Chapter 38 - Declaration of the Prestigious Tournament

The Zariya College was widely regarded as one of the finest public schools in Atlantis. It was also known for its largest library. The composition of the school was inspired by a gothic-style chapel with large windows built at any space available. 

Zariya College was a closed-off area, standing tall at the border of Zariya instead of the center. Towering gates were constructed to protect the area with a one-way entrance where students were dropped off. Inside, besides the school's garden located around the buildings that provide paths towards different premises and vicinities, there were also large fields setted up for any tournament that took place. 

The Zariya College's most traditional and prestigious tournaments was the duel tournament, a duel to prove their swordsmanship. The grand tournament happens annually at the end of every year. The school would also host a boat parade for the winner of the tournament to celebrate one's victory. To commemorate the eve and the end of the tournament, the school would also hold a party on both days. Students were allowed to invite their families and important acquaintances to the school's dining hall—

—which usually ended up in madness. Family rivals gathered and flocked up, having a lovely reunion. Chaos was bound to take place. Those nobles would do nothing at first, but then they would start to gather and talk about irrelevant things like their family did this and that and finally… 

May the mayhem begin. 

Zeke exhaled heavily and scrunched his nose. Grinding his teeth together, he suċkėd the air in noisily before tilting his head lightly as he predicted the events that occurred annually, he could even picture the exact scene inside his head. The Alpha heir squinted his eyes as he tried his hardest to see the announcement stamped on the bulletin board. The announcement had been made. The date had been set up. 

Students crowded the bulletin to get a glimpse of it. It was fortunate that Zeke was tall, he merely needed to cultivate enough energy, centering all of them into his eyes, so that he could scan the bulletin from 3 miles away. 

'The party is next week,' Zeke sighed as he finally caught on the date after a few minutes struggling with blurry gazes. 'Should I participate in the tournament this time?' 

It was not like he wouldn't lose, though. He was an expert in anything. Wielding double swords, he could effortlessly slay it. Daggers, meh. Fencing? Say no more. The Rodericks weren't called a watchdog for nothing. They were the knights that once protected the Queen. 

However, it was no fun when he could anticipate and read all the challengers. He knew where to attack and break through their well-put defense. 

'Is it a curse to have such an awesome brain?!' The black-haired Alpha raised his pointy nose up and shook his head, smugness poured out of him. 

He had almost floated into the air due to the awesomeness in him, if not thanks to his soul that caught him at the last minute. The image of proper gentlemen was ingrained in his brain. He was raised to be the sophisticated gentlemen of Zariya and an individual with high level education. That was why he couldn't jump around and fly however he wanted to. 

'Smile, Zeke. Smile and act innocent.' His inner saint soul reminded him. 

"Yo, you joining?" 

'Who are you calling yo, you piece of--' "Oh, good evening, Lloyd," His lips naturally stretched out and smiled an innocent smile. He always remembered to crinkle each side of his eyes a bit to show sincerity. 

"Make sure to participate. This time, for sure, I will hand your ȧss back to you," Aloysius Lloyd said seriously. 

"You have said that every year, Lloyd. Aren't you sick of it?" 

"Not until I managed." 

"Nahh, he won't be joining." An arm landed heavily on Zeke's shoulder, startling both of them. 

"You are planning on registering yourself, aren't you?" Mika pointed at Zeke. "No can do!" 

Since his wounds hadn't fully healed, he hadn't even thought of registering himself. But since Mika said so, he changed his mind. "Mind your own business, Mika." Zeke shrugged the blonde-haired Alpha off him. 

"Uncle Lynn appointed me as your bodyguard—"

He expertly ignored Zeke's horrified "you have got to be kidding me!"— 

"—to monitor you and he said no activities, that includes no tournament!" Mika whirled towards Aloysius Lloyd in the speed of lighting. "Sorry to crush your dream but this big baby Alpha had injured himself while trying to protect his wife." 

"Zero?" Aloysius Lloyd raised a slick blonde eyebrow. "I thought you hated each other?" 

"Hey, hey—!" Zeke hurriedly cut in. He dragged Mika away and covered his noisy mouth. 

"Talking about Clementine Zero, I heard that her bodyguard is joining this year," Aloysius Lloyd put a finger under his chin. "Makes me wonder if he is as good as the rumor said he is." 

Zeke was ready to fall to his knees and give his tribute to Lloyd for such precious information. 

He dropped Mika onto the ground carelessly and marched up to register himself, only to have his uniform pulled back harshly. 

"Zee! Don't do this!" Mika cried dramatically. 

"Let go of me!" Zeke shouted.

"No! You don't understand!" 

"Tell Uncle Lynn, opportunity doesn't come twice!"

"W—wait! You don't understand, Zee!"

"Stop pulling my clothes, you motherf—" Zeke quickly caught himself. "—Father, who art in heaven, please forgive me for my sins. Will you please let go?" 

He asked sweetly but his hold on his clothes never loosened. 

"I didn't become your bodyguard because I wanted to! Uncle Lynn threatened to cut my *beep* off if I let you out of my sight!" 

"Then that is your problem! Don't drag me with you!" 

Aloysius Lloyd scratched his blonde head as he watched the scene unfold in front of him, Mika was on his knees, rubbing his hands together in a pleading way and watery eyes at Zeke while Zeke was busy pulling him up because of the crowds they were attracting. 

'This is the gentlemen all of you guys are so proud of? What a joke.' 

He shook his head and left with only one thing in his mind. 'What will I have for dinner?'