I find myself slowly stirring from my forced slumber. My body feels horrible and my head feels groggy but there’s a strange yet pleasant sensation supporting it. It’s soft and it smells good but that’s not right, I was knocked out and my head hit the hardwood floor. Did my brain magically explode and I’m currently a vegetable with various tubes attached to my body’s crevices? Oh God, that’s not even funny. I slowly open my eyes and as they slowly adjust to the well-lit room, I realize that I’m in the infirmary and my eyes meet the prettiest golden eyes that can only belong to one person.

“…Hey, Ali.”

“Hi Keith..”

She gives me the brightest smile that she can give and man oh man do I feel happy to be alive. Ali is my childhood friend and though that’s pretty much all I know about her, I do know that she serves as the First Imperial Princess’ handmaid. When I was younger, my parents passed away due to the famine so I was living day to day, doing whatever I can to earn some money just so I can survive long enough to be able to enlist in the Military so I could live the good life as a non-commissioned officer; working as a secretary or something trivial and as a non-combatant.

Anyway, one day, I find Ali being chased by Knights in shiny armor and without hesitation, I took her hand and led her to my special hiding spot and that’s how we became childhood friends. She found out about my life and how my parents died and she promised that she would do something about it. A few days after that, a servant from the Imperial Family came to fetch me and he informed me that the Princess wishes for me to enlist in the Military as a Prentice so I can serve her in the future as her Knight.

“A Knight, eh?”

I was intrigued. Though being a Knight is dangerous this is the opportunity that I was working for all this time. I have never met the Princess though I receive her instructions from Ali from time to time and they’re mostly just reminders about doing good and not slacking off.

“Keith, you better do well in your training. The Princess says that she wants be with you soon.”

You know, things like that.

All I know is that the Princess and Ali sure seem to be close but that’s none of my business. People can be friends with whoever they want to be and I’m just glad to be able to spend time with Ali though I am honestly perplexed as to why she spends what little time she has to herself with me. Well, it’s probably because we’re really good friends so I shouldn’t think about that too much.

I accept the offer from the royal family and here I am now lying on Ali’s lap in the infirmary.

Anyway, all this thinking – wait a minute. Back up a little, Keith. I remind myself about what I thought a few moments ago. Soft. Smells good. Ali. I’m lying on Ali’s lap. Ali’s a Woman so she should be more mindful of who she gives this service to.

“Ali, I’m thankful for the lap pillow but could you please move? You should really be more sensitive about who you give lap pillows to.”

“Ara Keith, I was beginning to wonder why you weren’t nitpicking. It seems as though the blow to your body by your beloved instructor made you even dumber. Do you think I give lap pillows to just anybody that gets injured?”

I am taken aback by Ali’s words, though they may be filled with anger and acid, I’m thankful that she didn’t grow up to be like ‘that’ kind of woman though she seems to misunderstand how my Instructor feels about me. I can probably proudly say that I’m her favorite student but this is all for the Princess and Ali who saved me from poverty.

“I’m sorry Ali. I’m really thankful that I have you in my life.”

“O-Oh…..it’s quite alright Keith.”

She softly strokes my hair and I close my eyes as I appreciate the gentle atmosphere between us. As I was about to return to my beloved world of dreams, I hear someone gritting their teeth and someone dropping something. Oh no. I turn my head and look towards the source of the commotion and standing there are the two people who are probably the most affected by this sibling-like atmosphere between Ali and I and those two people are my Instructor and Lin.

“You impudent Child…it seems that I need to remind you about your place Keith.”

“K..Keith…here I was worried about you and what are you doing over there cheating on us?”

“Ara, Belle, Lin, good afternoon”

“”Don’t talk as though this doesn’t affect you Ali!”’

Wow, that tsukkomi from my Instructor and Lin seems really out of character and cheating on them? Oh I thought that they were going to nitpick on that. See, in our unit, we have a solid bond as a family so maybe they see Ali as a threat to the closeness of our unit. I should be more sensitive to things like this.

As the bickering between the Women continued, I notice the Sun at its zenith. It’s lunch time. I gently remove myself from Ali’s lap and I stand up and head towards Lin.

