Elydes

Chapter 385 - The Price of Hanging Out

Chapter 385 - The Price of Hanging Out

After two hours of Mana Theory, the hallway filled with the buzz of students who’d survived Professor Hulmus’s ceaseless droning. Few lingered to chat, while most headed toward their next lecture, mood still high from the weekend’s rest.

“My next class is that way.” Valela hung back against the mosaic wall, away from the streaming first-years. Her feet angled between him and the rounding corridor. Behind her, Lys and Rena waited, heads tilted in soft conversation. “I’ll see you at lunch, then.”

“At lunch.” Kai slung his arm on the strap of his satchel, also dithering.

“We can go ahead.” Rena motioned. The briefest flicker of amusement gleamed in her smooth expression. “We’ll save a seat for you.”

“Why?” Lys threw the taller girl a displeased look. “We can wait here for Val. Leaving would be—”

“I’m coming now!” Valela spun and hooked arms with the golden-haired friend to drag her away. Her gaze flitted back to him with a fleeting smile. “I’ll see you later, Mat.”

“Later.” Kai waved and watched her figure disappear in the sea of bodies. With a spring in his step, he moved to the elevators in the opposite direction. Ten minutes should suffice for his next class.

Ditching Words of Power had been a surprisingly painless process. A stop by the Aula Ordinis, his signature in double copy and a stamp in wine-red ink, no need to speak with Professor Verelune or Professor Thronwyn.

Really, why bother Jolene at all? Why add another drain to her busy schedule? He’d still need to meet her to discuss his status planning, and this was just him following advice she gave in the first place.

Maybe I’ll forget to mention it by then.

Kai scrubbed back his hair as he exited the elevator platform; Flynn had a point: he could use a trim. The throbbing behind his eyes had abated last night, though it would crack back with a vengeance if he overdrew on his skills.

I can do it.

Eight electives still skirted the line of what most students would consider sane, but it was less than nine. So... progress! Bonus points considering that Words to Power would have taken the most time and effort to get on par with his peers. Now that he had a feel for his classes, his route and schedule planning should lessen his load too. He might still ditch another course, but only as a last resort.

Push my skills enough to grow, while resting enough that I do not burn out before they shore me up. I should also be making more time for my friends...

Reaching the Viridian Hall, the impending lecture cut off his wonderings. He cracked his knuckles and opened his notebook.

“Today, we shall be discussing the guiding ethics of the early expansion period. First among all, the seven High Truths and forty-nine Low Truths as codified by Iulius V Almeria. Essential knowledge for any Merian citizen.” Professor Ermellie lit the projection cube with a flutter of her puffy sleeves.

Enchantments carried her slightly nasal voice across the hall. Merian Ascension & Ethics remained as mind-numbingly boring as he remembered. Alas, he couldn’t drop a mandatory course, so he split his mind and forced himself to pay attention. The better he grasped the topic in class, the less he’d need to study on his own time.

Focused and steady.

Hours dragged on slow and dull. When the bell chime freed him, he didn’t wait to rush to a more interesting class: Initiate Applications of Earth Magic.

Taking a seat in the second of the ten rows, Kai set to skimming his old notes in preparation for the lecture. Spellcrafting courses were his best and favorites, though pursuing five major elements put a drain on Mana Observer and Weaving. He’d need to walk a tight rope not to strain those skills. Especially with his weaker affinities. Earth and Shadow Magic couldn’t advance to Yellow soon enough.

“Please, be seated.” Professor Thornwyn gestured. Gathering their essays from her desk, she began lecturing with few pleasantries. She always started her lecture with theory before moving on to practice.

Kai studiously avoided Jolene’s gaze throughout. Once the lecture started, his whole focus went to his shaping exercises. He acted as a model student in behavior and manners, but he couldn’t quell the gnawing inkling that she already knew.

With mere minutes on the clock, he folded a thin sheet of stone like a fan. Sweat beamed on his brow, so he didn’t immediately realize when Professor Thornwyn wandered to his corner of the hall, watching him to complete the exercise.

