Chapter 16: The Tree Guy ( 1)
Kael had a problem.
Well.
He had several problems.
But currently he was focused on one in particular.
"Why does my life attract weird people?"
"Meow."
"Don’t look at me like that. You’re the source of almost all my problems."
"Meow."
The Little Fat King continued lying on the desk, showing absolutely no interest in the conversation.
It was the day after Aurelion’s appearance.
And ever since then, Kael hadn’t stopped thinking about it.
Not because the guy rubbed him the wrong way.
Actually, it was the opposite.
That was the strange part.
Normally when someone showed up saying:
"I want to fight you."
It was an idiot.
An arrogant noble.
A lunatic obsessed with rankings.
Or someone who needed an educational slap.
But Aurelion...
Seemed like just a pleasant guy.
Strange.
Very strange.
But pleasant.
"That worries me more."
"Meow."
"Exactly."
The cat closed its eyes again.
Clearly lost interest.
.
.
.
"So did you accept?"
Luna almost dropped her breakfast.
"What?"
"Did you accept the duel?"
"No."
"Did you reject it?"
"Not that either."
"So..."
"We didn’t get to that part."
Luna blinked.
"That doesn’t answer anything."
"I know."
"So what are you going to do?"
Kael took a sip of tea.
"Probably accept."
"Because you want to fight?"
"No."
"Because you want to prove something?"
"No."
"Because you’re competitive?"
"Also no."
"Then..."
"Because if I don’t accept, he’ll probably keep showing up."
Luna stayed silent for several seconds.
"...That makes sense."
"Right?"
"Yeah."
"I’m glad someone understands me."
.
.
.
When they got to the academy, the rumors were still just as strong.
Or worse.
Probably worse.
But Kael had already reached a state of spiritual enlightenment.
He had simply decided to ignore them.
He couldn’t stop them.
He couldn’t destroy them.
He couldn’t escape them.
So he no longer cared.
More or less.
A little.
Maybe.
"Look."
"What?"
Luna pointed toward a tree.
Kael looked up.
And almost choked.
Aurelion was lying on a branch.
Reading a book.
As if it were completely normal.
"How long has he been there?"
"I don’t know."
"Why is he there?"
"I don’t know."
"Does he have class?"
"Obviously he does, but he’s one of those guys who thinks they’re too cool for school, like Timmy’s dad."
"Does he do anything besides sit in trees?"
"That... Actually, that’s a good question."
Aurelion raised a hand.
"Good morning."
"How long have you been listening?"
"Since ’Why does my life attract weird people?’"
"Maybe that’s because deep down you’re weird too."
Aurelion looked him up and down.
"And honestly, you’re way too weird, friend."
"I’m not weird. You’re the one who was watching me for ten minutes without saying anything."
"Yes."
"You’re terrifying."
"Thanks."
"That wasn’t a compliment."
"I’ll take it as one."
Luna let out a little laugh.
Aurelion seemed genuinely amused.
Not in a mocking way.
He just seemed to enjoy talking to people.
Which was strange.
Most strong students developed weird personalities.
Seraphina was socially dangerous.
Darius was competitive even about breathing.
And several members of the Big Ten seemed incapable of holding a normal conversation.
Aurelion, on the other hand, seemed like a person.
A weird person.
But a person.
.
.
.
Later.
During lunch.
Kael discovered something important.
Aurelion was famous.
Very famous.
Much more than he had imagined.
"Huh?"
Kael looked at the huge student ranking board.
And blinked.
Several times.
"No way."
"What’s wrong?"
"Look at that."
Luna looked at the board.
And opened her eyes.
"Oh, so that’s it."
"Exactly."
Because there it was.
Among the most important names in the academy.
5 — Aurelion Voss
"The Golden Wanderer"
Kael looked at the name again.
Then at the ranking.
Then at the name again.
"FIFTH?"
"Looks like it."
"FIFTH?"
"You keep saying the same thing."
"I THOUGHT HE WAS A SLACKER!"
"Technically he’s still a slacker."
"Fair point."
The problem was that Kael already knew a bit about the academy’s power scale.
The top spots were monsters.
Genuine monsters.
People capable of defeating entire groups of students by themselves.
And Aurelion was right behind the strongest.
That meant one thing.
He was ridiculously powerful.
.
.
.
As if the universe enjoyed eavesdropping on conversations...
Aurelion appeared behind them.
"Hi."
"AAAAH!!"
"Hi."
"Stop doing that!"
"Doing what?"
"Appearing out of nowhere."
"I didn’t appear out of nowhere."
"You were literally behind me."
"That’s not nowhere."
"You know exactly what I mean, you weirdo."
Aurelion smiled.
Then looked at the ranking.
"Ah."
