My eyes began to glow fiercely as a primal rage bubbled within my stomach. I've heard the word "commoner" thrown around hundreds of time, mostly in a negative light, and it had always pissed me off. Azrael immediately adopted a stance and froze in place when he locked eyes with me. My hands were clenched so hard that blood was beginning to drop down my hands and onto the ground.
"What's so wrong about being a commoner? I've been accepted into the same academy as you Nobles, and that proves that commoners can do the same as you spoiled bitches, even with less materials." There was now a large group surrounding us, and many began to whisper to each other in harsh tones after hearing my words. Azrael grit his teeth as his skin began to harden into a black, metal-like substance.
In an instant, however, the metal shattered and he was left speechless. "I'd advise you to leave before things get out of hand." I grabbed the hilts of my daggers to send out a message to everyone, not just Azrael. I was sick and tired of being treated like I was worthless, and I finally had the potential to gain the power and influence to stop these things from happening once and for all.
"C'mon, Ari. We're leaving." Azrael went to grab her wrist, but she pulled back and glanced at me with a hesitant look. "Go. I'll be fine. Besides, we see each other every day now, so there's no need to worry." I stuck my hands in my pockets and began to walk toward the academies doors as Azrael dragged Arisu off inside. "That was a brave thing to do. I'm surprised you had the balls to say those things."
I turned my head and saw a boy, about Azrael's age, with almond shaped grey eyes, sharp, angled features, two long pointed ears, grey-blue skin, and dark blue hair, which was tied into a ponytail. The boy extended his hand and said "The name's Orzo Erdit and, as you can see, I'm a Dark Elf." I shook his hand and noticed that he had many calluses. "Take. Take Wakizawa. Nice to meet you Orzo."
We ended up walking together down the halls as I looked at my schedule and quickly found my first class. I opened the doors and immediately saw a long, wooden strip with a wooden podium in front of a large chalkboard on the right, while there were elevated seats on the left. Orzo and I walked inside and I realized just how big the room actually was. It looked like it could fit a few hundred people, easily.
We began to walk up the stairs in the middle and my gaze immediately settled upon a familiar black-haired boy and white haired girl. Azrael immediately stood up from his chair and asked "What? Do you want a beating that bad? I'll give you what you want!" I looked him in the eyes and he froze once more before huffing and sitting back down with his arms crossed.
"Just continue to bark like the little dog you are." The boy truly did seem to be all bark and no bite, for I hadn't even used my strange eye ability that time. Orzo and I sat down a few rows behind them as the rest of the students began to pile in. No one sat close to us and looked toward Orzo with disgusted and hateful looks. It didn't take a genius to figure out what was going on.
Suddenly, the sound of a chair being pulled back filled my ears, and I turned my head to see who it was. I came face to face with a rather beautiful looking girl, about 17 years of age, with long blonde hair and deep blue eyes. We locked gazes before pulling back at the same time. "Sylia?" "Take!?" we had said each other's names at the same time as looks of confusion and surprise filled our eyes.
"What are you doing here...I-I heard that you died. You sure do look...different." Sylia was looking at my earrings and the tattoos peeking out from under my shirt's collar with more than a bit of curiosity. "Who the hell told you that I died? I fled from Azmarin and made my way over here to the Capitol so that I could start a new life, one far away from that bastard Navus..."
Sylia took a seat right next to me as we began to talk like we've known each other for years, however, I didn't really know her all that well. I only knew of her because she was the hot topic back at the academy I attended at Azmarin, but why did she know so much about me? The professor stepped in and the students immediately went silent.
He was a middle-aged man with fiery red hair and aquamarine eyes, and he wore a long, black coat with a grey shirt underneath. Just the presence that the man emitted was enough to make me wary. "Now, we have two new students today and I would like for them to come up to the front and introduce themselves. Sylia Seris and Take Wakizawa, can you two come down?"
I glanced over at Sylia before standing up and walking down toward the Professor with her. I felt like too many coincidences had happened since I came back to Ecrin. We neared the front and Sylia was the first to introduce herself. It wasn't too lengthy nor flashy, but every boy in there, excluding Orzo and Azrael, were entranced.
"The name's Take Wakizawa, but I'd prefer if you didn't call me by either name. Mainly because I don't want to talk to any one of you, nor do I want you talking to me." I looked over at the Professor and he gestured for us to go back to our seats. Many people tried to throw garbage or insult me as I walked past, but one glance was enough to make them shut their damn mouths for once.
