NOVEL NEXT Chapter 196: Resourceful Fool
Lorraine felt so embarrassed she could die.
Heat flushed across her cheeks, making the tips of her ears burn red. All she wanted was to finish this tour without any problems, without interruptions, without making a fool of herself in front of the one person whose opinion mattered most right now.
Yet, of course, the heavens had to send him at this exact moment.
"Mister Elijah," she said with a weary sigh, pressing her temple lightly as if his very presence gave her a headache, "I thought I was already clear the last five times."
Her tone was soft, polite even. "Please, I'm not interested. You shouldn't be wasting your time on a woman like me."
There was nothing wrong with Elijah, not on the surface.
He was tall, clean-shaven, and carried himself with the confidence of someone who believed in his own charm.
But Lorraine had long since grown numb to his flowery declarations. Besides, the man she was truly interested in was right here, holding her hand.
That thought alone was enough to make her chest flutter so fiercely she could barely concentrate on the tour.
To waste this opportunity with Elijah's nonsense? Absolutely unacceptable.
Elijah, of course, seemed utterly oblivious to her irritation.
His dark eyes widened, shimmering with unshakable conviction. "Miss Lorraine, I know you've said that many times before," he said, placing a hand over his heart with a theatrical sigh. "But that is only because you haven't seen the true me. I imagine doing a lot of—"
He was about to continue, to launch into another dramatic fantasy about their shared future, when he suddenly realized that Lorraine was no longer there.
His mouth froze halfway open.
"Eh?" He blinked rapidly, looking left and right. She had simply walked off, or rather fled.
"She ran away?" he muttered in disbelief, his heart twisting with exaggerated anguish.
Slowly, he lowered his hand, staring at his palm as though it had failed him. After a long pause, he whispered with a romantic sigh, "I'll get her one day…"
"Dude, you really need to give up."
A new voice cut through his self-pity. A young fat man with pale blond hair squatted down beside him, arms resting on his knees.
His lips curled in an amused grin as he studied Elijah like one might study a particularly stubborn insect.
While Elijah still looked like he'd been stabbed through the heart, the fat boy continued mercilessly,
"I'll give you this though — you've got tenacity. Most people would have quit after rejection number three. But Lorraine? She's rejected you so many times it's practically a daily ritual in the Academy."
"Persistence is the essence of love," Elijah muttered, half to himself, lifting his chin. "Lorraine just doesn't realize yet that fate keeps throwing us together for a reason."
"Fate, huh?" The fat boy snorted, he was this guy's best friend after all so he knew how he thought, then jabbed a finger toward the direction Lorraine had disappeared. "Yeah, well fate also threw that guy into the picture. Didn't you notice? She wasn't alone this time."
Elijah froze. "She wasn't… alone?"
"Nope. Hand in hand with a guy," the fat boy confirmed, his grin widening. "And not just any guy. People are saying it's Azel Thorne. The Azel Thorne. Son of the Sword Saint."
The words hit Elijah like a hammer to the chest. He staggered back a step, staring at nothing.
Of all rivals, it had to be him?
"There's no way," Elijah whispered. "My beautiful Lorraine, who avoids men like the plague… with him?"
The fat boy shrugged and covered his snicker with a hand. "You really can't compare."
…
Meanwhile, Lorraine's heart hadn't stopped racing since she pulled Azel away from Elijah.
Azel, calm as ever, didn't seem to mind, though she swore she caught the faintest flicker of amusement in his eyes whenever he glanced her way.
She finished showing him the academy's various levels as quickly as possible, rattling off explanations with a speed that betrayed her nerves.
The second floor cafeteria.
The third floor classrooms.
The study wings.
Even the peculiar little "Fortune Teller's Room," which many students visited for fun.
By the time they stepped back into the main hall, Lorraine exhaled a deep sigh of relief.
"I think that ends the tour," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear and finally letting go of his hand.
"What about the Emporium?" Azel asked suddenly, tilting his head.
Lorraine blinked.
The Emporium was the top floor, the grand arena where duels and exhibitions were held.
Students weren't even supposed to visit without permission or a duel going on and currently nobody was foolish enough to initiate one.
"Miss Brown sai—" she began, recalling Miss Brown's warning.
But before she could finish, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor. A familiar voice rang out.
"There you are!"
Both Lorraine and Azel turned as Elijah came skidding to a halt in front of them, his chest heaving.
His face glistened with sweat, but in his hand, he triumphantly brandished a slip of paper.
His eyes shone with manic resolve.
"I challenge you to an official duel in the Emporium, Azel Thorne!" Elijah declared dramatically, waving the note like a holy decree. "It took some effort, but I got both the principal and Miss Brown to approve it. The permit is right here!"
Lorraine groaned inwardly. Azel simply arched an eyebrow.
'Persistent fool,' Azel thought. Still, he had to admit… getting authorization for a duel that quickly took resourcefulness.
"Am I under any obligation to accept?" Azel asked, his voice calm, almost bored.
"The terms are as follows!" Elijah announced, his eyes glinting dangerously. "If I win, you must leave Lorraine alone for the rest of your life! Never speak to her again! But if I lose… I will withdraw, never pursue her again, and pay you five hundred silver ares."
'Oh, so he's a rich boy too,' Azel thought, his lips curling into a wide smile.
His eyes gleamed with mischief. "Very well. I accept."
Lorraine's heart dropped. "Wait—Azel—"
But it was already too late.
…
The Emporium was unlike any other part of the academy. Situated on the very top floor, it was a grand coliseum of polished stone.
Only students and professors were permitted inside to witness official duels, and word of this particular match spread like lightning.
By the time Azel and Elijah stood on opposite ends of the vast arena, the stands were packed with cheering spectators.
Aegon sat high in the stands, arms crossed, his expression caught somewhere between annoyance and smug amusement.
Lorraine sat reluctantly beside him, her stomach twisted with unease.
"Hmph," Aegon sniffed, leaning back in his seat. "If my rival loses against this weakling, he loses his standing as my rival."
Lorraine rolled her eyes so hard she thought they might get stuck.
"Why do you sound like you're Azel's lover or something?" she muttered under her breath.
"Please bring out your weapons, contestants!"
The officiator's voice boomed across the arena.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
It was finally time for it to start…