Chapter 273 273
Chapter 273 273
It was finally time for vacation. The one that Lucas was greatly looking forward to. He can finally go home and relax for a bit.
Away from the group of crazy bastards.
\'I can now relax for a bit now.\'
"Hey, stop making that face of relaxation on you."
Lucas felt a voice echoing like thunder in his ears and looking up, he caught the sight of Ami giving him a dark look.
"I..."
"No need to say it. I can already see that from your expression. Though I would also like to give you a break I can\'t because it\'s a matter of my and our reputation so you can\'t relax now."
"How does me taking a break have to do with your reputation?" Lucas asked in bewilderment.
"She is talking about the tournament," Frederick answered Lucas\' question.
"Uhhh!" Lucas nodded in understanding.
Truth was, he had taken the tournament a bit lightly as he knew the outcome and despite certain changes, their win rate was a bit high. Rather than that, Lucas was excited about other things that he had to do in Ralph.
"Ouch!"
"Stop losing in your thoughts." Charles punched Lucas\' shoulder.
"Okay, enough chit-chat. Let\'s not prolong the session. I want all of you to practice hard during the break and don\'t slack off. I have the information of other participants in this list." Ami extended a USB Drive to each one of them which had information about other participants.
After the class, each of them would freed from the torture of coming here so Ami made sure to give them the USB drive earlier.
"Miss Ami, is this list useful? Can we believe all the information written here?" Rose skeptically asked.
"We tried our best to get all the information we could get. Just give it a thought in case this helps you. Don\'t underestimate your opponents. Being the top of their ranks, each of them would have a layer of mystery as well as their own trump cards."
The moment she spoke trump cards, Lucas could feel a few gazes on him.
Because, in having Trump cards, can anyone compare to him? Even Frederick feels that he falls short of tricks before him.
"I am just a poor commoner unlike you," Lucas answered, gritting his teeth.
"We believe you." The three spoke at the same time but their expressions said something else.
"Our class will be off from tomorrow on, so, any parting words?" Ami asked, clapping her hands and then looking at Frederick to speak.
"It\'s nice working with you all," Frederick spoke with a smile.
"I feel safe and less burdensome around you all." Lucas voiced his thoughts.
"Thanks for having me here," Rose replied.
"I just want my team to win," Charles answered proudly though he was crying inwardly as he was just there as an extra.
...
In the Leaders quarters...
Monica boiled a nutritious soup and walked towards the man sitting in a wheelchair with a lifeless expression.
His face was pale and sickly with eyes unfocused like a mentally ill person going through a trauma.
The person who seemed to have lost his charisma was none other than Humphrey.
"Humphrey, look what I have brought today?"
"Your favourite boiled chicken soup with a bit of spice. I asked the chef to make it tangy." Monica spoke joyfully, scooped the soup, blew air on it and then pressed it on Humphrey\'s lips.
The current state of Humphrey was similar to a paralyzed man incapable of doing anything. His family wanted to pull him out of the academy which saddened Monica\'s heart as she owed Humphrey for doing this to him.
From childhood, Humphrey has been hovering around her and she knew his feelings but she didn\'t want to accept it because she thought that if she loved him, her love for magic would decrease and she wouldn\'t be able to progress.
But after seeing the crippled Humphrey, she finally understood that she loved him more than anything else. The memory of joyful Humphrey circling around her trying to please her was one of the most beautiful memories for her but now, she won\'t be able to see that.
Her heart pained as if it was stabbed by countless swords.
So she decided to be responsible for him and carry him throughout her life. They also had an engagement secretly and Monica was now taking care of him and even taking him to class as she could feel that Humphrey still wanted to do it.
Drops of tears slid down her cheeks.
\'If only I was strong enough and didn\'t fall into that illusion...\'
\'If only..."
DING!
Monica\'s eyes quivered hearing the sound of the bell.
She wiped her tears and got up, opened the door and was startled to see Lucas.
Meanwhile, Lucas was also taken aback seeing Monica\'s puffy eyes and felt a bit uncomfortable so he tried to get rid of the awkwardness.
COUGH!
"Lucas, come in."
Monica greeted him with the same deadpan expression and asked.
"Do you want tea or coffee?"
"Neither. I came for some important matter."
"Huh!" Monica tilted her head in confusion.
Ignoring her, Lucas\' eyes fell on lifeless Humphrey and felt a tinge of grief.
He sucked in cold air and said,"Monica, I won\'t talk in a roundabout way and get straight to the point."
"I know a way to cure Humphrey."
"What? Really?" Monica\'s expression brightened like a blooming flower under sunlight but then her expression changed realizing what this meant."Are you serious or is this a joke \'cause we couldn\'t find anything to help him?"
"I won\'t lie in this matter. The sap of the World Tree can be used to cure Humphrey\'s condition."
Monica\'s whole body froze after hearing this. On one hand, her heart screamed in joy on hearing this but on the other hand, the revelation brought her a great deal of concern as Sap of World Tree was something that only Elves have and asking them to give a drop of it was like a haunting task.
"Sap of World Tree. How will I…" Monica clenched her fist.
\'No, I can\'t lose hope. As long as I live and become stronger, I can get it somehow but before that…"
"Lucas, is this true? You are not lying are you?"
"I am not. I can even swear and take a Mana oath." Lucas answered smiling and then spoke about the main reason for being here, "I can even get that for you."
"How?" Monica scrutinized Lucas who just grinned mysteriously.
"Each member of the winning team of the tournament would get a chance to get a reward of their choosing. I will ask for the Tree Sap."
Monica frowned upon hearing this and she felt a bit off."What do you want for this?"
Lucas walked forward and patted Humphrey, then spoke aloud,"Now, that\'s a good question."
He paused a brief moment before answering.
"Both you and Humphrey have lots of potential. I want you two to work for me."
Monica flinched back upon hearing this.
"Hey, stop giving that look. I am not asking to do illegal things. I may not even need you now. When we enter the army, if I rise in position, I want you two under me." Lucas answered with a twitching lips.
\'Why did she react like I am a Mafia lord?\'
"Just this?" Monica\'s voice was filled with skepticism.
"This isn\'t that simple." Lucas answered solemnly.
In the original book Monica and Humphrey were overshadowed and didn\'t get to shine but Lucas saw Monica as a monster of sorcery.
If given a chance and supported fully, she would grow into a menace which she was doing and Lucas needed to rob her. She surpasses Rose in raw talent alone and with hard work she can become a legend.
"What I want is a Mage for my future team. Think of this as me making you my left-hand man…sorry woman who will take charge of the mage group."
"Your dream is too lofty." Monica smacked her lips in disbelief.
"It is. But great dreams and ambitions take time to bloom, and for that, I need to pave the foundation from now."
Monica sucked in cold air and after a brief moment, she spoke with slight hesitation,"If you manage to cure Humphrey, I will work under you but I can\'t say about Humphrey. He should have the right to make his own choice."
"Fair enough," Lucas then looked at Humphrey\'s lifeless face and spoke.
"Humphrey, I know you can hear me and even understand me. Listen, pal, just believe me and wait a bit, I will make sure you return to normal by the time our next year\'s class begins after the Tournament."
"Not only will you walk and run, but you will also kick the ass of those bastards who were the cause behind all this."
Lucas and Monica talked a bit after which Lucas went back followed by Monica to close the door due to which they missed the sight of a tear trailing down Humphrey\'s cheek.
A tear that was shed due to overwhelming happiness.