09 - Meeting at the hallway [2]
Wendy's hostile attitude had come from what she had heard happened between Eris and her boyfriend before they were rescued.
At the time that Link had passed out following his use of Absolute Zero, Eris was left to fend for him and ensure that he was okay.
One of the courses that was compulsory in their academy was basic medical skills.
This allowed them to gain the knowledge and experience on how to handle mild medical issues as well as administer first aid in times of emergencies before healer class awakeners came to take over.
That was exactly what Eris DeLorentis had done.
Unbeknownst to her, it wouldn't be well received.
Link passed out in a freezing atmosphere and she thought it wise to administer first aid to him.
After all, he had also saved her life.
Eris walked over to a collapsed Link, rubbing his hands to provide warmth and subsequently doing chest compression when she noticed that his pulse was faint.
She continued until she had one that was reasonably palpable. That was also when she decided to add the use of her mouth into the mix.
It was at the point of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation that the awakeners rescue team started to arrive, meeting her in the process.
As expected, rumours spread like wildfire.
As unfortunate as it sounded, no two people knew the exact same rumour.
There are bound to be differences in information.
"I heard the frown face daughter of DeLorentis kissed him," one of the academy students chatted with his friend in a corner.
"Seriously? I wish that was me for real," another added, much to the disappointment of two others he was discussing with.
"Eww, bro. She's not all that. Just a pompous brat from a wealthy family who thinks she's on top of the world."
"Hahah! You are so cruel, Frank. Is it because she rejected your advances?"
Frank turned his face away and grumbled, feeling embarrassed for himself.
"But I also heard that he was unconscious. What if it was CPR?"
"Really?" Frank jumped, seeing an opportunity to move the spotlight from over his head. "I don't buy it."
Meanwhile, Wendy remained hidden at a distance that allowed her to eavesdrop on their conversation without being found out.
The more she heard, the more her blood boiled and the more she loathed the image of Eris DeLorentis that appeared in her mind.
'Eris…' she gritted her teeth and clenched her fist, storming out without regard that she was now seen as she went in search of Eris.
"Oops…" Frank muttered, raising his hands in a surrender gesture.
They moved away, allowing Wendy to walk through.
****
Presently, in the hallway.
Eris DeLorentis and Wendy Arclight were about to go at it after Wendy fired the first shot.
Eris drew her sword and dashed forward.
Since she was the faster of the two of them, the elf was able to close the distance that separated them in no time.
Wendy, on the other hand, was not lacking.
The second Eris threw a foot forward, she moved back a few steps to create more space before using her magic.
—Swoosh!
Eris' sword came slashing down on the druid with obvious intention to harm her.
—Clank!
Their weapons clashed and tiny sparks of light flew off into the air.
Light had formed between Wendy's palms and extended into a staff with which she blocked Eris' attack.
The druid winced, her eyes momentarily closing as she moved back two steps.
Eris was physically stronger as well, allowing her to overpower her opponent but Wendy was not one to give up.
In a bid to continue her assault now that Wendy was somewhat disoriented, Eris took yet another decisive and quick step.
"Huh?" she muttered, glancing at her right leg.
She could not move it willingly.
Wendy regained her composure and chuckled.
Her ability was in play here.
Around Eris' leg was a chain, formed from light, that kept her restrained.
"You will pay for what you did to Link, Eris," Wendy swore.
Even now, Eris did not admit to anything because she was still confused at what the druid was driving at.
Wendy took a deep breath and placed her hands together, forming another ball of light between them, similar to the one she had fired earlier.
'Chain of Brilliance should buy me enough time,' she contemplated
Eris struggled to break loose between it was difficult.
Nevertheless, she did not intend to stand and watch idly for Wendy to land a free attack on her.
Soon, the hallway became chilly as the temperature started to drop immediately.
Eris was preparing to use an ice ability against Wendy's light ball.
Just then…
"What is the meaning of this!" a voice bawled from a distance.
"Eris DeLorentis! Wendy Arclight!"
Hearing their names, they were taken aback and their abilities were turned off in that instant.
The light ball and the chain vanished, and the hallway's temperature started to rise again.
Wendy swallowed loudly, her face cutely sad as she looked at the man, who had interrupted them, with eyes of regret.
She was remorseful, at least she was able to put on that kind of show for him.
Eris, on the other hand, seemed not to care.
The man approached them, his face still expressing anger and disappointment.
"To think it would be the two of you in a scuffle," the man massaged the bridge of his nose and sighed.
He was a tutor, one that recognized these two young ladies.
"What seems to be the issue?" he asked, alternating his gaze between the two of them as he waited for a reasonable explanation.
The two girls did not answer for seconds.
Wendy averted her eyes from Eris and this man, preferring that her eyes strayed to another place than at them.
Eris fixed her eyes on Wendy, not turning for once to address the man's question.
The man scratched his forehead and rubbed his thick mustache.
"Ah… looks like I have no choice then. You two will be paying the dean a visit."
Wendy's eyes sparked. "But Mr Thomas…"
"No, Arclight. I don't want to hear it," he quickly dismissed her. "No field activities for you two today. To the dean's office."