After my encounter with that Selkie boy, I waited past three more tedious and unnecessary classes. With a grumbling stomach, I set out for the cafeteria, following a throng of students like a lost sheep. The lively noise from within grew louder and louder as I approach the door, filling me with a sense of excitement and anticipation. But as soon as I entered, I walked around with no idea of who or where to sit.

As I scanned the room for an empty seat, I caught sight of a familiar face. It was Hanna, who sat a few tables away, surrounded by three other girls. They all seemed happy and carefree, their laughter ringing out over the hum of the cafeteria. My heart swelled with pride and joy at the sight of my sister enjoying herself with her friends. A smile broke out on my face, relieving some of the tension and anxiety from the day.

I didn't want to disturb her, so I slowly backed away. But, as I was about to leave, her gaze drifted toward me for a moment. Suddenly, her happy demeanor crumbled, and she snapped her head my way. In a fraction of a second, her spoon fell from her hands, clattering onto the table.

"Arata!" she exclaimed loudly, slamming her hands on the table as she stood up abruptly. Her friends went mute, their eyes fixed on where Hanna was staring, wondering what the commotion was about. Without wasting another moment, she took off towards me, and enveloped me in a warm hug. "You're... Okay," she spoke with an audible quiver in her voice but overall, she sounded relieved.

She seems happy to see me. If anything, I'd expected her to smack me in the head and proceed to ask me all sorts of questions. "I-I'm fine," I replied, a bit taken aback by her overwhelming reaction.

She hugged me for a few more seconds before letting go. With narrowed eyes, she scanned me from head to toe. "So... What the heck happened to you?" she asked, inquisitively. "Why'd you collapse? You had everyone worried, you know."

As I was about to answer her question, her friends suddenly arrived in a flurry of enthusiastic chatter. "Wow, Hanna, is that your boyfriend!" one of them exclaimed as they approached.

"I didn't know you had a thing for underclassmen," teased another.

The third scrutinized my features minutely and remarked, "I mean, he is kind of handsome."

"No, you idiots!" Hanna exploded, her frustration mounting with each passing moment. She pivoted on her heel to face them with a furious expression, her nostrils flaring. "He's my brother!" she exclaimed in growing embarrassment, her cheeks flushed a deep shade of red. "The one I told you about, remember!" Her voice trailed off into an exasperated sigh.

"Ohh!" they all let out in realization before the three of them suddenly rushed towards me, crowding around me and prodding me with curious fingers. They leaned in close, their eyes inspecting every inch of me with intense interest.

"Sorry about thinking you were Hanna's boyfriend," the girl apologized sheepishly. She looked guilty and embarrassed, her cheeks flushing with color. "I didn't mean to make things awkward," she added, her voice trailing off for a second. "It's because Hanna has been trying to find a man for herself recently," she explained, letting out a small giggle.

"D-Don't tell him that!" Hanna exclaimed, her face flushing red from embarrassment.

"Is that true?" I said, raising my voice in surprise.

"N-No!" Hanna replied, looking at me fearfully. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she tried to think of a way out of the situation.

"I'm telling Father," I said jokingly, a smile playing at the edges of my lips.

Hearing my words, Hanna reached up and pulled on my ear in anger. "You better not!"

"Ouch!" I winced in pain as I moved her hand away. "I'm kidding," I said, rubbing my ear tenderly. Seeing our actions, her friends began giggling, the sound of their laughter filling the air.

"Anyway," she continued, her tone dismissive and curt as she cut off our conversation. With an almost impatient sigh, she shifted her gaze elsewhere. "Theodore and Nina are over there," she said, her finger pointed sharply in their direction. "You should go with them."

"Alright, I'll see you later then," I told her a bit frightened by her anger.

She huffed in frustration, crossing her arms, a visible sign she was not happy. Meanwhile, her friends cheerfully waved me off. "Bye Arata," they sang out in unison, one of them even winking at me.

Showing an awkward smile I only waved before walking away, eager to escape them.

Having picked up my plate of food as well as one for Flare, I made my way across the bustling cafeteria to where Hanna had pointed. Soon I spotted Theodore and Nina sitting at a small table together.

As I approached, I noticed they were both silent as they are their meal. Eager to join the company, I couldn't resist but let my voice break the silence, "Can I sit here?" With a gentle gesture, I placed the trays of food on the table, the clatter sending a subtle resonance across the air, adding an element of anticipation to the atmosphere.

