Chapter 24 - Reputation

I look at the wall and see that I blew a hole in the wall. I also realize I also made the whole field catch up in flames. Except it is still blue and black.

"So you can teach me to control this destructive power?"

"Yes, that is why I am here. To help guide students like yourself. Now come let us return to my lecture hall." she waves everyone over back to her classroom and everyone flock up and follow behind her while I stay slightly behind looking at the damage I had done.

"You know, this would've been helpful against the centipede..."

[Indeed, if we had known this we would've easily obliterated the bug. But still, whether or not it can be controlled is all up to you at this point.]

As I look at the burning grass, I notice the grass isn't charring up or singed. But as I examine it closer with ym eye, it seems to be, turning yellow, grey, and then crumble away. fire would just consume the grass leaving ash, but this looks more like it's decomposing or expiring.

[Necronic fire seems to not work the same as normal fire it seems.]

Yeah...

"H-hey..." a feminine voice calls out.

I turn around to see a 6'1 cloven girl from before standing about 5 feet from me.

"So, you're a necrotic flame user?"

"Uhm, yeah it seems. But I won't be irresponsible with it! I don't want to accidentally blast anyone." I say trying to be reassuring. The last thing I want is to be known as the destructive mysterious foreigner.

"Well, let's hope so. Also," she hands me a skinny thin metal object with a small point at the end.

"I don't have a pencil, but I have a pen that has ink fully inside of it."

"Thanks, I will need that," I say bowing forward and taking it.

*12 minutes later*

We both return to the classroom a bit later than some by a couple of minutes chatting a bit and getting to know one another a bit better. Her name is Gizzele Heard-Croft, the daughter of a Noble family who had served as a guardsman for the crown of Celicia for 3 generations. Her family members have been strong shield barriers or cavalrymen most of the time.

But it was a little harder to explain to her my backstory seeing as I am mostly lying about my past and how I come from a faraway exotic land. The main thing that might've saved my ass was saying I am from a rural isolated mountain region where I didn't get any social interactions with those outside the village.

Seems like she is convinced, but just because it looks like she was doesn't mean she is. We will see.

We both arrive a bit late and she is already continuing her explanation about chaotic and stable magic. My magic was a chaotic form of magic use. Hopefully, I can focus on it.

*1 hour and 38 minutes later*

My ass is kind of hurting at the time being. But then again I never liked sitting in one position. But on the bright side that means I am paying attention to the lecture. Because back in my private school I hated going to school for how isolated I was. So I ignored most of the teacher's lessons and so sitting for long durations never bothered me if I never cared.

"Alright everyone, that will be it for Chaotic and stable forms of magic. Please enjoy your lunch. And remember! Interact with your peers and study and practice focusing your magic in the designated training facilities for these. No public displays of magic, that results in a fine or even suspension. Or even expelled!" Hersha waves everyone off

Everyone begins getting up from their seats and makes their way out of the classroom. I in turn followed but stop realizing she said lunch. Is lunch free? Do I need money? I left my money in my dorm so that's a walk away.

I also see Gizzele so far is the only other person I know here. So it wouldn't hurt if I could eat lunch with her right? Maybe more conversations?

[Let me guess, you're a leg kind of guy]

Uh, no, I just find it...I don't know...interesting?

[Yeah, you're in denial]

Whatever...

"Hey uhm, I am still new to the Academy and wonder if we could maybe, you know...Eat together a chat more?" I ask trying to come across as not too forceful

"I uh...Sure. I wouldn't mind that. I have only been a student here for 2 weeks, but I also don't have many people to chat with. Except in one of my clubs."

"Sweet! I-I mean uh...*Ahem* Yeah, yeah cool. I will wait for you outside the class." I say messing up my delivery

[Smooth like a cactus]

*A couple of minutes later*

Gizzele and I are both outside the West building and walking towards the cafeteria together chatting some more. She told me more about her family, and out of curiosity, asked about her culture. Beastmen families are considered big due to the communion between them and their societies. Friends can be considered family if they follow a certain ritual. Making a family that only has a few blood relatives or marital relations to be massive. At times an entire clan, house, or tribe would be considered an entire family.

Apparently, she is the first in her family to go to the Academy because most of them spent their time serving as guardsmen and so they never sought out a higher form of education or had any other expectations other than that. Military family, I guess I could think of them as.

We both arrive and it seems to be an open cafeteria. A lot of seating outside of the main building of the cafeteria, and I can already smell the food from where I am.

"Wow, this is a pretty big area."

"Yep, however, I like eating in more closed areas."

It might just be me, but I feel like the reason why she does this is because she is new and has no friends. Maybe I am overthinking something more than I should be. I know I ate in more isolated places due to KDD villainizing people like me. Eventually pushing us into the shadows of society. I remember reading reports about people with KDD or who got diagnosed with KDD and knew that if they went to the doctor, their medical records would say it and be outed out publically. So many would go to street doctors or those with less reputable reputations in order to hide it from the public.

My father though was one of the richest men in the world, and one of the smartest, even though he was unable to hide my diagnosis from the public.

"Hey are you okay?" someone asks

"Huh?" I snap back to reality and forget I was with someone standing in line.

I don't remember getting in line.

[I might've driven the body parts while you were monologuing in your head.]

Didn't know you could that

[I always could've but never had to. Plus I am limited to it. I can only do minimal movements or behaviors. I can't make you say anything, nor fight for you.]

Ah

"Daniel?" Gizzele asks again

"Huh? Oh uhm...just remembering something from my past." I respond

"Oh, well how about some food to take your mind off of it?" she comments

I look at the options, and I see rows of various vegetables, fruits, and some dried meat.

I pick up some tried meat I don't recognize, and some lettuce bread, and apples. I will make myself a veggie jerky salad sandwich.

A couple of minutes later we walk into a dorm area where people both study, socialize, and do a lot of other activities.

We go inside and walk into the library portion of the building. Apparently, this Academy has different libraries for various topics due to how many people there are, and where people are as well.

We take a seat in the corner of the library and begin eating. I had my stuff in a bag, so I could make it elsewhere, but she brought a tray of food. A lot of plant-based food. A large wrap of nuts, several lettuce leaves, carrots, and 2 apples. She likely has a big appetite because her body likely needs energy and nutrients.

[She is a big girl so she eats a lot]

That is not what I meant...Have you seen her legs?! The hair on her legs is a bit hard to see her muscle definitions, but I can tell they are as strong as a horse. They are no doubt strong enough to kick with over a thousand pounds of force if she tried to.

[So you admitted to looking at her legs.]

Don't know what you mean. I just know more about horses

"So you are a heavy vegan?" I ask making my salad sandwich

"I uhm, well yes I am. Clovens don't digest meat that well, doesn't mean we can't eat it. But preferably we are most effective with plant-based foods. Humans eat both meat and plants but I often see humans favor meat."

"Makes sense. However, meat is an industry"

"It is?" she asks chewing on all the lettuce leaves in a single attempt quickly.

"Yep, think about it. First, you need an open space for the animals to move about and eat. Second, you need to supply the animals with food likely plant-based, and get them water. Third must also keep their longevity. Salt to preserve, them, and have experts gutt them to ensure they get the good stuff. Overall it is a very complex business."

"I see..." she says eating the two apples already.

I quickly make ym sandwich to catch the two of us continuing chatting, even with food in our mouths a bit, and learning more about one another. I haven't been this social since before my mother died.

*15 minutes later*

Both of us had quite a chat about her family's history. I have also been putting in an effort, to make her focus on herself instead of me. It would be hard to make up my entire life as some random nobody from the rural mountains of a region I had never actually been to or from.