Whispers spread through the ballroom like wildfire.
Jax’s ears caught fragnts floating through the crowd.
"That boy is hot as hell."
"Did you see how that young man threatened the headmistress?"
"He’s so bold and fearless."
"I wish I could get soone like him..."
A pause.
"...or that boy from earlier."
Giggling followed.
Jax’s chest swelled with satisfaction at his spreading popularity. His performance tonight had been nothing short of spectacular.
But then his brain registered the latter part.
’Boy from earlier?’ His smile froze.
’Who the fuck is competing with ? Even after putting up such a great show, who dared to take the lilight away from ?’
Before he could investigate this mysterious rival, Lysandra’s voice cut through the crowd.
"Dear honored guests, the ball will continue as usual."
She stood at the center, commanding attention with practiced authority.
"We sincerely apologize for whatever commotion has occurred tonight. Give ten minutes and I will provide full explanations for everything."
Her expression hardened.
"It is obvious we are being targeted by a great threat. One that the whole world will soon enough co to know."
Murmurs rippled through the nobles.
"I assure you, everything will be fine during your stay on these grounds. You don’t need to be scared or panic."
She gestured broadly.
"As you have witnessed with your own eyes, we have trustworthy and powerful mbers protecting this academy."
Every head in the ballroom turned toward Jax.
He was currently enjoying himself imnsely.
While facing the crowd with a pleasant smile, his hand behind his back swung the bloodied sword like a pendulum. Back and forth. Back and forth.
Professor Abel lay on the ground beneath that swinging blade, desperately dodging each pass. Left. Right. Left. Right.
His face was drenched in sweat and terror.
When Jax noticed all eyes on him once more,
He released the sword.
The blade dropped perfectly, landing re inches below Abel’s crotch. Right between his legs. The tip embedded itself in the floor, standing upright for a mont.
Then gravity took over.
The sword toppled directly onto the professor.
"Tsk." Jax clicked his tongue in disappointnt. "Shit. How could I miss?"
Lysandra continued without acknowledging the near-castration happening behind her.
"We also thank our Professor Jax for showing such courage and confidence in eliminating those devils."
Jax turned toward her.
She was smiling at him. A beautiful, professional smile.
But knowing her as he did, Jax sensed the truth imdiately.
’This bitch isn’t thanking for my deeds at all.’
His mind began plotting.
’Looks like I have to plan to fuck her life.’
[A/N : buddy all her holes are sore already]
"The announcent regarding the competition," Lysandra continued, "along with other scheduled events, will proceed as planned. And of course, whatever happened this evening will be clarified."
At that last line, her eyes found Jax.
She glared at him as if he was the mastermind behind every disaster tonight.
Which, technically, he was.
She walked toward him, passing by the writhing Professor Abel on the floor.
"Guards. Take him and follow ."
The guards scrambled to collect the bleeding professor.
Then Lysandra leaned close to Jax’s ear.
Her whisper was ice cold. "I need to handle several matters. Stay here and don’t cause any more... troubles."
Without waiting for a response, she walked off. The guards trailed behind her, dragging Abel between them.
Jax’s mind erupted with rage.
’How dare this slly bitch say those things to ? Trouble? What the fuck do you an? I am the main character right now! How dare she leave like that without even taking my curses!’
He glared at her retreating figure, ntally compiling a list of future retributions.
"Professor." A soft voice interrupted his vengeful planning.
"Thank you."
Jax turned to find Lilith standing there.
Her face hid nothing. No manipulation. No hidden agenda. Unlike Lysandra’s poisonous smile, Lilith’s gratitude was completely genuine.
"Thank you for standing there for ."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Professor, I don’t know how to put it, but I was really scared."
Jax reached out and patted her head gently.
"Oh co on, girl. You’re a mber of my squad."
His hand rested on her hair.
"Have you forgotten Rule 69 of the team?"
Lilith’s face showed confusion. Her cheeks flushed pink from his touch.
"Rule... 69?"
"Fear is banned." Jax’s voice turned mock-serious.
"And anyone who brings it gets punishnt. Or extra training. Your choice."
The tension in her shoulders released. A genuine smile spread across her face.
"Sorry, professor. I will keep that in mind."
Before Jax could respond, another pair approached them.
Astrid.
And beside her, a man who radiated power with every step.
Claude Aleris, head of the Aleris family. Astrid’s father.
"Looks like my n did the wrong digging about you."
Jax turned to face him properly.
Lilith imdiately bowed in respect.
Claude smiled warmly. "Sorry for interrupting this wholeso student-teacher mont, but I didn’t want to lose the opportunity to speak with you."
