"I hate Mondays," Owen muttered, walking beside him. "Barely got to rest, and now I have to go back to school."
Theo snorted softly but said nothing.
His mind was still focused on the lightning bolt spell.
'I can't believe I already succeeded,' he thought, glancing at the ground. 'It was lacking a little in power, but I managed to control it completely.'
He smiled slightly.
'Now I just need to get more familiar with it to use it in combat.'
At his current pace, it wouldn't even take him a week before he could apply to be a hunter.
Before he even realized it, they'd reached the school gates together, banners already hanging at the entrance.
[Youth Competition — Registration Open.]
Theo stopped walking, his gaze fixed on the banner.
'The Youth Competition,' he thought. 'Should I… register now?'
Owen took a few more steps before realizing Theo wasn't beside him anymore. He slowed, then turned around with a confused look.
"What are you doing?" he asked, tilting his head. "We don't have a lot of time before class starts."
Theo didn't answer immediately.
His fist clenched at his side for a moment.
"Just go on ahead," he said. "I'm going to register for the tournament."
Owen's mouth fell open, speechless.
"You?" he said in disbelief. "With a D-rank talent?"
"Even if you managed to learn a Gray-grade spell, the others will reach Silver Core far before you and start throwing around Silver-grade spells!"
A small smile appeared on Theo's face as he shrugged once. "Might as well give it a shot. Not like I'll lose anything by trying."
Owen stood there silently for a moment, mouth still wide open as his mind raced. After a few seconds, he closed his mouth and glanced up at the sky.
"Fair enough," he said, letting out a deep sigh. "Let me go sign up too, then."
"Really?" Theo asked, raising an eyebrow.
Normally, someone with D- or C-rank talent wouldn't stand a chance in a tournament like that, so he had never expected Owen to want to sign up.
"Yeah," Owen shrugged. "Not gonna let you go there to suffer alone."
They continued together, heading for a different, smaller building on the right side of the school grounds. Large, colorful banners hung above the building, signaling people to sign up there.
Inside, about two dozen students filled the hall, each waiting for their turn. Low murmurs echoed through the room, mixing excited whispers with the occasional boast.
"Ah, fuck," Owen cursed behind him.
Theo turned around, confused. "What?"
"Look at that," Owen continued, nodding toward the front of the line. "The rich dipshit is also here to sign up."
Theo quickly turned back, his eyes immediately locking onto the front of the line. Just like Owen had said, David Whitmore stood there, laughing with a few of his loyal suck-ups.
"I really can't be asked to deal with this," Owen muttered behind him, annoyance clear in his voice.
Theo nodded once. "Neither. Let's just keep quiet to avoid making it rough for our parents."
The line slowly moved forward.
Theo kept his eyes on the front, paying close attention as David stepped forward and accepted a piece of paper.
After a few seconds, David straightened, raising his voice as he finished signing his name, making sure half the hall could hear him.
"Done," he said with a satisfied grin, sliding the tablet back across the desk. "Try not to lose it."
A few chuckles came from behind him.
Then David turned around.
His gaze swept the hall lazily, gauging reactions—until it stopped.
His eyes locked onto Theo's.
For a moment, surprise flickered across David's face. Then his lips curled upward, amusement slowly spreading as he sized Theo up.
"Well, I'll be damned," David said, grinning openly now.
Behind Theo, Owen clicked his tongue.
"Ah, fuck," he whispered. "I really don't know if I can keep my fist from hitting his face this time."
"Just try," Theo whispered back.
David walked toward them, still smiling, making no effort to hide his interest.
"Didn't think I'd see you here," he said lightly. "This competition really is open to everyone."
Theo remained silent, meeting David's gaze calmly.
David's smile widened slightly when Theo didn't respond. He raised his voice again as he continued.
"Guess things have really gone downhill for you. Last I heard, your house burned down."
Theo's smile stiffened, while Owen let out a strained breath behind him.
David tilted his head, feigning curiosity. "So what is it now? Sleeping on couches? Or do you sleep under a bridge?"
Theo clenched his jaw.
'This much is manageable.'
But David was far from done.
"I can't imagine what it feels like," he said, grinning wildly, "to have a father who can't even properly support his family."
The entire hallway went quiet, heads turning one after another.
'I need to keep calm,' Theo thought, biting his lip. 'I can't make this worse for Dad while I'm still so weak.'
David practically glowed from the attention, raising his voice even louder.
"That's right—about your dad. After hearing about the tough situation, my father offered him a special contract."
Even those who hadn't been paying attention before turned, sensing something was about to happen.
"What was it? Working as a janitor for sixteen hours a day?" David said, putting a hand to his face in mock sadness. "He's practically become a do—"
"Shut the fuck up."
Owen's voice rang out behind him.
He stepped past Theo in an instant, swinging his fist toward David.
'Well...' Theo thought, time slowing down for moment. 'Shit.'
The punch landed square on David's face.
A dull sound echoed through the hall as he stumbled backward, nearly losing his footing. David froze for a second, eyes widening.
"You talk so much for someone with no capability," Owen said, disgust plastered across his face.
David's face turned completely red, rage flooding in as he pointed at Owen.
"You," he snarled. "I'm going to have your parents' jobs."
Owen gritted his teeth, raising his fist again. "Try it, bitch."
Theo placed a hand on Owen's shoulder, shaking his head lightly as he pulled him back.
'This wasn't part of my plan,' he thought, mind racing. 'He acted on impulse again…'
And he had no doubt the Whitmores would make Owen's parents bleed for it if he did nothing.
"I'll even buy your building and evict you," David continued, voice shaking with fury. "Just like that other piece of crap—"
Theo stepped forward, swinging his fist towards David's nose with everything he had.
His fist connected in an instant.
A loud crunch echoed through the hallway as he sent David tumbling back.
'That should direct his anger back at me,' Theo thought, a hint of satisfaction flowing through him.
David collapsed to the floor with a sharp cry, hands flying to his face as blood immediately leaked between his fingers.
"My nose!" he shouted, touching it in panic. "You broke my nose!"
Owen turned to look at Theo with wide eyes, instantly understanding.
Theo simply smiled, shaking the hand he'd punched with lightly through the air.
Owen had stepped up to defend him and made the target on himself and his family even larger than before.
'If their family took the punishment for this,' he thought, 'my parents would never forgive me.'
Theo let out a soft sigh, glancing at David clutching his nose.
'If anything, I should've stepped up sooner,' he thought, narrowing his eyes. '…But now I do have a slight problem.'
David, who had just stood back up with the help of his suck-ups, turned to Theo immediately.
"I'm going to kill you!" he shouted, clenching his fists, face red with fury.
Just before he stepped in to take a swing, a sharp voice echoed through the hallway.
"Stop!"