Chapter 4: Christopher Noire

Once the situation sucked in, Chris allowed himself to fall. His wound had almost healed but that didn’t mean he regained the blood he had lost. Not to mention he exhausted his mana with that last flame spell. He was ready to call it quits. He’d closed his eyes and sleep then and there if they would allow him to.

Though they won, numerous miscalculations on his part almost cost this group their life. Not once had he expected that the first floor of this man-made labyrinth be that difficult. Even if that was his first time encountering that monster, Chris couldn’t make any excuses. He underestimated it big time.

“You alright?” Raven offered him his hand, but Chris slightly shoved it aside.

“Water… Hand me a water flask, will you?”

“Here, have mine,” said Tess as she brought a flask out of her inventory.

“You sure? Wouldn’t that be like an indirect kiss?” Chris hesitated.

Tess smiled, her eyes lit with amusement. “You’d rather kiss this guy then? I didn’t know you swing that way.”

“Of course I don’t. Whatever. Just hand it to me.” After drinking, his eyes darted around the area.

Luana had leaned her back against the wall, as if to rest in a silent prayer. On the other side he saw Lucretia giving Arthur a lap pillow.

Chris rose unsteadily, then limped to check on the young elf. “Art, you’re not dead yet, are you?”

The joke was in poor taste, but he couldn’t help it.

Arthur was sweating profusely, his face pallid more than it was healthy. It seemed like the poor elf was almost decapitated. The hard, straight line around his neck even after recovering was the proof of that.

“My apologies for putting everyone’s life in jeopardy,” answered Arthur as he covered his eyes.

“It’s not your fault. We all make mistakes.” said Chris with a hoarse voice.

“That’s right, Brother. Don’t blame yourself.” Lucretia’s words were soft and soothing, but her presence promised pain to anyone who would dare condemn him.

After staying in that horrid place for a few more minutes did the group advanced to the next one. Wide stone steps that lead to the lower levels immediately greeted them outside and on one corner of the room was a stone monument with descriptive writing.

Tess examined the monument. “Hmm… Place your left palm in the middle if you’d like to create a savepoint and your right if you wish to return to Rosetta.”

“Seems convenient enough. Let’s all create a save point and go back,” said Chris.

His chilled skin began to warm against the stone when he traced his left palm towards the middle. The moment he did so with his right, Chris was overwhelmed with a near churning sensation. His vision distorted and as if flushed down the sink. Then, as if someone hurled it back out in disgust, the pieces returned and everything felt normal once more.

Chris found himself standing in the middle of an empty classroom.

* * *

Including the girls’ loots to their own, their group made a total of one hundred sixty-five rigals each. Chris sighed like an injured puppy. That wasn’t even enough to buy him a new set of uniform.

Even the precious Burst stone he was holding onto didn’t fetch for that much money. He wanted to have it appraise instead, but the seniors wouldn’t let him keep it. What a waste.

And much to Arthur’s dismay, Lucretia sent him to the clinic. He suffered the gravest injury in their group after all.

“Damn. I thought Arthur’s a lucky man, but perhaps I’m wrong,” said Raven as he took a seat beside Chris.

“Really? It was quite evident from the start who wore pants in their relationship.” In one swift motion, Chris stole a fried potato out of Raven’s tray and dunked it in his mouth.

“Hey! Don’t steal my potatoes! I like those!” growled Raven, taking his tray away out of his Chris’ reach.

Luana laughed — girlish, robust, and genuine. “You two are really close. Have you known each other before you enrolled?”

Chris took a sip of his juice before saying, “No. We only met today. What about you and Tess?”

“We’re childhood friends.”

“My father is an arms merchant, you see. That’s why he’s always out doing business.” Tess explained with a bright smile. “Him and Uncle Malkom are good friends, so he often left me under their care whenever he goes overseas.”

“You two live close to the sea then?”

“Yep~”

“Must be tough. Sea serpents usually come out of hiding and frequent the waters at this time of the year.”

“Don’t be such a weakling, Christopher. Even I can handle a sea serpent or two.”

Chris lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “That’s not the point though.”

“Just you wait, our perfect tag team will earn us lots of money!” Raven raised his spoon to the ceiling as he said so.

The girls in front of Chris laughed in unison.

“Don’t forget to take us out shopping when that time comes,” Luana said, raising herself from her chair. “It’s getting late, so we’ll be heading back to our dorm now. See you tomorrow.”

“See you.” Chris waved his hand and sent them off with a smile.

“Thanks again, Chris. You were really cool back there.” Tess winked at him before she left the cafeteria.

His smile widened. Because of that, Chris was unable to deny Raven’s teasing.

“Lucky you. She seems like a nice girl.”

“She is.”

“That aside, how’s your mana regenerating?”

“About a quarter or so. Even better if you’d hand me half of those potatoes. Why? Do you want to jump back into the labyrinth?”

“As expected of my partner; I was just about to ask you that.”

It wasn’t because he didn’t have charisma, nor was he a fool. Raven was the type guy who chose to blend in the shadows, under someone else’s spotlight, himself.

* * *

Striding back to the faculty room, the green-haired pixie let out a long yawn. Because of a certain teacher, the first day of school had always been hectic. Mostly due to freshmen wandering into her precious library unattended. Year after year she bottled it all up. But she wouldn’t take anymore! This year she would finally explode!

“Just you wait!” She slammed the door open and headed straight to the demon’s desk.

There he was, dressed in somber hues from head to toe, concealing any exposed skin with the help of his gloves and high collared jacket. Protruding out of his straight purple hair was a single horn. His eyes, at least the one she could see, were crimson — a demon's trademark. He seemed cold as ice by his outward appearance alone, yet his menacing aura made it even worse!

The demon crossed his arm. “Why, pray tell, are you still here when you have a labyrinth to explore?”

“But sir!”

“If you do not like my way of teaching, then you are welcome to drop out of my class. This school is built to prep serious students into serious adventurers. You’d do well to remember that.”

The little pixie stood frozen in fear. She wanted to help that poor freshman, but was too terrified to speak up. Defeated, the freshman strode by her, causing the demon teacher to notice her entry.

“I apologize you have to see that, Miss Lucille.”

“Little Gladius, don’t you think that was harsh of you? I can somewhat understand your approach, but they need your guidance too. Isn’t that why we’re here?”

Gladius sighed. “I understand. I spoke out of line.”

If she knew he was this approachable, she would’ve given him an earful years ago. But it was too late for that, and she had already lost the desire to do so. “It’s fine. I just want you to keep it in mind.”

The pixie had to remind herself not to fall for that sinister hotness. No way. A definite no.

Gladius plopped back to his chair and gathered the papers on his desk into a single stack. “Yet another batch of troublemakers. Miss Lucille, are you familiar with Exquisitors?”

“Eh?” Her voice jumped out of her mouth. “Exquisitors are select individuals that carry judgement under Her lordship’s will. There isn’t a soul in Scaldus who hasn’t heard of them. D-Don’t tell me our little Gladius here is under suspicion? Of being a heretic? Is that it?!”

“Relax, Miss Lucille. Take a deep breath.”

She did as he said. “A-Alright. But how come? You aren’t even a Magus to begin with.”

“I’m afraid his reasons elude at the moment. But if he came here for that purpose, then I would assume he would’ve gone through the front door.”

“Meaning?”

The demon revealed a curious smile, as if saying this matter was of great importance. “In other words, I’m looking forward to what he’ll show — In my class.”