chapter 288: Forgotten Memory
"Let's see if your calculative skills can pierce through luck," Eros softly said as the power of aura molded into a powerful sword armament. The blue light shines brighter and almost seems to be flaming while Apollo's lightning transforms into a spear. Both brothers looked at each other; the look in their eyes didn't bore any kind of resentment or disgust. They just enjoy the fight that initially started to humiliate each other, but unexpectedly, along with the punches and sword clash, those negative thoughts fade away.
"Brother, don't you know luck is a flicker thing? You don't even know if it's on your side"
Eros just laughed at Apollo's retort half agreeing with him, "Right, so we should end this fight to see who has more luck, you or me"
Both sides prepared for the final clash by drawing power they think will be appropriate to use.
A gust of strong wind clashed through the barrier, followed by a roaring wave of energy that created a huge explosion.
The tower mages gasped in surprise when they realized how the fight had ended.
Apollo's spear dissipated along his thunder aura form; on the other hand, the aura that had been coating Eros' body lost its strength and disappeared while his sword was broken along the armament. The two were standing at the opposite end of the arena. Their arms were grazed with injuries, though there wasn't a hint of pain on their faces.
"Wait don't tell me.....it's a draw?"
"They are equal to each other!!"
"Wait, does that mean we lose the bet?"
"Why does it feel so lackluster?"
"Yeah, I was expecting more...."
"More?"
"More brutality I think?"
"Why aren't they brothers why think that way?"
"Yeah, but haven't you noticed it? None of the Lionheart siblings seem to care for each other. All of them seem to have a very strained relationship"
All sorts of opinions were thrown; however, amidst their murmurs, Apollo and Eros had their gaze locked on each other; for a moment, their eyes were filled with an emotion they both had forgotten.
Was anger?
Was disgust?
Was it resentment?
Or perhaps jealousy?
A subtle sound of breathing replaced the previous explosion. It was the only thing that came between the two brothers.
"This feels familiar...." Apollo began to say earning his brother laughter.
"Yes I do wonder when something like this happened"
A feeling of a forgotten memory came between the two. It was a sensation that seemed to be always with the two of them, but for some reason, they had forgotten it. At that moment, a smile escaped their lips, something that they knew they would do to each other.
Have they smiled like this before?
For once, have they even looked at each other with a smile?
The answer?
Yes, they felt it, the very emotion that was always there but somehow disappeared or perhaps buried.
But how could something so pure forgotten
Did something interfere Discover exclusive content at empire
Or pain just made them forget
They never knew. All they did was bask in the emotion they newly regained. However, that feeling of deja vu shattered as soon as a voice took control of the current situation.
"My dear student, what are you doing up there?"
The two brothers looked at the source of the voice, and there, near the edge of the arena, was the person Apollo wanted to kill the most.
"Elder brother it seems your teacher is waiting for you"
There was it: the atmosphere broke, and hostility came after.
"I will leave with your teacher now," Apollo lastly said, finally leaving the arena.
Seeing him departing his friends and the tower mages followed him back to their dorms.
"Ah....he left," Eros mutters, but as he walks away, he catches a glimpse of his mother, who is standing among the crowd, her experience restless and worried.
"Did he come for you or for Apollo"
There was a hint of negative in that voice that made Eros frown, "Teacher, are you trying to start a fight?"
"Hmmmm?"
"What I am trying to say is your words can create a rift between me and my mother when we just patch things up"
Edmund was about to say something when a sudden pain began squeezing his chest.
"Teacher?" Eros was very keen and observing the sudden change in his expression, but the old mage was very careful, not wanting to worry him.
"I am fine, young one; let's go. Your mother should be waiting for you," he just said, but the young man could see how he tried to control his trembling body.
After that duel, Caesar officially ended the duel due to the danger it might pose to the other students. The first years were happy while the seniors weren't, but even so, they couldn't deny the words of the imperial prince along with the high-ranking professors with him. The day continued peacefully after that. Fortunately, Apollo had the mood again to look around. He was still able to enjoy himself with everyone and occasionally with his mom, but since she had three children who hated each other, she needed to divide her time well to accompany all of them in this festival.
Soon, however, the time for the acquaintance party began; it was a gathering hosted by the highest ranking year level among the High-class students; strangely, this year, they decided to invite everyone regardless of the class they belonged to. However, due to the incident from the earlier games of the festival, some first years who initially intended to attend decided not to. Though Apollo and his friends weren't really bothered by the senior's behavior, even if they did try something, they were not afraid, which is why they came.
The party was held in one of the various buildings under the High-class dormitory.
The grand ballroom was bathed in soft golden light, the chandeliers casting dazzling reflections off the polished floors. The high-class seniors' acquaintance party was an event of splendor, and as Apollo entered with Alicia, McKenzie, and Blair, he couldn't help but feel that the seniors were trying to replicate the feeling of a royal banquet.
His eyes scanned the room, taking in the clusters of well-dressed students, the polite but veiled conversations, and the undercurrent of tension that seemed to buzz beneath the surface.
"Wow," Blair said, his gaze flitting from one elegantly dressed senior to another. "These people really go all out, huh?"
McKenzie smirked. "Typical high-class antics. Bet they're all secretly at each other's throats."
Alya adjusted her gown and glanced at Apollo. "Everyone ready? This could be our chance to learn more, but we'll need to tread carefully."
Apollo nodded. "I'll handle the investigation. You three focus on mingling and see if you can find out anything about what happened last year with the lower class. Stay alert."
They nodded while Alicia planned to only observe the situation.
The party began, and so did the hunt. Blair wasted no time jumping into the fray. Spotting a group of laughing seniors near the refreshment table, he sidled up with a mischievous grin, and with the silent whisper of the authority of Mystics, nothing could be hidden from him.
"So," he began, grabbing a glass of punch. "What's the deal with all these rumors about last year? I heard it was... eventful for the lower classes."
The seniors exchanged wary glances before one of them, a tall boy with silver hair, chuckled nervously. "Eventful is one way to put it. Let's just say the first years didn't know their place."
Blair raised an eyebrow. "Didn't know their place? Sounds like the upper years didn't, either."
The silver-haired senior's smile faltered, but before he could respond, McKenzie joined the group.
"Blair, don't scare them," he said with a smirk, though his tone was sharp enough to cut. "We're just curious. It's not every day you hear about a whole year of students being... put in their place, as you put it."
The group quickly excused themselves, muttering something about finding their friends.
"Stay," Blair said looking as kindly as he could, "We are not done yet"
An unknown force puts the seniors frozen, though none of them panic due to a gaze that puns them.
Blair sighed. "Come now talk."
"Patience," McKenzie replied. "We'll get something out of them eventually."
Meanwhile, Apollo navigated through the ballroom with practiced ease, his posture exuding the confidence expected of a Lionheart. He caught snippets of conversation, carefully piecing together the dynamics among the seniors.
He finally spotted a group of third-year students gathered in a quiet corner, speaking in hushed tones. Among them was a familiar face—one of Eros' newly found friends, a senior Apollo had seen after letting his brother recover from his last fall.
"Mind if I join you?" Apollo asked, his tone polite but firm.
The seniors looked at him, surprised.
"You're the first-year everyone's been talking about," one of them said, raising an eyebrow. "Apollo Lionheart."
"That's me," Apollo replied smoothly. "I thought this party was meant for mingling"
His firm gaze landed hard on the seniors, causing their bodies to jerk and open a space for him.
"Now then, seniors, how about we talk?" he smiled as he said that, but the aura he released was so strong that his legs began to tremble.