Chapter 64: [Club house] [5] [Glideball]
Chapter 64: [Club house] [5] [Glideball]
"So, any of you guys have played the game before?" Azariah asked, folding his arms and tapping his legs on the ground in impatience as he stood in front of his team.
Despite the taunts and mocking from the crowd, he remained focused.
"I did," Aimar replied, while the rest of the team averted their gaze.
"...Sigh." Azariah let out a frustrated sigh and glanced at their opponents.
Three second-year students stood in front of their team, while Oliver, Ethan, and Keegan stood beside them, ready for the game.
"Wait, when did Keegan arrive here?"
"He's been here from the start," Aimar replied, "and... we're obviously at a disadvantage here."
"I can see that," Azariah mumbled, rubbing his chin.
"Are you guys ready?" Althea asked as she walked towards them, catching Azariah's attention.
"We are," Aimar replied, nodding his head.
"Hmm, let me check your equipment." Saying so, she moved towards the two girls.
"We're going for a 2-2-2 formation," Azariah said, addressing his team.
"Both the girls will protect the goal, Aimar and I will be the strikers, and Skinny and chubb—"
"I have a name," the chubby guy interrupted, gathering his courage.
"And that is?"
"Seth."
"Okay, chubby and skinny here will be the midfielders," Azariah instructed, ignoring the guy's unpleasant appearance.
"And do not be afraid to throw punches—"
"Do I need to remind you of the rules?" Althea interrupted Azariah's words.
"No."
"The game will be twenty-five minutes long, with one five-minute break," she continued ignoring him, moving towards the two boys to check their equipment.
"Any direct attack, underhand method, or touching the ball with hand will be considered a foul.
You score one point with each goal, and if you run out of mana, you're disqualified."
She finished her words, glancing at Azariah as she emphasized the last part.
"...any questions?" she asked, moving towards Aimar.
"Why are we at a disadvantage?" Aimar inquired, glancing at their opponents. "And why are there second-year students?"
"It's protocol, and don't worry, they'll go easy on you," she assured with a smile, checking his equipment.
After examining Aimar's gear, she approached Azariah and without speaking, she studied him for a moment.
"Why aren't you wearing a T-shirt?" she questioned, noticing his full-sleeve shirt.
"Check the equipment," he replied firmly.
Shaking her head, she proceeded to inspect his wrist, elbow, shin, and neck guards, ensuring they were all in the right place.
"You look better than before." She said looking at his face, "at least physically."
"I don't care about your opinion."
"...I heard about your engagement," Althea murmured, glancing at his face.
"You must be glad to hear it, right?" Azariah asked smiling slightly.
"...I am," she replied. "At least she's free now."
"Yeah," he responded mockingly. "Like I was the one who was a burden to her, right?"
"...You were," she agreed, nodding her head. "But now, people who actually deserve her can pursue her without displeasing your mother."
"....."
"Do you know how happy Ivan and Prince Jonathan were when they heard about it?" she continued, observing his reaction.
"They both threw parties for all the second-year studen—."
"You think Christina will leave me?" Azariah interrupted with a smile, causing her to furrow her brows.
"...The Emperor has already made his decision, and it's not like you're bound by any sacred vow...
....If she refuses, she'll commit treason, and we both know she's smart enough not to do that," she replied firmly before stepping back.
"Azariah, if you ever loved her, don't be selfish and stay away from her," she said, leaving him with those parting words before walking away.
"I am selfish, huh?"
Sighing, Azariah checked his boots, each with six small nostrils.
"You guys ready?" Azariah asked, looking at his team.
They all nodded their heads before Azariah made a full circle with his left leg, activating the boots and drawing in his mana.
It was challenging for him to maintain balance, as it was his first time using the glide boots.
Slowly but surely, he ascended until he was a few feet above the ground.
Having completed the easiest part of moving up, Azariah glanced at his teammates, only to find Aimar beside him.
"....Where are the rest?" he asked.
"There," Aimar replied, pointing at the rest of the team who were just hovering above the ground.
"Oi! Come faster! We don't have all day!" Azariah shouted at them, urging them to hurry up.
"How are you so good at this?" Aimar asked, observing Azariah, who was able to balance himself relatively well.
"....I had a strict mentor who wanted me to be the best at everything," he replied, recalling his mother's secretary.
From the easiest tasks to the hardest ones, those teachings were ingrained in him.
"Hahaha, ready to lose, Az?" As the loud laughing voice filled his ears, he looked at Oliver, who arrived in front of them with Ethan and Keegan.
Their formation was simple, with three first years as strikers and the second year on defense.
"Are they going to be alright?" Ethan asked, glancing at the rest of Azariah's teammates who were slowly joining them.
