My head was buzzing with a throbbing pain that was wearing me out. I managed to open one eye and saw the unfamiliar ceiling of some room above me. Gray walls were decorated with golden diamond patterns–it was beautiful, though almost too much for my eyes. My other eye… well, I couldn't see out of it at all. My head was wrapped in a tight bandage, covering half my face.
I instinctively reached up to tug it off, but no such luck–a stout woman in a medical coat swooped in from nowhere and slapped my hand away.
"Don't touch that, dear boy!" she scolded, adjusting my bandages. "You need rest. Eh, they're carting you commoners into the infirmary by the dozen today… What a day, you newcomers just have no luck."
I blinked, coming to my senses. So I was in the infirmary. Logical enough. Given how hard I'd been whacked, it was no surprise.
"Where am I?…" I croaked aloud, just to confirm my guess.
"In the infirmary of the academy's main building," she grumbled, turning back to a mug on the bedside table. "Your roommates brought you in. Good boys, by the way–they even remembered to grab your uniform and get you changed."
She nodded toward a corner, where a chair held my neatly folded Academy uniform jacket and a clean shirt.
"And they claimed that you, the jokester, didn't notice an open door and smacked into it headfirst," the nurse sniffed, eyeing me over her glasses. "I had to pull stone fragments out of your noggin, mind you! So where'd you find a stone door, huh?"
I just shook my head. Terrific. So that's the story they went with. Claiming it was my fault for not noticing a door… Right, as if doors usually have stone shards sticking out of them.
"Yeah, an astonishing tale," I muttered with a crooked smirk.
"What's that you're mumbling?" she snapped, not hearing me.
"Nothing. Just–thanks," I mumbled.
I already understood that kicking up a fuss would be pointless. So what if I complained that the bald bastard had hurled a rock at my head? Then what? They'd expel him? Fat chance. He clearly wasn't acting out for no reason–if even my roommates were afraid of him.
The nurse, meanwhile, was urging me to stay still and then told me to wait a minute. I wasn't exactly about to leap up and dash off–I was swaying slightly on the cot, fighting nausea. A minute later she returned with a small bag in hand, took out a vial and shook two tiny pills into her palm.
"Here, take these. Painkillers, two of them," she growled, handing me the tablets. "One now, the second in a couple of hours. And don't take off that bandage until at least tomorrow! Otherwise your eye will only get worse."
I nodded obediently and immediately swallowed one pill dry. It was bitter, but it kicked in almost right away–the pain began to ebb. The kind woman didn't keep me any longer. Once she was sure I could stand on my feet, she shooed me off with a wave of her hand:
"Off you go, then. If you're fool enough to go walking into stone doors…"
I got dressed, pulling on the clean uniform shirt and jacket. They'd packed my old clothes into my duffel and returned it to me on the spot. Stepping out of the infirmary, I paused a second, wondering, where to now? The Academy map was in my pocket, but I was too tired to puzzle it out on the fly. And I could hear the noise of voices coming from somewhere nearby. I decided to head toward the sound.
Inside, the academy's main building was even more confusing than its exterior: twists, identical corridors, magical lanterns casting reflections on the walls… One could wander in here forever. But up ahead I clearly heard the hubbub of a crowd, and my stomach gave a timely growl. Soon I reached a broad marble staircase, descended it, and after a couple of minutes I found myself in a spacious cafeteria.
It was packed–students thronged in lines at the serving counters. The place hummed with chatter as people swapped impressions, and dishes clattered. A dozen staff in white aprons were busy ladling food onto trays.
The crowd of students was actually split between two queues. At the second serving counter, where they were dishing out fried fish with some exotic red-and-white garnish (looked like crab meat), the crowd was especially frantic. But at the first counter there were far fewer people. I looked closer: on those trays they were placing a delicious-looking hunk of roasted meat with a vegetable ragout. Oh, that was more my style. Forget the fancy fish–meat was calling to me much more strongly.
I took my place in the shorter line. Only four or so people stood ahead of me, including one gigantic guy nearly two meters tall. His back was massive, as broad as a wardrobe. When his turn came, he attempted to grab two trays at once–seems he was just as hungry as I was. But he was immediately cut short: apparently, you could only get seconds in exchange for some kind of local points. The big guy growled in displeasure but complied. Honestly, my heart sank at this news. It was my first meal here, but judging by the size of the portions, I'd be left hungry as well. Who would be happy about that?
