Not a moment passed since Fiona and Kareered the gym and somebody already greeted them, it was elia. "Good, I see you safely made it."

  "Huh?” Karen raised an eyebrow. ”Why the heck do you make it sound like such a big deal?"

  “Because today is the long-awaited scrim,” elia said. “So, I thought you might run away from the challenge.”

  "Pft, do you seriously think anybody gonna run away from a skill-less twat like you?"

  "What was that?" elia gred at Karen, and Karen gred back. There were invisible sparks in the air.

  "Now, now." Fiona caressed her sister's head, calming down the fierce beast. "Let’s not open the day with a quarrel, alright?"

  "But, she started it...!" Karen pouted at first but soon succumbed to her sister's geroking.

  With the little beast peacified, Fiona turo the girl challenging them. "Good m to you, elia."

  "A fine m to you as well, Fiona La." elia made a little courtesy bow. It was like watg a young dy from the Victorian era.

  These days, su archaic gesture would be sidered silly, even in an old-fashioned school like St. Mary’s. However, elia was so dedicated to the art that her execution was fwless. It felt so natural that it was hard to make a bad ent on it.

  Of course, that still did not stop some people from ughing at her all the same.

  "Pft, look at her go." Karen sneered. "Doing the 'noble dy' skit again? I ugh every time."

  "Skit? There is no skit here. After all, I AM a noble dy, a s of the von Galen family."

  "More like von Asshat."

  "You sure enjoy running your mouth, don't you?" elia twitched. "A mere servant like you has nht to speak in this mao a noble dy."

  "What was that!?" Karen jumped forward, ready to throw some hands at that pompous fake “dy”.

  "Karen, please calm down." Fiona averted the disaster in the nick of time by stepping in. "elia, I believe I asked kindly of you to not address my dear sister like that again."

  elia rolled her eyes. "Pft, 'sister'. Yeah, right."

  "ELIA. VON. GALEN. Please." It hrased like a polite request but it was actually a demand, Fiona’s sharp tone made that clear. The temperature in the gym must have dropped by at least two degrees in response.

  "F-Fi was my bad," elia stammered. "T-Though, I have said nothing wrong, did I? Why insist on this fake pretense?”

  “retense, exactly?” Karen barked back. “Just so you know, our sisterly bond is a billion times more real than your fake blonde.”

  “W-What was that!?” elia almost tripped as she stepped backward. “Y-Y-Y-You mere lowly oner! You have nht to speak this way to a noble dy like me…!”

  It was an embarrassing sight. Both sides threw insults at each other while disregarding everybody around them.

  Fiona stepped iweewo dangerous beasts. “Do you two mind calming down?”

  “But sis, this damn twat!” “Tch, you vulgar pleb!” “Von Asshat!” “Rubble!”

  “CALM. DOWN. Please.” Fiona’s tone was as calm as ever, yet there was a certain fieress to it that froze both girls in pce.

  Truly, this was a tiresome affair. This routine always made Fiona feel like a mother who had to watch over two brats.

  Fortunately, Fiona's forceful demainguished the raging fire. However, it was not over, not yet.

  "Very well," elia said. "You are quite right, Fiona. It is unbeing for a noble dy such as myself to stoop to the level of a oner. I apologize for my misduct."

  "That shit doesn't sound like an apology at all!" Karen waved an angry fist, ready to jump the obnoxious girl. As, she couldn't do that at all as long as Fiona stood in the way. Grrrr!

  "We have a practice match today, remember?" Fiona asked. "So, how about you two take all that energy of yours and pour it into the game?"

  "Alright, sis!" Karen nodded. "Just you watch, von Asshat! I'mma mop the floor real hard with you in the game!"

  "Hmph, big words for a oner." elia lifted her . "But, 'tis a fine proposal. Very well. I shall prove my superiority via a game of volleyball."

  "Hah, you'll try."

  "And, I will succeed. My victory is all but assured."

  "Fat ce. Tell me the st you've ever beate anything, I'll wait."

  "Why, easily.” elia nodded. “I beat you all the way back at birth when I was born a noble and not a oner.”

  "Grrrr!” Karen hissed. "Sis, 't I hit this girl? Just once? Pretty please?"

  "No."

  "Oof." Karen pouted. Oh well. They’ll have to settle this through volleyball then.

  "With that said," elia tinued. "It goes without saying that stomping a oner is but an appetizer for the real event." She thrust her fioward her real oppo. "Fiona La, I challehee to a duel! Today is the day I shall finally reign supreme! I swear it on the von Galen name!"

  “Pft.” Karen sneered. "Don't you swear this shit every siime?"

  "Karen, ngue," Fiona scolded.

  "Whoopsie." Karen pyfully stuck out her tongue. "But, seriously. elia spouts that nonsense every dang time but she always loses lmao."

  "S-Silence, you!" elia's voice cracked. "Today is going to be different from all the days that came before! I-It ractitil now! Yes, it was merely a long buildup for this one decisive moment…!"

  "Whoa, somebody better call an ambunce because we got a delusional person over here."

  "You dare insult me still, you mere pleb!?"

  "Now, now." Fiona stepped in once again. "Please, girls. Py nice."

  "Hmph." elia crossed her arms and lifted her . "Very well. I have no reason to be agitated over something a oner says anyway."

  Karen grinned in response. "Well, I’ll make sure to give you a reason to be agitated when I whoop your ass in the game.”

  "Hmph. I defeat oners like you with my eyes closed," elia procimed. "However, you, Fiona La, are a worthy oppo. Therefore, today, I swear to smite you down and recim the honor of the von Galen family!"

  I do not remember ever sullying your family's honor... Fioed silently. "Very well, I accept your challenge. However, do keep in mind that this is a team sport, so you ot focus only ohe whole time."

  "Worry not.” elia puffed her chest in fidence. “I shall make sure to defeat you vingly while I put the rest of your team under my thumb as well."

  "That sounds very promising." Fiona nodded. "Also, please make sure you do not try to handle everything by yourself. You have aire team with you, so you should cooperate with them to achieve yoal."

  "Hmph. I suppose I may borrow the servants’ help shall the need arise."

  "They hear you talk, just so you are aware…"

  A couple of girls gave elia the evil eye after being called "servants". Needless to say, elia was ly high on the club's popurity list.

  At the same time, nobody pushed too hard to remove her from the club. Despite her haughty attitude, elia did possess a det amount of skill, therefore it was difficult for the irls to front her directly.

  "Very well." elia nodded in satisfa at this resolution and finally stepped away. "With this out of the way, it is time for ."

  "Indeed, it is," Fiona agreed. And, we are overdue on that by more than five minutes already, thanks to you.

  And so, two sides disengaged for now. But, soon enough, they will run into each other once more. This time, otlefield that was the volleyball court.

  DarkestCymore