"What's shrimp doing here?" Azariah asked, looking at Keegan.
"I'm taller than you!" Keegan retorted aggressively.
"He's not talking about height, Keegan," Oliver replied, glancing at his pants.
"Azariah!"
"Are you guys ready?" A third-year student wearing referee attire and carrying the ball asked both teams as soon as Azariah's team took position.
Both sides nodded their heads as the referee positioned the ball between Oliver and Azariah.
"3"
Both Oliver and Azariah brought their left legs backward.
"2"
Tensing their muscles, they both glanced at the ball and then at each other.
"1!"
SWISH!!
"Yay!"
They both made an arc with their left legs, propelling themselves forward, arriving right beside the hovering ball.
But swiftly and smoothly, Oliver took control of the ball, making the crowd erupt in cheers.
"AIMAR!"
"On it!"
Shouting, Aimar propelled himself forward, intersecting with Oliver.
"Ethan!"
Shouting, Oliver passed the ball to Ethan, who was hovering just around him.
Taking possession of the ball, Ethan made his way towards the opposition's goalpost.
"Skinny, stop him!"
Azariah shouted at the skinny guy as he propelled himself towards them.
"AHHHHH!"
But just as the guy made an arc with his left leg, he couldn't control himself and propelled too fast, heading downwards.
"Oliver!"
Ethan shouted, passing the ball towards Oliver while Aimar tried to stop him.
"Ethan!"
Oliver passed the ball back to him as he got sandwiched between Aimar and Azariah.
"Chubby!"
Seth made an arc with his left leg as he intersected with Ethan, trying his best to stop him, but swiftly Ethan sidestepped him and passed the ball between his legs.
"Go for it!"
The crowd shouted as Ethan came close to the goalpost, and both girls tried to stop him, but he just hovered past between them.
SWISH!!
"Wooohooo!"
Swinging his leg in a wide arc, he kicked the ball, scoring the first goal.
Ignoring all the shouting from the crowd, Azariah moved towards Seth and the skinny guy, as well as the girls, making an arc with his right leg he stood right infront of them.
"....Do I need to remind you guys who I am?" Rubbing his neck, he asked, his voice low and drawn out.
They all looked at him blankly, not understanding his words.
"...I am the son of Duchess Esmeray, and if I lose the game because of you guys, then remember I will make you regret being here."
He threatened, pointing at them to ensure they heard his words loud and clear.
The guys' faces turned pale as they remembered all the rumors surrounding him, from the way he treated his maids to how he forced himself on the girls who displeased him.
"...If you're feeling angry, then show it on the opposing team," he instructed the girls, pointing towards their opponents, the girls faces had turned a light crimson.
"I'm not angry though," one of the girls mumbled, glancing at Azariah's face.
"Then why is your face red?" He asked, tilting his head, but both the girls averted their gaze away from him.
"Azariah!" Aimar called out to him as the game was about to start again.
"Remember my words." He glared at them one last time before moving back.
Once again, the referee placed the ball between Ethan and Aimar.
"Go!"
The referee shouted, and Aimar quickly got hold of the ball before passing it to Azariah.
"Booooo!!"
The crowd booed as Azariah wasted no time in hovering towards the opposition's goal post while Aimar held back Keegan and Oliver.
"Hpp!"
Ethan propelled himself faster and arrived close to him as Azariah reached the defense of the opposition.
And just as he arrived, all three of them intercepted him, blocking his way.
Azariah tried to glide past them, but they were experienced enough to stop him.
"Fuck this." Cursing, he looked back as Ethan blocked his way from behind.
And before he could come up with something, one of the second-year students pushed him intentionally, causing Azariah to fall downwards onto the ground below.
Azariah's anger consumed his mind for a second as he balanced himself and took out his axe-hammer from his bracelet.
"Break time!!" The ref shouted, announcing the five-minute break.
"Haah."
Azariah took a deep breath before propelling himself towards his team.
"Chubby, ever played Bowling ball?" Azariah asked, looking at Seth.
"Yes? Why?"
"Get ready then."
"What for!?"
"Aimar, mess up Oliver's gear." Ignoring Seth, Azariah focused on Aimar.
"How?"
"Twins? Same mana signature, get that?"
"That's cheating."
"Not until someone notices it."
"And you three." He glanced at the skinny boy and the two girls. "Be ready to stop anyone who comes close."
"What are you thinking, Azariah?" Aimar asked.
"....Just giving another reason for the crowd to hate me." He replied, his eyes turning shades of mesmerizing blue for a second.
And as the words escaped his mouth, a chill ran down the spine of everyone present there.
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