A hush fell over them as they continued to stare at me, their wide-eyed gazes fixed on my face. Then suddenly, as if snapping out of a dream, they both exclaimed my name in unison. "Arata!" they cried, a look of relief spreading across their faces.

Nina's eyes widened with relief as she quickly shot up from her seat, crossing the distance towards me in a heartbeat and wrapping me up in a warm embrace without a moment's hesitation. "Yes, yes. I'm fine," I reassured, giving a few gentle pats to her back.

At that, Nina quickly pulled back. Her face flushed with embarrassment as I watched her awkwardly sitting back down. I didn't think much of her actions so I just gave her a small smile, grateful for her concern.

Theodore let out a sigh of relief and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "So, how have you been?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice. "What even happened to you?"

"I'll explain everything later," I said, collapsing down onto the chair with a heavy thud. Feeling as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders while exhaling a sigh of relief. "I'm just happy to see you two," I admitted, my expression softening as I slowly raised my head to meet their eyes. My lips curled up into a small smile as I took in their images. "I've been feeling lonely ever since I got here," I confessed. I suddenly felt vulnerable and exposed, as if I had just revealed a deep, dark secret.

At my words, they looked at each other with uncertain gazes, visibly taken aback by my words. As they turned back to me, their expressions softened into warm smiles that illuminated their faces.

"I'm here too," said Flare, slicing through our warm atmosphere. Jumping up to the seat next to Nina in a sudden burst of enregy.

"Flare!" Nina exclaimed, her voice rising in excitement as she patted Flare's furry body.

As we settled down to eat, we continued to converse, sharing stories about the first few days of school. Our energetic gestures and expressive faces emphasized the highs and lows of our shared experiences. The minutes flew by, and soon the harsh ringing of the bell signaled the end of our lunch period. Reluctantly, we said our goodbyes and parted ways.

I wandered aimlessly for what felt like an eternity, lost and with no sense of direction. My feet shuffled slowly across the pavement, my eyes scanning my surroundings frantically for some kind of clue as to where I needed to go. Sweat started to bead on my forehead and my heart rate picked up as a sense of desperation set in. I should've asked Theodore and Nina for directions earlier. I scolded myself internally as I tried to keep my composure.

Suddenly, a figure loomed in the distance. It was a teacher, someone who could help me find my class. My feet quickened and I rushed over to her. Having given me directions, I quickly made my way to my destination.

I stumbled along the way, my eyes flitting from side to side until I found the building I was looking for. Relief flooded through me until I actually stepped inside. It wasn't a normal classroom it was more like a small arena, nothing compared to the grandeur of the dueling arena. I cursed under my breath, knowing that I was already late and wasting more time wouldn't help so in haste I walked inside.

As I paced into the building, a few curious gazes turned my way before losing interest and resuming chatter. Seeing everyone talking among each other I felt a sense of relief wash over me and without wasting time I continued forward toward the young teacher.

Taking in her appearance I noticed the way her long, dark braids were neatly tied back at both sides of her head, with her bangs elegantly split in two and framing her face, just barely brushing past her jaw. Her eyes captured my attention, large and expressive, their color a warm, rich brown which settled on me, making me slightly nervous.

"Sorry I'm late," I said, quickening my pace and finally coming to a stop in front of her.

"You've been late for three days, kid," she spoke, her voice carrying a hint of amusement. Leaning in close she examined me from head to toe. I took a breath, inhaling the sweet scent of her perfume. She smells good. Having leaned back, away from my personal space, the corners of her lips curved up into a smile. "Now you're a first-year," she continued, her voice taking on a serious tone. "So you have this week off, correct?"

I nodded in agreement as she spoke. "But that doesn't apply to upperclassmen," she went on to explain. "You see, this is an intermediate combat class mostly made up of third-years or higher. Here and there, you'll get an occasional first or second-year like yourself. However, in here you're expected to perform accordingly to the class's requirements." Her words struck a chord with me, and I knew I had to step up my game. "We'll be starting combat training in a bit," she said finally. "Now, go find a seat."

"Yes, ma'am," I replied, feeling a mixture of excitement and apprehension. As I turned to walk away, I steeled myself for the challenges ahead.

Having spotted an empty spot, I eagerly took my seat. As I looked around the classroom, I realized that to my right sat a girl with long, flowing hair, and to my left rested an empty seat, waiting to be filled.

Suddenly, the girl turned towards me, and with a bright smile, she greeted me with a friendly "Hey first year! My name is Theresa Ranton," she introduced herself warmly. "I guess we'll be sitting next to each other from now on."

