20 I’m crazier than you

“That shortie’s house sure is big. To have been chosen as a Nyomin trainee… He’s the son of some big-shot, isn’t he?”

“…”

“Well, all the elite trainees are. But is the shortie really the stupidstar’s friend? I know the stupidstar managed to climb all the way to the Academy, but he seemed more to me like a zombie than anything else. That Ray… He said the stupidstar only needs rest, but a true friend would have called for a doc after seeing the guy pass out, wouldn’t he?”

“…”

“You’re boring, Leon. You could say something. Also, what are you doing here? Wasn’t your badge taken away by the fatty and her henchmen?”

“Watch your tongue. It’s Lovecryce’s daughter you’re talking about.”

“And I can’t call a fatty a fatty? It’s like calling a masked guy, a masked guy, a shortie, a shortie, and a stupidstar, a stupidstar.”

“Do you even know who’s Lovecryce?”

“Pfaha… I know. That guy’s a big sponsor for the Champion Institute. I do know him. I’ve even seen him twice. I don’t like his guts. He’s just one of those Heroes who want to go down in the WHO’s history…” Noah raised his eyes towards the double stairs and the second floor of the house. “Are you going to wait for the shortie to come down?”

“No. I’m waiting for you to get out.”

“Huh? That was direct. Do you have something against me, Hoodie?”

“Yeah. You have Armen’s badge, don’t you?”

“Yep. As I said, I stole it from him when I was on the beach, before crossing the Neck, what of it?”

Zeeta looked daggers at him.

“Why do you keep bothering him?”

Noah smirked.

“I just thought he would become a great asset in my inventory—”

“You bastard!” Zeeta leaped up out of his seat.

The CI’s student stood up as well. They leaned forward, a few inches away from each other.

“Give the badge back,” Zeeta hissed.

“Don’t wanna. I’m gonna be the stupidstar’s captain, you’re gonna become the fatty’s dog. That’s all that silly first challenge was about.”

Zeeta didn’t care that he would have to serve Lovecryce’s daughter for two months. He even thought that he could take advantage of it and sell the information he would get to the Beholder. No, what worried him the most was Armen’s condition… and that damned crimson guy who kept getting in his way.

His blood was boiling with anger. His forehead hit Noah’s as he growled:

“Leave the badge and get out.”

“Or else?”

“I’ll beat you up.”

“Oho?”

Noah’s smile made Zeeta lose his temper even more. He grabbed the crimson guy by the collar of his uniform and pushed him against the staircase. Noah’s expression remained unfazed. Zeeta’s hand tried to reach one of his pockets, when Noah suddenly grasped his wrist.

A crimson flame set Zeeta’s hand ablaze, and a flash of energy ran through his body… He felt weak. Not only that: he felt as if Noah’s crimson fire flaming on the tip of his hand was the most marvelous thing he had seen in his life.

“You’ve got no manners of a Hero, do you?” Noah said, freeing himself with ease.

Zeeta clenched his teeth. What was that guy’s power? Thanks to the Beholder, he had been informed of almost every trainee’s power, but the students from the Champion Institute… He knew nothing about them. So it was like that. A weird, crimson fire with the ability to break someone’s will… No, perhaps even a drug fire? Anyway…

He was furious. The fire that had started on his wrist brusquely disappeared. He scowled at Noah.

“Give back Armen’s badge,” he repeated.

And he sent a punch flying. Noah failed to dodge it, breathed out all the air, then replied:

“In hell.”

He punched back. It was a light and clumsy hit, but this time, his fire was stronger. Zeeta’s knees buckled. He was breathing hard. Something was pushing him down, something was telling him he couldn’t fight, he had to give up, he was but a worm at the feet of that divine crimson god… A god? Bullshit.

“Give it back!” Zeeta roared.

He lunged at Noah’s legs, pulled, and managed to make him fall. As he kept fighting more and more pathetically on the ground, Noah grumbled.

“You’re annoying! Give up already! I don’t know what your power is, but mine’s way stronger than yours, you can’t win against me. Just give up.”

“I won’t,” Zeeta huffed. “I won’t let you have the Straw Head.”

Noah frowned.

