[Ren's POV]
In the end, we were placed under house arrest for two weeks, and both sides were given strict warnings and told that the consequences would be much more severe if something like that happened again.
While the confinement was brief, my notoriety seemed to have grown beyond the two years of my life within the academy.
When I entered the cafeteria, I involuntarily shivered at the insurmountable attention and briskly wandered through the large room. Following the instructions left by my so-called friend, I eventually found myself at a table in the corner of the cafeteria...
Sitting down, McGillis smirked, "For someone so worried about punishment, you seemed in good health."
Frowning, I ignored his remark and turned to the other man sitting across from us. He has light purple hair and light blue eyes. He had an aloof attitude, which was the complete opposite of his overall sophisticated appearance.
"Hey, you must be the infamous student McGillis keeps talking about." He greeted nonchalantly, "I'm Gaelio Bauduin, nice to make an acquaintance."
"Bauduin..." I muttered, and my eyes widened. I instinctively felt wary, and Gaelio laughed nonchalantly.
"You must have been very troubled." Gaelio muttered with sympathy, "I can understand that McGillis here is difficult to deal with. But rest assured that he's at least somewhat sincere." He joked, and McGillis's serene smile stiffened.
"Aren't you bothered that I'm not from Earth?" I asked curiously, and he shrugged.
"Unlike McGillis, who values talent, I would rather converse with someone who has decent character, and I admire what you did; standing up to nobility must take a form of courage."
"So onto the serious note... How does it feel?" Gaelio leaned in and asked with anticipation.
"What do you mean?"
"As in punching that guy in the face." He gestured at McGillis with his thumb, "It's not every day someone can do that."
Reflecting on McGillis's snarky attitude, I subconsciously smiled, and Gaelio laughed. Faced with his cheerful attitude, I subconsciously relaxed. However, our conversation was suddenly interrupted by a figure approaching from the side.
"Student Ren Ordis!" A voice shouted, attracting everyone's attention.
"Oh dear..." Gaelio muttered embarrassingly, and I turned towards the voice.
It was a woman, standing with her arms crossed. Up close, she was taller than most of the students. Her hair was silver, pulled back tightly, leaving two long strands to fall over her shoulder, the tips dyed black. Red eye shadows were drawn distinctly from the corner of her eye to the side of her face.
"My name is Carta Issue from the Issue family." She announced passionately, "There is a matter we must discuss."
"I received notice that there was an incident last week concerning the injuries of several students. This situation can't be taken lightly"
"Calm down, Carta. Ren has already been punished for his actions; you don't have to get involved." Gaelio spoke up, and Carta turned to him sternly.
For a moment, Carta said nothing. Then she turned to face him sternly. "Junior Bauduin, I am aware the matter has been resolved in accordance with academy procedure." Her gaze shifted, taking in the gathered students. "But procedure does not erase doubt."
A low murmur rippled through the crowd. "These rumours will not fade on their own," Carta continued. "They will fester, and they will invite further violence." Her eyes returned to me. "Unless they are answered."
I felt the weight of their stares press down on me. Clicked my teeth. "So what is it you want?" I asked.
Carta quietly stared into my eyes, and I felt her pupils discreetly scanning me. "There are claims that your previous altercation relied on… improper methods," she said at last. "Whether they are true or false is irrelevant. What matters is that the students believe them."
She took a step forward.
"So, Student Ren Ordis, I request a duel."
The murmurs sharpened, curiosity turning into expectation. "This will serve as a demonstration," Carta said calmly. "Your strength, your conduct, and your honour will be made plain. Refuse, and the rumours remain. Accept, and this ends here."
Her hand loosened, and the white glove fell at my feet.
[3rd POV]
As Ren stared at the pristine white glove lying at his feet, McGillis moved quietly to Carta's side. His expression remained unreadable as he leaned in, close enough that only she could hear him.
"Lord McGillis…" Carta's voice softened despite herself. She glanced toward him, a faint flush touching her cheeks.
"Did my father order this?" McGillis asked in a low voice. Carta stiffened. The slight hitch in her breath was answer enough.
"Regardless," she said, straightening, resolve creeping back into her tone, "this is something I must do to preserve the reputation of this institution."
