No More Pain For This Villain.

Chapter 342: Say Drake!

"Hmm, you don't, but I do. Don't your classmates bother you?" I questioned.

It's already quite a huge deal, but for some reason, there's no actual action from the teachers. It's a rumor about me and Raven sleeping together.

Raven was silent for a second before she looked at me directly. "I don't think they do, at least not in front of me, and I won't let anyone bully me."

I sighed as I stared at her being unbothered by it. Why was I so worked up?

In that moment, I saw someone coming from the other side of the corridor. I looked at the person for a second before looking back at Raven.

It was Vexa. She walked towards us.

"Ren, how about we-" Raven was saying something, but she stopped when Vexa came right beside us.

"Letter." Vexa stretched her hand out. In her hand, she held an envelope. "For you."

She pushed it towards Raven; it was a letter for Raven.

Raven took the envelope, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion. "For me? Who's it from?"

Vexa shrugged. "No idea. I was just asked to deliver it."

Raven examined the envelope, turning it over in her hands. "There's no sender's name," she noted, her curiosity piqued.

I glanced at Vexa, who gave me a slight nod before turning and walking away. It looked like there was no change in her behavior after our last talk. The girl is tough for sure.

"Well, are you going to open it?" I asked.

Raven seemed like she thought about it for a second before she just pushed it into her robe's pocket. "I'll read it later."

We kept walking around the academy grounds until it was time for me to leave for the beast mastery class.

"And I need to go," I waved at Raven and headed to the greenhouse.

It was mostly empty, with only Erik there. "Hey!" He excitedly walked towards me.

"Hmm, why's it so empty?" I asked him.

"Professor Harris was here just a moment ago. He went outside to get something. As for the others..." He looked around. "Looks like most of them dropped out of the class."

"Changed subjects?"

"Yep, it was like they didn't want to study this, so most of them left. But me and Geko are still here." He pointed at his lizard familiar. Its name is Geko, huh?

All of them changing subjects all of a sudden? That's a new low, I guess.

'Is it because they don't want to be near you?' Blaze questioned, and I kind of think that's the

reason.

As I was talking with Erik, I noticed something.

"Erik," I called, trying to control a smile.

"Hm?" The brown curly-haired boy looked up at me with an innocent, confused expression. "What is it, Ren?"

I felt like bursting out laughing for some unknown reason. If it was someone else, I would've just ignored it, but Erik of all the students here... man, the boy's fast.

And here people were doubting mine and Raven's relationship.

"When'd you lose it?" I asked.

I pointed at the hickey on his neck. It seemed like it was meant to be noticed. Who gave it to him? A cat?

Erik's face turned beet red, and he quickly looked away. "What are you talking about?" he mumbled.

"Oh, come on," I said, still grinning. "You can tell me. I promise I won't tease you too much."

He sighed, clearly embarrassed but resigned. "The night we returned from Eshmera."

I raised an eyebrow. "Really? That was fast."

"We weren't," Erik said, still avoiding eye contact. "It just... happened."

I nodded, understanding a bit more now. "So, the rumors about me and Raven are the only fake ones going around. You're the real man here."

I watched him turn a bit more red. "It was not planned!" he said.

"These things are not planned. Who was it... the brunette from that day?" I asked,

remembering a girl waving at him like she was about to eat him alive.

"How'd you know about Stella!?" He was surprised.

Man bagged a good-looking one, too.

"I just know it," I shrugged.

"Please don't tell anyone. I'll be kicked out of the academy... I can't afford it, my father will -"His waterworks were about to start.

"Chill, man. I am not telling anybody," I reassured him.

He let out a sigh of relief, wiping at his eyes. "Thanks, Ren. I just... I really like her, you know?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I get it. Just be careful, okay?"

Erik smiled, the tension easing out of his shoulders. "I will. And hey, thanks for not making fun of me too much."

I laughed. "No problem. Now, let's get ready for class before Professor Harris comes back." We spent the next few minutes setting up our workstations. Erik's lizard familiar, Geko, watched us curiously from its perch.

When Professor Harris returned, he had a large crate with him. "Good to see some dedicated students still here," he said with a nod. "Today, we'll be learning about the care and training

of lesser drakes."

He opened the crate, and inside were several small, dragon-like creatures, each no larger than a housecat. They hissed and flapped their tiny wings, clearly not thrilled about being

confined.

"These are lesser drakes," Professor Harris explained. "They require careful handling and precise training techniques. We'll be working with them over the next few weeks, so get used

to their presence."

Erik and I exchanged excited looks. Lesser drakes were known to be challenging but rewarding to train. This was going to be interesting.

We each took a drake from the crate, carefully holding them as they squirmed and hissed. My drake had iridescent blue scales and a feisty temperament. I could already tell it was going to

be a handful.

"First, we need to establish a bond with them," Professor Harris said. "This involves feeding them and spending time with them outside of class. Trust is crucial."

As I held the drake, it slowly began to calm down, sensing my intentions. "Hey there, little

guy," I murmured. "Let's be friends, okay?"

"Who are you? His mother?" Blaze seemed a bit off.

By the way, I have something to do in the void later tonight... Smokeball, you got any place

where we can train?

"Same spot you learned to fly," he replied.