The bully stumbled backward and the crowd gave way for him to fall to the ground.
"You bastard! How dare you?!" The boy holding onto William's left arm – Billy, screamed.
Pang! Pow!
William used his head to hit the one on the right and elbowed the one on the left.
The third bully had gotten up and was hurling out curses as he charged at William.
…I should beat the sh*t out from you kids but I don't use violence against kids… William thought to himself and immediately turned around and then ran to the headmaster's office at the end of the hall.
"Stop you bastard!" The three boys chased after him but weren't fast enough despite being older.
Upon getting there William knocked on the door frantically and screamed, "Headmaster, they want to kill me! Please save me, they want to kill me!"
The boys stopped in their tracks and contemplated running away. This public school was the only kind of education they were ever going to get in their lifetime and was their key to a better life at least so they couldn't risk getting expelled.
The door to the office opened to reveal Headmaster Gideon with Miss Bethany behind him.
…Ohohoho! So that's what's up– no. I can't conclude carelessly. I need to find out the exact relationship between these two… William thought before he pointed at the bullies with teary eyes, "Sir, they used me as a punching dummy…"
The leader bully screamed, "Sir anything he says is a lie! Ask everyone! H-He kicked me in the stomach and squeezed Billy's hand till his bones cracked!"
Headmaster Gideon looked up yonder to ask but the onlookers had dispersed. He shook his head and said, "Billy, follow me. The rest of you wait here."
Billy had a surprised and confused look ok his face but he followed behind the headmaster who whispered something in Miss Bethany's ear.
Miss Bethany left and the headmaster shut the door after.
In the next ten minutes, he called in the remaining two bullies one after the other before finally calling William.
William sat in the wooden chair on the opposite side of the desk from Headmaster Gideon. William narrated the whole story but left out what he was doing here on the highest floor where he had no business and Headmaster Gideon didn't ask.
The fully bearded man sighed and said, "We spoke earlier in the morning about this type of thing and it started to occur."
"You believe me?"
"No, not yet. Miss Bethany went to ask around for the true story. When she comes, I shall decide where the hand of punishment lies."
Headmaster Gideon called in the bullies and they all waited for about another 10 minutes before Miss Bethany returned.
"Yes? Miss Bethany?" Headmaster Gideon called for her to state her findings.
Miss Bethany glanced at William beside her with her permanent joyless facial expression, she spoke, "Most of them said they didn't see who attacked who first but the cursed boy was beating his three seniors. Some say the cursed boy started the fight. Among the crowd there was a girl I teach, her name is Dorothy and she is my best student and also the class prefect…
"...I asked her about what she saw and she said John grabbed Youngmaster William by his hair and he retaliated by squeezing John's hand…" Miss Bethany narrated the full story based on the eyewitness report of her best student, Dorothy.
After she finished, the headmaster turned to William and the other three boys and said, "Violence against one another will never be tolerated in this establishment…"
He placed his eyes on the three boys and declared, "John Fisher, Billy Graham, and Hillary Graham, the three hold you have shown hostility against William Maxton and inflicted pain on him. You three are expelled from Denvern General School. I shall write to your parents."
John couldn't have it, he screamed with rage, "What?! But sir! How can you take the side of this cursed boy?! My cousin has been missing for two weeks now!"
Headmaster Gideon countered, "Are you accusing the son of the former Captain of the Imperial Bodyguards of kidnap?"
John realized he might soon tread on quicksand because of his sharp tongue, "N-No sir, I didn't mean it–"
"Leave my office." Headmaster Gideon ordered.
John tightened his fists but turned his back and walked sadly to the door with his back slouched. The twins, Billy and Hillary followed behind him after shooting death glares at William.
Headmaster Gideon turned to William, "And as for you, William Maxton, you did not follow the proper procedure of reporting to a teacher when faced with issues and instead replied with hostility. You are suspended for 2 weeks."
"Sir, there were teachers present but they did nothing to stop John and his lackeys. I had to take issues into my own hands." William defended himself.
Headmaster Gideon was a firm man, he said, "That is a separate matter I will investigate, but your punishment remains the same. If teachers were truly present and did not intervene on purpose then I shall lift your suspension. You can leave now."
William turned to leave but turned back and asked shyly, "Um, sir? Please can I ask for a favor?"
Headmaster Gideon's eyebrow arched up, "What is it?"
"Can you please only punish them with suspension too? I'm not gravely hurt. I feel the punishment is too much." William pleaded for the three bullies' case.
…I'm not a goody two shoes but that John kid might be going through a lot. As long as he didn't come for my life, I'll forgive him. Besides, kids in this era need this basic education. If I'm even going to have qualms with anyone, it'll be those assholes that call themselves teachers…
Headmaster Gideon brushed his beard with his left hand and shook his head slightly, "I cannot do that. It is not only because of you. They broke the moral code of the school and need to suffer the consequence that comes with it."
William continued to plead, "I know it's not in my place to say but it's not their fault they think I'm cursed. They only know what they've been taught. I have already received formal education but this might be the only education they receive. Please, sir…"
Headmaster Gideon thought before coming to a decision, "Hmmm, I shall think about it. Although you are right, the punishment might be too heavy."
"Thank you, sir." William took his leave.
Miss Bethany watched William's back as he exited the room.
Headmaster Gideon noticed this and asked, "What's wrong Miss Bethany?"
"I just… I just didn't expect him to be this kind and thoughtful." She said.
"Do you believe he is cursed too because of his hair color?" Headmaster Gideon asked with a light and playful smile that made him look youthful.
Miss Bethany blushed and answered in a hushed tone, "N-No. He has been a very good boy in class too. It's just rare to see nobility being so tolerant."
Headmaster Gideon nodded, "Viscount Maxton truly raised him well. A perfect man, the Viscount is. You can return to your class, Miss Bethany. Sorry, we'll have lunch together another time."
William was standing outside. He didn't need to put his ear close to the door before he heard their words.
…Not enough. I'll have to tail her home later…William thought before going back to his class.
❈ ❈ ❈
At the Docks located in the south of the City of Denvern, in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of Passion, there were three long lines of starving people that wore dirty and torn clothes waiting to get served their meal by the nuns.
A girl in a dirty brown hooded cloak and dark hair in the third row. She held out her wooden bowl and the nun put in a watery porridge till it filled the bowl and said with a calm smile, "May the Holy Mother of Life bless her subject."
The girl nodded and walked away with the bowl of porridge.
The nun stared at the girl's back until she was nudged by another nun, "Sister, what's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing," The nun replied, "I just thought I sensed divinity."
The other nun chuckled, "Divinity from a plebian child? Ha, don't make me laugh, that's absurd."
"Yeah… it is." The nun still had a look of uncertainty on her face but she soon forgot the matter and just continued smiling and said, "Next person please."
…
The girl in the dirty brown cloak walked into an alley and got to the end before she turned around swiftly.
"Why have you been following me?" A 12-year-old-looking boy wearing a brown flat cap and worn-out monkey jacket blocked the entrance.
"..." The girl didn't answer. She just stood there with the hood of the cloak covering her eyes. Suddenly, a ball of fire formed in the middle of her palm.
The boy's eyes widened and his face crumpled with a slight look of disgust, "A witch?"
A battle was about to ensue.