Old Enmity

The cafeteria is more crowded than I expected. Maybe because many students missed their breakfast. Damn, just when I think I can get some peace. I'd better finish my breakfast fast and go to some other place.

In the novel, I still remember that there's a free meal for the poorer student for twice a day. Although the meal is simple, I believe it's good as long as I can eat something for free. Even the main character in the novel uses it when he's saving up to buy something, like wands.

When I shout "Daily free meal" at the old lady in the cafeteria, everyone looks at me as if they've seen some rare magic. So what? The former child of Duke can't eat a free meal now? People nowadays are so shallow.

I take up the meal to an empty table and eat quietly. I didn't know at that time there was a group of people walking towards me.

"Yo Aleks! Long time no see huh", The leader of that group seems to call me.

I see the man in front of me. He's a delinquent type of teenager with an air of nobility around him. The followers behind him indicate that this man in front of me is a noble, a high-ranked one at that.

To be honest, I don't know who this man in front of me is. But as an adult, it'd be best to say hi back to him even though I don't know him. It may be possible that it was someone that the previous Aleks know.

"Yo, yes it's indeed been quite some time", I just smile and give him a safe answer.

But unexpectedly, his face turns ugly after that. He looks at me as if he's expecting a different reaction from me. I've got a bad feeling about this.

But suddenly he smiles again and took a seat in front of me. He didn't say anything, so I just resume eating while he watches.

"How's the taste?", He asked.

"Well, it's just a so-so. Not bad I guess, when I think this is a free meal", I answered for a bit while chewing and then resume eating again.

He smiles and nodded as if he began to understand something with arms crossed. And then suddenly, he brought his face closer to the soup on my meal, and spit on it.

I look at his action dumbfoundedly. When he finishes doing that, he still smiles his arm crossed, sitting there while looking at me, waiting for my reaction.

I stare back at him with a confused expression and asked, "Why would you do that?"

"A commoner doesn't need to know what a noble is thinking", He said proudly. All the followers behind him began to smile and snicker at me.

"Now, you can taste the soup. It's a blessing for a commoner to even taste that", He resumed talking.

Now I know what he is. I've been too naive to think that there'll be no one daring enough to bully the son of a former Duke household, but I guess I'm wrong.

I smiled back at him and nodded. I took the soup bowl and brings it closer to my face before throwing it onto his face.

He sit still with a face full of vegetables and everything from the soup content. Everyone in the cafeteria, including his followers, agape in shock. Looks like they've been stripped away from their consequences that they think I wouldn't retaliate. Come at me, bro.

"Hahaha, deserved it", A voice in my head says.

There's a murmur around us. From this point onward, no one will know where this'll be going. I see the person in front of me take a napkin from his chest pocket and wipe his face with his eyes closed.

"Hmph", He smiled while giving a small laugh. And after the finish wiping his face, he throws it to the followers behind him.

"YOU!", Suddenly he stands up, pulled my tie, and explode just like that. I could see his face from up close this time. His eyes are bloodshot. The previous demeanour that he shows me before seems to be gone.

"What?", I asked him calmly while looking at his face up close. His face is higher than mine, so it's intimidating.

He took out his wand and point them to my face, "Aleks, if you think that I would be scared to kill you here and now, it'd be a mistake. Even the principal can't stop me now. I'm the sole son of the Duke in this academy after you've lost your nobility. No one can stop me even if they want to. Do you understand?"

Now I know who he is, Jack Kelners. In the novel, it was said that other than Aleks, there's another son of a duke inside the academy. Their family have a deep enmity and so is their children. After the Amberster family falls, he becomes the sole son of a duke that attends the academy.

Though by next year, there'll be another duke son attending this academy, balancing the power inside the academy student body. Right now, there's only him. Even Aleks's previous followers began to follow him after his death.

That aside, his family and other noble families will take control of Amberster territory in the future. So, I can't expect to be having a good relationship with him.

"Stop it jack", Some man from outside of this group came closer but was detained by Jack's followers.

Jack looked behind him while one of his hands still grabbing my tie. Then he pointed his wands that he used to threaten me to the other man and said, "So it's the rising star of the Hawkling house, huh? If you really want to stop me then be prepared to get beaten along with him"

When I heard him say "Hawkling", I also notice the identity of the man that want to help me. Yep, it's William Hawkling, the main character in the novel. Coming from a Viscount household, he can't save me from Jack, who's coming from a Ducal household.

I can see him looking at me worriedly, but I shook my head at him. Indicating to don't provoke Jack further than this.

"Scram!", Jack roared while still pointing the wand at him.

He raises both of his hands and looks resignedly to Jack, "Okay, okay, I won't interfere with your business", and then he stood back like that.

Jack, sensing no other disturbance, began to look at me while pointing his wand at my face once more.

"Now, what should I do to you?", He glared at me.

I hold one of his hands that holding my tie all this time with my right hand and say to him, "Jack, let's take this outside", With my head pointing to the outside cafeteria.

"Sure", He answered with a smile.

He released my tie and we both walk to outside with his followers still following us.

"Is this the time when I see my power being used? I can't wait ku ku ku"

"Shut it, Balaur. I won't use your power", I answered using my mind.