Ch 3 - Friends

‘It´s been four months already eh’ Talbot thought remembering that day four months ago when he met the silver haired boy.

The General Studies major focuses mainly on the topics of history, agriculture, architecture, geography, letters, philosophy, politics, languages, society, and art among many others.

People without any innate gifts or those with very low level of power are usually the ones who get into this major. When Irhamel joined the class most of the students were surprised, why was the apprentice of the Golden Lathai not in the Magic major.

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“Come on Neruniel, brother has to go to class. Let's have breakfast together ok?”

Smiling while carrying his little sister, Irhamel made his way downstairs to the kitchen.

Living in a private house for nobles or VIPs in the vicinity of the University, the family of four members spent their free days together.

“Good morning mom. What's for breakfast today? Where's dad?”

“Morning Irha, your dad is out trai... oh hello little lady, still gluing yourself to your brother’s neck I see, come over here to mommy”

Irhamel tried put his sister down but she didn't want to unwrap her arms from around his neck, chuckling at the girl he lifted her again and went out to the backyard.

Seeing his father train is always something that takes Irhamel’s breath away. The same slow swing training that he does, yet the control over the speed is several times superior to his own. The Sword Saint really owns the title and reputation.

“Mornin dad. Say hello to daddy Neru!”

Without interrupting the apparently unmoving blade Enatel looked at his children and with a smile greeted them.

“Hello Irha, Neru good morning my little angel, wanna come and play with daddy later?”

“Buuuu daddy No, I wanna play with brother, stay home and play with me bro, yes?”

Almost with tears in her eyes, Neruniel denied her father’s offer to play and requested her brother’s time.

“I got classes today you know that”

“Bu...but, I wanna play with Irha, I wanna play, wanna play, wanna play”

Smiling at his lovable little sister, Irhamel patted her head as he spoke to her with care.

“Neru, are you a good girl?”

“Uhn!”

“Then you know I have to go to class today, so play with dad while I’m out and then tell me all about it ok?”

Lowering her head she just nodded while letting go of Irhamel’s neck as he turned to get back inside.

“I’ll go after breakfast, Neru take care of daddy, mommy and the house in my place ok?”

“Uhn!”

After putting down his sister he sat the dinner table where two slices of bread, two egg, six slices of bacon and some cheese were already laid down in his plate.

“Thanks, mom, it looks great”

With a loving smile, Sahiel placed Neruniel’s food on the table and gave some words to her son.

“Eat and go Irha, your first day is important so go and make a good impression”

“Well there is already an impression made, yesterday’s event was, well you know..." Irhamel said.

“Indeed but still, this will be your classroom so try to make some friends” Sahiel reiterated.

The time for breakfast went down quickly after his father joined them, they ate and planned the rest of the day; as soon as Irhamel finished eating he stood up, said his goodbyes, kissed his sister and left the house.

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After waiting outside for a short time the professor called him inside, informed the class about his entrance to the General Studies major and gave him the time to do his introduction.

“...Now introduce yourself to your new class”

Everybody was looking at him with eyes filled with curiosity.

“My name is Irhamel Stingryn, I’m eighteen years old and starting today I’m joining this class in the General Studies major. It’s a pleasure to meet you all”

With a very formal introduction, Irhamel looked at his new classmates with anticipation and excitement. Not just because his mother and father wanted him to make a good first impression, but he himself was excited to finally study something different than the sword or magic.

“Go sit back there by the window that will be your seat from today onwards. Now be friendly to each other and let's start class. Personal questions you can sort them out later at break time.”

With that, the teacher calmed the imminent uproar that was about to happen, and class went by without much issues. As soon as break time hit Irhamel’s desk was surrounded by classmates shooting questions left and right nonstop.

Outside of the usual nonsensical questions like ‘what's like living with --mom/dad--’ and ‘are they really that strong’ and the likes, a couple of questions needed proper answering so Irhamel obliged.

“Well since an early age I’ve been studying Military Arts from my father and Magic from my mother, so what sense would there be in enrolling in either of those courses. Consider now I don't know much about the other subjects that I’ll learn here in the General Studies class, so I’m here.”

Questions kept coming in and answers kept going out, and the day’s class ended with many questions still unanswered.

Irhamel was somehow tired but it was a very new experience to him so he was having fun. He limited himself to answers that would allow him to keep a modest profile and would not cause troubles for him nor his parents.

When he was getting ready to leave for home a small group of male students approached him.

“Hey Irhamel, would it be ok to leave the school building together?”

The 3 guys were in his class if he remembered correctly their names were Talbot Malone, Brock Stoneshire, and Wallace Curnow. As he didn’t sense any maliciousness from them, with a smile agreed to the request.

“Sure why not, and please call me Irha”

“Ok Irha, I’m Talbot and they are Brock and Wallace, you can call me Tally as my friends do”

“I’m Brock Stoneshire, you can call me rock”

“I’m Wallace Curnow, you can call me Wally too nice to meet you Irha.”

It was an amicable scene, after the friendly yet rapid introduction, the group walked out the school building talking merrily.

After leaving the area of the central cafeteria, Wallace proposed to go somewhere and chat to get to know each other a bit better.

“There is a small food cart outside near a park where we can order some food and drinks, how about we go there?”

After agreeing with the plan Irhamel clarified that he had another appointment later that day.

“Sounds good, but I can't stay for too long if you don't mind. I promised to spend some time with my little sister today”

“Sure, let's then make the most of the time we have”

They arrived at the park after ordering some food and drinks on the street cart and sat down. The awkward sensation faded away after about two hours and a more natural conversation was taking place.