The dining hall itself was like a giant hangar filled with long wooden tables. The tabletops were coated in a clear resin so they'd resist dirt and scratches. Benches ran along either side, each meant to seat four to six people, and almost all were already occupied. Hoisting my tray, I scanned around and found a narrow sliver of free space by the wall. I squeezed in there, setting my food down with relief.
I hadn't managed more than a couple of sips of the tangy juice when the bench beside me groaned ominously. Without ceremony, that same giant from the line plopped down next to me. The wood creaked under his weight, and his tray smacked onto the table beside mine.
"Also hoping to score an extra helping?" he asked, with a surprisingly friendly grin. "I saw your face when they told me about the points."
"Mm-hm," I grunted shortly and kept chewing my stewed meat.
"Man, these puny portions…" the big guy grumbled, chomping loud enough for the whole hall to hear. "No more for me, no more for anyone… Name's Trenn Nirf, by the way."
He held out one of his gigantic hands–each was about half the size of my face. I hesitated a second, but I shook it; no point making enemies in the first five minutes.
"Edric, no surname," I replied.
The big guy didn't exactly crush my hand, but if I were one of those frail types I'd probably have yelped. I managed not to.
Within a couple of minutes of sitting with my new acquaintance, I realized one thing: nobody was really policing our behavior here. Trenn wasn't the least bit bothered by my lack of a last name–he didn't even bat an eye when I mentioned it. He calmly kept grumbling about the food. I relaxed a little.
With a loud clatter of a tray, another person suddenly plunked herself down at our table–a girl, nearly a head shorter than me. The first things I noticed were her athletic build and short-cropped hair. For a split second a ridiculous thought flashed by that it was Trenn in a skirt–they had equally broad shoulders. But no, my mistake.
The girl briskly wiped the bench before sitting and wedged herself in next to me, shamelessly shoving me to the very edge.
"Trenn, did you see these pathetic portions?!" she blurted out the moment she arrived, already spearing a piece of meat on her fork. "It's horrible, right? What, am I supposed to fill up on three mushrooms ?"
Trenn just shrugged and smirked slightly. The girl didn't pause for breath.
"And another thing I want to say…" She instantly switched gears without even inhaling. At that moment her gaze fell on me. "And who's this weakling sitting here?" she asked bluntly, jabbing her fork in my direction.
I choked and nearly dropped my spoon back into my stew. "Weakling"—well, thanks.
"Uh… This is Esrik. He didn't get enough food either, so I sat with him," Trenn offered innocently.
"Edric," I corrected through gritted teeth, shooting the big guy a look.
But no one was paying attention to me anymore. The new girl didn't bother to introduce herself or apologize. She shoveled down half her plate of meat in about three bites, then carried on jabbering without ever stopping chewing. God, I'd never heard anyone talk so much! She complained about the trip here, then started arguing with herself about something, skipping between topics like a grasshopper. She spoke so fast I could barely tell where one story ended and the next began.
It was like watching morning shadows turn into the midday sun–her tone and expressions changed that regularly. In one sentence she'd get all fired up, in the next she'd snort with laughter, then suddenly sigh and shake her head like a little old granny.
I admit, after a few minutes I was seriously considering moving elsewhere to save my sanity. I just couldn't take this endless babble. Only the thought of abandoning my delicious meal held me back– the food really was excellent here.
Trenn, it seemed, was used to her. He responded to the girl with the occasional murmur, hardly saying a word otherwise. He silently finished his portion, even swiping up the remaining sauce with his spoon, and leaned back to pat his belly. The girl beside us was still prattling on when suddenly she dropped her voice to a whisper:
"And also… Did you hear? They say this year plenty of sketchy types have showed up. For example, I saw one short, bald guy with sticking-out ears–he looked exactly like a goblin! He caused a real scene at the arena during the placement, let me tell you!"
My eyes widened. A bald goblin with pointy ears… it had to be referring to my delightful new roommate.
"What happened?" I asked quickly, breaking my vow of silence.
