Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character

Jett left Clarence's office, the faint echo of his mentor's words still lingering in his mind. He shoved his hands into his pockets, his expression thoughtful. "What should I do now? I've got some free time, but I don't really feel like heading back to the dorm," he mused inwardly.

His feet carried him through the academy grounds without purpose, the cobbled paths and towering buildings passing in a blur. Before he knew it, he found himself at the academy's garden, an oasis of greenery nestled within the bustling campus. A sigh escaped his lips as he decided to take a breather.

He sank onto a stone bench beneath a canopy of vibrant blossoms. The air was filled with the faint, sweet scent of flowers, mingled with the earthy undertone of freshly turned soil. For the first time in what felt like ages, Jett allowed himself to just sit and watch.

A group of birds fluttered from branch to branch, their chirping a soft melody that harmonized with the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. A pair of students walked by, laughing about something trivial. The sun bathed the garden in its golden light, its warmth touching Jett's face.

"I can't even remember the last time I took a break, minus the whole prison thing," he muttered, the corners of his lips tugging into an unintentional, almost amused smile.

The tranquility seeped into him, loosening the ever-present tension in his shoulders. The view was enchanting, like a scene pulled from a dream. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the grass, and the air seemed to hum with a serene energy.

"This might actually be my new favorite spot," Jett said, leaning back and closing his eyes briefly. "It's calming... a good thinking spot for me."

Just as he began to lose himself in the serenity, a shadow fell over him, blocking the warm light. Jett opened one eye, annoyed. Standing before him were two students, a boy and a girl.

"What the… where's my sunlight?" he muttered, his gaze narrowing.

The female student, being as politer as possible, stepped forward and extended her hand, revealing a crisp, cream-colored envelope.

"Forgive us for interrupting your quiet time, but we would like to invite you to the Majesty Club," she said, her tone formal.

Jett stared at the envelope, his irritation bubbling beneath the surface. 'Of all the worst ways to spoil my day…' he thought bitterly as he took it, turning it over in his hands to inspect it without opening it.

A sly grin tugged at his lips. "I thought I wasn't invited to your little social gathering, huh? Never knew you guys could be so humble," he said, his tone dripping with mockery. He paused for effect, then chuckled softly before adding, "She doesn't know, does she?"

The two students exchanged puzzled glances, their expressions betraying a mix of confusion and wariness.

"Sorry, but we don't know what you're talking about," the girl finally replied, her voice steady but cautious.

Jett sighed dramatically, waving them off as if dismissing a tiresome subject. "Ah, right. My bad. Shouldn't have expected a bunch of lackeys to understand," he muttered, his words deliberately cutting as he tore open the envelope.

Their composure cracked. The boy clenched his fists, his face flushing with anger, while the girl subtly stepped closer to him, her hand brushing his arm as a silent reminder to stay calm. The tension between them was palpable, but neither dared to lash out. The unspoken fear of what Ross might do if he learned they'd provoked Jett hung heavy in the air.

Jett unfolded the letter and scanned its contents, his eyes narrowing. A soft hiss escaped his lips. 'The audacity of this guy,' he thought, shaking his head in disbelief.

He held up the letter, letting it flap mockingly in the breeze as he fixed the two with a smug look. "Was expecting him to come himself. Maybe crawl on his knees and beg me," he said, his voice laced with derision.

The boy's restraint snapped, his hand shooting forward as he snarled, "Why you little…"

The girl grabbed his arm firmly, pulling him back. "Calm yourself," she said sharply, her voice low but commanding. "He's obviously baiting you. Just ignore him."

Jett's smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Yeah, listen to her," he taunted. Leaning forward slightly, he added, "And about your invitation... why don't you take me to his condo… oh, sorry, dorm… I mean, so I can give him my reply personally. You know, something he doesn't seem to know how to do himself."

The girl's grip tightened on her companion as the boy glared daggers at Jett, his frustration was evident. Jett, unbothered, leaned back casually, clearly relishing their discomfort.

The girl gave a slight bow, her expression calm despite the tension in her posture. "Sorry, but we can't give you that information," she said evenly.

Jett's lips curled into a knowing smirk as he locked eyes with her. "You don't know where it is," he said matter-of-factly, his tone light yet cutting. "Try being more honest in the future. My answer's no, by the way."

The pair exchanged uneasy glances, realizing they had no counter. With nothing left to say, they turned and walked away, their steps stiff with suppressed frustration.

As they retreated, the girl's hand slowly crept to the hilt of her sword, her fingers tightening around it as she fought the urge to strike. Her teeth clenched as she glanced back at Jett, who appeared completely off guard. Just as she prepared to act, the boy placed a firm hand on her shoulder.

"Don't," he said in a low voice, his tone leaving no room for argument. She released a sharp exhale, her hand reluctantly dropping to her side as they continued on.

Jett watched them leave, his grin never faltering. With a sigh of satisfaction, he leaned back against the bench. "Well, that's one way to spoil a guy's free time." He gave the letter one last glance, then stood with a sheepish smile. "I guess you guys just gave me something to do."

From a distance, Gwendolyn had been observing the entire exchange. Her lips curved into a sly smile, her eyes glinting as though struck by a sudden idea.

*****

The air was cool and heavy inside the darkened hall as Jett stepped through the threshold. The faint creak of the door closing behind him echoed ominously. His vision adjusted immediately, his [Night Vision] activating the moment the shadows enveloped him.

Jett strolled forward with casual confidence, his footsteps soft yet deliberate. The oppressive silence was broken only by his voice.

"Hey!" he called out, his tone firm but unbothered. "I know you're in here. I need your help with something."

Before the words fully left his mouth, a glint of metal sliced through the air toward him. Without hesitation, Jett's hand shot up, snatching the projectile mid-flight. He examined it briefly, holding it up to the faint light filtering in through cracks in the walls.

"Really? Kunai knives? This is a little dramatic, even for you," he muttered.

A sudden movement behind him drew his attention too late. A powerful roundhouse kick aimed at his side forced him to twist just in time to block it with his forearm. The impact reverberated through his bones, but he didn't falter.

"Oh, so that's how we're doing this?" Jett smirked as the figure closed in again.

What followed was an intense exchange, a pure contest of martial skill in the darkness. Neither fighter used weapons or flashy abilities, just raw speed and precision. Their movements were fluid and relentless, a rhythm of strikes and counters echoing faintly in the silent hall.

Jett deflected a flurry of kicks, then pivoted to block a heavy punch aimed squarely at his chest. The force of the blow made him skid back slightly, his arms crossed to absorb the impact.

His grin turned sharp as he steadied himself. "You've had your fun, Asher. Can we please get back to why I'm here?"

A faint creak broke the standoff as a window above them slowly opened, flooding the hall with light. As the darkness receded, Jett lowered his arms, his eyes falling on the familiar figure stepping out from his shadow.

Asher's expression was cold, his body language exuding annoyance. "What do you want, Jett? I'm busy."

*

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What's he going to ask for?