A large castle-like structure can be seen in front of a boy with a cat on his shoulders. "We've finnaly arrived! I can't wait to see what this place is like" I said, though the only one within earshot was my cat. The cat smiled at me. "I can't wait!" Said the cat with a faint purr.
The massive structure seemed to greet us, as well as every other student entering through it's massive doors. Indeed, this is the prestigious magic academy talked about by the royal princess herself. At first I thought it'd be something built for commoners, but this place truly lived up to it's reputation.
"Welcome, my I ask your name?" Asked a beastfolk with curly brown cat ears who stood behind the official reception counter. "Rein" I said. "You'll be in dorm room 125" she said, then gave me a map of the school along with a booklet of my new pre-assigned classes.
I soon got settled into my new dorm room. At first, it was uncomfortable being in such a fancy-looking room. Even my room back at the old Rein's home wasn't as nice as this, and we're nobles! 'I wonder what the princess's room is like, if even mine's this extravagant' I thought.
(POV change)
Blood flowed down the edge of my sword. My shaky hands grasped it with all my might as I stared down my foe. A large Fanriuck sat in a throne before me. His head rested apon his arm, his elbow leaning on it's armrest. "Do you concede defeat?" It asked with bored eyes.
"Before... I go... tell... me this... are you... the... strongest foe... of this... labyrinth?" I asked in between huffs. A loud laugh echoed throughout the cave-like structure we were in. It was so loud rocks began to tumble from the roof. "If you truly believe that, you have a lot to learn" said the Fanriuck.
'I can't believe it... a foe stronger then him? How can such a creature be allowed to exist?!' I thought as my shaky hands soon gave out. My gaze blurred, then blacked out completely. My wounds were bad, I assumed I was going to die. 'I'm glad I got the chance to challenge him...' I thought.
(Time skip)
The same sword I'd used on the Fanriuck laid in my hands. I glared at my new foe, an Orc who came down from the 3rd floor to have some fun with my subordinates. "I won't tolerate any abuse of my people!" I called to the Orc, my voice ringing out throughout the arena.
"Hah! A pure-blooded Nightwolf such as yourself falling so far! I can't help but laugh. Y'know what, I might decide to have some fun with you too. Why don't you come along with me? You'll be treated well enough, and you'll be living up in the third floor. How's that sound?" Asked the Orc.
My blade turned towards him, catching the torch's light as it did so. My glare now held killing intent as I gripped my blade harder then I had ever done so before. "What gives you the right to treat me this way? What have I done to deserve such a cruel remark?" I asked.
"What have you done?! Are you kidding me?! You've disgraced the name of the Nightwolfs, challenged a lowly Fanriuck and lost, and you're asking me what you've done to deserve my kind invention?!" Asked the Orc. "Alright, then what have my subordinates done to you?" I asked.
"Just serving someone like you shows how weak they truly are. It's those who are strong who have the right to treat those who are weak like servants, no matter who they truly serve. Now, learn your place and treat your guest well. I'm stronger then you could ever hope to imagine" said the Orc.
"And who are you that you must fall to this level for simple means of entertainment? Isn't looking for servants in a place as low as this just prove how low you are? What, are you doing this out of pity? Won't the others laugh and spit in your face because of this absurdity?" I asked.
"Pft. If you don't want to accept my kind charity, then why don't I teach you a lesson. It'll be my nice deed for the day. Teaching a lowly wolf such as yourself some manners will only help you in the future. Maybe then you won't be so rude to those who're feeding you" said the Orc.
"Are you challenging me to a duel? Wouldn't that be a waste of time? How come you aren't running off to tell those of floor 2 to come and play with me? Isn't it the right for those who are strong to treat those who are weak as servants, no matter who they serve? Then why dirty your hands?" I asked.
The Orc scoffed. "You've provoked me one too many times. Now, prepare yourself for a duel. You won't be so insolent in the future. Know your place, stupid wolf" said the Orc, who pulled out a blade of his own. "Then let the fight commence, for the honor of my subordinates whom you've wronged"
(Time skip)
Blood ran down my blade. This time, it didn't belong to me. The Orc's head could he seen in the light of one of the torches, separated from it's body. "I have avenged those who you have wronged, as well as your kind who's name has been sullyed by the likes of you" I muttered.
Several small children raced over to me, grabbing onto my dress. "Great job! That mean Orc won't ever bother us again!" Called one of the little ones. "Fanriucks are such cute little creatures" I muttered under my breath, then began to pet the child who complimented me.
A Fanriuck in a maid's uniform walked into the arena. She smiled at the sight of the small children crowding around their hero. "Looks like everything's been delt with, master" said the Fanriuck, who then hurried the children out of the arena. "Could you clean this up for me?" I asked.
