"This is great!" Caelum said, blocking Aiden's vision, and causing the boy to scoop up a ton of chowder instead of mashed potatoes. "Now throw some food at that burly guy, call him ugly and get yourself punched!"
Aiden stole a glance of Geoffrey who was sitting alone at the far side of the lunch hall. If he were to be honest, he would want to befriend that guy more than make an enemy out of him. "Can I at least eat first?" he said, swatting Caelum away from his face. "The last meal I had was that spoiled soup from yesterday."
Caelum dulled out to express his disappointment. "Urgh. Weak mortals and your need for food. Fine."
Riven, on the other hand, had been quiet the entire time, his mind fogged up with questions about Aiden's new desk mate. Lucius took notice of this and huddled closer.
"You're suspicious of that boy too, huh?" he asked Riven. "It's you and me both, brother."
They both agreed that Jeffrey and his ability to summon a fireball was more than exceptional. It was impossible for mere mortals. To fulfill their curiosity, the two of them flew towards Jeffrey's table to get a closer look, leaving Aiden alone with the most unruly wisp.
"You done eating yet?" Caelum asked Aiden. His boredom was apparent from the way he kept swimming in Aiden's bowl of soup with nothing else to do.
"I literally just had my second bite," Aiden said, already expecting to get indigestion from today's lunch. He needed Caelum off his soup--and a brilliant idea crossed his mind. "Lucius said your attacks against him miserably failed. Does that mean he's stronger than you?"
"What?! Of course not--"
In a whiff of air, Lucius was back at their table, beaming brighter than ever. "Finally, you're making sense now, mortal," he laughed. "I am, indeed, stronger and mightier than... whoever this is."
"Lies!" Caelum snapped back. "I'll show you who's stronger, you snake!"
Thus, began the chase between Lucius and Caelum. Aiden didn't want to resort to violence between wisps, but he had no regrets. Finally, he got to enjoy his meal as the two unruly wisps circled around the hall, brushing past chandeliers and lunchtime goers. Food was one of the three things Aiden looked forward at the academy. All they ever served for him at home was either spoiled food or scrap, and he was not going to let a faceless ghost cut his feast short.
Halfway through Aiden's meal, murmurs began filling the hall. Five students clad in silver robes entered, grabbing everyone's attention, except a few people, including Aiden, whose focus was solely on eating, and Geoffrey, who simply cared about nothing.
In his peripheral vision, Aiden saw a silver robe stop beside his table. He continued eating even when a familiar face took the seat in front of him, his four companions also filling in the seats at Aiden's table.
The boy had a smug look on his face as he stared at Aiden like a bug. "Blah blah blah blah," he said. "Blah blah blah blah."
The silver boys laughed, and soon the entire hall followed through. Aiden furrowed his eyebrows. For a moment, a part of him wanted to understand whatever nonsense this boy was saying. Maybe he would find his jokes funny, too? Unfortunately, his three translators were all busy with their own agenda. He could only give out an exasperated sigh—his face getting plainer with every bite of food.
Suddenly, the boy's expression changed, obviously not getting the reaction he wanted from Aiden. His tone became sharper, his glares piercing through Aiden. And when he was not satisfied with using words, his hand reached out for Aiden's food. What followed next were some series of gasps circling around the hall.
Aiden had the boy's wrist in his grasp, and the boy's face made it apparent how he just had the greatest shock in his entire life. Although the boy was wearing a silver robe, he was shorter than Aiden for being a year younger. Using his inner essence to retaliate would violate their rules.
"I told you hundreds of times before, didn't I?" Aiden said while gripping the boy's wrist tighter, making him drop the sandwich he snatched. "Don't waste your time on me. I can't even understand a word you say, you moron."
Aiden flicked the boy's wrist off, dusted his sandwich, and continued eating as if nothing happened, while the boy swallowed the humiliation, in his mind, plotting for an opportunity to get back.
"Blah blah blah blah blah blah!" the boy was livid. "Blah--"
"You're gonna regret this!" Lucius relayed his last words, now hovering above Aiden's shoulder. "That's what he said."
Aiden shrugged. "Already figured that out."
"Well, you have one heck of a brother," Caelum said somberly as he flew toward them, his flickering blue light betraying his facade. His excitement over Aiden's retaliation was more obvious than he may let seem.
"He's not my brother. He's a stepbrother at best," Aiden said, his hands running through his dark-brown hair. "We may not even be related. I'm a bastard's son, remember?"
Riven also flew back. "What happened?" he asked them. "I was busy watching Geoffrey burn his steak."
Aiden shook his head, his attention focused on eating, while the three wisps mumbled on different gimmicks.
After a lengthy discussion, the wisps briefly suggested after lunch that they take a walk around the campus for some "sightseeing", but Aiden knew better—these wisps were up for some gut-wrenching trouble. Of course, nothing was for him to decide, so there he was, strolling around the campus, looking like an idiot to attract potential subduers.
"Hey, hey," Lucius said. "Why don't you a twirl a finger around your ear and drool a bit?"
"Come on," Aiden grumbled. "They know I'm dumb for wearing a black cape at this age. Do I really have to spell out I'm-a-fool for everyone to see?"
Lucius bobbed to himself. "Well, yeah. If it makes our lives easier, why not?"
Aiden frowned but also did what was asked of him, despite his apparent hostility to the idea. As instructed, he twirled a finger around his ear like a lunatic.
"And the drool?" Riven asked.
"That's disgusting! I can't believe you're in on this too," Aiden complained. "Can I at least keep an ounce of my dignity?"
"Pfft. dignity."
Finally, they all reached a consensus and let Aiden forgo on drooling. Their act must have worked. A bunch of teenagers wearing white capes snickered in the background, blatantly throwing slurs at Aiden, which the wisps did not bother to relay most bits.