Jethro was forced to spin around. Behind him was Eryn Fenlor, standing with a look of anger and disgust painted across his face. HIs hands were in his pockets, his cape flowing regally behind him. His Paragon Phoenix perched on his shoulder while his Pyronic Beaver stood beside him, hugging his foot.

Behind Jethro, Nov and two other cronies were blocking the aisle, not going to let him pass, while Dash, Ben and another crony flanked Eryn. Kekius and Oand were held back by Knight Faction students who feared Eryn, leaving Jethro all alone in the center.

"Eryn, what are you doing?!" Kekius said.

"Shut up, Dreamlake!" Dash warned him with a stabbing gaze.

Eryn stepped forward once, his eyes locked on Jethro with jealousy, wounded pride, suspicion, and hate. After scanning the lizard tamer and his now bigger and blacker mechbeast, Eryn's lips parted to speak.

"What kind of cheap trick did you pull, Merrick?" he demanded. He gestured contemptuously at Scorch. "That's not what your lizard looked like yesterday. What happened to it?"

Jethro looked into Eryn's eyes without fear. He was more tired than anything, fed up with this guy and his envy, even though it was sort of… amusing. "I don't know what to tell you, Erryn. You're wasting your time asking me because I'm just as surprised as you are."

"Bullshit!" Eryn pushed his face closer. "I know everything about mechbeasts and I know that Red Lizards are the worthless of them all. They don't ever grow or change colors! If your Red Lizard did then that's something wrong with it! It's a freaking abomination!"

Jethro lifted a brow at Eryn. The prince's anger was starting to create tiny embers in the air, clearly becoming a tangible force. But after facing a Cinder Chimera and Chief Otis's fungal fists, princely tantrums felt manageable. This left Jethro feeling very nonchalant, completely forgetting, or at least ignoring that Eryn could kill him at that moment because of their power difference.

"Abomination? That's a bit harsh, Eryn," Jethroo drawled, scratching Scorch's obsidian hair. "Besides, why do you care so much? My Lizard is still the weakest beast. I'm not any stronger either so you have nothing to worry about. Which means this really isn't about my mechbeast at all. It's about the Student Leaderboard."

Eryn, face distorting with even more anger, step forward. "Don't play the fool with me, Merrick," he hissed, leaning closer. "I don't care that you survived the Dark Conqueror, trash like you do not belong in second place."

Jethro shrugged. "Then why are you so worried? If that's the case, sooner or later, I'll be way down on that Leaderboard anyway. The trash always takes itself out, right?"

Eryn stared at him, silent for a while, then smirked— more of a smirk of anger than anything. "You think you're so funny, huh?"

Jethro pursed his lips. "Well, one of us has to the thinking around here," he muttered smartly. "You're too thickheaded to even try."

Eryn's eyes flashed with rage and his control snapped. "You insolent— !" He raised a hand. Out of the air, the embers gathered on his palm and coalesced into a swirling ball of windy fire. Kekius yelled. Oand gasped. Nov grinned viciously.

But just as Eryn pulled back to launch the fireball, a voice stopped him.

"Enough!"

The voice cracked like a whip, freezing everyone in place. When they turned around, they saw it was Professor Aris. She had two of the cronies that were once blocking the aisle, trapped inside floating balls of water. She stood at the end of the aisle, her expression as icy as her blue hair, her gaze sweeping over the scene with disdain.

The heat radiating from Eryn suddenly dimmed instantly under her frigid presence. The fireball disappeared into tiny embers.

"Prince Fenlor," she said, her voice dangerously calm. "Using magic in such a manner especially in Academy grounds is a direct disobedience of our rules. Turn it off. Now."

It wasn't a request. It was an order from a Class A Platinum Rank Tamer, a Professor, and someone whose displeasure even a Sector Prince would hesitate to court. "Academy grounds are not your personal dueling arena. Save your… enthusiasm… for sanctioned matches or the training facility. As for your punishment, minus 20 points from Knight Faction. Even nobles can't escape the law. I hope you're aware of that."

Eryn's jaw clenched, the embers from the fireball completely dying in his palm. He lowered his hand slowly, his eyes never leaving Jethro's, burning with pure, impotent fury. "This isn't over, Merrick," he spat.

Jethro regarded him with a more uncaring expression, even angering him the more. But Eryn knew acting out further would even lead to more trouble.

Jethro was more concerned about Professor Aris. Yesterday, she was publicly humiliating him in front of the entire class for suggesting that Dreadeater Caterpillars could eat bone marrow past the Mature Phase, and today, she was helping him.

It could be that she was just doing her job as a professor, but Aris seemed particularly in Jethro's defense, especially when he compared it to Professor Xan's reaction. Though, that was a hilarious comparison.

Professor Aris stepped forward, her presence forcing Eryn and his cronies to step aside. She looked down her nose at Jethro, a placid expression on her face, though lacking the overt hostility and mockery from yesterday. "Move along, Mr. Merrick. All of you. Your lessons begin shortly. Tardiness affects your Faction, do not forget." Her gaze flickered to Scorch for a fraction of a second, and her brows furrowed.

She was clearly surprised to see its new… form.

The tension had dissolved by now and the students started heading down the corridor to the next class, whispers buzzing in the air. Kekius grabbed Jethro's arm. "Come on, Jethro. Let's get out of here."

Eryn grabbed Jethro's other hand, locking eyes with him. "I'm going to find out just what you're up to, Merrick. You don't fool me. Not one bit."

He let his arm go and Jethro and his team hurried away, though Oand had to basically push Jethro down the aisle.

Whatever Eryn Fenlor meant by that, Jethro had to be ready. A noble and a Class D Platinum Rank tamer as an enemy wasn't something he could easily handle. Offensive options couldn't come soon enough.

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