They all came out of the Headmaster's office and were walking ahead through the corridor...
Laila (said to Duke): So my guess was right, wasn't it... Duke?
Duke: Yeah... you could say that...
Veronica (still not completely out of the shock from what just happened inside, said): What guess, Laila...?
Queen: Yes, what guess are you talking about, Laila?
Laila: The Headmaster had asked Duke before as well, but he rejected them... I was right, wasn't I, Duke?
Veronica: Is that true, Duke? (And she looked at Duke and started scanning his body, but nothing... she could only see a single core, that too at a noob level.)
Queen did the same, with the same result...
Duke: Yeah, that old man asked me before too... on the day of our engagement.
Queen (a bit angrily): Speak their name with respect... now you are also their personal student, understood?
Duke (seeing Queen getting more angry): Alright, alright...
Queen: And when did the Headmaster ask you?
Laila: When the three of us were in the room, that time...
Queen: But I was there too... the Headmaster didn't say anything like that...
Duke: You'll be able to use your brain only if you calm down a bit, got it... they asked me indirectly.
Queen: Oh, I see...
Veronica: And you rejected... did Arthur know about this?
Duke: No, no one knew... but now you'll probably go and tell him, right?
Veronica: Yeah, I'll have to tell him... it's good you became a personal student, now you have no danger inside the academy, and my worries are over.
Duke: Yeah... now you're free...
The moment Arthur was mentioned, Queen, who had been listening to them while walking along, suddenly spoke...
Queen: Veronica, did you hear about Arthur... did Arthur tell you anything about the Side Hall offer...?
Hearing this, the three of them, who were now at the end of the corridor where the stairs led downwards, stopped there... all three looked at Queen and told her to quickly say what it was.
Veronica: What is it, Queen... Arthur didn't tell me anything... you tell me quickly now.
Queen: Three days ago, at our house, my uncle who is in the North Hall came... and he was talking with our father and Daniel uncle...
Laila: What were they talking about... tell us quickly.
Queen: Before coming to our house, he and his hall partner went to the Falcon Family... to congratulate Lucke uncle... and brought an offer from a North Voice-Hall Master...
Laila: That master is a 7th level wizard, right... am I right, Veronica?
Veronica: Yes... so what was the offer... and did the Falcon Family accept it?
Queen: No, they rejected it, or rather I should say Arthur rejected it... and the offer was to become his disciple in the North Hall. This Hall Master had personally said it.
Veronica and Laila were also shocked hearing this... that master was at 7th level right now and news was spreading that in a few years he would reach level 8... and wizards from all around would do anything to become the disciple of such a wizard. And Queen was saying he rejected it.
Laila: How could he reject such a good opportunity... if I got such a chance, I would have said yes in a second... the Falcon Family is full of lunatics.
Veronica (thinking): Hmm... and what else could the Falcon Family even accept... when will you people change?
Duke (laughing): Arthur brother did the right thing...
Veronica (looking at him): Duke, you're still young... you don't understand this power struggle and politics... and not all Dark Hall people are bad... this Voice-Hall Master isn't... he's not like the others...
Laila: Arthur should have thought again... this was truly a good opportunity... all old grudges should be left behind now... these days people play with both power and brains... the Falcon Family should have thought about this.
Duke: Arthur brother knows what he's doing... and then he went down the stairs.
They three also started leaving with him… coming down, they all went out from near the reception… right now, from a group sitting there, 6 people stood up and came towards them… among them, one boy came forward and said…
"So, you are Duke Falcon…"
Duke glanced at him and started looking at him. That boy looked around Laila's age and was the most among those standing behind him… Then Duke looked at everyone and again set his gaze on him, and said in his mind — "An Alpha guard… interesting."
Duke (then said to him): "Who are you?"
The boy (seeing Duke's behaviour): "My name is Nicholas… Nicholas Joseph."
Duke (in his mind): "So he's from the Joseph clan… the one Gia and Veronica were talking about on the way to the academy… Side B ones."
Duke: "Hello, my name is Duke Falcon… from the Falcon family."
Nicholas (smiling sarcastically): "Who doesn't know you… your fame has spread to both north and east sides… And your name, brother?"
Duke: "Oh really? So many admirers of mine… looks like I'll have to make a fan club."
Hearing this, Laila standing behind him, and Veronica, both burst into laughter… and even Queen smiled slightly.
Nicholas: "Hmm… quite a joker you are… but jokers die quickly… better keep a check on your mouth."
Duke (looking at him): "Oh really… yes, then I would like to die laughing… and started laughing."
Nicholas started getting angry. Seeing him step forward towards Duke, Veronica spoke from behind.
Veronica (with a cold look): "You are crossing your limits."
Nicholas (looking at Veronica, his body trembled): "Do you think you are the most powerful in the academy…"
Seeing the tension growing between them, Laila spoke in between.
Laila: "Duke is a personal student… do you know that, Nicholas… do you really want to mess with him… that too in the academy…"
Nicholas and his friends, who were shocked hearing Laila's words…
Nicholas: "Laila, find some better reason to save him…"
Laila: "Do you really think I'm joking… that too about someone related to the Headmaster…"
Hearing this, Nicholas stepped back a little, looked at Duke once, and then started leaving with a smile. And while leaving, he said…
"As long as you are in the academy, enjoy… once you step outside, you'll be dead."
Duke (smiling and shouting loudly while watching him leave): "Absolutely, I'm eager to meet you outside…"
He shouted so loudly that everyone sitting in the hall heard it… Nicholas glared at him and left from there.
Veronica: "Congratulations, you've already made an enemy right after arriving… now don't step outside the academy without asking me."
Duke: "Yeah, sure…"
Laila: "Duke, I got a mission in the south side… would you like to join? I was going to ask Queen but she's going with Ella and Jude on a mission."
Veronica: "No, he's not going… it's too dangerous…"
Laila: "Don't worry, Gia is also with us… we'll be four people… Gia, me, and one of my friends… and if Duke comes along, he'll also get to learn something from us."
Veronica (thinking for a while): "Fine, but keep it secret that Duke is going with you… even Gia shouldn't know until the last moment… understand?"
Laila: "Okay."
Duke (who had been listening to their conversation for a while): "What's the problem… even if you ask me, I won't come, I don't have time…"
Ignoring him, Veronica: "Leave with them tomorrow morning… and see how the outside world is… and Laila, take care of him."
Saying this, Veronica left, and Queen also went to meet Ella.
Duke: "So where do we have to go…"
Laila: "South and west border's black market…"
Duke (thinking): "Hmm, fine… now I'm going, I need to sleep."
"If you enjoyed the story, please make sure to save it in your Library, and leave your Comment and Rating to encourage me to keep writing."