“Excellent work, Matthew.” The dry voice behind him almost made him jolt. “It’s good to see you focused today.”

“Thank you, professor.” Kai turned, catching the tiniest nod of approval before Jolene moved to check on other students.

She knows.

Nothing in her expression gave it away, but he was certain. Of course, she’d say nothing as banal as I told you so, not when she could convey all that and more with a simple pleasantry.

It’s probably all in my head. She’s trying to suss me out. I can’t fall for it.

With the class wrapping up, Kai separated the earth and gravel he’d been using for spellcasting in their metal jars. He kept his head bent in diligent focus. At the bell, he caught the grateful look of the brunette girl in charge of storing the supplies. “Excuse me, have I seen you before. Are you—”

Seeing the girl’s intent stare, he copied Rain’s mysterious glint. “Sorry, I’m late.”

No matter how many he rejected. Details varied, but the people approaching him all wanted the same thing—him. By the umpteenth time, the attempts started to blur together. Repetition helped him hone the best replies to get rid of them.

Before he could get dragged into a conversation, he slipped toward the lower exit. Calm and composed and with nothing to hide.

Don’t look up. Don’t look up.

Jolene’s eyes were definitely not following him out of the hall.

All in my head.

With a rueful shake, he headed for the cafeterias on the third floor of the Caelus Tower. Nearly every building in the main cluster had one, offering professionally cooked meals twice a day and custom orders on request.

The chatter of students and the scent of sizzling food reached him before he crossed the double doors. High, gothic windows on the left wall bathed the place in the sunlight. A low partition separated the rows of open tables from the private booths, where servers drifted with steaming trays.

Lured by the idea of privacy and swift service, Kai’d booked a single lunch before the prices made him swear off. The Wing Aurea already offered enough opportunities to burn his mesars. Rich people stayed wealthy by being wise with their money. Who’d want to pay silver each meal when the free menu could put most restaurants in Higharbor to shame? He truly couldn’t understand, though apparently, lots of people did.

Probably some nonsense about status.

Leave it to patricians to turn even eating at Raelion into a social competition. No matter that the rotating menu contained the same Orange and Yellow ingredients, and you only paid to access a few more choices. Woe to be seen queueing for the free meal!

Standing on his toes, Kai quickly spotted three familiar heads, sitting in the private section, holding a leather menu with gold lettering.

Of course... I guess just once in a while should be fine...

Stolen from novelhall, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

From the few meals he’d shared, he knew Valela didn’t usually eat there, though a look at the petite blond beside her let him easily guess who’d gotten the idea. Stifling a sigh, he ran a hand to tame his hair and strolled over. Not like he couldn’t afford it. Time was ticking, and he wanted to waste none of it.

“I’m here to join my friend.” Kai stopped by the server, cordoning off the section, and raised his chin to motion at the three girls waiting for him.

The man with a thin goatee and mustache eyed him skeptically, but let him pass. “Of course, sir.”

Ignoring the gaze stabbing at his back, Kai quickly reached the warded booth. A centerpiece of roses exuded a sweet scent. Voices washed over him as he put on a smile and cleared his throat. “Hope I’m not late.”

Three heads turned to him, ceasing their discussion.

Rena inclined her head in greeting.

“Alas, it was a long and torturous wait.” Lys dramatically sagged in her chair, her dainty hand reaching for him. “Though I’m sure you can make it worth the effort.”

“Just ignore her.” Valela smiled politely. The table rattled as if someone kneed the underside and Lys stood back. “We’ve just arrived. We should have warned you that we booked a private booth. I know you prefer eating directly.”

“I got the best table for you.” Lys folded her arms with a pout. “You hardly give me any warning. Do you know how many strings I had to pull to secure us a decent chef? Every dish is all in the preparation. And who doesn’t like more choices? What if you crave shrimp salad, but they only offer a buttered meat pie? Truly, mesars are never wasted on food.”

