326 A Special Class
Marvin, on the other hand, stepped out and looked at Helena and Alfred. His expression had relaxed.
"The Watson family will remember this favor," Marvin replied, his gaze fixed on them.
Having fulfilled their obligations, both Alfred and Helena vanished; their presence was no longer required here.
"Is your condition really okay?" A 45-year-old man appeared on the holographic screen in front of Marvin.
"Don't worry, these wounds will heal in time," Marvin assured, but the man remained unconvinced.
He was the current head of the Watson family and Marvin Watson's son, so his concern for his father was evident.
"Don't let rumors spread," Marvin advised, his eyes on the Armax Prison.
Rumors about Marvin being severely injured were circulating, yet there was no definitive evidence to back them up.
However, Marvin wasn't perturbed.
When he battled the Calamities, he couldn't fully harness his Bloodline ability. But even now, while recovering from injuries to his leg and hand, he remained immensely powerful.
Yet, he sought to prevent any potential threat to his family, sensing the escalating tension around.
"What about the call from Osbert Tarvian?" his son inquired.
"We don't need to concern ourselves with that man's actions for now," Marvin responded.
"We will not step in for now," Marvin said as the call disconnected.
He wasn't worried about monitoring the activities of other SSS Rank Hunters. His greater concern was the unwanted favor he had received from the Raven Family.
After all, even individuals like Marvin stayed away from Helena Raven because of her abilities and her information network that spanned the globe.
However, Helena wasn't the only person Marvin needed to be wary of. Alfred Raven, the current Seat Holder, was the one Marvin was truly concerned about.
"Favors with that man don't end well," Marvin muttered as he vanished from the spot.
There was a reason that, despite the protests of other Elite Families, Sylvie was able to marry Arthur without any direct threat to her or her children.
Of course, Nathaniel Greville was a significant reason people avoided entering Somaria. Yet, even when Amelia studied in Desmar, not a single threat to her safety emerged.
This was largely due to Alfred Raven manipulating situations and leveraging his influence to ensure she could reside there comfortably.
Even during the incident with the Rothschilds, Alfred swiftly sent a 'letter' to James Rothschild. This alone was sufficient for James to overlook what had transpired with his daughter.
Nathan and Alfred were polar opposites in every sense, which initially led people to believe that an alliance between the two was unlikely.
A week later at the World Academy,
Asher sat in class while Professor Elsa explained the End Year Tournament and the format they would be following.
Asher listened intently. There were already a few changes introduced to this tournament. Notably, there was the new addition of the Monster Arena, which was a component of the Beast Theory and other related courses.
However, Elsa didn't provide much detail about how they would utilize the Arena, even when the students inquired. Moreover, there were certain aspects she chose not to share with the students, and the other professors did the same.
Midway through her explanation, Elsa directed her gaze to where Asher, Amelia, and Venessa were seated.
"Due to the seeding, most of you won't participate in the early rounds," Elsa stated.
She then addressed the entire class.
"Understand that prominent figures attend these tournaments. For some of you, this could be an excellent opportunity to showcase your abilities," Elsa emphasized.
Aside from those who hailed from influential families, many eagerly anticipated this opportunity.
"Although it's only your first year, if you perform well, there are individuals who might scout you early on," Elsa pointed out.
"Your rankings and your future hinge on your performance. I want Class 1 to outshine the other classes," Elsa declared, though she was well aware of the situation.
Class 1 was considered the weakest among the five classes. Its superiority over the other classes was primarily because Asher was a member of Class 1.
Despite this, the morale in Class 1 was very high, as they wanted to make the most of their situation.
"Everyone may leave, but Asher Greville, Alyssa Astaria, and Venessa Baker should stay behind for a bit," Elsa said as the students began to rise and exit.
Elsa waited for the classroom to empty before addressing the three remaining students.
"Remember when I mentioned the new arena? I can't divulge too much, but I want you three to perform exceptionally and score well in that particular competition," Elsa stated.
"And if you need any support or resources, feel free to message me," Elsa added.
"What about our reward from the Midterms?" Venessa inquired.
"Unfortunately, you'll only be able to claim that reward once the Chairman of the Artisan Association becomes available," Elsa responded.
Dexter Wright was already preoccupied with projects that involved repairing the armors and weapons of several SSS Rank Hunters, including Nathan. He had previously declined the idea of addressing the students' requests anytime soon.
"To compensate, we'll offer you the choice of a weapon below B Rank to utilize," Elsa clarified.
Venessa simply nodded at Elsa's response, though she was somewhat disappointed that she couldn't acquire the weapon she had in mind at the moment.
"Furthermore, I need both of you to be mindful of your boundaries during the Duels, for two separate reasons," Elsa continued, her expression growing serious.
"There have been complaints from other professors about the manner in which you spar in Duel Classes," Elsa said, directing her gaze to Asher.
"I've overlooked it for now, but I'd prefer if you avoided such behavior in the Tournament," Elsa advised.
She was already familiar with Asher's reputation, especially after the video of him brutally defeating Alan Astaria was broadcasted. She hoped to avoid a repeat of such incidents.
Due to her own friendship with Sylvie, she didn't want Asher's reputation to suffer because of his actions.
As the heir to an Elite Family, Asher had to maintain a certain public image, but she had observed little effort from him in this regard over the past year.
She wasn't sure if he would heed her request, but she voiced her concerns nonetheless.
However, her reason for advising Alyssa similarly was different, yet paralleled Asher's situation.
One way or another, Alyssa would likely garner disdain from the audience, and there was little they could do to prevent it.
Still, Elsa wanted Alyssa to understand that it might be best for her to remain out of the spotlight.
While she couldn't outright tell Alyssa this, Elsa hoped her sentiment was clear.
Ultimately, the choice to follow Elsa's guidance was up to them. Elsa had no intention of imposing her beliefs on them.
She recognized the importance of making one's own decisions and learning from personal mistakes, but she aimed to provide a nudge in what she believed was the right direction.
"Now, you all may leave," Elsa announced as she rose from her seat.
"And for clarity, I'll cover the cost of resources if that's a concern," Elsa added, directing her message particularly at Alyssa and Venessa.
Elsa was aware that Asher had the means, but given the backgrounds of the two girls, there were constraints on their resources.
After Elsa's departure, Asher also rose to leave.
"Sigh, why are they making everything so serious?" Venessa lamented, resting her head on the desk.
Alyssa glanced at Venessa but remained silent.
"By the way, have you considered my offer for sparring?" Venessa quickly turned to Alyssa, seeking an answer.
At first, Alyssa intended to decline, but she eventually nodded, causing a bright smile to spread across Venessa's face.
"But only a few times," Alyssa clarified.
"That's fine. I just need some practice against strong mages," Venessa responded, clenching her fist in anticipation.
Alyssa observed the jubilant Venessa. The primary reason she accepted the sparring offer was that Venessa stood by her side when the rest of the class isolated her.
No one dared confront Venessa due to her fiery demeanor, but that didn't mean they made efforts to befriend her either.
Agreeing to spar was Alyssa's way of showing some form of gratitude towards Venessa, but she had no intention of assisting her beyond that.
In Alyssa's mind, she was wary of forming close bonds with others. Her past experiences had shown her the pitfalls of such relationships, and she was determined to sidestep the mistakes her mother made.
'She will betray you.'
'Kill her.'
'They're all the same!'
'It's all a lie.'
Unbeknownst to Venessa, who was laughing and sharing a moment with Alyssa, these alarming thoughts echoed loudly in Alyssa's mind.
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