“I never want to see another potato again,” Orn groaned as he walked with his room mates who nodded along with the statement.

“Why is that?” Tack’s voice came from behind them and the group turned.

“You know why,” Orn sighed. “Grigs had me peel a small mountain of them.”

The older boy laughed. “It that is the worst of it, you got off easy. I once got mess hall duty and chopped onions for a week.”

“That is another root vegetable I can do without seeing again,” Bloom joined in. “It is nothing but stewed vegetables every day.”

“I take it you are skipping dinner then?” Tack asked, falling into step alongside the group.

“That is a different matter,” Bloom said hurriedly.

“That is ‘Major’ first year,” Tack’s friendly tone took a menacing tone. “If you do not like them, I am sure I can find a student who does.”

“I am sorry Major,” Bloom sputtered and snapping to attention. “I did not meant that.”

“I thought you did not want to see them?” Tack smirked maliciously. “I am sure some of the other boys would appreciate your share.”

“He just said he did not wan to see them. He could wear a blindfold,” Orn supplied in a cheerful tone.

“That could work,” Tack replied thoughtfully.

“Yes,” Bloom said perking up instantly. “I can just wear a… wait, no. What?”

Bloom turned between the other boys who were laughing around him. “You do not have to make fun of me.”

“Actually I do,” Tack replied patting the younger boy on the shoulder. “We all get tired of the meals, but it is important to not grumble. There are a couple students every year who are thankful that they get food of any kind every night. Grumbling about it makes them feel less.”

“Oh, I did not mean to,” Bloom began only for the other boy to waive him off.

“As I said we all think it,” Tack replied. “That said I need to borrow Orn. So he will have to rejoin you in the old library.”

Orn’s room mate waved as Tack led Orn away. Almost as an afterthought Tack called back over his shoulder at the group. “Do not forget to bring your blindfold to dinner Bloom.”

Orn watched Bloom pale at the words and turned back to Tack. “You are joking right?”

“No,” Tack replied never breaking stride. “We usually make the student just skip a meal. The blindfold is better because everyone will see you wearing it and struggling to eat. If it works well we may do this instead.”

Orn swallowed, and not for the first time wondered about the older boy he was assigned to work for. “So what did you need me for?”

“I am taking you to your next class,” Tack replied pointing down the path. “It is on the other side of the academy and I do not want you wandering around alone trying to find it.”

“But I just finished my last class. We all did,” Orn stared at Tack. “The teachers said that the afternoon was for electives.”

“That is generally true, but the this instructor made it clear that what she taught could not be pushed off any further. She apparently forced the headmaster’s hand, and all first year noble students must attend,” Tack wore a strange expression as he spoke. “I do not know how she did that, so be careful. There has to be more to her than meets the eye.”

“She is a noble instructor? Do you think that this is going to be an issue?” Orn asked as the other boy seemed to withdrawal into his own thoughts.

It took Tack a moment to process Orn’s question. “No. I have had little to do with her, but to the best of my knowledge she is fair. I even heard a rumor that she pushes every year to have the first years from the barracks in her class as well.”

The boys walked past the spot Orn had dueled Bron a week earlier. Around them Orn saw old blood students watching them closely. Most of the students were glaring at them. “Are we gong to be alright?”

“What? Oh, them. Yes we will be fine,” tack replied looking around at the well dressed students. “The rumor is, the student who picked fight with you is having to do humiliating work. Their reputation would be hurt more by getting a similar punishment, than any benefit they would get from hurting us.”

“Do not look at me like that,” Tack said rolling his eyes. “Reputation is everything to a noble, and they are rightfully afraid of the headmaster. As long as we do not taunt them too much we will be fine.”

“Too much?” Orn suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, and he watched Tack raise his hand to waive at the watching nobles.

Around them the nobles students expressions darkened, and Kao laughed.

“I like him,” the goddess told Orn as one old blood student looked about to choke. “He is a lot of fun.”

Orn fought the urge to keep from yelling back that it did not feel nearly so funny to him. He had not been so badly outnumbered since the goblins, and they had come in waves.

Despite Orn’s worries, none of the noble students did more than glare as they passed, and they reached the large building that was their destination.

“Here we are,” Tack said pointing at the door. “You should be safe in her class, just be careful around her.”

It cannot be less safe then hanging out with you! Orn kept the thought to himself and nodded. “Is there anything I should watch out for?”

“Not that I know of,” tack replied with a shrug. “That is actually what worries me. I know very little about her, and I have absolutely no idea how she convinced the headmaster to let her start her class back up. I do not like not knowing things.”

“Do you know what she teaches?” Orn asked realizing he had no idea what class he was about to walk into.

Tack turned and smiled widely. “Only the most important elective class if it can get past the headmaster’s ban. Dance.”

“What?! Seriously?!” Orn called out dumbfound as the older boy walked away still laughing.