Chapter 351: Sit

Chapter 351: Sit

Will backed up against the wall, his eyes bulging and flicking around the room, searching for escape. The door was several steps to his left, and Noah had no plans of letting him run out and lead him on a chase.

Snapping his fingers, Noah sent another ripple through the earth. A jagged crack raced out across the ground, cutting Will off from the room’s exit, ripping the stone open and sending debris plummeting into the darkness.

“Eyes on me,” Noah said softly. He stepped past the rubble behind him, using a small gust of wind to keep the dust swirling around his body. The chances of Will identifying him were low, but the more distracted the other man was, the easier everything would be.

“What do you want?” Will stammered. “I was just–”

“Testing them,” Noah finished. “Yes. I am aware of what you were doing. But what gives you the right to interfere? They weren’t in the program yet, Will. But that’s in the past now, isn’t it?”

Will nodded hurriedly. “Yes, exactly. We–”

“We don’t need to hold grudges,” Noah interjected. A crackle of electricity trailed across his fingertips, then vanished into the air with a hiss. “There’s nothing wrong with a little testing. It’s only natural.”

“That’s how we see it as well. We meant no harm, but ensuring the quality of every student in the advanced track is vital for its success. That’s how we can make sure we only put out the most competent students.”

“A logical solution,” Noah said. He tilted his head to the side as if in thought, then tapped a finger on his mask. “But, if you test those that enter – who tests you?”

Will blinked in confusion. “Me? I’m a member of the track already. They tested me when I was first invited, and I–”

“I don’t believe I was present for that,” Noah said, not letting Will finish his sentence. He wanted to keep the other man on the backfoot and avoid giving him a chance to start mustering any form of properly coherent thought, and it was working pretty effectively. To a normal Rank 3, a powerful Rank 4 Mage wasn’t all that different from a Rank 6. They were both effectively insurmountable – which meant Will would have trouble placing his strength when he recounted it to anyone.

“You? No, I don’t think–”

“No,” Noah agreed. “I wasn’t. You’re right. So how can I know how competent you are? As far as I can tell, you’re nothing but a sniveling Rank 3, barely able to stand in my presence. Is there more to you than that?”

Will’s face flickered, likely recalling Noah’s first threat about how little he liked being disappointed, and gave him a firm nod. His hands clutched at the wall, trying to claw through it to no avail.Ñøv€lRapture marked the initial hosting of this chapter on Ñôv€lß¡n.

“Ah. You are. Fantastic,” Noah said. “In that case, I’m sure you wouldn’t be opposed to letting me test you. After all, tests aren’t any harm. They’re just to ensure the quality of every student and faculty member participating in the advanced track.”

This is pretty much the same offer you gave Moxie, right? Fight me until you can’t fight any longer, or something like that? Turn about is fair play.

Will winced. Noah had completely wrapped his own words around him, and he knew it. There was no way for him to refuse without angering him. A second of silence passed as Will desperately dug for a solution, but there wasn’t one. The only thing he could do was swallow heavily.

“If you rely on a Shield to fight, then you are a pathetic warrior,” Noah growled. He extended a hand and a powerful blast of wind shoved Will off the ground, sending him stumbling right into Noah’s grip.

He gripped the man’s shirt and lifted him into the air, the power from his Runes coursing through his body like a raging river. It had been a long time, but Noah could feel the tickle of Azel’s influence in the back of his mind.

Strangely, the demon felt weaker than he had been before – or perhaps Noah had gotten stronger. Either way, the power Azel had over him had drastically weakened, and Noah was able to crush Azel’s desires out without too much effort. He was pretty sure

Will struggled in Noah’s grip. His feet kicked pointlessly and his arms pried at Noah’s arm, but it was completely ineffective. It felt like he was holding a runaway toddler, not a mage. Noah was lucky he was wearing a mask, because the scorn and disbelief on his face likely would have driven a blade straight through Will’s heart on the spot.

“Is this all you can do?” Noah demanded. “This pathetic excuse can boast about being in the advanced track?”

“I’m a researcher and an Imbuer.” Will wheezed. “I don’t ever need to fight without my magic.”

“Then don’t go throwing your weight around like you’re anyone of interest. You’re pathetic,” Noah said, trying to picture exactly what Jalen would have said if he were in his position. He was annoyed enough that it wasn’t hard, and perhaps that should have been concerning.

“There are a lot of ways to be strong. I’m not a warrior.” A glint passed through Will’s eyes as his gaze flicked past Noah’s shoulder. There was relief in his expression – relief that shouldn’t have been present. “But she is.”

Noah didn’t bother turning. He threw Will back and dropped to the ground. A sword ripped through the air where his neck had been, letting out a keening wail in its wake. He set off a powerful blast of wind in the air above him, and was rewarded with a loud crash a moment later.

Noah rose, spinning toward the new threat. A man rose from the rubble of a new hole in Will’s wall, the cloak hanging ragged around his body and a long sword in his hand. His face was blank and expressionless – not the features of a human, but a well-carved mask. Noah nearly laughed as he spotted Ulya on the street, her brow creased in concentration.

“Decent attempt at a surprise attack,” Noah said with a low chuckle. “It’s too bad your friend is a brainless idiot – but it’s not like that would have hurt me in the first place.”

Will scrambled to his feet across from Noah, running back until he was out of the range of his domain. As soon as he was safe, glittering cubes of light sprung to life all around him.

“You’re outnumbered,” Ulya said. “I don’t know who you are, but I suggest you surrender now if you want to live.”

“Outnumbered?” Noah burst into laughter. “No. You’re just saving me time, Ulya. I didn’t realize you and Will knew each other so well.”

“Students?” Ulya’s expression flickered when she heard her name, her gaze moving to Will. “What’s going on?”

“Forget it!” Will yelled. A beam of light ripped from one of the cubes, slicing through the air toward Noah. Noah didn’t bother waiting to see if the magic would make it through his domain – considering it had originated outside it, there was a decent chance it would. He hadn’t had enough time to test out the domain’s full abilities, and now wasn’t the time to do it.

He dodged to the side, then slammed Will into the wall with a powerful blast of wind. Will slid down with a cough as dust rained around him.

“Sit,” Noah growled, turning back to Ulya and her puppet. “Come on, then. I hope you prove more interesting than your friend.”