[22]

After my interrogation with Administrator Marwin, a guard escorted me to my new residence. My escort had already packed the few things I owned, my robes and a few sets of regular clothes, and left them in a bag outside of Marwin’s office. I supposed that I could have been angry at the invasion of privacy, but decided it was a waste of emotion. For all they knew, I was guilty of bringing the demon to campus and they would have to lock me up. Besides, I owned nothing too personal, and it saved me from having to go back to the scene of my near death.

Looking around the new place put me in good spirits. Unlike the drab one bedroom wonder they had given before me, this place had actual furniture and two rooms. I knew I would not get to spend a lot of time there, but at least on the one day a week I had off, I could relax in semi-luxury. It was not as extravagant as, say, Angelina’s villa, but somewhere closer to that than the place I stayed at originally. Also, the new place was in the trade skill quarter, which meant town was not that far anymore.

Most important was the security of the house. Lockable bars covered all the windows, and the reinforced door. Wards etched under each opening and exit prevented the use of magic from gaining entry to the house. I was most thankful for that; no one explained to me how the demon made it into my old house. Fear fractured my memory of the event, but I recalled the door was secure, leaving me to conclude that the creature employed magic.

Stowing my things took less time than a piss. Before I left, I filled up the bathtub for Ugz, and made him a comfortable place in the center of the bed with a blanket. The new place looked to have a distinct absence of vermin, so I also peeled apart a trail ration I bought in Harcourt and left it on the bed for my brave familiar. Alongside the food, I put the demon core, assuming Ugz would know what to do with it if he felt so inclined. A part of me wished he would wait until I returned so I could watch over him, but I figured he knew best. Also, I did not really want to carry the foul thing with me all day long. It made my skin crawl.

I leisurely made my way to the dining hall, because there was no use in going to my Herbalism class. Less than an hour remained, and by the time I finished eating and made my way there, it would be over. So, I treated myself to an enormous helping of pancakes, eggs, and half a gallon of fresh juice. Even a day later, the energy I burned in my physical attribute classes had left me ravenous.

Walking to my Monsters class was an uphill battle. I was bloated, tired, and still sore. I briefly considered returning to my new house, but changed my mind when I saw Elaine walking by herself, lost in deep thought.

“Elaine!” I called out to her, waving.

“Harald! Are you okay? I heard about what happened, everyone is talking about it! People have been saying you died!” Elaine said, with a worried look on her face.

“I’m fine,” I said, patting myself for emphasis. “Just had an argument with a demon before breakfast. A Day in the Life of Harald Horste, really.” My cheery bravado did not dissuade her from worrying.

“So it’s true? A demon attacked you?” Elaine said. I hated that frown on that beautiful face. It reminded me of the first time we met. The pity.

“Yes, but really, it’s fine. I killed it and ranked up. That is the life Ashmere is training us for, right?” My words came out a little stiffer than I would have liked. Truthfully, I did not know if it was because I was angry or afraid.

“Yes… but, Harald! Not on campus, in your home! I can’t imagine how you must feel.” Elaine said, placing a hand on my arm. “I would really like for you to tell me what happened if you are up to it.” Her sky-blue eyes glittered in the sunlight, employing me to spill my soul. Was she using magic on me? Did other people feel that way when they looked at me?

I refused to let her beauty control me.

“How about an exchange? Last night, I saw Reynold talking to a girl that had his beady eyes. She was a second year ascendent. Do you know who that is?” I asked.

“Oh, yeah, I think you are talking about Sibilla, his older sister. You should stay away from her, Harald. She has a reputation for being an incredible duelist with a bad temper. Unlike Reynold and their father, Sibilla is an ascendent of Erzaal like me. People say she’s a [Lightblade].”

I chuckled. “Oh, she has a bad temper? Reynold wanted to cut me up just for talking to you.”

Elaine blushed, turning her head away.

“Are you heading to the monster class?” I asked.

“Yes, everyone from our first-year day group will be there. Now, my turn to ask a question, why did you want to know about Sibilla?”

Elaine and I walked to class together chatting. I told her about Sibilla berating Reynold, the possible assassin at my window, and killing the demon. But I omitted mention of Ugz, or my abilities. Though I wanted to trust her, I could not help but resent the way she made my heart flutter whenever we spoke. Even as we walked together talking, her proximity sometimes made it hard for me to think.

For her part, she told me that a [Lightblade] was a class that used magic to enchant weapons, similar to how [Monster Hunter]’s of Korrah ignited their weapons. They were a specialist ascendent good at getting in to do devastating attacks, then getting out without being hurt. Sibilla was a higher rank than me, and Elaine’s description of some of her past victories made me worry. In particular, it sounded like [Lightblades] were more adept than usual at negating magic attacks. Erzaal did not create ascendents for assassination—his domain was protecting the sanctity of the nobility—but that did not change the fact that Sibilla would be an excellent killer. I could think of no one better to wait in ambush for someone reliant on magic like me.

We almost made it to the auditorium when I finally asked her a question that weighed on my mind. “Elaine, I don’t mean to pry here, but what is the situation with you and Reynold? Noble politics are something I know almost nothing about, and I would like to understand why this guy has it in for me so bad.”

Elaine looked me in the eye for a second, then hers darted away. She sighed. “It’s… complicated.” She said finally. “Marquis Kestev’s lands are not near my fathers. They are on the other side of Ergentein, in fact. A marriage between our two families would benefit Marquis Kestev’s ambitions, without bringing enmity from the Queen. We must make certain concessions to ensure that any one noble, especially a high ranking one like my father, has too much land. I won’t bore you with the economics and legality of it all, but suffice to say I need to marry down and Reynold desires to marry up.”

“That sounds complicated,” I agreed. “Do you want to marry him?”

My heart started beating fast the moment the words unintentionally left my mouth. Why had I asked that?

Elaine looked at her feet, and I immediately regretted asking. “I don’t really know him...” She said, stalling for words while she tried to think through what I might mean in asking. Truth was, I knew neither, nor did I want to entertain the fantasy I suspected of dwelling in the dark recesses of my mind.

“Harald!”

I looked up to see Raxx stomping toward me. Glancing back at Elaine, I could see her smiling at me, “Catch up with your friend, we can talk later.” she said, darting ahead of me into the auditorium.

Raxx took me by surprise, lifting me off my feet and crushing the air out of me in a hug. The intensity of the emotion Raxx had for me took me by surprise as much as being lifted off my feet. I patted him on the back, wondering why he cared so much for someone he had only met the day before.

“They said you died, but I knew it was a lie.” Raxx said, ruffling my short hair with his huge pawed hand.

“How did you know?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“We are a pack.” Raxx said simply, before erupting in a loud hyena yipping laugh. I started laughing with him, much to the disdain of some of my fellows.

At least that explained that. Harak were pack based beastmen.

“You won’t have to fight alone again,” Raxx said.

“I won’t?”

Raxx shook his head. “I’m going to move in with you. Whatever that scurvy noble is going to try next, we’ll be ready for ‘em!” Raxx bellowed in a voice that was 90% war cry.

To my chagrin, Reynold walked right past us after he said that. I waited for Reynold to turn and say something, but he just pretended like he could not hear us—which was patently ridiculous. In fact, his usual arrogant swagger was absent, and he looked a little scared.

Class was starting soon; I did not have long to think about the implications of him already returning from interrogation. Raxx and I found a seat, and Joy joined us soon afterward, equally relieved to see me as the Sea Dog had been.

It really was nice to have friends.