“So Irha, which subjects did you take?” Wallace asked.

“I took Geography, History, Art, and Society for the first year, what about you guys?” Irhamel answered.

“We seem to be together in three of your four subjects, none of us took art, why art thou? Any particular interests there?” Answering for the group Wallace followed up with another question.

“Well It's in the art class that I can learn about music and dancing is it not? Is a great place to pick up girls too hehe”

“Oho! I see where you are going, indeed is not a bad method to pick up girls, but if you consider your parent’s positions picking girls shouldn't be an issue.” Wallace offered.

“And where is the merit in that Wallie? It’s not about using my parent's stature but my own effort that will bring me true friends and allies” Irhamel replied in a matter of factly way.

“I agree with Irha there, Wallie If you want to make true friends isn’t it better to gain them on your own merit?” Talbot added to the conversation.

“Aren't we doing that right now?” Brock said while smiling.

The group spent most of the afternoon talking about nothing in particular, but Irhamel had a great time for the first time in a long while. The freedom he dreamed to have one day seems to have arrived at long last, people whom he could call friends seemed to be within his reach.

“Well, guys! It was fun, let's do it again some other time, as I told you earlier, gotta go, my sister is waiting.” Irhamel said while standing up.

“Indeed it was fun Irha, let's do it again. Have fun!” Brock added.

“See you in class Irha, bye.” Wallace finished.

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“Neru don’t go too far ok?” Irhamel warned his little sister.

“Irha, Irha come, come, a doggy a doggy” She beckoned her brother to follow her.

Irhamel smiling walked towards his little sister, the girl was pampering a little puppy that was near a tree in the park.

“Neru are you having fun? Want to get something to eat while we go back home?” Irhamel asked his sister.

“Nu nu, play play, bro come, play with me” Neruniel dismissed her brother’s question waving her tiny hands at him.

Irhamel spent the rest of the afternoon playing with his little sister and just before the sun set the siblings went home.

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“So Talbot how you see this going?” Wallace asked

“Irhamel seems confident, I think he will win, rock?”

“I agree, Irhamel will win,” Brock replied nodding energetically.

The group of three were sitting together close to the entrance of the Training Arena, their friend had just taunted his three opponents.

As the spectators quieted down, the fighters started to get in position and after the ‘start’ shout given by the Sword Saint, the fight began.

Irhamel clenched his two swords and kicked the floor with his right foot, sprinting towards Liam who was to his left side.

Using the momentum Irhamel performed a full swing with his right arm, his opponent tried to block a little too late and received a blow to his right shoulder.

The impact forced him to drop his sword and was sent flying all the way outside the arena; landing head first on the floor his legs were slightly twitching, he had lost consciousness.

Deftly landing where his opponent was standing, Irhamel crouched and replaced his broken sword with the now free weapon that was lying at his feet.

“One down, two more to go,” Irhamel remarked looking at the remaining enemies that were standing some meters away from him.

Muffled chatter sprouted from the crowd, and several gasps of surprise escaped the mouths of some of the Martial Arts students.

The first strike did not take 2 seconds, in an instant Irhamel had taken away the advantage of numbers that his opponents had.

“You cocky bastard, AAAAGGGGGGRRRR!” Mighel seeing his friend land outside the fighting area out cold charged towards Irhamel.

“NO, DON'T CHARGE AT HIM MIGHEL!!!” Alleyn tried to stop him, but it was too late

Irhamel looked at his opponent and simply sidestepped to his left and swiftly swung his arm forward, colliding with Mighel’s throat making him flip backward.

As soon as Mighel’s back hit the floor, a foot pressed on his chest and the tip of a sword touched his forehead. Above him, Irhamel was aiming his remaining sword towards Alleyn.

His expression was so cold and determined that he shuddered in fear for a second.

“You are defeated senior, you should not blindly charge against an enemy you know nothing about! Be more careful next time.” Irhamel said without looking down, his voice was clear and commanding but it contained no conceit.

“I Surrender” was all Mighel said.

Stepping away from his recently fallen enemy, Irhamel calmly walked towards Alleyn and began speaking.

“If age had anything to do with experience or talent I would happily have gone down to the basic level of the course Senior Alleyn Marple, yet it seems only I paid close attention to my classmates during training.

Did you even take the time to check my strength? Or my fighting style?

Or you just assumed that because I’m several years younger than you I simply had no chance to win against you three?

Or that I would hide behind my father’s back? Or use his name to intimidate my way into a peaceful school life? You surely know nothing about me.

The teacher here would probably tell you that is more dangerous fighting against an enemy whom you know nothing about than against someone you know is stronger.

I have no intention of humiliating anyone here, I came to the university to learn, but if in the process I can leave something behind it will be my pleasure.

Get ready, pay attention and think hard on how and why you lost to an unarmed ‘kid’.” Irhamel said emphasizing on the word ’kid’ as he dropped his swords and stood in front of Alleyn.

Alleyn was staring intently at Irhamel, the soft trembling of his face, clenching his jaw, baring of his teeth at the kid that was in front of him, yet no sound left his mouth.

The next second, staring back at Alleyn, Irhamel very slowly moved his right hand and placed a single finger in Alleyn’s forehead.

Willing the ‘Mana’ to concentrate in the tip of his finger, he lightly pushed forward and the body fell backward to the ground, foaming out of the mouth and wetting the pants.

This marked the end of a confrontation that many in the audience thought would end with an entirely different outcome.