"Of course, master" said the Fanriuck, who then got to work on cleaning up the arena. "Children, are you exited for dinner?" I asked. "Oh, yeah! I haven't eaten in forever!" Said one of the children, as all of them rushed off to the dining room on the inside of the seats linning the arena.
"Today we'll be having a pork-like dish. It'll fill all of you right up! Now, wash up before we eat" I said. All of the children rushed off to the kitchen to wash their hands as the maid returned with the Orc's body in hand. "I'll be preparing the dish for tonight" I said with a smile, grabbing the Orc from the maid.
(Time skip)
My sword, which had gotten me through think and thin, the one used to defeat the Orc as well as the one I used to challenge the Fanriuck, lay pointed at my throat. Blood dripped from my wound, though my wound was barely large enough to break a Nightwolf's skin.
The man standing before me seemed human, though had strength that far surpassed anything a mere human could weild. Blood soaked his clothes, though his eyes held little pain or fear. It was like he was numb. Those with those eyes always threatened to destroy the life I had built.
The little ones were hidding inside our home, along with the maid who was peaking out from the entryway, her eyes filled with worry. 'This is it. This is the end. I hope those Fanriucks make it out of here alive. Maybe I can ask for one final wish. He seemed to respect a tough opponent' I thought.
His gaze brightened as he held out a hand, dropping the sword beside him. He welcomed me to stay and live like any other day. I had become his servant. A tattoo of a chain appeared on my neck. 'I am bound to you forever, master Rein' I thought, his name was now displayed on top of his head.
To my surprise, he didn't ask me to do anything for the next few days. True to his word, he simply brought what are called 'board games' down into the labyrinth whenever he was bored. 'This human... what's he planning?' I thought as he beat me at another game of 'chess'.
"You are letting me win, right?" Asked master Rein. "Uh..." I stammered, unsure of what to say. "Don't you dare let me win. It takes all the fun out of the game" he said, his eyes flashing bloodlust but then returning to normal almost instantly. "Yes, Rein" I said, then begun to play my hardest.
Even so, I couldn't defeat him at a single game. It'd begun to get frustrating, which was a feeling I hadn't felt on quite a long time. After all, everyone who came down to floor 1 had to be either weak or insane, so I never really had to challenge myself when it came to them.
Master Rein came to me once more, along with a small box filled with paper. "Want to play Jin?" Asked master Rein. "Sure" I said. He opened the box, revealing the papers with strange symbols on them. Spades, clovers, diamonds, and hearts. A weird thing to place on 'cards'.
The game was over as soon as the first hand was delt. "52 points. Not bad" said Rein. "Sure, but compared to your 100..." I muttered. I looked up, expecting him to start the game agian. For some reason, he never played 2 games in a single day, and never repeated a game 2 days in a row.
His hands remained still, though he didn't get up to leave. "Is something wrong?" I asked. "Well... if I asked you to do a favor, what'd that cost me?" Asked master Rein. "Nothing! I serve you after all" I said. He let out a laugh. "No such thing as a free lunch" he said.
"I've never heard that saying before" I said. "It's something we used to say in my old world. Anyway, I have to trade something of equal value to the favor I'm about to ask. Did you want to ask me for something now or wait until you hear what I'm asking of you?" Asked master Rein.
"Hmm... I can ask anything?" I asked. "Sure, but it has to be something within reason" he said. "Then... could I ask you a question?" I asked. "Sure..." he said. "Why won't you play 2 different games in a day or play the same game twice in a row on different days?" I asked.
"Makes it more fun" he said. "That's it?" I asked. "Yep" he said. 'Somehow I feel like I've wasted an opportunity I won't be getting agian' I thought. His playful expression fadded as he prepared himself to ask me the favor. 'I've gotten to know him pretty well, so I don't think he'll do anything crazy' I thought.
"Come with me to the magic academy as a commoner, and go along with whatever I do. Pretend you don't know me at the start though" he said. "WHAT?! You can't be serious" I said. "Don't worry, we'll hide your wolf ears, and you can return here in the night" he said.
"B-but... why?" I asked. "No reason. Will you help? I did answer that question of yours" he said. "W-well of course, but why do you want me to pretend to be a commoner? How am I going to get in without a blessing?" I asked. I'd heard of the magic academy through master Rein more then once.
"Don't worry about a thing. If this is too much to ask, I can do something else for you. At least, anything within reason. Also, I'm sure your maid will watch over the Fanriucks for you, but I can help out wherever needed while you're away" said master Rein.
"...okay" I said. 'He knew about the children? I can't remember ever mentioning them, but then again, he is master Rein' I thought. He nodded his head, then got up from his seat. "Great. I'll come down here to get you, and I'll bring the academy's uniform along with me" he said.
[A/N: Curious to see what Rein's cooking up? Keep reading! More POVs in later chaps]