In the halls of the awakened academy, Kade was face to face with a group of sleepers who didn't seem particularly pleased by his presence, especially the taller individual at the front, what from Kade saw he seemed like a main character in a stereotypical hero's rise film.
Elegant in a sense, overbearing, and just a little bit too perfect. Kade didn't care for the fact that his authority and presence held the people following beside him. Only for the fact that he was taller, one of the few sleepers that stood above him.
'Pretty punchable face as well' His perfect teeth were just asking for it, but he couldn't cause too much trouble, so he ought to wait until the legacy-looking fellow gave him a reason to.
The Air was stiff with tension, yet he brushed it off.
"Kade right?" The leader asked. The assailant's emerald eyes sharpened.
Kade tapped his foot absentmindedly.
"Bingo, what about yourself?" Kade enquired.
Before the uptight man could answer, one of his followers had the gall to introduce him. Sounding out weirdly proud in the pristine hallway.
"He's Caster of the Han-Li clan, the best sleeper this academy has to offer!"
Caster glanced at the follower with a hint of irritation, his malevolent aura dimming slightly.
"Its a bit much that's the gist of who I am. I've come to see you about what you did before, in combat class. I'm sure you remember it"
Kade shrugged.
"That, Nephis right? Upset that I won a fair duel" Kade smirked before a devilish motivation took his lips. "Or was she like your crush or something? Angry I beat up your target of unwanted admiration."
Caster stood taller, his expression stern while his followers only seemed more irritated. 'Perhaps I wasn't far off'
Kade leaned in closer, smelling the opportunity to put some entertainment in the stale interaction.
"You president of her fan club or something, want to duel me for her pride?"
Caster stood his ground.
"I assure you I'm part of no such group, I acknowledge that you defeated Lady Nephis, but the way partook in that duel was disgusting, it was beneficial to your reputation as a criminal"
Kade scoffed, his eyes growing dangerous.
'Is this the young master thing? I can't wait to partake in this classic!"
"So… got a problem about it?"
Caster sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Yes I do, but could you let me talk without trying to aggravate me? It's unbefitting."
Kade rolled his eyes.
"No fun... Go ahead then"
"The reason I've stopped you is simple: awakened are the revered of humanity, they are the people that the common mundane citizens look up to" Looking back at Kade, he stated.
"Your actions and history display the complete opposite of it. You are not a gem or talent of the new generation, one to be polished for the benefit of humanity; you act as if the dirt on your form is a shine of its own and spread it around to the people around you."
Staring at Kade, the caster stated matter of factly.
"It's unacceptable to act this way, I am telling you that continuing as such will only lead you to conflict and isolation in the awakened community if not death in the future if you continue to act like you still live in the unclean streets you were born from"
Kade let the man finish, his lips sealed from the unprompted lecture.
"You blocked me off, just forthat..."
Caster's eyebrows knitted. "I was trying to be helpful; it would be a shame if such a talented sleeper lost himself the cause of his own foolishness"
Kade chuckled; he expected a lot of things from the pompous legacies, but a lesson out of class was not one of them, especially one so demeaning. The situation was hilarious. back just a month ago, would he let this guy diminish him to this extent under the guise of being helpful?
No he wouldn't; Kade would of already decided to shut him up, yet recently he found himself more reserved, well only mentally, when it came to his feelings, ever since he had passed the trail, he felt this slight urge to disturb, to create chaos, to fight, to relish in his anger and emotion.
'Is that a part of battle lust?' he only fought three hours ago, yet his body once again was asking for conflict.
That was especially concerning; it was like an amplifier, really. He already wanted to fight, and it only made it worse. Like an itch in his brain that he could not reach, unless he either beat something else up with his frustration or tried to claw into his head to reach it.
Now that he had come to terms with the experience, it only made it more noticeable.
'Ah fuck it, the itch is getting on my nerves.'
"I really don't believe you give a shit about any of that"
Caster blinked in surprise, while his followers reeled back slightly.
"I beg your pardon"
Kade continued.
"Such a thing seems so absurd to actually care about, even for a legacy as uptight as yours. So what im a danger to myself? Let me find out then; let me see for myself. It only seems like an excuse for you to view your disapproval of me"
Caster raised his eyebrows.
"Then what would I have come to you for"
Kade snapped his fingers, a shit eating grin appearing on his face.
"You got twitchy when I mentioned dear old Lady Nephis. I was right, wasn't I? You're jealous that my fists got more intimate with her than you ever will be."
"Absurd—"
"Don't worry! You can be just like Nephis. My fists are polyamorous, and if you keep running your mouth, it could be a long-term relationship!"
His words rang out in the hallway, a small group of sleepers watching as the chaos unfolded, the smug Kade and the seemingly off-put Legacy and his friends.
"Heart of Chaos, I recommend you stop your tirade at once" Caster stirred, his voice growing a bit gritty.
"Why? It's fun to insult you—"
CRACK.
Kade's head snapped to the side, pain blooming across his jaw. Caster's fist had come out of nowhere, a lightning-fast blur that buried itself in his cheek before he could react.
'....He's fast' Kade thought, tasting blood on his tongue.
'And ballsy'
Did he think he could get away with that?
Kade arched back catching himself from falling backward from the sucker punch, The sleeper gasped with eyes wide in shock at Caster. The Legacy simply shook his hand, as if he had touched something dirty, and sighed with resentment.
"I don't like resorting to the methods of a lowlife like you," he muttered, "but somehow, it felt appropriate."
Kade readjusted himself and wiped off the blood forming on his lips, staring sweet jolly death into Caster.
"Surprisingly dirty".
Caster stared Kade's bloodied mouth and shook his head.
"Its my mistake, I let myself drop to your level."
Kade gave a quiet chuckle before laughing outright.
"I respect the balls it took to do that."
He stepped forward, bold as ever, and extended a hand.
"Honestly? Fantastic. No wonder you've got people following you."
Caster blinked, caught off guard, but accepted the handshake.
"Is it? Sorry if I went too far, but I'm glad you can see past it."
'Sure, sure. Hopefully, you somehow believe that I will.
Shaking his hands, Kade whispered.
"That was a free one; next time you think of doing something like that. You'll owe me your teeth".
The small crowd watched in bewilderment as the violent misfit walked away from the situation, hands in his pockets, seemingly undisturbed by the conflict he had caused.
It seemed like Kade had run away from the chaos he had caused, but it was the opposite. Fighting Caster didn't seem like the best he could do, despite the itch he felt from [Battle Lust]. He also felt an opportunity, one that could happen then.
'I need to see how he works his aspects; no way in hell I'm letting him get of punches Scott-free.' Kade needed time to practice and learn that,
And he needed the right stage.
'Not a hallway. Not a classroom. I want a crowd. I want noise. I want a place where no one can stop me from breaking him.'
He already had something in mind for that.
Kade would wait until he could get what he wanted out of a fight like that. He didn't want a fair fight where it was neck and neck. This time he couldn't allow that bastard to even come close to him. He ought to make sure he could defeat him, no questions asked.
'A short-term goal, finally putting my time to use' He had a plan to mostly laze around until the winter solstice, but now he had something to work towards. Something with the most satisfying of endings.
The day passed uneventfully. Kade got a full night's sleep. Rare for him, but he woke up refreshed, the itch of [Battle Lust] still there, now sharpened into resolve.
He had a plan. And every plan needed a first step.
He couldn't exactly practice alone.
So in the first combat class back, he approached the one who had given him the most trouble.
Changing Star.