THAT DAY I BECAME A STAR

"Finally, you guys are here."

As we get off the carriages, Frankher is the first to greet us, together with Smith.

"I hope, they didn't bother too much, Teacher Mneme. Those kids can be quite rough sometimes."

"Don't worry, Sir. They are really obedient. Teacher Linos transmitted his regards as well."

"I see. He is still busy with his research?"

"Yes. Developing a new script can be really demanding.. But he will certainly be back after the tournament."

"I hope so."

While they engage in their conversation, we all assemble and wait for their words. Lanuvel doesn't look like she slept much though.

"Are you okay?"

"I am a bit sleepy." Just a bit? With those circles under your eyes?

"Why?"

"Oh, just Germinia who can't keep her hands to herself."

"She seems really fond of you." Lanuvel looks at me, a bit angry.

"Please don't talk about it."

"Why? I think it's good that somebody finds you so attractive she can't restrain herself around you."

"Right, if only you were the same."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Attention, please." She turns and looks at Smith who is calling us all. Let's pretend we didn't hear that.

"I hope the trip wasn't too hard on you. And also, that you guys trained and are ready to give your all."

"YES, SIR!"

"Good. Because this might be the hardest tournament you will face. All kingdoms have answered present for this tournament and are already here. We have drawn the lots as well and you guys will have to fight against Mohana academy, representing Titanium. I hope you will be-"

"Hey, Master, look. The suckers from Syldavie have arrived."

Some people have absolutely no tact or manners. That's the case with this guy. A titanie, like me and Esteressa, with black hair, like me, but silver eyes. Like my hair in normal times. Behind him is another man, who looks like William. A massive body, a very dark tone skin, left eye covered by an eyepatch, right eye shining red as blood, and no hair on his head. He is wearing the same kind of clothes as Frankher. Though his have different colors.

"Mind your manners, Thando. Greetings, Sir Frankher."

"Greetings, Sir HAMMER HANDS." Hammer hands? This guy is a named warrior. Wait, I heard about that name once, right? When was it?

"Please, I don't answer with that name anymore. I am a headmaster now, after all."

"It was an honorific title you received. There is no reason to discard it."

There is clearly tension in the air. Those two don't like each other, that for sure.

"Hey, murderer."

While I was focused on Frankher and the hammer hands conversation, the rude guy moved to me, apparently. Though I am surprised that I didn't hear…I don't hear his heartbeat. How is that possible? Instead…

"Cissa, do you feel it too?"

"Yes." This guy…He has a crystal in him. I can feel it. But why? and How? This is suspicious.

"MASTER!! Look!! They brought the murderer here! The guy whose parents abandoned him!" 

The guy takes my hands and raises it high in the air while looking at the Hammer hands. How does he know…I think I am starting to understand.

"You are-" Abruptly, the hammer hands releases his aura. It is powerful enough to even makes our uniform float.

"I told you to mind your manners. Don't make me repeat myself."

"But…"

"…" He looks at the guy so coldly I see him shudder before releasing my hand. Then, just like a puppy who got scold by his mom, he goes to the hammer hands's side and stands straight, though with his head lowered.

"I am sorry for this ugly display. My pupil tends to be a bit unruly from time to time."

"I really hope that's all there is to it."

Should I beat up this guy right now and make him cough the answers? Seeing the hammer hands's eye as he looks towards me, I guess he is somehow expecting it. Let's see what you thin… Weird, I can read neither him nor his pupil's thoughts. There are no lines of thoughts above their heads, just like the heroes.

"Then, I will excuse myself."

"Yes, that would be better."

"Master, aren't we-" The hammer hands smacks his pupil's head and they leave us with an awkward atmosphere.

***

"Father, that was outrageous!! Why did you not give us the order to blast them away?!!"

After the little incident that occurred, we have all moved to our rooms in silence. The building where we stopped was apparently our residence and inside, there is everything needed to accommodate us. Especially a living room, comfortable and filled with expensive-looking couches were are all sitting right now, even Frankher, Smith, and Mneme.

"Calm down, Keltia. There was no need to do that and if I did, I would have been the one to be rude."

"What?!!" Keltia yells so loudly even Frankher places fingers on his ears. "HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?!"

"AH…Will you at least listen for a minute. That was a mere provocation he did by sending his student up front. If I had answered, it would be I am short-tempered enough to mind student's squabbles."

"And so what? At least your honor would have been-"

"My honor would have been tarnished as well. The best thing to do there was to stay calm. Just like Mr. Dragonroad did." Don't bring the attention on me, dammit.

Everyone turns towards me in an instant, and in their eyes, I can already read the question they are all dying to ask. Though, Lanuvel's eyes are more filled with sadness as they have turned red. She is about to cry.

You want to cry…for me. You and Farner are really alike. It reminds me of that time, when it was decided that I would be executed, you cried too, right, Lanuvel? Even though you didn't seem to like me at the time, you shed tears simply because somebody was going to die. You really have stayed the same, gentle, kind, and aggressive at the same time.

"I didn't really stay calm, you know?"

"Oh, but still, you didn't say anything." Frankher seems intrigued as well.

Now that I think about it, what does Frankehr really knows about me? What does he know about Kevin Dragonroad? I should ask him later.

"Because I am wondering how they obtained that info."

"I am as well. I didn't find anything relevant about you so I thought you were a bastard son of some royal family that they are hiding away." A bastard son of a royal family, huh…That wouldn't have been so bad.

"Fufufu. Nah, that's way too cheesy."

"You can laugh it off, huh…" What? You are surprised I can laugh about the fact that my parents abandoned me? No, not just Frankher, they all look so surprised and confused that the mood has completely changed, as if somebody's death has been announced. Even Germinia seems slightly, slightlyyy sad.

"Oh, come on, stop making those faces. I had worse than that and it is all in the past. Let's focus on the match. How much time do we have?" If it continues like this, somebody I don't want to see cry will overflow this place with her tears soon.

"R-right. Headmaster. What is the type of match we will be having?"

Finally! I knew I could count on you Cordel. As they start discussing the strategy for the upcoming match, the mood gradually goes back to normal. After Cordel, it is Samson's turn to enter the conversation, then Keltia and Peter, and finally, everyone listens or voices his opinion. At least, that way, I am sure that there won't be anything related to me and that's for the best.

I don't want nor do I need some inconsiderate attention from people. I know that those feelings are just hypocrite ones. They will change overnight. Just like Demether did to me, sending Mark to his death for whatever reason or plan he was trying to achieve. That bastard!!

More importantly, there is a possibility that the hammer hands and that pupil of his are working for Veronica. The fact that I didn't hear his pupil's heartbeat but felt a crystal near his heart is also suspicious. Is he dead? Then how does he move? Or maybe because of the crystal, I couldn't hear his heartbeat properly? It might be creating a resonance of some sort.

One thing is for sure now at least, they are dangerous and I should watch out for them. Especially the pupil, I didn't even hear as he approached me. If they are working for Veronica, there is a probability that he has followed the assassin's course as well. Then maybe what he used were Silent steps.

In any case, I will have to investigate them and find out how much they know. But should I tell Frankher about it? Wouldn't help him realize who I truly am? No, I don't need his help. I will do this alone. Tonight, I will find out where they stay first then go and see what kind of games he likes. I should remember Germinia's little advice just in case.