Chapter 16
Rise of the Crusader
Serena stared at Aurora then back at Raphael, âDid something happen to the both of you?â She couldnât help but ask when she saw how Aurora was glaring at Raphael.
Raphael, however, shrugged their shoulder. He merely took a glance at Aurora before moving his eyes from her and staring at the other gadget in the cabinet.
âYes, something did happen.â It was Aurora that spoke, âI have complete respect for you, Serena, but I donât appreciate the person you brought to the tech division.â She said with her eyes fixed on Aurora.
Serena raised an eyebrow when she heard Aurora, she stared at Raphael who acted as though he didnât hear any of Auroraâs words, and she shook her head, âWhat did Raphael do?â Serena asked.
âHe walked into this place, took one of my gadgets, and began to lay insults on them. He referred to my gadget as a waste of tools! Who does he think he is to call my work a waste of time and resources!!!!â
The anger was evident in Auroraâs voice as she spoke to Serena. She clenched her hands into tight fists, trying to stop herself from launching at Raphael.
âSerena, I thought you said he was a very decent person, but the few minutes I have spent with him made me realize that he is nothing but a jerk and a proud fellow,â Aurora exclaimed.
.....
The atmosphere was quite intense, as both the students working in the glass cage and the ones outside had stopped what they were doing and were now staring at Raphael and Aurora.
Serena heaved a deep breath, âRaphael, is this true?â Serena folded her hands across her chest when she spoke to Raphael.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âYes!â Raphael replied.
With a smirk on his face, he stared at Serena, âI was just being honest, itâs not my problem if she couldnât handle the truth.â He said, âBesides, I see, no reason why she is upset, after all, she said, she succeeded in creating the gadget.â
âReally, Aurora, you were able to create the tranquilizer 3000?!!!â
Serena wasnât able to contain her excitement, and the instant Aurora nodded her head, she gave Aurora a big hug, âMuaaah!â Serena pecked Aurora on the cheek, âYouâre the best.â Serena chuckled.
The academy had been looking for better ways to deal with metahumans with fire and ice superpowers, and after months of failures, they had almost given up, not until Aurora presented them with one of her creations.
Aurora had shown the academy the gold gloves of earlier. She had affirmed to them that she would be able to create a new one without any of the flaws if she was given the products she did, and after months of hard work, she had succeeded.
âTranquilizer 3000? Thatâs what youâre calling it.â Raphael mumbled in a low voice.
While his voice was low, Serena and Aurora were both standing close to him, so they heard everything that he said.
âYou have a name better than that, donât you?!!â Aurora exclaimed.
Raphael glanced at Aurora, and seeing the look on her face, he shook his head, âNo, since you created the gadget, then you have the right to name it whatever you like. You can as well as call it panadol 3000, who cares.â Raphael said.
âY-You...â
Aurora pointed her finger at Raphael, âYou know what, why donât I show you the piece I was able to create, and you werenât.â
Gus, who was on Raphaelâs shoulder, shook its head when it heard Aurora as if telling her that bringing that gadget out was a very terrible thing to do.
Everyone had eyes fixed on Aurora, including Raphael, as she approached the fourth cabinet in the glass cage. She opened the cabinet door and brought a case out of it.
A smile could then be seen on Auroraâs face as she walked toward Raphael with the case in her hand, âHave a look at what true beauty looks like.â As Aurora stood in front of her Raphael, her soft voice rang out, before she then opened the suitcase.
The instant the case opened, a thick pair of gold gloves appeared before Serena and Raphael. The instant Serena saw the gloves, the smile which was on her face widened, and she couldnât help but clap her hand at the gloves.
Aurora sneered when she saw how Raphael was staring at the gloves, âYou can put it on, and of course, feel free to tell me any flaw present in the glove.â She said.
âSure!â
Raphael picked up the gloves which were in the case and wore both pairs on. He stared at the gold glove that had three different stones around it, and his lips curved into a smile.
âThat is the look I was expecting. The first-ever gadget thatâs able to neutralize both flame and Ice was created by me, me! And for your information, thereâs not a single flaw present in the glove.â Aurora exclaimed.
âWell, Iâm certainly impressed. You did a good job creating the tranquilizer or whatever you call it.â Raphael said.
âThatâs wonderful!â It was Serenaâs voice that sounded. She was the one who knew how judgmental Raphael was, and for him to be impressed by a gadget, then it must mean that the gadget was terrific.
However, the smile which was on her face only lasted for a few seconds, and it disappeared right after Raphaelâs voice rang out. âBut, why the hell it is so heavy. The design and creation are not bad, tho, so I would give it a rating of 8.â
âOver 10 right?â Serena asked.
âCome on, I meant 8 over 20.â As Raphael took off the gloves and placed them back into the case, he raised his head, only for him to receive a furious glare from Aurora.
The surrounding was completely silent, with Raphael and Aurora staring at one another. It was during that awkward moment that two figures walked into the glass cage, and seeing Raphael and Aurora, their eyes lit up.
âHey, Raphael, youâve met the number one in the tech division!â It was Aiden and Devon that had just appeared.
Raphael chuckled when he heard Aiden, âYouâre the number one student in this place. You have got to be kidding me.â Raphael jested.
âShe...â
Aiden was about to speak, when Aurora suddenly waved her hand at him, âYou are full of yourself, do you know that?! You must think that youâre very smart!!!â Aurora handed the case to Devon, who was beside her, and spoke to Raphael in a cold voice.
âNo, I donât think Iâm smart. I am smart!!â Raphael didnât back away from Auroraâs stare, his hands were placed in his pocket as he spoke to her.
âHey!!!!!! The both of you are meant to be friends, not whatever it is thatâs going on.â
Serena quickly interfered before the situation got out of hand between Raphael and Aurora. She had wanted to introduce Raphael to Aurora because both of them were crazy about gadgets, and if the two of them were to team up, they would be unstoppable in the academy.
It startled her to see that the two of them didnât get along at all.
After the long glare between the both of them, Auroraâs voice suddenly sounded. âI donât care how good Serena claims you are, thereâs no way a jerk like you can be as smart as Serena says you are. And neither do I believe that youâre more talented than I am.â Aurora said.
âYouâre a funny one. In case you arenât aware, being a jerk has nothing to do with being smart. I can as well be a jerk and also be smart.â Raphael said.
âSecond, the sooner you began to believe it, the better it would be for you.â
âY-You...â
Serenaâs eyes twitched when she heard Raphael, but this time around she didnât interfere and wanted to see if Aurora had a comeback for what he said to her.
âI began walking at three, at seven years I finished all the topics in engineering. At eight, I created my first gadget which earned me my first million noxus. And you know what, at ten years I became the youngest and brightest engineer in the world.â
There was pride contained in Auroraâs voice as she spoke about her achievement, âIf I am the number one student in this division, it is because there is no one better. And even if you were here, that wouldnât change.â Aurora stated.
Raphael placed his hand on his chin, âYou won the YBE award at ten, hmmm.â Raphael paused, âit seems to be like you donât make use of the internet because I won that award when I was eight.â
A chuckle escaped Raphaelâs mouth when he saw the look on Auroraâs face.
âGood Day!â
With that said, Raphael walked out of the glass cage. Aiden and Devon moved also, with their heads and shoulder raised slightly, the both of them walked out majestically.