“Not everyone cares for such extravagance." Valela threw her a withering look. “Mat, you really don’t need to order—

“It’s alright.” Kai sank into the only free chair, trying to channel his inner Rain into his smile. “Lunch is on me since I was late. What do you recommend?” His mouth moved before his brain could stop him. Still, better to splurge a little than have Valela think him a cheapskate.

“See, I told you! Mat’s a true gentleman.” Lys picked the menu with a vindicated sniff. Her finger traced the pages. “Since you’re being so generous, I’ll have...”

Did I just make a big mistake...

Browsing the list of overpriced dishes, his face stiffened to keep a conciliatory expression. How had he ended up paying for four for a service he’d sworn off? The irony wasn’t lost on him.

“I’ll take a salad,” Kai said, then added a side dish upon seeing the glances of the table.

His pride and thus this academy would be the ruin of him. Only the pile of gold and chromiums in his ring somewhat reassured him. Still, the pursuit of magic was expensive. He had years more of tuition to pay, Hobbes’ eccentric tastes to satisfy, and no backing or true source of income. Well, almost none...

Memo 7: Go to the House of Mirrors to set up a connection with Reishi and get an update about your investments.

Memo 8: Catch up with Reishi and ask him how he’s doing.

Memo 9: Switch Memo 7 and Memo 8

Setting aside his mind from his bleeding wallet, he joined the conversation before anyone realized he’d zoned out. He agreed with Valela. For better or worse, the moments he spent in company would be the ones he’d remember the longest. And he’d resolved to do better. Even if he could just spare half an hour to eat, he’d make the most of what he had.

“You should balance the nutrients in your diet,” Rena argued over the menu, debating the virtues of mushrooms and tubers with Lys.

Despite their quirks, Kai couldn’t deny that you could never get bored around the duo. He shared a sympathetic look with Valela and politely fended off any inquiry sent his way. When his mouth opened to return the questions, he found himself unsure of what to ask. Did he truly just make conversations about classes, skills and training? What else did people talk about?

“How... did you sleep?” The question sounded lame even to his ears, though Valela smiled, while Rena and Lys shared a knowing look before bursting into giggles.

Huh... What?

Plates arrived promptly, filling the air with a mouthwatering scent. The dishes matched the prices. Despite a few stumbles, they had a pleasant meal right until he checked the clock.

Shit.

“Sorry, I gotta rush. My next class starts soon. You take your time.” Kai gestured to the waiter to pay, leaving enough extra for anything else they might order—better to strangle any rumor of being cheap in the crib.

“You really don’t need to do that,” Valela said.

“But I want to. I’ll catch up to you later. Rena, Lys, nice to see you too.” Kai stood to leave and strode away. He might be the most smooth conversationalist yet, but Val’s friends seemed endlessly amused by him.

I can’t be too bad. Huh... What's he doing here?

Rushing out of the cafeteria, Kai thought he saw Rob walking out of another booth. That was another person who didn’t dine here. Had he seen wrong? The ticking clock gave him no time to indulge his curiosity.

Valdibal will turn me deaf if I’m late.

Combat Magic took place across Raelion’s grounds, and he still had to change into the uniform for sparring. Thankfully, he carried it in his ring. A touch to remove his clothes and a mad rush through the blooming gardens brought him to the fields with seconds to spare and warm-up.

Professor Valdibal hadn’t singled him out again after his last display, though he still got dirty looks from some of the ranked students he’d beaten in the first class.

It’s been a week already. When will they stop sulking?

The physical exercise and spell practice quickly eased his mind. Hours turned and lectures passed, trying to strike a new balance between productivity and social calls. Alas, there was no textbook for this one.

Little steps.

* * *

“Hey, Mat! Here.” Flynn waved him over. The domed arena for Mixed Combat arched above them. “Rain told me he was running late. Excited to meet the new teammate?” He shielded his eyes from the sun to peer at the assembling crowd, mingling in groups. “Looks like they're running late. Have you brought your autograph?”

