* * *
Sat in class and surrounded by people whilst having my scars visible is... an experience. I've been getting stares this entire class, but it's not terrible.
Variel has already put the paper on my desk with a pen, seemingly expecting me. She stares at my arms, but looks forward again. She seems... a little uncomfortable, but doesn't ask about them. I feel a little put-down, as if she's disgusted by my scars.
Nevertheless, life goes on and class starts. It's about the history of Tyria, but focused on a war between Istantetzia and The Theocratic Nation of Oshain. Sadly, I pay attention to the lesson.
I can't help but catch some movement out of the corner of my eye... where Gram should be sitting. Sat there is Pridwen, one of the girls Gram introduced me to. She's smiling as always and Gram is sat to her left, appearing to have been... "forcefully migrated."
"... Arthur!" She whisper-yells, wanting my attention. "I think your arms look fine!"
"Oh, uh... thanks?" I respond, giving a thumbs up. Did Gram talk with her about it or something? There's no way she genuinely just thought to compliment me like that...
Suspicious. Boys never get compliments, much less from girls... something's fishy here. This... this must be a trick!
"I think that your arms also look good..." I say, my compliment sounding more like a question. I give a thumbs up before returning to watching the lesson.
I can still see her wide smile in my peripheral. Does she expect me to keep talking?!? How do I even continue the conversation here?!?
"... My arms are like this because of poor mana control," I say quietly, so that the teacher can't hear, but loud enough to where anyone close to me can.
"If you want to come and train control with me, I'd be fine with that," Pridwen says, nodding lightly to herself. I just got asked to hang out by a girl... I need to deny.
"Nah, I train alone."
I'm not sure why I denied, but who cares? (Her, she does). She pauses, seeming to take a moment to process.
"Ah... I see," She says, smile still on her face. It seems the endless optimism shines through even being acquaintance-zoned. "Well if you ever change your mind, tell me."
"Me too..." For the first time since I started sitting here, Variel says something. I turn to look at her, surprised.
"I'll keep it in mind, promise," I say, giving a thumbs up. Please let me out of this situation.
I look over at Gram who just gives me a smile and a double thumbs up, like he's happy for me. You... you traitor!!! I get that they're probably just being nice, but I don't want to be friends this fast! How dare you make me expand my horizons and interact with people?!?!
* * *
Physical combat studies...
Today, we've been told to spar with each other... yet another way to outsource the teachers work. I have parried up with... Gram, obviously. Why would I want to meet new people when I can rely on the friend that I already know?
"So..." He says, drawing his sword and getting in a simple stance. Most people have already started sparring, but we're a tad behind. "... Is someone a casanova? 2 girls asking you to hang out in 2 day, huh?"
"Hey, I didn't ask for such a handsome face," I joke, drawing my sword and going into my stance as well. I wait for him to count down, but not before making a joke. "I do put the no in casanova, though."
He chuckles slightly before refocusing. I can sense his mana circulating in his body, so I do the same. I haven't properly practiced my sword skills against anyone, just solo practiced and been interrupted.
"We're going until the first hit. Ready on go, okay?" He says, giving the directions. "3, 2, 1... go!"
He dashes forward, going for a slash sideways. I rotate my shoulders and parry upwards, only to be met with an immediate follow-up. He instantly threw a stab towards me, the moment I deflected.
I swat the blade to my left before letting go of my right hand on the sword and simply punching him. It's a low move, but it works and I secure the first hit. At lower mana levels, fighting is just plain old swordfighting.
"That was a good match," I give a thumbs up to Gram and sheathe my sword, going in for a high five.
"Yeah. You did really good, Arthur, although I'm not sure I'm the best bar to compare to..." Gram reciprocates and smiles, returning the high five.
* * *
Gram POV...
[Emergency quest failed.]
[Defeat Arthur Ishviel {sparring}.]
I groan internally, but still smile through the loss. It was only the first round of combat and maybe I got a bit cocky, but Arthur was still pretty good. I'm not that great myself though, so we're both still small fish compared to some of our other classmates.
"Next round, I'm gonna get you though!"
* * *
Arthur Ishviel POV...
He did, in fact, get me. He got me good... and consecutively, at that. I only won the first one because it was a warm-up, but all the failure is good practice.
Walking back to my dorm, I find myself more at ease than usual, despite all the recent weirdness. Old man in my sword, new friends, burning myself half to death... all of these things were a step away from the regular of my past world... a good step.
I'm on the outside path of the campus, walking to the dorm building, when I decide to sit down on a bench and reflect. I cross my legs and look at the sky.
"Why do they call it oven when you of in the cold food of out hot eat the food?" I ask myself, ignoring the much more important questions to make myself laugh. I needed that laugh, I think.
For some reason, I feel eyes on the back of my head, but ignore it and stand up from the bench. I finish my walk to the dorm building, going inside. There are a few students in the plaza this time around, but I walk past them.
I know none of these people and have no current intention to know them, but maybe later. I look out the window and at the school grounds. Hey, is that a girl on the roof?
Ah, wait, no. That's just a stone gargoyle, I think. Do I need glasses in another world? Who cares, to be honest? I can see perfectly fine-
I bump into a wall, having far overshot my door since I was looking outside the window instead of forward. Whoopsie daisies, I guess. I take a step back and turn around, now looking for my door instead of out the window.
Time for some nice training. I kick off my shoes and sit down on the bed, merely intending to write in my journal, until... oh no, what a tragedy!~
It appears as if my head has accidentally fallen onto my pillow! Oh, the humanity! Sleep already has it's clutches on me! Woe be me!
* * *