Just before the fight between Rasque and Alix started, Eric took it upon himself to began the assignment like his fellow students. Not that he felt embarrassed that the girl he call mama was picking a fight with a teacher. He called Alix "Mama Wolf" in public after all, something this small could never bother him.
He was honestly just interested to see how other weapons preformed with his Runic magic. For the past few months, he and Alix had been trying to find out how to use his magic appropriately. They managed to discover that it was possible just difficult in the beginning.
It took a bit but Eric did eventually get the hang of activating the Rune just not for very long. Now all that was left was figuring out how to battle with it, and what better time to practice than during an assignment where the point was finding the weapon he felt most comfortable with.
Eric liked his Ritual Knife a whole lot so he couldn't see himself changing to a spear or bow but there was always a chance like the teacher had said. Eric walked over to the pile of weapons.
Several of them had already been taken with more swords being gone than anything. Makes sense seeing as most knight families wielded swords and all. Eric decided to choose the axe as his first trial weapon and began to scan the wall for an opponent.
As he looked he realized that all of the seniors were already in battle with a queue students waiting their turns. 'I really don't want to have to wait.' It was then that Eric noticed a person leaning against the wall in the shadows of a corner all to themself.
The person noticed Eric staring and waved with Eric waving back. The person pointed at the axe in Eric's hand and then to himself. Eric was a unsure what the student wanted but decided to walk over to him.
"So you came?" Weird opening line for someone that clearly wanted somebody to talk to them.
"Did you also want an axe?" Eric asked the man while presenting the axe to him. The boy shook his head.
"Nah, I don't use axes. Always been more of a big sword guy, ya know?"
"Why would I know that? I just met you?" The boy chuckled amused.
"That's true. I'm Nasak, does that axe feel good in your hand?" Nasak gestured to the axe with his head. Eric tried swinging it a few times before shaking his head.
"Nah, the balance feels all weird. Besides, I don't think I can really make someone bleed with this thing."
"Of course you can, it's an axe. Besides, I'm pretty sure most weapons can make a person bleed." Eric shook his head.
"You just don't get it. When I cut someone with my knife the amount of blood that comes out with each cut..." Eric smiled wondrously to himself while imagining the blood pouring out of each cut made by his knife.
"...it's so beautiful." Eric realized that his bloodlust was starting to show and immediately calmed down. He returned his gaze to Nasak who was reasonably shocked.
But not frightened.
"...Interesting. Why don't we see then?" Nasak pushed himself off of the wall and walked into the light allowing Eric to see his features more clearly.
Nasak had brown hair and deep maroon eyes. He was rather muscular for a person around Eric's age making the boy feel a bit self-conscious. It did help that Eric was taller than Nasak who seemed likely shorter than even Alix by about two inches.
Nasak was wearing a tattered white shirt, old worn slacks, and a dirty tan cloak.
Wait, tan cloak?
"Are you a member of F-class?" Nasak nodded.
"Yeah, we prefer the Fantastical Fools. And by we I mean our leader, Alisa. Put that axe on the ground over there." Eric did as he was instructed.
"Now show me that knife you were braggin' so much about." Eric unsheathed his knife with no hesitation. It was starting to seem like he was far too accustomed to taking orders from people.
Nasak inspected the knife closely grunting whenever he noticed something that interested him. "Where did you find this thing? It's craftsmanship is amazing."
"I found it in a cave." Eric spoke vaguely a detail that Nasak noticed but did not question.
"Cool, it's a real work of art. Let's give it a try." Nasak presented his arm to Eric. Eric was confused as to why this person was showing him his arm. Was he trying to show off his biceps?
"Your muscles are cool and all but why are you showing me your arm?"
"Cut it with your knife." Nasak pointed at Eric's knife.
"Why?"
"You said that it makes people bleed a lot. I want to see just how much." Eric was starting to think that this person was very weird. On the other hand, he hadn't gotten the chance to cut anyone to absorb blood for a few days now and he could feel a frenzy coming in his future.
"Alright!" Eric swiftly swung the knife many times tearing into Nasak's arm. Each cut raising Eric's anticipation more and more. He had to see the blood. He needed to feel it on his arm. On his stomach! He needed to get that sweet euphoric feeling of ripping through flesh!
Actually, he should have gotten that feeling already. Why does he not feel any flesh tearing?" Eric looked at Nasak's arm and realized that though he had swung many times he only left several shallow cuts on the boy.
"Wooow. That was disappointing." Nasak yawned. "You really shouldn't be using that knife you know. You clearly don't know how to use it and I think it's way too old for it to be useful. I doubt you even tried to sharpen it."
Eric's eyes sat wide on his face. This was the first time that he had ever been incapable of inflicting someone with a grievous wound.
"Is your arm made of metal or something? Why can't I cut?" Eric was now holding Nasak's arm in place while jamming the knife into his skin. It was, once again, barely working!
"You've never seen anyone use Lis like this before? Are you sure, you're a Martial student? This is beginner stuff."
"I'm actually technically a spellcaster." Nasak frowned.
"But you use a knife?" Eric shrugged.
"So I'm a spellcaster that wields a weapon. It isn't that uncommon, I mean look at paladins." Nasak's eyes widened for a moment before he burst into laughter.
"Dude, holy arts and magic are two different things!
Eric stood dumbfounded. "They are?" Nasak nodded still laughing.
"Hey, want to try to use one of my swords?"
"You have swords?" Nasak scoffed as Eric released his arm.
"Do I have swords? I'll let you try-"
BOOOOM!!!
At that moment, Rasque Bizen crashed into the wall next to Eric and Nasak with the force of a bolt of lightning. The sight was shocking to say the least but Eric realized that the instructor had fought Alix so this was rather expected honestly.
"What were yo-" Eric tried to continued his conversation but Nasak had completely disappeared. No, he hadn't disappeared. He just moved across the room, threw his cloak back on, and started sweeping the ground around the instructor.
"Been workin' this entire time ma'am! No need to report me to the warden!" Nasak noticed Eric staring at him and bowed apologetically. He then cupped his handed whispered something to Eric.
"Join the sword class, we can talk more in there."