered indifferently.
"I see. Then, you are going to monitor the nobles and see their stances."Lucas asked.
"Yes. The nobles have their forces and can surely protect themselves but the commoner would be at risk so we will just allow the TV channels and news to live broadcast the event. It can make up for their loss. As per your question, don't worry even if the time is not in your hand, we have made sufficient time. We might not stop the casualties however we may severely minimize the threat." Julian answered and gave a summary.
Lucas sighed hearing her words. Lucas naturally knew all of this as he had been managing things however some things are beyond control.
They can keep an eye on the personnel inside Horizon but what about the ones plotting outside? How many nobles had joined the fray till now, even Lucas didn't know.
He didn't want to take the risk of exposing the noble only to find that they didn't have made any contact with Omen till now which was supposed to take place in future.
This was supposed to be a happy event for parents to gather and watch their student progress. Thinking about this he felt saddened a bit that his parents would be here while many other parents being nobles would cheer for thier children.
'This is distressing."Lucas suppressed his bitterness and cheered himself.
As Lucas and Julian walked slowly and steadily, admiring the beautiful sunset, Julian's smartphone rang.
Seeing the caller id, Julian's expression changed.
"Vice Principal Josh!"
"What? How can you do this now?"Julian's voice became frigid hearing Josh's words.
'What the hell happened now?' Lucas frowned as he had a bad premonition about it.
Julian then turned to Lucas after cutting the call.
"There are some additional students who are going to take part in the tournament."
"Who?" Lucas asked curiously.
"The ones who were kidnapped by Omen during Field Tests.''
''What???"
...
In the Leader's dorm.
Ezekiel stared at the boy who sat before him with a profound expression.
"How did you change so much? Where were you now?"
The boy's demeanor had taken a drastic change since the last time he had seen him. Before he showcased a haughty and arrogant look, but now he looked quite gentle and down to earth making him confused.
"I have been recuperating and getting treated by psychiatrists." The boy answered with a blank expression making Ezekiel frown.
'That's ridiculous.' Ezekiel wanted to curse as even for him this was unbelievable.
The matter of students who were rescued from Omen's clutches was left undecided and put on hold.
Were they now part of the current Academy session or were they expelled? It was still a matter of debut
However, taking pity on them, all of them were permitted to participate in the tournament as many noble houses pleaded for them but putting them directly in the middle when they haven't taken exams and another event was quite odd.
"David, what did you experience there?"
"Nothing much, I was just tied to the chair and tortured every day until I was rescued," David spoke with a calm expression.
'How is he so calm about this? He speaks as if he isn't affected by this at all.'
"Are you alright?" Ezekiel asked with a vague concern.
"I am totally fine."
"Listen, I don't how were you doing now or what do plan to do by appearing at this moment but since our house had good relations and I was asked to take care of you, so just stay put in your place and don't cause any trouble otherwise you know the consequence." Ezekiel warned him coldly.
"Yes, sir!" David nodded and after some chat, he walked out.
As soon as he walked out, his eyes became hollow as if devoid of any emotion.
ραndαsnοvεl.cοm Thinking about Ezekiel's warning, David sneered.
"How naive."
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