A boot rocks my head to the side and my ear stings slightly. It was a good hit and I think my left eardrum has been been blown out because of the fuzzy feeling deep inside it.
The one who had kicked me leans back over and tries to remove the flag again. I don't let him.
He shakes his head as he stares down at me.
"You asked for this.."
This time the heel of his boot smashes down on my stomach and another kicks my head the other way as his teammate joins in.
I feel the battle energy pulse through me and the pain makes it take a second for me to take control over it.
I feel a knot form on my right temple and look up, unimpressed, at the two.
They don't try for my flag and hit me again.
There's a sharp crack to chin and head strikes backwards on the dirt. It hurts to breathe a little as the other stomps on my ribs.
My control over myself is wavering and I really want to kill these fools.
They try for the flag again.
They don't succeed.
I'm going to make my team fail this test as the bloodlust takes hold of me. Their strikes lay into me as I try to hold it back.
Suddenly, no one is hitting me anymore.
My eyes are clenched in anger and I open them to find Elias and the twins pummeling my attackers.
The man watching has to intervene and prevent Elias from stomping on their unconscious bodies. I see him spit on each before he turns and rushes over to me.
Everyone in my group is a little battered, but Elias smiles as he reveals a flag of his own. He squats down near me and whispers.
"You look awful.."
I've never really thought of myself as attractive so I agree with him.
"Never been told otherwise."
He then barks a laugh and I turn when someone else kneels besides me. I have to completely turn my head because my eye is swollen shut.
Marinah looks like she's about to cry.
I'm wondering if she got hurt, I should've told Elias to keep her back since she can't fight very well.
I relax my body a little and they shove the new flag under my back.
I'm honest with Elias as we wait for another group.
"Good thing you retuned when you did, I think we were about to lose."
He laughs a little at this.
"I'll say, they were beating the piss outta you."
I nod, a little awkwardly because of my position.
"Yeah, I was about to get up. I don't know if I could've held back from killing them."
Elias laughs a little. He stops when he notices my face is serious.
"That wasn't a figure of speech I presume…"
'Why would I make such idle chatter? Of course I meant it.'
For some reason, I tell him this.
Elias looks at me, concern plainly displayed on his face.
"You.. you would've killed them over something like that?"
I shrug a little.
"I've killed a lot of men for less."
Our conversation ends at the same time the test does.
I get up and roll my shoulders as we walk back to the clearing. I'm a little distracted by Marinah, she kept getting my attention and would open her mouth to speak. She would then get angry and close it as red sprouted up in patches across her cheeks.
I don't know what I've done to make her angry again, but for some reason I can't help think she looks so-
I cut off my line of thought. Nothing good would come of it.
The instructor congratulates the two groups who passed and sends us off for the day.
"Tomorrow we start bright and early, be at the schools entrance before the sun comes up. Dismissed."
I start walking away and plan my next course of action. I shove my hand in my pocket and see I still have some gold left from the man who tried to rob me last week.
'Should last me until I can stay in the academy dorms. If not, I'll just find another thug to play with.'
I'm snapped out of my internal musings when I reach the front entrance of the school. I turn and look at Elias, who was following me.
"Do you need something?"
He grins at me and leans in conspiratorially.
"Want to have some fun tonight?"
"Not really."
I turn to leave and start walking away. His voice is panicked as he tries to catch up.
"Kelric, my best friend in the whole world! Wait!"
I sigh and turn back to him.
"When did we become best friends?"
Elias was about to say something stupid again, but stopped when he saw me turning to leave. He finally stops his act and comes clean with what he really wants.
"Kelric, I need some assistance today and you're the perfect man for the job."
I'm intrigued by his words and dig for more.
"What job? Also, what's the pay? I'm not cheap."
His shit eating grin reappears and I know then I should've just left when I had the chance.
"Here's the thing… my allowance is a little thin at the moment so.. ahem.. I can't really pay you in money- Hey! Stop! Come on Kel don't be like that."
I do stop and turn back to him when uses the shortened version of my name that Harry called me by.
I know it's unreasonable, but the visceral reaction it causes is instant as I speak. My voice dangerous and edged with unconcealed threat.
"Never call me Kel. That name is not for you."
I reach out a hand and clamp down on his shoulder.
"Am I clear?"
He squirms under my vice like grip, but when he doesn't answer immediately, I place my thumb under his clavicle and dig in.
"Y-yes! Gods Kelric calm down, I won't call you that anymore! I swear!"
I release him and a little shame washes over me. I overreacted and I can't help but curse my quick temper.
"Sorry.."
Elias rubs his shoulder and massages his collarbone tenderly.
I don't wait for him to question me and instead ask about this 'job' he spoke of.
His mood completely recovers as he tells me what he wants me to do.
My sigh is loud and full of exasperation as he finishes.
"Soooo.. you in or out?"
'If I do this, it will probably make us closer and he'll be more likely to help me in the future.'
"Alright, I'll do it. When do we leave?"
Elias looks me up and down and grimaces.
"Right now, we need to get you in some proper clothes first."
I frown as I respond m.
"I just bought this, what's wrong with it?"
His hand makes an all encompassing motion.
"All.. of it. You look like a tailors show room floor."
"Oh.."