After their little encounter, Vicius and Delilah had split up.
In the end however, they ended up in the same room, the spellcrafting club. Vicius had many things to prepare for his outing.
He scanned the pages of every file containing spells developed by past students. Most of course were incomplete, it was a rare that a student could succesfully create a spell in the span of a single year.
Masters spent years honing their craft enough to invent their own spells. It was not unusual to see an older mage armed with spells the world had never seen before, especially if they were secretive.
'So many great ideas, its a pity none have been completed.'
He searched through hundreds of spells, incantations and failed magic circles. Vicius's keen eye could spot mistakes in various places for many spells, but he himself also lacked the fundamental component to make these spells work.
After close to thirty minutes of searching, he selected three spells. Or rather, three skeletons of spells.
Shadows stirred as Vicius approached the president who had been idly chatting to several students of the club.
"Hell sir-"
The fourth year Luminary whipped around and grabbed both of his hands in his own.
"Non non non. Call me Alexander!" He swished his golden hair in the air, posing for the clapping club members.
"Right…I wish to request for these spells to be withdrawn from the archive. Would it be possible?"
Vicius handed the president his list.
"Let's see. Shadow dance? That would've been a nice spell to have completed, but that guy graduated close to a decade ago."
Alexander, clicked a few buttons on his watch and turned back to the list.
"Then one for a fire spell huh. Hmmmm. A slingshot spell? Rather primitive. Mind me asking why not simply learn the fire bolt spell? It is much more effective at winning a battle."
Vicius smiled darkly.
"This is for…training. Not my own of course."
His mind briefly wandered to his plan for the expedition. The dismay he would come to unleash would bring many laughs.
"Well, I can't help but worry you are wasting your chance to ask for spells on something like this. Regardless, the last one is… oh my."
Alexander's face twisted with a cheeky smirk.
"So you chose one of my spells too. Think you are up to the challenge of completing it? This one is particularly difficult haha."
Despite his standoffish words, there was a hint of approval. And deep curiousity toward the new first year.
"Tell me, what was your name?"
"Vicius. Vicius Aurelian. In the same class as the first year Luminary. Delilah Von Reese-"
Before Vicius could even finish Alexander blasted off in the air. His eyes turning pink while leaving a contrail in his wake as he leapt for joy.
"Oh gracious! You know my sweet angel Delilah. Isn't she simply the greatest! If anyone could succeed and take up my mantel it would be her, her I tell you!"
Vicius felt a single feeling. Disgust.
'Delilah is a creep magnet. I almost pity her.'
As if she were an ancient spirit, she appeared before the both boys when her name was uttered.
"Can I help you both?"
Vicius shook his head with a smile.
"No-"
"YES. Yes my pretty flower. The most dazzling rose in a garden of weeds. I desperately require your assistance! Please sit on my fac-"
Her wand flashed and a hole tore through the range, the president had been blasted across the entire sport field.
Delilah's cheeks burned in the same way her now depleted care ached.
"Damned bastard…can't he relax at school at least?"
She looked up to Vicius and basked in his gaze. A sigh of relief left her lips.
"Want to explain what the hell that was? Is he your boyfriend?"
She shivered at the word boyfriend.
"Yuck. No. Say that again and I will tear a whole through your chest wide enough to fit my fist through."
It was Vicius's turn to shiver, running a hand idly across his chest. Already feeling the phantom pain from her glare.
After sitting down at a nearby table, Delilah set down several books of her own. Despite being the number one student in their year, she had her weaknesses too, and spell casting was her weaker subject, where only Vicius had managed to beat her with a near perfect score.
Vicius took a sip of his drink.
"Alexander and I were meant to be married."
She said nonchalantly, cleaning up her face from Vicius's spit juice.
He leaned forward and whispered in her ear.
"Then why did you kiss me?! I don't want to be dragged into a royal dispute!"
She blushed at his closeness, almost missing every word he said.
"Oh- Uh, don't worry about that. We won't be getting married. It was simply our family's wish."
Vicius looked distantly at Alexander who was laughing while still laying down on the grassy field.
"Right. He definitely seems against the idea of marrying you."
Delilah sighed, but a smile played at her lips.
"He is a bit eccentric… Alexander hails from a lesser noble house. But his prestige is unmatched below the Emperial family. As the fourth year Luminary, and several completed spells. Not to mention his track record in the Isle-lands, it would be hard to find someone more qualified than him."
She paused briefly.
"But I don't wish to get married to someone simply because I am told to. The path of love is one that I wish to discover myself. My talent would only be outshined by a star that suffocates the night sky."
She played with the hem of her skirt, looking down remembering an unpleasant memory. Her face soured, looking back up at Vicius.
"I have many secrets. Many things I wish I could share with someone. And I hope that you will be that someone. My someone."
"Delilah…"
She shook her head.
"I know. There is no place for me in your heart. So I will hold back too."
She pushed forward a small stack of papers. Her voice no longer radiant. Just, Delilah.
"These will likely be on the next pop quiz. Study well, Vicius."
With that she turned and left the room. Not even bothering to tidy up her books.
'God Vicius…is it that hard to make that girl genuinely happy? What is wrong with you?'