“Hey Lin. I know I promised to eat breakfast with you but since I couldn’t, would you like to have lunch with me instead?”

“’KEITH?!”

“Yes! Definitely!”

“Alright! Let’s go everyone!”

“Wait, everyone?”

“What an idiot.”

“Really, an idiot among idiots.”

The infirmary is a small room anyway so having the four of us here is really troublesome and impractical and its lunch time, skipping meals is a horrible and disrespectful thing to do. We proceed to walk towards the cafeteria situated directly across the infirmary with nothing but a well-populated field around us. I see other prentices looking at me with venom in their eyes while others are simply dumbfounded. I realize that I am walking with the 3 most desired women in our military.

Ali is the cheerful type with her relaxed smile, long brown hair, golden eyes and a song-like voice. People tend to avoid her probably because she’s the Princess’ handmaid but I know for a fact that she has a ten thousand strong fan club, who for some reason hates my guts.

Belle, my Instructor could be said to be both a beauty and a beast. She is unmatched in combat and contrasting that is her otherworldly beauty with her long black hair, brown eyes and a mature aura that seems to enchant both friend and foe alike. I heard that even Kings and Conquerors sought her hand in marriage though she politely (and when I say politely, I meant that she destroyed their military in mock combat) declined them all.

Lin is a rare beauty from the Beast Race. She has short black hair and she has that ‘little sister’ vibe to her that makes people want to take care of her that contrasts with her unusually mature physique so I have to be a reliable teammate and protect her from the dangerous sort of people that are into people like her. I remember her saying something about being royalty or something but I could be wrong.

Anyway I understand why everyone is either confused or angry that I’m swaggering myself to the cafeteria with these 3 idols. I sent them a look that said ‘perish in the pit of your jealousy, mortals’ and I can see some of them actually fainting due to their frustration. Heh. I should do this more often.

“Ara, Keith seems like he’s enjoying himself”

“The saying ‘a flower in both’ hands can’t even apply to what’s happening right now, of course he’s going to be happy.”

“I agree with you both though I know what you two are up to, Instructor and Lady Ali.”

“What are you implying, prentice?”

“Oho, do you dare challenge me child of the beast race?”

“It’s time to settle this. I won’t hold back just because of your status Ali nor will I let my Instructor win. It’s time to settle who’s the legal -”

I decided to ignore the suddenly lively trio of idiots who are suddenly emitting killing intent from their bodies. I really don’t know what they’re fighting about but whatever it is, it’s none of my business.

“Quit feigning ignorance, mortal.”

Huh? I just heard a strange voice. I stopped dead in my tracks and proceed to look around. I try to find the source of the voice but as expected, the voice could not be found. I know that hearing voices isn’t really the most perfect sign of excellent mental health but I know what I heard but I don’t understand what it’s trying to say.

I decided to ignore the matter for now. I don’t intend to tell anyone about the dreams that I have been having and the voices that I have been hearing. It’s enough for them to call me an idiot all the time so I can’t have them worry about my sanity as well.

The idiots behind me stopped arguing and all three of them eyed me suspiciously.

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing.”

I smile at them and then we proceeded to the cafeteria. The cafeteria is the only place in our military academy that sells food. Most of the students here come from well-off families so the hefty price tag of the various meals sold here are nothing for their loaded wallets. The cafeteria can seat around a thousand troops at any given time while most prefer to eat out in the fields. To the right of the entrance are the sellers manning the stalls.

The food is divided according to their place of origin but there is no distinction or discrimination for the buyers, everyone is welcome to try anything provided that they can pay for it. I line up for the beast race stall while the girls lined up according to their tastes. I always line up here for their tonkatsu set as it is cheap yet balanced since it contains rice, meat, vegetables and fruits for dessert.

“Why, if it isn’t the peasant Keith. What’s wrong, are you too shit poor to buy anything actually worth eating?”

“Kekekekeke”

“Hahaha! Nice one Sir Rolando!”

It’s Rolando Seras and his two stooges who will be known as Friend A and Friend B. Irrelevant people should stay irrelevant. Rolando is the son of the Governor of the Kingdom of Anthedon, home of the Military Academy I am enrolled in so with his great riches and power comes his endless arrogance and stupidity. Rolando is in love with Ali but he’s been spurned from the get-go. I mean how does that even work? Royalty trying to get with a commoner like Ali? Well, whatever.