The girl, delighted at having an audience, launched into the story:
"Oh, he started making trouble right at the placement ceremony. He screamed bloody murder that they were hassling him over nothing, that he'd wasted his time coming here, stuff like that. Pointed fingers at people, sent off sparks, and then he even tried to blast someone with lightning–threw a tantrum like a little kid. But they pinned him down immediately and stuffed a gag in his mouth so he'd shut up. Can you imagine? I thought they'd kick him out on the spot, but nope, there he is still, carrying on with his studies… I pity whoever has to share a room with him–boy, they really lucked out."
As she talked, I felt like I'd been doused in boiling water. It was definitely him–the bald goblin who'd smashed a rock into my skull. So even before our scuffle he'd managed to leave an impression. It all fit: vile temper, stubbornness, hot-headedness… And most importantly–skilled with magic. That, you couldn't take away from him. And there was nothing I could do about it. He was simply stronger than me, and beating him in an honest fight was something I could only ever hope for in my dreams.
I cast my eyes down without meaning to. My appetite had vanished. With a roommate like that, it looked like I was in serious trouble. The girl and Trenn immediately noticed my change in mood–they fell silent and exchanged glances. Almost in sync, both let out sympathetic sighs for some reason, and… calmly continued eating as if nothing had happened.
I, too, shook my head, dispelling the despair that threatened to settle in. Hey now, come on! If not for the tasty food, I might've actually fallen apart. But a full belly does wonders, and the world suddenly didn't seem quite so awful. My head was still aching, true… but that would pass.
The motormouth's tirade cut off as abruptly as it had begun–I even glanced at her to check she hadn't choked. But the reason was different. Passing by our table was somebody in a long emerald-green robe that reached down to his heels. On his tray sat a half-eaten meal–he hadn't even finished eating, likely rushing to show off. His pale blond hair was styled in a perfectly sleek hairdo, and he had a narrow face with unpleasantly sharp cheekbones and a hard-set jaw. But the main thing–his eyes. They glowed with a cloudy golden light.
A palpable wave of power radiated from the man. The air suddenly felt thick, even the clamor in the cafeteria died down–until you could only hear the faint clink of cutlery. Only at our table did the last few drops of sauce drip from Trenn's plate with loud ticks.
The stranger swept an imperious, disdainful gaze over our group–like we were manure, honestly. He even made a show of stumbling and then announced loudly, making sure everyone nearby could hear:
"It seems I just stumbled over some hideous creature… Are the ugly wretches refusing to serve the divine will and share their meal with its chosen one?"
I almost choked on nothing but air. Wow–what a line. His voice was downright obnoxious, with that sly lilt. You know how some aristocrats have that honeyed yet poisonous tone, being used to getting only the best? Well, this man was exactly that type.
I doubled over, covering my mouth with a hand to hide an involuntary grin. Inside me, fear of the golden-eyed boy flared up alongside a spiteful amusement at how ridiculously pompous he was. The divine will incarnate has arrived, damn it…
Apparently, Trenn misread my gesture. He assumed I was cowed when really I was just trying not to burst out laughing. Of course, there was some fear too–another magic-wielder, how could I not be wary? But at that moment, astonishment was winning out.
I didn't even have an opportunity to blink before Trenn rose from his seat. His massive back completely blocked me from view, his bulk practically shielding half the table. I half-stood, trying to peek out from behind him, but thought better of it.
"Get lost," Trenn rumbled in a low bass.
The golden-eyed aristocrat narrowed his eyes. His slender fingers began to trace barely perceptible circles. I immediately noticed threads of energy crackling between them, twisting into tight spirals. A second later, those spirals shot downward, striking the stone floor and exploding into a hundred sparks. The tiny star-like embers skittered across the hall, filling it with a soft but rapidly growing glow.
Students around us instantly leapt back in all directions, as if on cue. I was about to jump up too, but I hesitated a fraction too long–too mesmerized by the spectacle. And I paid for it.
The sparks all flared blindingly white at once. Agony lanced through my eyes–I yelped and squeezed them shut. But it was too late: a white veil flooded my vision, and I couldn't see a thing. The world was blackness with red blotches dancing in it. I kept my eyes screwed tight and rubbed at them with my fists, feeling tears stream down my cheeks. My ears were ringing. Somewhere nearby came dull thuds, like a cleaver chopping into meat, accompanied by heavy grunts.