Jax inclined his head. "No worries. I myself wanted to et you in person."
Claude raised his hand, dismissing his personal guards to give them privacy.
Seeing this, Lilith spoke hesitantly. "I will take my leave as well."
Claude waved dismissively. "Don’t worry, it’s just simple conversation. You can stay."
"It’s okay, sir." She bowed again. "I also have things to attend to."
"Fine then."
Lilith departed, leaving the three of them alone.
Claude’s eyes followed her briefly. "That student seed quite close to you."
Jax nodded. "Of course she is. She’s my student and I’m her ntor for the upcoming tournant events."
His gaze slid toward Astrid. "Also, she respects . Unlike a certain soone."
Astrid’s eye twitched at the obvious jab.
Claude chuckled.
"I’m glad you’re different from the reports my n compiled."
"Sa goes for you," Jax replied smoothly.
Claude laughed heartily. "Looks like my PR team is slacking off. But let’s not dwell on that."
His expression shifted to sothing more calculating.
"I was here to ask you about my daughter."
Astrid’s face imdiately flushed crimson. "Father! What are you doing?"
Claude ignored her completely. "I an, how do you feel about her?"
Jax considered the question. "Should I tell you made-up things to please a father? Or the harsh truth?"
Claude paused.
His smile faded entirely. He clearly hadn’t expected such a response from soone so young.
"How about we do the honest part first?"
Jax thought for several seconds.
Then his eyes began scanning Astrid from head to toe, as if analyzing a specin.
"I have known her for quite so ti now. I can easily read her mind. Predict her moves."
He tilted his head.
"Or rather, predict her foolishness."
Claude’s expression turned serious.
"She is foolish and stupid indeed," Jax continued without hesitation. "All thanks to how you raised her. How you adored her. Raised her like any golden spoon child."
Astrid’s heart dropped.
’What have you done now, professor? Father will surely make you suffer for all that!’
Jax wasn’t finished.
"She has zero survival skills. I still can’t solve the mystery of how she survived this long."
He shrugged casually.
"But keeping her foolish and stubborn side aside, she is really entertaining. Even without trying."
His voice softened slightly.
"Whenever I feel low, she shows up with her attitude. And instead of humiliating or scheming against , she ends up making laugh."
Silence hung between them.
Then Claude burst out laughing.
His hand landed on Jax’s shoulder with a firm pat.
"You sure are sothing else, young man! I can’t rember the last ti soone spoke to like that."
His eyes glead with amusent.
"And about my daughter? No one who knows us would have the guts to say such things."
His grip tightened slightly.
"Honestly, if it weren’t for you, I would have shown you hell."
’And here cos his real face.’ Jax smiled pleasantly, unfazed.
Claude released his shoulder.
"But my child has taken a liking to you. So I will let this slide."
Astrid’s fist connected with her father’s back. "Father! Stop embarrassing any further!"
Claude looked genuinely confused.
"Gosh, what did I say wrong? Weren’t you worried about him when I told you about throwing him—"
Her hands clamped over his mouth before he could finish.
Jax laughed openly at the scene.
But for everyone else watching from a distance, the image was sothing entirely different.
The three people standing together were arguably the most arrogant individuals in the entire ballroom.
Jax. Astrid. Claude Aleris.
All three had built reputations on that very quality.
After Astrid finally released her father and he adjusted his disheveled tie, she turned to him with barely contained fury.
"Dad, why didn’t you take action when he badmouthed right in front of you?"
Jax answered before Claude could. "Because he knew it wasn’t a lie."
Astrid’s teeth ground together. "I am going to kill you."
Claude watched their interaction with a knowing smile. "So the reports about you teasing her were true after all."
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"But why is my child getting such special treatnt? You seed quite different with your other student."
Jax t his gaze. "Should I start with the truth? Or the lie?"
Astrid had reached her limit.
She grabbed Claude’s arm and began dragging him away.
"I will tell you myself! Because he is absolute trash! A pervert! And the greatest scum to ever walk this academy!"
Her voice carried across the ballroom as they retreated.
Jax watched them go.
No proper farewell. No closing pleasantries.
’Rude.’
He looked around the ballroom, eting the countless stares directed at him from every corner.
Then his eyes found a particular set.
Familiar faces clustered together near the refreshnt table.
The elven king. Queen Tia. Forr Queen Ilythra. And Aeliana standing uncomfortably among them.
The twisted family.
Jax smiled.
A vicious smirk spread across his face as he began walking toward them.
’Let’s go greet my student Aeliana’s family.’
His steps carried predatory intent.
’And have so fun.’
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