I continue to ignore the bothersome pests behind me as I hummed to myself. I don’t normally hum, by the way. I’m doing this so he knows that I’m ignoring the shit out of him. I can feel his temper rising from behind me and I imagine steam coming out of his ears.

“You filthy dog!”

“How dare you ignore Sir Rolando!”

"I bet he got his manners from his whore of a mother.”

I feel the tension in the room increasing by the second. Everyone around me is nervously eying the exchange between Rolando’s group and myself. If it comes to a fight, I don’t know if I can win straight up. Rolando may be arrogant but he is skillful. He has inherited some pretty powerful runes due to his Father’s influence while I have nothing but my training and in this world, money can get you a lot of things, especially power.

“See? The battered pup can’t even bark for his bitch of a mother.”

“Kakaka. Forgive the poor Sir Rolando, this little shit can probably learn his lesson if we beat it into him.”

“Why that’s a good idea you two. You, Peasant, come with us.”

Rolando gestures to the back exit of the cafeteria where, obviously, my beat down is going to happen. As a Man who has been wronged, I can’t simply say no. I know I can’t win but this is something that I have to do.

I see Lin and Ali nodding to themselves while my instructor is quietly sipping tea but I wave my head at them. I tell them ‘I can fight my own fights’ with my gaze. They reluctantly accept my selfish request but damn, if it wasn’t for my honor I would have probably let them beat the shit out of these idiots. Oh well.

“Oh, aren’t you going to let your Mommies fight your battle for you, Peasant Shit?”

“They’re not my Mommies but you’ve been talking about Mothers for a while now Mommy’s boy. Let me guess. Your mommy never kissed you good night or something?”

Aha. I’ve done it now. Rolando didn’t say more and he started walking towards the back area while I follow. Obviously, his friends are right behind him and the moment I got out with them, his two friends grab my arms and I am hit in the head from behind. Damn, that hurt. I realize the coldness of the damp area and come to the conclusion that the back area is actually a storage for the cafeteria.

Rolando punches me in my face as his two goons hold me down.

*crack!*

I think his punch just broke my nose and I realize that it did because my nose is now profusely bleeding.

“Haha! Even your blood is dirty you pathetic little shit!”

One punch after another is dealt to my body. I can feel my ribs cracking and I think my collarbone actually broke. The two idiots finally let me down though I know that this is far from over.

“Come on dog. Squeal like the little shitty dog that you are and I might consider forgiving you.”

“….dogs…don’t squeal…they bark, you stupid asshole.”

I should learn to keep my mouth shut. Rolando is handed a steel pipe. Where the fuck did they get that? Well whatever the case, even if I die here like this, I will not yield nor will I give him the satisfaction of breaking me. They can keep hitting me for all I care.

“Sir I think we should stop.”

“Just keep hitting the little shit!”

“But Sir! He’s…he’s badly hurt! I think he’s had enough….”

“Silence! The death of a peasant can hardly affect the empire now can it?!”

I am hit with kicks and the pipe. I don’t think I can move anymore. Blood is clouding my vision and the darkness is starting to beckon for me. Shit. Am I dying? I hear something else cracking and I realize that he shattered my kneecap. Finally, my head is hit with the pipe and I hear something snapping

With that, the beatings finally stop and the three idiots start walking back inside.

“Hah. You look good splattered on the floor like that like the shit that you are.”

The two idiots with Rolando say nothing but can only look at me with sorry eyes. I say nothing, rather I can’t actually say anything and try to stand up. It’s no good, my body isn’t listening to me. I’m lying in a pool of my own blood and I realize that dying by choking on my own blood would be pathetic.

Damn, I really shouldn’t be joking right now. I can only hope that someone finds me before I really die.

I can hear someone dropping something that sounded like plates by the way they were breaking as they hit the cold floor and now the person is frantically running towards me. It…smells good and it reminds me of my Mother. It’s no good, I’m starting to lose consciousness.

“Oh my god…”

The voice tried to say. I can’t hear what comes next and with that, I pass out. Possibly for the last time.