148 Hostile Gaze
During the start of the second class period, the witches around the academy noticed the servants actively running about between the training fields and the main building.
“What’s going on with those servants? Why are they so active today?” Glinda Shadowmend wondered as she glanced out at the training fields from the second floor’s classroom window.
After hearing Glinda Shadowmend’s words, Sabrina Redwood and Euphenia Deamonne also glanced over to check.
“Maybe they suddenly felt the need to do some endurance training?” Euphenia Deamonne guessed.
…
While the witches wondered what the servants were up to, words within the servant circle reached Bram Krauss, one of the top five handsome servants in the academy and the leader of a gang among servants.
Unlike other male witch descendants who have undergone aura training, Bram Krauss was less burly in comparison. His muscles were very toned but not excessively large.
Despite that, he was still among the strongest servants in the academy. Such cases were normally the result of receiving nourishment from magic potions and miraculous elixirs.
Evidently, Bram Krauss hailed from a wealthy household, or the fifth-year True Witch he served was the wealthy one.
“Boss Bram, there’s trouble among our people. Someone touched the marked witch belonging to one of our younger brothers,” a burly servant came to the training field to report.
Bram Krauss paused his training and glanced over at the newcomer with a frown.
“Did that someone belong to our group?”
“No, Boss.”
“Then, what’s the problem?” Bram Krauss raised an eyebrow.
“The bro code is to be respected, and I may have given my word to the boys, but that doesn’t stop other men outside of our group from pursuing the witches, no?”
“That’s the thing, Boss Bram,” the burly man with a buzz cut stated.
“As one of the strongest servants in the academy, your influence is widespread among the servants. Your words are like the law that all servants should follow, whether they are unaffiliated or belong to our group.”
“The offender?” Bram Krauss smiled amusedly before saying, “The offender who succeeded in winning a witch’s favor? The witch chose that person and not the brother pursuing her. We can only say that our brother was incapable.”
“Witches’ choices have to be respected. Don’t forget that we are only servants. If we go around punishing everyone outside our circle for not following our rules, it will give witches the wrong idea about us.”
“We are only prioritizing our brothers’ interests, not running a witch auction. If witches mistakenly think we are treating them as monopolizable objects, we can all say goodbye to our future,” Bram Krauss stated sternly.
“What you just said is very demoralizing, Boss Bram. If we let others break our rules, what’s the point in our brothers upholding the rules in the first place? Is there a purpose in forming a group?” the buzz-cut burly servant questioned.
“We have to stand up for Rehan. By the looks of it, he will most likely find the person for trouble. We can’t let that person belittle our group.”
“Did you not listen to a word I said? We can’t do that,” Bram Krauss frowned.
“Respect the boundaries. We can’t punish someone that didn’t break the rule while being part of our group. Rehan can find the person for trouble, but no one is to help him. We can only interfere if Rehan gets himself beaten badly and humiliated.”
“Until then, no one is to help him. Absolutely no one.”
…
Bram Krauss’s words were passed along to everyone associated with the group before they reached Rehan Vexx’s ears, who was present near the main building’s front entrance.
“Did Boss Bram really say that?” Rehan Vexx frowned.
“Yeah. Or so I’ve heard from the other boys in the group,” Damek Howler confirmed with a nod.
“Well, it doesn’t matter. I won’t need anyone’s help to beat up this scoundrel. I, alone, am enough,” Rehan Vexx claimed.
“If it’s a new person that just recently joined the academy, he shouldn’t be that strong. His strength is likely only around the same as those other first-year servants. The bastard won’t be a match for me, who has already produced aura.”
“The problem is figuring out who Lady Sabrina hooked up with last night,” Rehan Vexx mentioned.
“According to everyone’s account, they did witness a new person entering the academy yesterday. Furthermore, others also noticed Lady Sabrina visiting the library twice. On top of that, the library was clean and orderly. It was definitely the work of a new library assistant,” Damek Howler guessed boldly.
“That being said, a new person who just entered the academy managed to score two True Witches on the same night. This person is very impressive, hahaha!” Damek Howler guffawed inappropriately before seeing Rehan Vexx’s grim look. “Ahem, sorry.”
“It’s alright. The bastard must be very capable, alright,” Rehan Vexx admitted before adding, “However, that doesn’t mean I like him. Bastard dared to steal my lady. I’m definitely going to ruin him!”
“Correction: Lady Sabrina was never yours, Rehan. A word of advice from your brother; don’t say things like that unless you want to get into serious trouble—Oh?”
Damek Howler advised Rehan Vexx when his scanning gaze suddenly paused on a person in the distance.
“Doesn’t that person look like a new face?” Damek Howler pointed.
…
Near the academy’s entrance, Vaan had just returned with his big bag of clothes, escorted by Hester Thornton after his short visit to Helia’s Castle. He had only left after getting information regarding the Inquisitor’s visit.
“Thank you for accompanying, Lady Hester. This far is enough,” Vaan said after stopping at the entrance.
“Alright,” Hester Thornton nodded with a hint of disappointment and reluctance before saying, “If you need a partner for dual practice again, remember that I will be available, Sir Cadieux.”
“I will keep your words in mind, Lady Hester,” Vaan smiled.
Shortly after parting with Hester Thornton, Vaan continued to enter the academy. But he only took several steps before his eyes flickered, sensing someone’s hostile gaze.
“Interesting…”