Kai’s deadpan stare did nothing to chip his grin.

“What? I couldn’t tell them no. It’s as if they knew you already. You don’t want to break their heart, do you?”

Yatei have mercy.

Kai sighed. “Yes, I have it.” He spun his spatial ring, looking to change the subject. “Hmm... How is it going with the Lucenti Kit?” Where his glower failed, the simple question made the tall boy sag. “Is something wrong with it?”

“No, the little noodle is doing well. He’s adorable. All fuzzy and soft. Still eating like a glutton and super energetic now that he opened his eyes.”

“So... what is it? Do you not want a familiar?”

“No, it’s not that. Not exactly.” Flynn rubbed his neck, gaze wandering. “I do want a companion like you and Hobbes. It’s just... I don’t know... From what you told me, you struck a bond by common agreement. I had an idea in my head. Then I read dozens of books on the topic and talked with as many professionals. And they, well... They gave me a very different impression.” His expression darkened as his voice grew heated. “Can you believe someone suggested withholding food to force the bond? Who would do that? It feels like I’m tricking him into a life-long contract that he has no say over and can’t possibly understand. It’s putting me off. I can’t tell if I’m being crazy, or everyone around me is.”

“You’re not. I get what you mean. Though you might be overthinking. This is what happens with every domesticated creature, even without a skill contract. No dog can consent to becoming a pet.” Kai lowered his voice. “I’ll deny ever saying it, but Hobbes is special. And not just for his affinity. Even before the bond, he was far smarter than he ought to be for his age. Most beasts are simply... beasts. Unless you want to look for one at Green that understands human speech and won’t rip your face off, it’ll never be truly equal."

Flynn nodded thoughtfully. “I see your point. So you think I should go ahead with it?”

“I can’t tell you that. You should treat him as best you can. If the bond doesn’t feel right, you can still ask him once he grows up. Familiar skills are strong, but they are not unbreakable if both parties agree.”

The vast majority of bonds happened with young beasts, often raised by humans since birth. Outside of rare circumstances, only tamers with specialized professions and skills bonded wild specimens. His contract with Hobbes was the exception that confirmed the rule. The Hidden Sanctuary put them in extraordinary circumstances, where they both needed and wanted each other.

“Uhm... another fair point. Guess you’re right.”

Kai snorted. “Don’t sound surprised. Of course I am!”

The conversation turned more casual as Rain hopped over to join them.

“Hey, Mat,” Flynn threw an arm around his shoulder and leaned to whisper. “Our last teammate is here! Get your autograph ready!”

“Do I really have to?” Kai followed his gaze among the crowd, but found no face that stood out.

“What’s a little scribble? Don’t you want to make a good impression?”

A breath escaped him. “Alright.” Kai took out the signed notebook, feeling a cringe gnaw at his mind. Whatever it took. They might team up for the next four months. “Where are they?”

“Oh, they’re already here.” Flynn spun him around. “Get your present ready!” He repeated.

Still clutching his book, Kai came face to face with the martial student who would fill their team. The braided red hair and sharp features looked familiar. A person he’d met and sparred with many times before. They were still more acquaintances than friends, but he knew for certain she’d have no interest in his autograph.

“Hi, Mat.” Rowan greeted him, eyeing the book. “Is that the present? Flynn said you insisted on making one, though there really was no need.”

“I— No. I mean...” Kai glared as Flynn and Rain fought not to laugh out loud.

“Line up!” Professor Beltram’s shout saved him from further embarrassment. Grown wiser from the past week, students shuffled in ranks.

“At ease, students. As anticipated, today we’ll start our team exercises. Hope you’ve chosen wisely, because you’ll be stuck together for the foreseeable future.” Professor Beltram swept the lines with a smile. “Now, I’m sure you’re all eager to test your skills. Though today will be a little different. You’ll have the rest of the year to measure up against other teams. Before that, you must learn what your own companions are capable of. So for this class, you’ll spar against your teammates."