Chapter 31: I’m an Idiot
Caius’ eyes went wide and he just looked stunned.
Professor Raoul threw his head back and let out a laugh before nodding with delight as he said,
"Yes, yes. Good choice! Come on, Von Helsing. Get on stage."
No question about whether Caius wanted the spar or not. Just an instant call to the stage. It didn’t even matter that he was the only one who hadn’t raised his hand.
Caius understood why of course. As the son of Lucian Von Helsing, Professor Raoul felt there could be no one better for a demonstrative spar. In fact, Raoul almost smacked his forehead at not thinking of it and having been so close to picking someone else.
Caius considered declining but he could just tell that neither the Professor nor Delia would accept.
He stood up and stepped onto the stage where Delia was waiting for him with eyes that made it clear this was not a spur-of-the-moment thing. She looked calculating. Almost like she had been waiting all class for this. Maybe even all day.
Caius glanced at Baler who had dropped his hand like the rest of the class and wondered how this would disrupt the grey-haired boy’s character development. He eventually decided it was not all that important. Certainly not to him since he couldn’t care less about Baler anyway.
Besides, Baler lost the spar in the original story (as Caius was sure he’d lose now too), and that sent him into a spiral that probably messed up his mentality even more than it already was.
Moving on, Caius allowed himself to be directed to where he should stand by Professor Raoul so there was a good bit of space between him and Delia who was now stretching with a wide smile on her face.
"I’ve been waiting for this," she said and there was something about her voice that Caius found mesmerizing.