Since what Raze did had basically caused class to end early, he decided to head out and find Ella. But just as he was leaving, Gavin rushed up to him, catching him by the doorway.

They stepped out of the classroom together.

"Sorry about what I said when you came in," Gavin said. "It's just—"

"You don't need to explain anything," Raze cut him off. "Everybody has their own beliefs and misconceptions. Yours tie you to the academy, make you feel like you need to learn here to reach your goals. And maybe that's true for you."

He turned, his voice calm but edged with honesty. "But for me? Being here is just a favor I'm repaying. I'm not a student, not really. I'm not here to learn, and as proud as it might sound, I don't need anything from this place. You saw that in class today."

He started walking away, waving his hand lazily over his head. "Where I get my knowledge is my business, not something this academy can offer. We'll talk later, I need to find Ella."

Gavin raised his voice after him. "Even if you don't need this place now, don't write it off completely. You might find something useful later!"

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard you," Raze called back. "Now go train or something, you need to get stronger."

That was the last thing he said before heading toward the second wing of the academy, the area for the second years. That was where Ella would be.

It had been a while since he last saw her, and he had to admit… he missed her a little. There were also questions—questions about what had happened in the gutters. Things he needed answers to.

When he arrived at the second-year wing, the atmosphere shifted immediately. The moment he stepped through the archway, he felt it, dozens of eyes locking onto him, sharp and judgmental. The pressure was tangible.

Piercing gazes, he thought, smirking faintly. Guess first-years aren't supposed to wander in here.

He kept walking, ignoring them all. Or at least, he tried to, until one of them decided to step forward.

The guy was tall, broad-shouldered, with messy blond hair and an expression that looked like he'd bitten into something sour. He stepped directly into Raze's path, placing a firm hand on his chest and giving him a slight shove.

"Hey," the guy said, puffing up his chest, his voice deeper than it naturally was. "What are you doing here? This isn't your place, first-year."

Raze looked at him blankly, blinking once.

Then a small, amused smile curved his lips.

"You know," he said casually, brushing the guy's hand off his chest, "you really shouldn't push people you don't know."

The boy felt Raze's reply as a challenge and decided to assert his dominance, show off in front of the classmates already watching. He shoved Raze back a few steps. "Head back to your classes, first year," he snapped. "Or don't you understand where you are?"

Raze glanced around. "I'm pretty sure I didn't leave the school. This is part of the academy, isn't it?" He feigned ignorance. That only pissed the boy off more. The boy grabbed Raze by the shoulder, but Raze twisted his hand instantly. A sickening pop sounded as the boy crumpled to his knees, begging, pain ripping through him. "Stop! Stop! Stop!" he kept repeating.

"Look," Raze said, his signature smile still on his face, "I'm not looking for trouble. I won't start anything, but I won't back down from it either."

A few of the second-years had rushed out of the classrooms, eager to teach the first-year a lesson. They watched in shock, then prepared to join in. But a sharp voice cut through the tension. "What are you guys doing?"

Everyone turned to see who had stepped forward. It was Ella. The hall went quiet; she carried an air of respect that made people stop. Someone hurriedly explained what had happened. Ella looked at the fallen boy, then at Raze. She strode over, grabbed the hand of the aggressor, then, to everyone's surprise, punched him square in the face.

She wasn't a bruiser, she was a mage, but the hit still landed hard. The boy hit the ground, his nose bleeding. Ella's eyes were cold and fierce. "You do not touch him," she warned. "If you dare again, I'll duel you, and I'll beat you, legally."

She took Raze's hand, and under the shocked stares of the second-years, led him out of the wing. Word spread fast; this would be the talk of the second year: why the fiery empress reacted so fiercely, and who exactly Raze really was.

[....]

Outside the main building, Raze and Ella sat together on a bench near the main building.

"Your classmates are nice," Raze said.

"No, they aren't. They have some sort of belief that because they are second-years, they stand above the first. I can't blame them; it's the way the academy structured itself. Each class feels superior," she explained.

"I'm sorry for what they did to you," she added.

"Nah, I don't care. It's not like I was worried about someone like him," Raze replied.

"Thank you, and now that that is out of the way—" She suddenly grabbed Raze's neck with both hands to strangle him, his eyes immediately popping.

"Where the hell have you been? You can't just vanish for a week without telling anyone! You had me worried and asking Lady Green every day if you had returned," she barked.

"Urghh, sorry," Raze struggled to speak. She let out a sigh and let go of his neck.

"You have a really strong grip when angry," Raze said while rubbing his neck. "I was training a new spell and got carried away, sorry," Raze said.

"Tsk, no fair. You left me without my own training for so long. I've been trying to master the wordless casting for days now, but that hasn't been progressing fast enough," she explained.

"Don't worry, we'll resume training for sure. But before that, I have something to ask you, and I believe you already know," Raze said.

She bowed her head when she heard that and took in a deep breath. "My past in the gutters and what exactly happened with the spell I cast, right?

I knew that it would come to this one day. Didn't think I would have to tell you so early," she said, and then took a deep breath.

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