Descending Into A Novel-Chapter 100:Special Class Assemble!

One. Two. Three...Ten

The special class was a class meant for the very best of the best. Students who stood out even amongst the geniuses. Talent so monstrous that others would despair when compared to them.

This year, they had a whopping nine members.

Raymond, Ellen, Thomas, Audrina, Noelle, Lucy, Cador, Zachary and Lin.

Currently, the ten of them (Arthur as well). Were in Raymond’s apartment.

Why Raymond’s apartment? Because Ellen couldn’t keep her mouth shut. While Raymond was in his coma, Ellen had bragged about how her apartment (Not even hers!) was so much better. Often inviting the others to come in.

Raymond clenched his fists, his desire to get back at Ellen intensifying. Something that he kept putting off for several reasons. But damn it, he would definitely get his revenge one day!

But what were the ten of them doing?

Blackjack. All of them betting points rather then actual cash.

Naturally, they couldn’t play with so many players. So they were split into teams.

Raymond and Ellen

Noelle and Lin Qingyi

Thomas and Audrina

Lucy and Cador

Zachary was the only one alone without a teammate while Arthur was playing as the dealer. Sitting around his living room table in that order.

Ellen and Raymond both stared at the three cards in their hands. Sharing the same beanbag together side by side since he had only bought two, and his living room was kind of cramped with ten people. So there weren’t enough spots around the table.

K, 7, 2

19. Two away from a 21.

The two of them made brief eye contact, communicating without any words.

Raymond put a hand behind his back, forming a hand incantation as he cast a spell. Meanwhile, Ellen subtly glanced at the deck. Using her innate power as well as one of her Arts.

The two looked at each other again, grinning.

"Hit!"

A

20. Now they were safe.

Arthur, handing them the card narrowed his eyes briefly. Suspicion forming in his eyes as he observed their behavior. At 19, no one would have such sure confidence to keep going!

"Anyone else? Let me tell you this right now, it’s go big or go home!"

Zachary cut in, "We live in the same building. My apartment is literally above here."

"How could you have forgotten already? That’s only for you. I’m still a puny class A student. What happened to those days where you begged to be let into the class A dorms?"

Zachary’s ears turned red. Mouth opening and closing for a while before evidently deciding it wasn’t worth it to argue back.

Thomas raised a hand, "We’ll take a card."

Thomas and Audrina were situated on the couch side by side, to the right of Arthur. But they weren’t taking turns in any direction anyways so it was fine.

5,6

"That’s my man! An eleven and...Holy crap! Blackjack!"

Flipping the card, everyone could see the red ten of hearts clearly. Several loud cheers of support for Thomas arising, followed by a groan from Arthur as he realized he would have to pay up points.

Raymond couldn’t help but feel suspicious about Arthur as well. This guy once managed to wring an entire casino dry! There was no way he would ever lose in a simple game of blackjack...

Seeing everyone had their turn, he loudly announced. "No one else wants to go right? Then it’s my turn!"

He flipped over the second card he had.

2

Combined with his first 4, he had a 6 currently.

Arthur smoothly drew a card from the deck. For a brief moment, the card in his hands seemed to disappear. Swiftly being replaced by another card. A moment that no one would have noticed.

Except for two people who did notice of course.

Ellen smirked, her eyes glimmering. It might as well have been in slow motion. Arthur wasn’t relying on any mana, but pure skill and trickery. For someone like her, it was easy to spot. But she didn’t call him out on it.

Except another individual also caught his actions.

The tallest out of all of them, a boy with ash-coloured hair. His eyes slightly unfocused, simply staring off at the wall. Suddenly focused, his entire head rotating to watch Arthur’s hands. Causing a certain brown haired girl next to him to also smirk, although she made sure to tightly seal her lips from opening. Otherwise, everyone would be able to see a rather peculiar forked tongue rather then a human tongue.

8

"14, Ill draw another one then."

In another smooth motion, Arthur grabbed a card from the too. Putting it face up on the table. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Excitedly calling the card out, only for his face to scrunch up as he read the number. "8..? No wait what?!"

Raymond and Ellen mentally high fived each other since they were unable to do physically. For a dimension Archmage, swapping two objects was a piece of cake!

"Hey wait! This is impossible! You guys cheated!"

He threw down his cards onto the table, sending cards flying in several directions as he angrily accused each of them. Making Raymond sigh internally, why can’t you just put them down properly? Now I have to clean it all up.

