He then put his sword back into wand mode and slotted it back into its spot on his pouch. The two continued their spat before footsteps approached him, a group of them rather. A red cloak bearing three stars on its back followed by the two lackeys from before approached Dante and Iris. She looked up to see it was her brother, Rowan Laurier. Slightly flinching away and taking a step behind Dante. He quickly glanced at her movement and looked at Rowan as he wore a devilish grin.
"Is this your 'partner' Iris? I heard you starless bunch had to team up with one another to make up for just one of the other students taking these courses. Pretty low if you ask me."
"Brother…there's no need to–"
"I'm also surprised! You actually found a way to make a friend, look at you go, I'd never expected for you to actually learn how to talk with someone before driving them away as you always do…"
"T-that's not true…"
"Come on Iris, no need to lie in front of everyone. Like your poor partner here, I'm sure she's caused trouble for you, no?"
Dante stared intently at Rowan, meeting his sly eyes with his own fierce ones. He knew more than anyone that Iris was trying her best, though with the way everyone seemed to treat her, it was as if she'd been nothing but a throwaway mage. Though he knew she was much more than that.
"You'd better be careful man, you wouldn't want the pest to mess up your crops anymore than she already is. I mean, you're already partnered up with her, you'd best keep a distance before she infects you with failure…though that's not too far off from where you're at now."
His lackeys jeered at her as Rowan began to reach out and touch her cloak once more, looking at the starless sigil planted on it once more with disgust on his face. Iris closed her eyes as she flinched back before Rowan suddenly felt a strong hand grip his wrist. Dante held his wrist and pushed him slightly backward, causing his grip on her to loosen and let go.
"Hey, what's your problem!"
"We're just messing around, don't butt into something that's not your problem."
Rowan stepped back and waved his wrist in pain from the clench. Iris watched as Dante stood in front of her staring once more at Rowan.
"It's my problem, as long as my partner is concerned. Don't go putting your hands on her, it's not nice."
"Why, you…"
"Say whatever you want about me, but don't talk about her that way. She's much more capable than any of you standing here."
Iris' eyes widened as he looked back to her and nodded before walking off into another direction closer within the crowd.