Chapter 203

At Charon Military School, after leaving the field, Lane saw Erza, already drenched in the rain, walking alone to the school roof. Rielle was also looking in that direction. "That's Erza," she said.

"Rielle, go eat first," Lane replied, returning the umbrella and jogging after Erza to the rooftop. Erza's black hair was soaked; his thin t-shirt clung to his body, outlining his well-defined muscles. He held a cigarette, but upon seeing Lane, he extinguished it.

"You don't have to avoid me," Lane said, her expression complicated.

"I know what you're thinking," Erza said, raising an eyebrow lazily. "Don't look at me sympathetically."

Lane's lips were pale, the corners twitching slightly. She was damp, but compared to Erza's soaked state, it was insignificant. She felt a chill, but could endure it. "I don't sympathize; I just want to thank you for what happened."

Erza's eyes froze for a moment, then cleared. "I'm not just doing this for you," he said, turning and leaving.

Returning to the classroom, Lane found Emma already seated. Seeing her, Lane's eyes brightened. "Miss Wilson, you're finally back!"

Emma, casually reading a book, nodded. She didn't mention the police station, simply asking, "What's wrong with you? Why are you wet?"

"I'm almost dry," Lane replied. "When you were taken away, I called Mr. Hall and ran into Celia and the others." Emma could guess Celia's actions. "Did she bully you?"

Lane nodded, then shook her head. "It's fine now. Erza scolded her until she cried."

Emma stopped reading. Erza had returned from Yenovia, but she sensed a difference in him; he seemed in a poor mood. "We should be understanding," she said. Lane finally released her pent-up emotions, nodding firmly. "Yup."

Meanwhile, Celia was ill. Erza's threat and the rain had frightened her, causing a high fever that wouldn't subside. She lay in the dormitory, clearly in agony. Her homeroom teacher, Adele Reese, was indignant. "What exactly is going on?"

Someone from the dormitory immediately responded, "It's Erza and his group. They forced Celia to get wet in the rain this morning. We all saw it."

"That's crazy," Adele exclaimed, furious. Celia was their best student. "Celia, you have a city competition soon. How are you going to participate if you're so sick?"

Celia coughed. "I–I didn't know it would be like this… But they…"

Adele pressed, "Are they telling the truth? Did Erza bully you?" Celia, hoping Adele's intervention would help, nodded.

At that moment, Emma's phone rang. Normally she avoided phone use during training, but the caller ID showed Jerome. She and Lane exchanged glances before Emma answered. "Jerome, what's up?"

Jerome's voice was rushed. "Emma, why didn't you say earlier that you were…"

Emma was surprised he knew she was Blaze, though it wasn't unexpected; her identity was registered in the system. "You're at school?" he asked.

"Yes," Emma replied.

"Wait for me. I'll come over now," Jerome said.

Emma hung up, helpless. Hearing this, Lane asked in shock, "What's wrong? Is it Jerome?" Jerome was prominent, and Emma having his number was significant. Emma nodded. "Yes."

A knock came on the classroom door. "Rielle, Erza, come out." The speaker, a woman in her thirties with short black hair and a uniform, noticed Emma and Lane. "Alright, Lane, you're also here. It saves me the trouble. Come out."

They didn't recognize the woman, but Emma asked Lane, "Who is she?"

Lane frowned. "It looks like a teacher… I remember now. It's Class 8." Class 3 was Celia's class; Emma realized the teacher likely came to accuse them.

Emma, hands in her pockets, asked calmly, "You guys beat up Celia?"

Lane shrugged. "No. We didn't even touch her. Erza didn't either."

Emma shrugged. "Forget it. I'll go out with you."

In the corridor, Adele confronted them. "What's wrong with you? Why are you bullying your classmates?" She then looked at Emma. "Emma, you're involved too?"

Rielle, usually timid, felt guilty. Bullying was punishable by expulsion. She'd been bullied by Celia, but Celia was sneaky. Erza's actions were different; he'd forced Celia to kneel.

Lane spoke, "Ms. Reese, before settling the score, it's wiser to see what your student did. Celia has been bullying classmates for a long time. You turned a blind eye because she wins awards, and now you blame others?"

Adele was surprised by Lane's defiance. "So you know she has a competition. She's seriously ill. The school rules state that anyone who bullies and causes illness will be expelled. You're champions, and relied on your results to bully the weak. Should I expel all of you?"

Adele realized something. She'd taught for six years, and Celia was her best student, but the difference between Celia and the others was vast. If she could expel Lane and Emma, only Rielle would remain…