"Is that so?" McGillis replied with a thin smile.
He stepped back, retreating without another word. When he stopped, it was beside Ren, his attention shifting fully to him as he observed the young man's reaction with quiet interest.
Picking up the small glove, Ren nodded, "What do I have to do..."
Twenty minutes later....
"This is…" Ren murmured, his voice trailing off as they were ushered into the room.
The place they were brought into was long and rectangular, its high ceiling supported by exposed beams that ran the length of the room. Cold lights hung in evenly spaced rows, casting a sterile glow over the polished metal floor below.
At the centre of the room stood two makeshift cockpits, mounted on reinforced platforms. Thick cables ran from their bases, disappearing into the floor as if rooting them in place.
Behind the cockpits, occupying nearly the entire far wall, loomed a massive viewing screen. Raised platforms and open walkways lined the sides of the room, clearly arranged to accommodate spectators.
"This is the simulation room," Gaelio said at last, breaking the silence. "These machines allow users to pilot virtual Mobile Suits within a controlled environment."
Mobile Suits...
Large, humanoid-shaped mobile weapons that are around 18 metres tall and were the main weapons that helped humanity win the Calamity War against the Mobile Weapons. Since then, Mobile Suits have been mankind's strongest weapons.
These Mobile Suits usually use an internal humanoid frame, and they are protected by Nanolaminate Armour. One of the main technologies used to protect against the Mobile Armours' laser weaponry.
Each suit is equipped with a fuel source called the Ahab Reactors, which were typically used as power plants in giant machines. These reactors generate an enormous amount of energy by transforming artificially generated vacuum elements. Ahab Reactors were known to be almost physically indestructible, allowing them to continuously produce energy semi-permanently, and they were the pinnacle of humanity's creation.
"Students use these devices to familiarise themselves with Mobile Suits, preparing us for officer training in the future," McGillis explained, his gaze lingering as he measured Ren's reaction.
In truth, Ren was already aware of the facility. He had known about it for some time, and he had done his best to avoid it whenever possible. There were other paths available after graduation, roles that did not demand a battlefield. That was what he told himself, anyway. Something quieter, safer, in keeping with his father's wishes.
Whether he truly believed that was another matter entirely.
"Your expression seems rather tense. Are you all right?" McGillis asked, a note of concern slipping into his voice.
Ren instinctively raised a hand to his face, only then realising how tightly his features had drawn into a frown. "I'm fine," he muttered, the words stiff and unconvincing. He lowered his arm, subtly steadying the faint tremor running through it.
"Hey, Carta, this isn't fair," Gaelio snapped, stepping forward. "You're clearly more experienced than he is."
Carta turned toward him, her eyes narrowing in sharp displeasure. "Sir Bauduin, if we only hold people accountable when it is convenient for them," she said coldly, "then justice becomes meaningless."
"But..." Gaelio began, fists clenched at his sides.
He stopped when Ren placed a hand on his shoulder. After a brief, steadying breath, Ren stepped forward. Carta met his gaze at once, "Student Ordis," she said firmly, "are you ready?"
"Yes..." Ren answered, and Carta nodded.
"I see… then let us begin."
With a single press of a button, both cockpits opened in unison. Metal panels parted with a low hiss, revealing the cramped interiors within. Following Carta's instructions, Ren stepped forward and climbed inside.
The hatch slid shut behind him. Light vanished as the cockpit sealed, and Ren found himself enclosed in darkness, the outside world cut away in an instant.
Ren's hands found the control grips out of habit and tightened. He didn't realise how hard he was holding them until his fingers began to ache. A shallow breath caught in his chest. For a brief moment, the silence felt suffocating.
His vision blurred at the edges, a pressure building behind his eyes, as if the space around him had narrowed. Then the cockpit lights flickered on, and the simulation initialised.
Cold sweat traced down his spine as the familiar systems came online, but the sensation passed as quickly as it came. Ren exhaled, steadying himself and loosening his grip. By the time the battlefield rendered before him, his expression had already hardened as if nothing had happened at all.
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[Gaelio Bauduin]
[Carta Issue]