I couldn't help but feel a warm feeling of relief at her kindness, and I turned toward her, ready to engage in conversation. "Hello," I replied, my voice slightly subdued. "I'm Arata Arumani."

As I spoke, I saw her eyes widen slightly, and a look of recognition crossed her face. "Like the high noble house Arumani?" she asked with a hint of surprise in her voice.

"Yes," I replied with a nod of my head. "But don't worry, I'm not one of those snobby noble kids who strut around like peacocks expecting everyone to bow down to them," I pointed out. "At least I don't think I am."

The girl's eyes glinted as she chuckled at my comment. "Hehe, you're funny. I didn't even think of you like that," she said, covering her mouth to stifle her own laughter. "But most nobles are like you described, especially those three," she said, pointing a finger in the direction of three girls who stood sat nearby, "They're definitely the arrogant and greedy type."

I followed the direction of her finger and saw the trio laughing and whispering to each other. From the disdainful looks they threw at two dwarven boys nearby, I could see they cared little for anyone beneath their station. "They're nobles," she went on, her voice dipping low, "And they treat everyone poorly based on their status. Commoners, underclassmen, even other races, it doesn't matter to them," she pointed out then turned back to look at me. "They probably won't mess with you because you have a higher standing though."

I nodded in agreement, my eyes locked on the trio's cruel expressions. "They do look spoiled," I agreed, my voice laced with a hint of distaste.

"Listen, there's a demon girl who sits on that seat," she said, her voice lowering conspiratorially as she gestured toward the empty chair beside me. "And, wouldn't you know it, she didn't show up today nor yesterday," she added, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she were deep in thought. Signaling to the three girls she continued, "I suspect it's because of those three. A lot of people dislike demons," she explained, her tone tinged with a hint of sadness before a small smile appeared on her face, softening the seriousness of her words. "I personally don't. Especially the girl that sits there. She's really nice," she concluded, her eyes shining with a warmth that left no doubt of her sincerity.

So? There's even discrimination in schools. In all honesty, that doesn't surprise me. I could feel a mixture of frustration and disappointment building up inside me. I paused for a moment, letting the weight of the situation sink in as I glanced at the three girls once more. The expressions on their faces confirmed what I already knew, discrimination was, unfortunately, a reality for many.

Just then, something caught my attention. Despite the mana being suppressed, my heightened senses allowed me to perceive its presence with remarkable clarity. The abundant mana pulsing through the air was as clear as day. Slowly diverting my gaze from the girls, my eyes landed on a cat boy who was reclined in his chair with an air of nonchalance, his eyes locked straight on me.

And so, in a brief moment, our eyes met. His narrowed in response, a hint of curiosity or perhaps suspicion flickering within them. But with a swift blink, his gaze shifted elsewhere, making it seem like our encounter was no more than a fleeting moment of curiosity. Shaking off the distraction, I pushed the strange encounter to the back of my mind and refocused my attention on Theresa.

We sat in our seats for two entire periods and chatted amiably about sword practice. Theresa then brought up an interesting point about a prerequisite class that needed to be taken prior to our current class, which was the beginner combat class and it lasted two years. My ears perked up in curiosity as I imagined what that class material might have entailed. Only the select few who achieved internal mana control were granted the opportunity to advance to the level we were currently in, which was then followed by the advanced combat class.

Theresa was impressed that I was able to achieve internal mana control, despite my young age. This class entailed an intense regimen of advanced mana techniques and exhaustive combat drills. The teacher barked orders and called out instructions. As students poured down to the training arena, I found myself lingering behind in my seat, deep in conversation with Theresa. The teacher said nothing, and I couldn't help but wonder if I was getting a special pass just this time. But finally, the class came to an end, and we all left the classroom tired yet exhilarated.

And just like that, the school day was over. From here students were allowed to return home or stay at the dorms. The Arumani estate is too far for me to come and go so I just stay at the dorms.

My morning classes covered all of the core subjects, reading, writing, and math, which I'm already well-versed in. But my favorite part of the day was my combat class. The anticipation of unleashing my physical prowess and learning new techniques always made my heart race a little faster.

I didn't make the same mistake again and asked Theresa for directions to the dorms. Thanks to her clear directions and welcoming demeanor, I found the dorms without further incident.

My dorm room was written on the same paper as my schedule. After showing it to the dorm receptionist, I got my key and headed up to my room, breathing a sigh of relief that I had finally made it. I wonder who my roommates are...