Astrid, his two goons, and Abel left their classroom and climbed to the rooftop of the class building.
This was one of the only spots that was unregulated by the school and this was Astrid's secret spot. He usually brought his targets here to play with them... And on special occasions like today, to vent.
Astrid shut the door to the rooftop once they entered and his goons threw Abel to the floor.
"Hey, Astrid." Abel said with a fake chuckle, "Considering that today is the final day we'll meet can't you let me off."
"Ohh, Abel, why are you speaking like that? I thought we were friends?" Astrid said as he swaggered to stand above Abel, looking at him kindly.
"We're friends who'll see each other for the last time today, don't you think we should make today even more special then?" He said laughing.
Abel was about to reply but he got a kick to his chin for his efforts, sending him back down to the floor. Abel made to lift himself from the ground but Astrid beat him to it, lifting him up by his hair.
Abel took punch after punch to his face. Astrid was going much harder today. Whether it was because it was the last time or because of the previous humiliation from Noah, Abel didn't know.
"It's all because of you that that four eyed riffraff has the guts to speak to me like that." Astrid said in between punches.
"If you hadn't stolen lady Margaret from me that day, which if this servants will dare to lift up their head to me, huh!?"
Astrid felt that his hatred towards Abel was just.
On the day bondservants were selected, Astrid was set apart as the most talented child of the Klayan's orphanage. Everyone thought Lady Margaret would choose him causing him to swell with pride and anticipation.
But on that day, Margaret broke everyone's expectations — and Astrid's heart.
He couldn't believe that his position as Lady Margaret's bond servant was taken from him. But what he couldn't believe even more was that it had been given to a talentless person, who he didn't even put in his eyes.
Since then, Astrid grew a bone deep hatred for Abel, bullying him at every chance he could.
"I didn't steal Lady Margaret, Astrid. She choose me herself." Abel got a kick to his chin and his vision spun, his back hitting the floor one more time.
"How dare you talk back?" Astrid said, looking at Abel flat on the floor with anger.
"But you know what? You're right. It's not you I should blame. It's that bitch Margaret. I'm sure she's a slut and she choose you because of your face. Can you imagine, being a slut at such a young age?" Astrid said, laughing. He looked to his goons for support but they didn't dare to laugh. They couldn't be caught making fun of the Klayan family's heir even In private or they wouldn't know how they died.
"You guys are no fun," Astrid said, understanding what was going through their minds.
He turned back towards Abel only to see him standing, his eyes red with rage.
"Take that back."
Astrid's face went from confusion to shock to understanding and then to laughter.
"Hahaha" he laughed. "Are you mad that I said that she only chose you because of your face? But where's the lie? Apart from the fact that you're a bit handsome what else do you have? You're completely talentless and weak. You wouldn't even be awakening today so you'd be completely useless to her in the future then—"
"No." Abel interrupted him.
"I meant take back what you said about Lady Margaret."
"Huh?" Astrid looked at him like he was crazy. "That's what you care about? To think you're such a loyal dog." He sneered.
"I'm not going to take it back. what are you going to do about it, Mr. Loyal Dog?" Astrid said tauntingly.
Abel looked Astrid in the eyes. And slowly settled into a fighting stance.
His eyes instantly changed from tired helplessness to solid resolve. His face was set in sharp focus as positioned himself to face Astrid and his goons.
Astrid's two goons made to surround him but Astrid called them off.
"He's mine."
He looked at Abel with a wild grin as he pulled off his coat and entered a fighting stance as well.
Two boys stood still on a rooftop glaring at each other. One lean and bloodied, injured in different places, face set hard. The other muscular and fit, a wild grin spread on his face.
Then they both moved.
'Fast!' Abel thought.
Astrid immediately entered his range and delivered a roundhouse kick aimed at his head.
He lifted his hand to block, but midway, he instinctively felt that his block wouldn't hold against the power of that kick. Forsaking the block, he instantly dove into Astrid's range using his raised hand to tackle him towards the floor.
They fell to the floor with Abel at the top but Astrid delivered a blow to his face as soon as he raised his head.
Taking that opportunity, Astrid disengaged from Abel. And instantly went back in, aiming for an axe kick on the disoriented Abel's head.
Abel came to just at the right moment to move his head a bit, but he took the kick with his shoulders as he rolled away.
He looked towards Astrid who was now a distance from him, the grin on his face having faded into a confident smirk. Abel's left shoulder felt numb from that kick.
Astrid was stronger than he was, he knew.
Ever since he was deemed worthless at the spirit root talent measuring test, having a lowly F rank spirit root, he gave up on training entirely.
He was once a battle genius but all that was useless without real talent so he focused on learning to serve his mistress well.
On the other side, Astrid was also called a genius even before the test. After he was graded to have a C rank spirit root — the highest grade for a servant — he focused even more on his combat ability.
The fact that Abel challenged him to a fight was madness and everyone present was certain of the outcome.
The only one who thought differently was Abel.
Yes, he knew that he was no match for Astrid.
He knew it was madness.
But he would win anyway.
His eyes set in cold determination as he beckoned towards Astrid.
"Come."