CHAPTER 42: NOBLE FACTION.

The forest was quiet. Too quiet.

I stood near our camp, scanning the trees while my students finished the last of the traps. Garrick, Cassandra, and Leo still weren’t back. That meant one of two things—either they were taking their time being careful, or they’d run into trouble.

Neither option made me feel any better.

The glowing blue bird flapped its wings and spoke again.

The First Event: Capture the Flag begins now. A chime echoed through the air. Somewhere out there, the other teams were moving.

Mira stretched. "So, what are the odds we get attacked first?"

Julien smirked. "High. Real high. Our class is the weakest a bunch of problem Students and a troublesome instructor."

Felix groaned. "I hate that you’re right."

I rolled my eyes. "Glad to know my reputation is still intact."

A rustling in the bushes made everyone tense. Mira raised a hand, dark magic curling around her fingers. Julien rested a hand on his sword.

Then Garrick stepped out, panting, flag in hand. "Got it," he said, tossing it to me. "But we’ve got company."

Cassandra and Leo followed, both looking rough.

"Class B," Garrick said between breaths. "They saw us. They’re coming."

"How many?" I asked.

"Six, maybe more," Leo replied. "And they’re not going hold back against us."

I planted our flag firmly in the center of camp. "Good. Let them come."

Mira grinned. "This is gonna be fun."

Julien cracked his knuckles. "Or a disaster."

Felix groaned. "Probably both."

Leaves crunched in the distance.

Then Class B appeared. Six students, moving like they owned the place. Their leader, a tall guy with a spear, stepped forward with a smug grin.

"Hand over the flag, and we won’t make this painful."

I smirked. "Come and get it."

His grin widened. "So you chose the hard way huh?."

I shrugged. "Didn’t even have to think about it."

The guy twirled his spear, eyes scanning our setup. "I see the traps. Cute effort."

Mira chuckled. "Cute? Oh, you’re gonna love them up close."

Julien stepped forward, cracking his neck. "You sure you wanna do this? We might be the weakest class, but we fight dirty."

The spear guy’s smirk didn’t waver. "Yeah? Let’s see how dirty."

He took a step forward—then the ground gave out beneath him.

A loud snap echoed through the air as Wallace’s snare yanked him upward, leaving him dangling by his ankle. His spear clattered to the ground.

Class B froze.

I clapped. "One down."

Mira smirked. "You were saying?"

The guy flailed, trying to grab his knife. Before he could cut himself loose, Wallace tossed a smoke rune at his feet. A burst of thick black smoke engulfed him, and he started coughing.

That was enough to break Class B’s hesitation.

"Get them!" someone shouted.

The fight began.

Julien rushed forward, meeting the first attacker head-on. Blades clashed as sparks flew between them. Mira flicked her fingers, dark tendrils shooting toward another opponent, forcing them to dodge.

Felix, true to form, scrambled backward. "I hate this!"

I tossed a flash rune at his feet. "Then make yourself useful."

The rune exploded in a bright burst of light, blinding the enemy rushing at him. Felix yelped, then accidentally tripped and slammed into the guy, sending them both tumbling.

Garrick, meanwhile, was a walking battering ram. He blocked two opponents at once, shoving one back with brute force while keeping the other at bay.

Wallace? He was busy setting up another trap mid-fight. Kid was dedicated.

I stood back, watching it unfold. So far, so good.

Then I spotted movement in the trees.

More figures. More students.

The students from Class B wasn’t the only ones coming for us.

The first wave wasn’t even down, and now more were coming. Of course.

Mira noticed too. "Uh, Professor?"

"I see them," I said, stepping forward. "Keep holding the line."

Julien blocked a swing from his opponent and barked out a laugh. "You’re acting like we have a line to hold!"

Fair point. Our camp was barely holding together. Felix was still tangled with his opponent on the ground, Wallace was finishing another trap, and Garrick was fending off two at once.

And now, the second group was closing in fast.

I counted five. No, six. Their uniforms were different—they wore robes over their uniforms, Class B noble students. Great.

"Of course, it had to be them," I muttered.

Julien parried a strike, glanced at the approaching nobles, and let out a low whistle. "Oh good. We were only barely surviving before. This should be fun."

Mira snorted. "Fun for who?"

The Class B noble students strode in with confidence, completely ignoring the chaos. The leader, a slim guy with silver hair and a sword at his hip, observed the battlefield with mild interest.

"Pathetic," he sighed. "You’re all struggling against these rejects?"

One of the remaining Class B students scowled. "Shut up, Victor."

Victor’s gaze swept over us before settling on me. His lips curled into a smirk. " Professor Lucian Drelmont, isn’t it? My uncle told me about you. Said you were a disgrace to your family."

Ah. So he was one of those nobles.

I smiled. "That’s funny. I don’t remember asking."

His smirk twitched. "I’ll make you a deal. Give us your flag, and we might let you leave with your dignity intact."

Mira whispered, "Are we even pretending to consider it?"

I exhaled. "Nope."

Victor sighed, unsheathing his sword. "Then I suppose we’ll have to beat some sense into you."

He lifted his suddenly it emitted a dull glow, and the air around it seemed to ripple. "This is the power of true noble blood," he said, his voice laced with arrogance. "Prepare yourselves."

I raised an eyebrow. "No that is the power of your father spending money."

Victor’s eyes flashed with fury at my remark, and for a moment, I could see the wheels turning in his head, struggling to come up with a retort. But the anger was already boiling over.

"Don’t you dare mock me, Professor Drelmont!" he snapped, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. "You really think you can talk to me like that? You’re nothing more than a failed instructor hiding behind your pathetic students."

I shrugged, unfazed. "If it makes you feel better to think that."

Julien snickered behind me, but I could sense the tension rising. Victor was about to lose it, and I didn’t need to egg him on further, but it was hard not to enjoy the spectacle.

"You think you’re above me, don’t you?" he continued, stepping forward, his sword glowing brighter with each word. "You and your little group of misfits—do you honestly think you stand a chance against someone like me?"

I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Is that supposed to be a threat? Because if it is, you’ll have to do better than that, Victor."

His eyes flashed. "You’re just a washed-up professor who couldn’t even live up to his family name. And yet you stand here, mocking me, when you have no idea what you’re up against."

Mira was practically vibrating with impatience beside me, her hands crackling with dark energy. "How about you stop talking and actually try something?"

Victor’s lip curled in irritation. "Enough of this." His eyes locked onto mine. "You’ve got a death wish, Drelmont."

I take out one of the smoke rune and threw it towards victors face. "Call me Professor you FUCKING brat."

The smoke rune exploded just in front of Victor’s face, sending a thick cloud of black mist billowing around him. He staggered back, coughing, his sword wavering in his grip. The students from Class B noble faction froze for a moment, unsure of how to react.