Before he could do anything about it, Astro came and gripped the other's hand that was holding the master's collar. He tightened his grip and gave the man a glare before he gave him a warning.
"If I were you, I will let go already or else you'll lose that arm of yours." He said those words with coldness and a serious look on his face.
"Move," the man wasn't moving just because some lowlife said so.
Astro did not take a step back though and instead tightened his grip on the other man's wrist. He couldn't let go or else the master would surely do something bloody. His patience was incredibly short at times and this was one of those times.
"Don't demand respect from me. If this is how you treat others, how will you expect me to show you some respect? From the moment I stepped inside this room, I already felt the dislike and sneers all of you are giving me. People of your kind, I don't respect." Cygnus spoke with a squint.
Even while he was being held by the collar, he did not let the man belittle him. The aura of someone on a higher level than any of them started to ooze from him. The room's tense atmosphere became even more suffocating.
"Now let go," Cygnus's commanding voice echoed inside the room.
The man who was so full of himself just a while ago took a step back with his eyes wide. He appeared to have seen something scary as his body started to shake in fear. Cygnus patted his clothes and fixed them before looking around.
"What did you do!?" One of the man's lackeys shouted as he helped the man steady his steps.
He could feel the twitching of their leader's body and how he was gasping for air. They didn't know what to do and started to panic because of it. The man suddenly screamed and passed out due to fear.
"I did nothing, didn't you see how he was the first one to grab me by my collar and threaten me. Now you are asking me what I did?" Cygnus shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows.
The lackey stood up and walked towards Cygnus and Astro with rage in his eyes. If fire could come out from it right there and then, it would have burned them. The master remained calm and welcomed the man but before the lackey could get near to Cygnus, Astro stepped in between them.
"Enough, you should go and take a look at your friend there instead of picking a fight here because he might need medical assistance," Astro pointed at the man who was left lying on the floor.
The lackey stopped on his tracks with his fists clenching and unclenching before he closed his eyes and turned around. He helped the other guys to lift their leader as they walked out of the room. The rest of the people were silent through the whole incident and no one wanted to get near the duo.
Cygnus looked at them with a smile, "If you want me to respect or address any of you with reverence, then make sure your status is higher than my family's reputation. Surpass my Ginehart family and you'll earn my respect. Defeat me and you'll earn my reverence."
Nobody made a noise even after Cygnus took a seat and Astro took the other beside him. They slowly returned to their own seats and silently waited for the instructor the come. Once the instructor opened the door, he was shocked to see that all of the apprentices were seated and silent, he then saw Cygnus.
"I'm sure that all of you already know the new addition to our class and I hope you don't lose your mind and challenge him because you might regret it," the instructor started. He did not get any reactions from the apprentices which surprised him.
"It's already too late for that reminder," Cygnus spoke from his seat. "They've already challenged me and I showed them that they shouldn't be messing with me." The master smirked which made the instructor take a second look at the others.
Based on their silence and how they were distancing themselves from the new addition to the tower, something did happen. But it was not his place to reprimand them because everything can happen inside the tower.
"If the others are already clear with that then we will start our lesson." The instructor started to talk and he was glad that no one from them was talking and whispering.
The instructor's class finished without a hitch and he left the room with a smile. He was glad that that group of apprentices finally found their nemesis. Elder Celes already informed him of the background of Rigel and of what he can do so he ought to warn the others and yet they went ahead and challenged him.
After the class, they went to one of the training areas in the hall where they will be practicing their magic with an instructor to watch them just in case of emergency. The space was wide and could hold twenty apprentices at the same time. Now that there were only six of them excluding Astro, the space seemed wider.
Cygnus looked around and saw an empty spot. He did not hesitate to cross the field and went straight to the area he chose. The others watched as he suddenly laid down on the bench and closed his eyes.
"Master, aren't you going to train? The instructor might get angry at you." Astro went to stand beside his master with his hands on his back.
"I'm too tired and lazy to do anything right now. I spent all of my energy a while ago." He mumbled followed by a sigh. He was not in the mood at that moment.
A commotion caught the attention of Astro so he lifted his head and looked at the direction of the entrance. He could see other apprentices entering the room. The others who were with them a while ago seemed to be talking with them and the woman in front looked at them.
"I'm afraid you won't be able to rest, master, a visitor is coming your way." Astro leaned a bit and whispered to the man.
The woman was now walking towards them with a light smile on her face. She then stopped a few inches away from the bench and greeted Astro who returned the gesture. Noticing that the other guy was not standing, she contained her displeasure and maintained her sweet girl appearance.
"Hi! This is my usual place and I would like it if you can find other areas to use. It's just that I can't really practice my magic if I don't use this area." Her voice was sweet and smooth like cotton. It was very pleasing to the ear.
Although the woman was trying her best to ask them nicely, Astro did not answer because it was the master's decision whether he wanted to move or not. She was already getting tired of smiling but still she received no answer.
"Are the both of you ignoring me on purpose?" She couldn't help but ask after five more minutes of silence from them. She took a couple of steps forward when they heard Cygnus's voice.
"We came here first and chose this place first. Why not go and look for another please and stop disturbing my sleep," Cygnus spoke with his eyes closed.
The woman was surprised at how rude Cygnus answered her when she was asking them kindly. "But I've already told you that I can't train with my magic if I don't use this space. That is why I am asking you kindly."
Cygnus opened his eyes and sat up. He then looked at the woman from head to toe, "Does the area really affect one's practice? If you really want to become proficient in your magic, you can just practice anywhere and anytime."
