Revenge pact

Satisfied with his final score, Adonis nodded and walked towards the large crowd of students.

"My magic control is really lacking. " He acknowledged.

***

Magic exam scores:

Tarzy Goliath: 65

Luna Tricksta: 72

Amber Shine PTC: 86

Lutz van Alexia: 72

Jerald Cecil: 65

Marie Jupiter: 69

Adonis P. Vindicta: 80

Maxwell Aster: 52

John van Ani: 70

Toni Modster: 55

Vera Stewart: 67

Veda Stewart: 58

Flora Evergreen: 71

Sicily Paler: 51

Julia Cladius: 52

***

"Everyone has been assessed, please return back to class to resume with your school day."

Following the professor's command, Adonis and the rest of the first year's made their way back to their various classes.

As he followed behind the crowd back toward the academic block, Adonis's eyes fell upon the injured Maxwell, who walked beside a girl bearing fewer injuries.

'Paulla Beatrix... A girl in Class 1B, her and Maxwell are friends. They're both injured. Were they really just training? No, if they were really just training they would've went to the infirmiry to instantly heal their wounds. Something weird is going on here.' Adonis thought.

After walking for a while, Paulla left Maxwell's side, bearing a scared expression.

Taking this as an opportunity to investigate his friends injuries and strange behaviour, Adonis approached Paulla, intercepting her path.

"Beatrix..."

"Hm? Y-you'r-"

"I'm Adonis Vindicta, you may call me whatever you want. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions." He smiled gently.

"U-um... No, what's up?." Paulla said uncomfortably, shifting her gaze toward the ground.

"Why're you injured?" Adonis asked, ignoring the girl's timid nature.

"I was training..." She smiled bitterly.

"Beatrix...Let me ask this properly. Why is Maxwell injured, and don't lie to me." Although his words and tone were gentle and polite, there was something cold about Adonis's demeanor when he posed his question.

"I can't really say..." Paulla replied, speeding up her pace.

"Please, I can help." He insisted.

"Well... There's something called 'Weakness Tax' among the students in Classes E to B that has to be paid every month. But I failed to pay my tax and received 'punishment' Maxwell tried to help me, and ended up getting hurt." Paulla explained, her voice gradually breaking.

'A tax among students? I've never heard of it...'

"So who gives these 'punishments'?" Adonis questioned.

"It's usually the Second Years...

'So it was a second year?'

"What's the second year's na-"

Sorry but I have to go!" Paulla said, escaping Adonis and his difficult questions.

***

Class 1A, Ethics and Philosophy.

In accordance with his usual behaviour, Professor Benedictus paced around the classroom, spreading his message and promoting spirited debates among the students.

"Being ambitious is a quality everyone has, and certainly every magic knight has some sort of ambition, no matter how big or small it might be. And although we all have our dreams and goals, it's important that we set them aside for the greater good, the Empire."

"That's a whole bullshit, I exist for myself, and myself alone." Luna said, her hazel eyes fixed on the professor.

"Then why opt to become a magic knight in the first place, if you choose to live such a selfish lifestyle?" Tarzy asked, his eyes focused on the girl at the back of the class.

"Fighting is fun. Do I need some complicated reason?" Luna scowled.

"Your simplestic way of living is a testament to your lack of intelligence. " Amber interjected.

"Says the Divine Dick-Sucker! You're merely a puppet for the Gods." Toni shouted at Amber.

"Call me what you want, but at the end of the day, my purpose is not only useful, but divine. What purpose do you serve Toni?" The PTC replied.

"Come outside and I'll show ya!" Toni abruptly stood up.

"Modster, violence isn't permitted in the classroom." Professor Benedictus reprimanded.

"Forgive him sir, that's all these commoner's know." John snickered.

Hearing John's words, Maxwell, Toni and Tarzy all scowled at him, their Earthly Aura emanating subtly.

"What'd you just say?" Tarzy growled.

DUMMM

"That isn't fair." Maxwell shook his head.

DUMMM

"This commoner'll kick ya ass!"

DUMMM

Despite John's classist remarks, the fourth commoner in the class kept quiet, his focus directed elsewhere.

'Who hurt Maxwell?' Adonis pondered, his rage growing by the passing second.