"Ah?"
"You found that."
"You’re fifth!"
"Yes."
"Why did you never mention it?"
"Didn’t seem important. Don’t trust those rankings — they’re nonsense."
"IT IS VERY IMPORTANT!"
"Mhm."
The three of them turned around.
Seraphina was behind them.
Staring at the cat.
As always.
"Hi, Seraphiphi."
"Hi... WAIT!!! Why are you calling her a nickname?"
"Because she’s Seraphiphi."
"Mhm."
"That doesn’t count as conversation."
"Mhm."
"..."
Aurelion started laughing.
"Now I understand why all the rumors are so weird."
"Don’t talk about the rumors."
"Too late — you two look like a couple."
"Damn it."
.
.
.
The conversation eventually moved to a nearby table.
Mainly because Luna wanted to hear gossip.
And because Aurelion apparently knew half the campus.
"So..."
Kael crossed his arms.
"Why are you fifth if you say the rankings are wrong?"
"Because I lost to the fourth-ranked."
"That still doesn’t answer anything and just makes you look worse."
"It’s a technically correct answer."
"I hate you a little."
"Most people appreciate me."
"That sounds suspicious and very hard to believe."
Aurelion rested his head on his hand.
"I do a lot of missions."
"More than classes?"
"Way more."
"And the teachers let you?"
"No."
"So you do it for the good of others?"
"..."
"So?"
"They just can’t catch me."
Luna started laughing.
Kael was beginning to understand why so many people talked about him.
It was impossible to get bored near Aurelion.
.
.
.
The conversation changed when Kael asked a simple question.
"What summon do you have?"
Silence.
For the first time.
Aurelion smiled differently.
Calmer.
More proud.
"Ah."
"Hm?"
"So we’ve reached that part."
"What’s so special about it?"
"Quite a bit — cue the drama."
Kael got curious.
Luna too.
Even Seraphina looked away from the cat for two full seconds.
Which was probably a record.
"Well..."
Aurelion stood up.
"I can’t show it here."
"Why?"
"Because the headmaster would try to kill me."
"That sounds serious — and honestly, kind of hopeful."
"A little, but it wouldn’t hurt as much as your contempt toward me."
Aurelion hugged himself with a lamenting face.
"A little?"
"Last time we broke a building."
"We?"
"My summon and me."
"Ah."
"Yeah."
"That makes more sense."
Aurelion looked toward the cafeteria windows.
Then smiled again.
"But I can tell you something."
"What?"
"It’s A-rank."
Silence.
Complete.
Absolute.
Kael blinked.
Luna blinked.
Even Seraphina seemed slightly surprised.
Only slightly.
"A-rank?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"For real?"
"Yes."
"You’re not exaggerating?"
"No."
Kael swallowed.
Because he had already learned something important about this world.
A-rank creatures weren’t common.
Not remotely common.
They were monsters capable of destroying armies.
Changing battles.
Leveling small towns.
And Aurelion was saying that like he was talking about the weather.
"What kind of monster is it?"
"I won’t tell you."
"Why?"
"Because I want it to be a surprise."
"That’s unfair."
"I know."
"I hate you."
"You’ve already told me — and it hurts, you know?"
.
.
.
The rest of lunch passed surprisingly fast.
And when it was finally time to part ways...
Aurelion stood up.
"So."
"So?"
"Do you accept the duel?"
Kael sighed.
Deeply.
He knew that sooner or later they’d get to that.
"Will I be able to refuse?"
"Not really."
"I figured."
"Besides, it’ll be fun."
"That’s exactly what worries me."
Aurelion extended a hand.
"What do you say?"
Kael looked at the hand.
Then at the guy.
Then at the cat.
The cat opened one eye.
As if it were interested.
Which also wasn’t a good sign.
Finally, Kael shook his hand.
"Fine."
Aurelion immediately smiled.
"Excellent."
"I already regret it."
"We haven’t even started yet."
"That doesn’t help."
"I know."
"You’re definitely a problem."
"Thanks."
"I still don’t mean it as a compliment."
Aurelion burst out laughing.
And started walking away.
But before he left completely...
he turned his head.
And said something that made Kael feel a small chill.
"By the way."
"Yeah?"
"Don’t just rely on the Little Fat King because he’s strong."
"What?"
"Bring everything you’ve got."
Aurelion’s smile was still there.
But for the first time.
He looked serious.
Really serious.
"Because I plan to do the exact same thing."
And then he disappeared into the crowd.
Leaving Kael watching him in silence.
Because for the first time since arriving at the academy...
he felt like he was about to face someone completely different.
Not a bully.
Not an arrogant person.
Not a rival desperate for fame.
But someone genuinely strong.
And strangely...
that was way more intimidating.