After a few excruciating seconds, I began to make out shadows. The first thing I could discern was the gigantic form of Trenn right in front of me. I blinked and forced my eyes open again. The white haze was slowly dissipating.
The scene that unfolded before me belonged on the pages of that book about legendary barbarians. Trenn… had changed. He stood with legs apart and head slightly lowered. His already large frame looked even broader now. It seemed his muscles were about to burst out of his uniform shirt–the fabric had literally begun to split at the seams, and in places it had torn open to reveal patches of tough, scarred skin. Veins bulged along his neck and arms like creeping vines, and his breathing came out in a harsh, feral snarl.
Dozens of thin rays of light were hammering into Trenn's chest and shoulders from every direction–the golden-eyed aristocrat was throwing magic at us full force. With each hit, Trenn let out a deep oof, but he didn't budge an inch. He wasn't even trying to shield himself–as if those beams did nothing to him at all. Though I did see that with each impact, his feet sank a bit deeper into the floor.
Suddenly Trenn raised one arm, lunged forward, and snatched his opponent by the shoulder with claw-like fingers, as quick as a bear. For some reason the golden-eyed guy didn't even try to dodge–he just froze, the fool. I caught a glimpse of his face too: contorted with terror, lips moving soundlessly, either praying for mercy or whispering a last curse.
I blinked–and missed the actual throw. By the time I'd wiped my eyes clear on my sleeve, I only heard a tremendous crash. When my vision finally returned, I saw the arrogant aristocrat's body hurtling through the air across half the cafeteria. The man slammed back-first into the wall and slid to the floor like a sack of potatoes. I stood dumbstruck. For a second I thought he'd been killed on impact.
The silence was cut by Trenn's rasping voice:
"He's alive… didn't throw him that hard."
He took a heaving breath and straightened up. In front of everyone, he bent down, grabbed the now-limp aristocrat by the scruff, and slung him over his shoulder like a sack of flour. At the far end of the hall, I noticed movement: a few figures had emerged from behind a translucent barrier that separated the faculty dining area on the far side of the cafeteria.
Yet to our surprise, the teachers didn't raise a commotion or rush to interfere. One of them, an older man, just gave Trenn an indifferent wave of his hand:
"Take him up to the infirmary on the third floor. Since you were the one who started it, now you can carry him."
Trenn simply nodded and, without another word, headed for the exit, carrying the unconscious aristocrat on his shoulder.
Gradually, the murmur of voices in the cafeteria resumed. Just moments ago everyone had been frozen in shock, and now people were moving, scrambling to pick up dropped trays and wipe spilled juice off tables. I blinked a few more times, finally chasing the last white spots from my vision. The air still smelled of ozone from all the magic, and my heart was pounding somewhere up in my throat. Trenn had already disappeared through the doors, carting off the self-important aristocrat's limp body. No one tried to stop him. The teachers likewise slipped back behind their translucent barrier; the little show apparently didn't hold their interest for long.
I ran a hand over my face, wiping away the tears at the corners of my eyes. Was it really that simple? Just now, a few steps away, magic had been flashing, people were tossing each other around like rag dolls–and there'd be no investigation, no fallout. A couple of lazy comments from the teachers, and everyone just went back to their business. As if brawls were commonplace, nothing worth fussing over. I remembered that man in the village yelling that they cripple commoners here for fun. "Scuffles happen, but not to that degree," Tali Karou had answered him. Not to that degree… I snorted, glancing around the hall: over at a far table, a couple of students were already enthusiastically rehashing what happened, using their hands to reenact the trajectory of the unlucky jerk's flight. To them it was just entertainment, lunchtime gossip. To me, though, it was a warning bell: they truly don't give anyone an inch here. If even the teachers look the other way, then I can only rely on myself… or on random protectors, like Trenn.
"Well, that's just great…" the girl beside me muttered unhappily, pulling me from my thoughts. She leaned back against the bench and folded her arms. Her plate was only half-finished, the rest of her porridge left untouched. "Can't even eat or sit in peace. First day–and they've already put on a circus."