"Your Auras aren't scaring anyone, so why don't you tuck away your egos so we can have a proper conversation." Flora shook her head.

"Why're you so concerned what other's think of you anyway?" Sicily muttered, her distant onyx eyes focused out the window.

"You wouldn't understand Sicily, you don't care about anything." Toni sighed, retaking his seat.

"Van Alexia, you're always awfully quiet during my lessons." Professor Benedictus stared at a tall youth with a long golden mane and cyan eyes, who appeared completely disinterested in the entire conversation.

"..."

"I'd like to hear your opinion on the matter. How important is ambition to a magic knight, in comparison to the Empire's needs?"

"It's obvious goals are important, they're the main things that drive us and push us to achieve greater heights..."

"But, there is no bigger reason to act or strive than in accordance to the Gods' will. " Lutz continued, speaking as if what he said was nothing more than a well known fact.

"That's someone who actually knows what they're talking about." Amber agreed.

"I never took ya for the puppet type van Alexia."

Instead of engaging in an intense argument, Lutz simply scoffed and completely disregarded the commoner's remarks.

"I expect nothing less from the heir to the van Alexia dukedom." Professor Benedictus smiled.

"Now, to finish off the lesson... I'd like to present to you all a scenerio... You are a vice commander of Caelum's strongest Division, but you are placed in a sticky situation. A majority of your division favors you over your commander and you aslo believe that you could do a better job. Considering all this, you are then placed in the perfect situation to assasinate your superior and take his position. What do you do?" Professor Benedictus asked.

'I would personally have to asassinate him, but that clearly isn't the correct answer.' John van Ani pondered as he rested his chin on his arm, studying his professor.

"I wouldn't kill him, if the entire division really wanted him gone, we could just approach the superiors." Marie Jupiter was the first one to speak, without hesitation.

"That's easy for you to say princess, you have nothing to strive for." Toni frowned.

"Watch your mou-" Tarzy barked.

"I can speak for myself Tarzy." Marie muttered coldly.

"Princess?"

"Looks like your princess doesn't want you anymore!" Toni chuckled.

"I wouldn't kill him." Luna shrugged.

"That's surprising Triksta, what's with the change of heart." The professor chuckled.

"I haven't had one."

"Then why wouldn't you assasinate him?" Flora asked.

"Because being a commander sounds like too much work, plus defeating someone via assassination is too boring. If I'm going to kill a commander, I'll do it with my own strength." Luna explained.

"Can't say I'm not surprised." Flora smiled.

"I'd do the same, but a completely different reason." Veda voiced.

"Assassinating a fellow magic knight is a crime." John said.

"Even if it's for the greater good?" Professor Benedictus asked.

"Unless they're orders, I won't do it."

"I'd do it. If my subordinates think I'm the best man for the job, then I see no reason not to. It not only elevates my position in the military, but it also improves my division's unitiy." Toni explained.

"Of course you'd do that, you dumbass commoner." John insulted.

'Admittedly I'd do the same.' John thought.

"Insult me one more time, van Ani. I dare you!" Toni screamed.

"Professor, it's not that simple..." Amber finally said, after thinking over the situation for a bit.

"What makes it complex?" He asked, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"If the commander of the division is collectively hated, that means they are clearly incompetent. And if the higher ups haven't been able to see it then there is clearly something that is understood, or that they bring a value that the subordinates are unable to see. But on a less optimistic note, the reason why they would still be in power despite the collective reluctance of their division is that there is some sort of corruption or prejudice happening. So the correct answer would be to investigate, in the event that option one is the case, then it would be appropriate to inform the rest of the division, in the event of option two, then I would not only assassinate the commander but also bring the situation to the attention of someone in a higher position of power." Amber explained.

"Very thorough..." Professor Benedictus nodded in approval.

Listening Amber's response, Lutz merely rolled his eyes.

"Van Alexia, you seem to disagree. What would you do?" Professor Benedictus asked.

"It's simple... I'd kill him." Lutz replied nonchalantly.

Hearing Lutz's response, the entire Class 1A turned their heads' in his direction.

"And why is that?" Professor Benedictus asked.

"Because assigning me as a mere vice commander is a mistake. No one can do what I do, better than me."