At one of the dining hall's corner tables, three students were huddled in a quiet discussion. A female beastfolk with sharp ears and feline features leaned in, her voice low but dripping with disdain. "That's the kid?" she asked, nodding subtly in Jett's direction. "He's not all that. I heard his ranking shot up because he used his connections.
Now he's been deranked to 5000th place in the whole academy. I'm sure I can take him."
The trio took quick, subtle glances at Jett across the hall, their eyes darting back and forth to make sure no one was listening too closely. They spoke in hushed tones, careful to avoid attracting attention.
"I'm not too sure about that," the dwarf among them replied, scratching his beard nervously. He was short but stout, with an air of caution that his companions clearly lacked. "He still ranks higher than you. You're ranked 40,000. It's too risky. I've seen what his friends can do already, and it's not worth the risk."
The beastfolk snorted, baring her sharp teeth in a confident grin. "He's obviously a fraud riding his friends' coattails, and I'm going to prove it."
*****
At Jett's table, the atmosphere had shifted. "Whatever," Jett muttered as he stood up abruptly, clearly not in the mood to stay any longer. Mystra, who had been resting comfortably near his plate, quickly climbed up onto his shoulder, her small size making her a perfect companion as she nestled there, not wanting to be left behind.
"Hey, come on. You don't have to be so mad about it," Rey called after him, his voice laced with concern. But it was futile, Jett was already halfway to the door, his steps quick and determined.
Just as Jett reached the door, ready to leave the hall and the stifling atmosphere behind, a voice called out, stopping him in his tracks. "Hey, first year, stop right there."
The voice was firm, commanding, and carried an air of challenge. Jett turned slightly, his gaze narrowing as he recognized the beastfolk girl from the trio who had been eyeing him earlier. The tension in the air grew, the hall suddenly feeling a lot smaller.
"I challenge you to a duel. I'm going to show everyone that you're a fraud," the beastfolk girl declared, her voice firm and confident, stepping forward with her fists clenched. The room fell silent as her challenge echoed through the dining hall.
Jett, without turning around, tilted his head slightly, a cold smirk forming on his lips. "Oh? You want to challenge me?" His voice was calm, almost amused, but there was a noticeable edge to it.
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room shifted. A chilling aura began to emanate from Jett, spreading across the hall like a cold wind sweeping through the space. Conversations died down as most students instinctively felt the weight of his presence. The temperature seemed to drop, and unease spread across the tables as everyone's eyes turned toward the impending confrontation.
The whole hall buzzed with shock and disbelief. Conversations broke out all around them as the room split into two camps: those who believed Jett was serious and those who thought it was all a bluff. Some students were intrigued, others skeptical, but no one could deny the confidence in his voice.
*****
"There's... there's no way you have that much money," the beastfolk girl stammered, her earlier bravado faltering. Her tail flicked nervously as her ears twitched in disbelief.
Jett's chilling smile only deepened. "And why would I make that up? It's also against the rules to wager what you don't own."
At their table, the others were equally stunned by Jett's bold offer. Cedric leaned closer to Finn, whispering, "Did you know he had that many points?"
Finn let out a long sigh, rubbing his forehead. "I just did what he asked me to do. The amount of points we have now would be enough to get all of us private accommodations. But for some reason, he insists it's not enough."
Cedric's eyes widened. "Is he trying to buy the entire academy or something?"
Freya, watching the situation unfold, furrowed her brows in confusion. "I'm not even worried about him fighting multiple opponents unarmed... but what's the point? Is he trying to prove something or...?" She trailed off, trying to piece together Jett's motives.
The atmosphere grew tenser as everyone awaited the beastfolk's decision, all eyes on Jett, whose calm demeanor only heightened the sense of unease in the room.
*
*
*
He's looking for a punching bag.