"I see you have changed since the last time I saw you. You have more courage than before, that much I can tell." Sylia whispered into my ear as the Professor began to talk about the previous war with the other three continents, and how they had ultimately come to an agreement to sign a treaty that had lasted to this very day.
I already knew much about this topic, since I had the information practically drilled into my head when I was living with the Navus'. I was technically a Noble after all, so I needed to look and act the part even if I was a fake. Orzo and Sylia were absorbing the knowledge and taking notes on paper, as well as Azrael and Arisu doing much the same.
The bell soon rang and signaled the end of the first class. I glanced at the map of the academy one more time and began to move out the door and into the hall. As I was walking to my next class, I could feel a few familiar presences behind me and, when I turned my head, I saw Sylia, Orzo, Arisu, and a sour looking Azrael close behind.
"Why the hell are you four following me?" I asked with a wry smile. Orzo was the first to respond as he shrugged his shoulders and said "My next class is this way, so I'm actually not following you." The rest of the responses were much the same. I neared the door to my next class and opened it, revealing an exact replica of the last classroom.
I once again walked up the middle stairs and sat down at the top row, with Orzo, Sylia, Arisu, and Azrael taking seats beside me. "Ok, you didn't have to sit next to me, y'know..." I said with an exasperated sigh. The rest of the students came in and took their seats away from us five, just like last time. I could tell that there were some leftover tensions and racial discrimination from the previous wars years before.
It was a rather stupid thing, people discriminating other because of what happened in the past, a past that they never saw or lived in. These people have done nothing wrong, and yet people still choose to blame them for what their ancestors had done, almost like they forget that theirs had done the same at the time.
Sylia looked over at me and cocked her head to the side as she asked "Is there a problem with us sitting next to you?" I scoffed and replied. "Of course it is. I don't like talking or being near people, so I'd prefer if all of you stayed away." I, however, knew of the true intentions of my actions, although I didn't want to admit it. I just didn't want any of these people to get involved in anything too serious.
I wanted them to live happily, and that won't be possible if I'm in the picture. I'm a Half-Demon after all. They'll just end up like my parents did...
Orzo chuckled and said "Yeah, you're an interesting fellow. I think I'll have to side with blondie on this matter." Sylia nodded her head in response with a straight face while Arisu chimed in. "I agree as well. I would like to stay with you..." Her face began to turn ruddy as she quickly waved her hands and said "I-I meant for my sister! She adores you and thinks of you as an older brother!"
Orzo stifled a laugh before saying "Good one!" with his thumb held out. Arisu turned silent as she fidget around while Orzo and Sylia looked at Azrael, waiting for his answer. "I'd like to stay as far away from you as possible, don't get me wrong, but I can't trust you with Ari, so I'm tagging along if she is." Sylia had a small smile on her face as she looked at me and said "That settles it. From now on we are friends."
'Of course...I hate talking to stubborn people. They never take no for an answer.' I clicked my tongue and leaned back in my chair as the Professor walked in. This time, it was a female Professor with long violet hair and eyes, as well as a body most men would drool over. She couldn't compare to Nalia. Not in the slightest.
"I see you all have already taken your seats. Let's not waste time, shall we?" She immediately began to explain the core professions that kept our continent stable, and proved our armies with only the best equipment. There were Alchemists, Forgers, Merchants, and Adventurers. Alchemists provided the nation with potions and such, while Forgers provided our armies and Adventures with only the finest weapons and armor.
Merchants are the ones who inspect these goods and give them a suitable price before selling them, while Adventures explore the unknown in place of the military. There were many more professions, but these were the most important ones. I began to unconsciously fiddle with the amulet around my neck while listening to the Professor's lecture, for I really didn't know much about professions.
Soon, the bell rang once more and, before I knew it, it was already lunchtime. I got up and walked out into the hall before walking in the direction of the cafeteria with everyone else following behind me. 'They're like lost puppies following the first person to feed them out of pity.' I thought as I rubbed my temples.
The cafeteria was a pretty large room with a single counter at the back full of all kinds of good smelling food. Even the seats were high quality with their expensive leather and cushions. I walked over to the counter and told the lady up front what I felt like trying, and she delivered it to me. I began to move over to the other side of the room and set my sights on a table in the corner, however, a hand flying toward the tray I was carrying stopped me in my tracks.
I was able to move the tray out of the way and dodge the hand coming for my face. I looked over and saw three boys with the one in the middle wearing an ugly smirk on his equally ugly face. "Look, it's a commoner boys! Don't worry, we're here to teach you how things go around here, and I'm rather pissed off today, so you can't really blame me for what's about to happen, now can you?"
I let out a tired sigh before saying "This day is just full of thorns in my side..."