"Does that really surprise you?" I asked under my breath, carefully checking in with my body. My head was still buzzing from that flash, and my bruised eye socket was throbbing. Even though the nurse's painkiller was working, I couldn't feel completely fine. A habit of enduring pain had played a cruel joke on me: even now, in safety, my body was coiled tight, ready either to fight or to run.
The girl snorted and scooted a bit closer, lowering her voice:
"Hardly the first time. Every year at the academy, someone manages to stir up a scandal on the very first day." She glanced at the floor, where the last sparks were still fading. "But this… Usually it never goes so far. In the main hall under the teachers' noses, people tend to behave. But did you see? That show-off had it coming."
She jerked her chin toward the doors through which the defeated noble had been carried out. It seemed she didn't feel an ounce of sympathy for the self-proclaimed chosen one of the divine will. The girl gave a thin smirk, showing a sharp canine tooth:
"He knows now who not to trip over next time."
I huffed in reply. The surrounding noise was swelling again–apparently everyone had just been waiting for the okay to continue their meals and conversations. I looked down at my tray. The remainder of my ragout was growing cold, the vegetables floating in lukewarm sauce. I hadn't finished my piece of meat, but my appetite was gone–the adrenaline was still pounding in my temples. Still, I sliced off a small bite and popped it into my mouth, chewing mechanically. The flavor felt muted now. A shame–so much had happened, and I'd left my lunch half-eaten. Oh well, I'd make up for it later.
"Trenn… he'll be alright, won't he?" I asked quietly, leaning toward the girl. It was a bit of a silly question–judging by how the big guy had walked off under his own power (carrying another person no less), he was perfectly fine. But I wanted to hear something, anything, to help process what I'd just witnessed. "What was that, anyway? What came over him?"
"In what sense?" The girl blinked, as if surprised I'd ask. "He got mad, that's all. I saw his face change the instant that golden-eyed prick opened his mouth. Trenn's a pretty chill guy, but anybody's mood can go sour when they're starving and someone starts spewing crap at them."
She shifted, getting more comfortable, and then gave me a sly sidelong look:
"And you, I see, are no pushover yourself. Didn't even flinch. I even caught you smirking into your hand." She nodded at my hand–I hadn't realized I was still leaning my cheek against my palm, as if hiding a grin.
I quickly dropped my hand back to the table. "Oh, that… I just found it funny how he was puffing himself up," I admitted honestly. Recalling the aristocrat's pompous tone, I had to suppress another snicker. "Like we're obligated to bow down and spoon-feed him."
The girl giggled softly, covering her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Yeah, the divine will revealed itself to us…" She rolled her eyes theatrically, then her expression turned more serious as she looked me up and down appraisingly. "Still, Edric, you ought to be careful around people like that."
"I know," I muttered, running a finger along the rim of my juice cup. No need to remind me: the lump on my forehead and the bandage over my eye spoke for themselves. "I just didn't expect the teachers to keep quiet. He provoked us right in front of everyone…"
"As if they'd say a word," the girl snorted, waving a hand. "That person in green? He's probably nobility–maybe his family donates money to the academy. And Trenn, even though he lost his temper, technically he's the one who started the fight. That's why the teachers saddled him with hauling duty–they figure he's the guilty party."
I could only shake my head. The system seemed warped: the one defending himself ended up blamed. Or maybe they just don't consider anyone guilty as long as the building stays intact.
"Guess I'll have to get used to it," I concluded quietly, pushing my tray aside. With every passing minute, life at the Academy was revealing more and more unexpected facets. And I can't say I liked them. But I had no choice.
Simultaneously, my chatty companion had fully returned to form. Having gotten a load off her chest, she started prattling away again without pause:
"…Anyway, as I was saying, at the arena that bald goblin guy was raising hell too! I told you, right? Yeah, yeah–yelling his head off, jabbing his fingers at everyone, tossing around lightning…" She began waving her arms energetically, illustrating how he'd hollered and pointed, nearly knocking over my cup in the process. "But they tied him up pretty quick there. I thought they'd boot his ass out, but nooope, and then he went and bashed your head in."
I didn't immediately realize that last remark was directed at me, and I just gave a crooked smile. As if I needed reminding… My skull throbbed dully at the mere memory of the blow.
"Wonder what they'll do with him now," I murmured, rubbing my temple. "They didn't bother with me, but him…?"