“The Straw Head? You mean…?!” With a prompt movement, he pulled Zeeta’s mask off. He snorted as he sat up. “I can’t believe it! You’re that Zeeta from yesterday! The one who punched me in the Old Docks for no reason! Why are you trying to hide?”

Zeeta glared at him.

“I’m not hiding.” He had been wearing the mask because of the Straw Head, then when he had realized his identity had been seen through, he had been wanting to stop wearing the mask but hadn’t known how to explain his decision to the others. “I’m just more relaxed with it.”

That was also true. After all, Nick the Beholder did tell him that a good spy should not draw attention to himself… You’re not officially working as a spy right now, though, you useless stalker, he thought to himself.

There was a silence. Zeeta was trying to calm down and erase all Noah’s fire within himself. He didn’t really know how to do it, but if he kept thinking about freeing Armen from that jerk, he knew he wouldn’t falter.

“In comparison to the stupidstar, you can’t completely fight back my power,” Noah said. Zeeta’s heart missed a beat. Noah had used his power on the Straw Head? That cursed demon…! He added: “But your willpower sure is not to be laughed at. I like that.”

“…” Zeeta growled: “Your power is not to be laughed at either. I hate it, though.”

“Heh. I’m used to being hated. But if you want the stupidstar’s badge so badly, then that means you must be a good friend of his. I’ll tell you. I made a deal with the shortie. I gave him the badges. Armen’s and mine.”

Zeeta stared at him, stunned. What? Then why didn’t he tell so sooner? What kind of deal did they make? Also, why did he choose Ray as captain out of all the Nyomin trainees? Why did he have to cling to Armen like that? That damned CI’s bastard…

“Do you think you can beat me by glaring at me like I was some monster? Oh, but I am a monster.” Noah held out his ignited hand and chuckled as Zeeta drew backwards. “Scared of a CI’s madman? Cry all you want. Weaklings can only grouse at the stronger.”

Hadn’t Cynsea the Hypnotist said last night something like: ‘those two kids might need more psychological support than anything else’? Yeah, right. Zeeta couldn’t care less about Noah’s circumstances. As he heard footsteps outside, he stood up and said:

“I don’t care if you’re stronger: if you ever make Armen suffer, I’ll make you pay for it, because…” his eyes pierced Noah’s, “I’m crazier than you.”

There was a silence, then someone knocked at the door and said:

“Noah! Mr. Huang wants to talk to both of us in half an hour! We’ve gotta hurry and have lunch before at the cafeteria!”

That was Andrea Sisalik. Noah grimaced, then smirked as he got to his feet.

“Man… Looks like we won’t get along.”

“Yeah. Looks like we won’t,” Zeeta agreed.

“Noah!” Andrea knocked again.

“Tch…” Noah opened the door and left with the green dreadlocked girl as he mumbled: “What does he want now, that damned Huang? I swear, one day, I’ll drug him until he begs for his life—”

“Don’t say it out loud, you moron!” Andrea whispered. Thanks to his power, Zeeta could hear her as if he was right behind her. “If I can’t run away because of you, you’ll pay for it.”

“Whatcha saying, I’m running away too…”

“Then keep it down, or you’ll be the first to go back to the CI with the tail between your legs…”

Zeeta raised an eyebrow. So those two wanted to run away from the Champion Institute’s grasp…

Well, their call. I have other things to worry about.

He closed the door and turned his gaze to the second floor, towards the room where Ray had shut himself with the Straw Head. Everything had happened about three hours ago: the Straw Head had suddenly passed out on the beach for no apparent reason, Ray had recovered his composure in a blink, then helped Armen climb the colored stairs that led to the Academy, not even letting Zeeta lend him a hand. The necromancer had hidden his anxiety quite well until then. As soon as he had arrived at his room, however, he had lost his temper, told Noah, Erma, and him to get out, and locked the door behind. Seeing that had made Zeeta even more worried. Was Armen in real danger? But why? Why did he suddenly pass out? Would Ray be able to save him with his arts?

He walked forward, went upstairs, then wavered in front of the thick door. Even with his enhanced hearing, he couldn’t hear what was going on behind. He didn’t want to distract Ray at a crucial moment, but…

As discreetly as possible, he turned the handle.