"Where’s your proof!"

"The fact you said where’s the proof instead of saying you didn’t do it is proof enough!"

"What kind of logic is that?!"

"An innocent would say they didn’t do it and then say there’s no proof! Besides, it’s impossible that all of you guys managed to beat me!"

As Arthur pointed his finger at each of them in turn, he hesitated when he was about to accuse Thomas. Moving on to Noelle and Lin Qingyi.

Thomas blinked in confusion at his finger. He wasn’t even aware of this game and hadn’t even known how to play until an hour ago. How could he possibly have cheated?

"...okay you’re probably innocent. But you two as well!"

"Not me."

"The Asteria Family has no need to cheat in order to win...unlike a certain other Family."

The not so subtle insult caused Lucy to tilt her head, before realizing she was talking about Ellen. The three of them were the only ones here after all.

"What are you trying to say?"

Noelle replied, "I just think its suspicious the person who has a bunch of vision Arts and an innate power dedicated to sight decided to hit on 19."

"You...kind of like that time you tripped and everyone saw you cry because your makeup was ruined?!"

Amazing play by Ellen! Upon realizing she couldn’t win with facts or logic. She immediately resorted to the strategic ad hominem. Attacking her personally rather then their argument. Not a single bit of hesitation at all!

And it was a Critical Hit!

Thomas tried to offer his support for Noelle who was turning red. Only to be shot down mid-sentence.

"Noelle. It’s normal to cry at such a young ag-

" Shut up Thomas! You aren’t involved in this!"

"I’m sorry."

"Jeez. Shooting down your only supporter?"

"You..!"

Unfortunately for Noelle, Ellen had way more blackmail on her then she did on Ellen. When Ellen regressed to her ten year old self, she had isolated herself from the political world. Thus, those embarrassing events in the past timeline never occurred.

Lin Qingyi subtly scooted over until she was closer to Raymond.

"What’s happening? Why is she so angry?"

"Ellen just revealed her past embarrassing moment."

"Oh my."

As Raymond translated the ongoing argument between Ellen and Noelle. A certain dark magenta-violet haired person sneakily tried to run.

Not for any particular reason, she was just very tired and wanted to sleep in the comfort of her own room.

And she almost succeeded, everyone was busy taking sides in this argument—completely forgetting about her. Her lower body melting into the few shadows in the living room. Her presence disappearing without so much as a sound.

Only for her teammate to abruptly grab her wrist, sending a tingle down her spine as she tried to worm her way out of his grasp.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

In the end, faced with his radiant (yet strangely unnverving) smile. Audrina was dragged back out of the shadows. Head hung low as she sulked.

"If you’re tired. You can just rest here. Don’t try and sneak away."

"...fine."

Despite the loud noises around her, Audrina curled up into a ball. Head touching her knees as she closed her eyes. Swiftly falling asleep within seconds. Even as she slept, she didn’t make a single sound.

As she peacefully slept, the argument between Ellen and Noelle kept growing more and more heated. If it weren’t for the others, they might already have pulled out their weapons and started fighting.

"You’re just mad that you got third place while I’m first!"

"Whaaat?! You only got first place because of Raymond!"

"Lalalalala, I can’t hear you from all the way down there THIRD PLACE."

The original accusations of cheating had long since disappeared. Replaced with Ellen taunting and mocking Noelle, who angrily grit her teeth at her every word.

"All of these events are from when we were children! You still cried last year when Raymond had to go on his mission!"

’Hey hey! Why drag me into this?’

Although, it was nice to think that Ellen had been so saddened by his ’mission’ that she shed tears.

"Really? Ellen how come you never mentioned...

He trailed off mid-sentence. Body going stiff as Ellen proceeded to glare at him with enough venom in her eyes to kill an elephant and more. A dangerous light in her eyes as she opened her mouth.

Silently mouthing out to him, "I. Will. Kill. You. If. You. Speak."

"..."

He quietly turned away, looking at the same patch of wall that Cador was looking at. Raymond didn’t fear much but even he had his fears.

Upon seeing this, the rest of the group was quickly reminded of Raymond’s second identity as Ellen’s Shadow. It was so rarely brought up and the two always acted so casual, that seeing him suddenly act so obedient scared even them as well.

Arthur patted him on the back. Leaning in to whisper to him.

"I understand man. Women can be scary."

"...shut up."