"With Baldy? Who knows?" The girl shrugged. "Maybe they'll stick him in a cell for a week to cool off. Or maybe they won't do a damn thing. Plenty of folks here are nutjobs: some hotheads, some arrogant pricks, and who knows–maybe even a serial killer on semester break," she added with a smirk when she saw me stiffen at her words. "Kidding, kidding. But one thing's for sure–we won't be bored."
That prospect sent a slight chill through me. I wish I had her confidence… Or maybe she was just acting carefree to appear brave. Look how her eyes were practically shining–she clearly feared all this less than I did, or she was superb at pretending.
By now, most students had finished eating and were getting up from the tables. Some carried their trays back to the dish carts, others hurried toward the exits. A bell chimed–a high, metallic ringing that came from nowhere in particular. I flinched in surprise, and immediately whispers spread around; apparently that was a normal signal, announcing a gathering or the start of classes.
"Oh crap!" My talkative acquaintance jolted, hastily snatching up her tray. It seemed she'd only just realized how much time had passed. "The prefect's going to kill me–I'm late!"
She jumped up so quickly the bench let out a loud creak. I scrambled to my feet too, suddenly anxious that I ought to be rushing somewhere, though I wasn't entirely sure where. My stomach fluttered with a new wave of nerves: just my luck, to be late for some important assembly or lecture on day one.
"Uh, where are we supposed to go?" I blurted out, shifting my tray in my hands. The girl had already turned to bolt, but at my question she glanced back over her shoulder:
"To the main hall of the main building! They're gathering the newbies," she said quickly. "Just don't get lost, no-name newbie."
I wasn't sure if she was teasing me or simply reminding me of my status. Either way, her tone sounded more friendly than mean. She gave me a quick wink and, without any further goodbye, merged into the throng at the exit, deftly maneuvering through the crowd of our fellow first-years. I caught one last flash of her high ponytail before she vanished.
I wanted to at least shout my thanks or ask her name, but I didn't get the chance–the tide of students was sweeping me along as well. I had to rush to drop off my dishes and then follow everyone out.
Main hall it is, then. My heart was pounding even faster now; no doubt we were about to have a welcome speech or orientation. A new stage was beginning right this moment, without any breather. For a split second I actually longed for the quiet forest back home–out there, nobody would literally blindside you with magic during lunch. But I quickly pushed that silly thought away. There was no turning back.
"Hey, Edric!" a familiar bass voice called out near the cafeteria entrance.
I turned on the move and saw Trenn. He must have just gotten back and was now hovering there, shifting from foot to foot. His shirt was torn across the chest, revealing one shoulder–looks like those light beams had left a mark after all. But the wide grin on Trenn's face left no doubt: he was perfectly fine. In his right hand, Trenn was clutching two trays stacked with plates. It seemed that while carrying the golden-eyed guy out, he'd managed to swing by the counter for seconds–sly devil.
"Everything okay?" he asked, looking me up and down with obvious concern.
"Yeah," I nodded, unable to help a small smile. "Thank you… for standing up for me."
"Aw, forget it," Trenn said, waving it off and nearly making the dishes on his trays slide off. "Couldn't exactly let him get to you, could I? You already became a friend of mine from the very first spoonful," he laughed, letting me know it was a joke. "Now get going, or we really will be late. Catch you later!"
I didn't even get a chance to reply; he was already heading back to his table, surrounded by the mouth-watering aroma of his hard-won second lunch. And in truth, now was not the time to chat. I turned and hurried after the cluster of students exiting the cafeteria.
My head still throbbed a little, but I tried to ignore it. Up ahead, just around the bend of the corridor, I could see the open doors of the main hall and hear the rumble of dozens of voices echoing out. The surrounding crowd buzzed with anticipation for whatever announcement or ceremony was coming. I realized I was feeling a mix of nerves and impatience myself. Partly from fear of the unknown, partly… from excitement.
The first day at the academy had turned out completely crazy. And it still wasn't over yet.
I stepped over the threshold into the vast hall, lost among the other newcomers, and made a point to stick near the center–where the light of the magical crystals shone brightest. Here, under that glow, I finally truly felt it: a new chapter of my life was beginning.