Ah, such a bright beautiful morning....
Not!
Who the hell wants to get up early in the morning?!
You rolled to your side pulling the blanket over your head. Melting into the warm cocoon once again. Ah, sweet bed. My eternal love.
"Please Miss, wake up. The person is here to take you for you class." Marie pleaded.
No! He can come later. My sleep is more important.
But Marie ripped you out of that beautiful dream.
Wah...! My beautifully warm bed I will miss you!
Now you stood sleepily in uniform -- white shirt with navy blue dress which reached above your knees and had a slit in middle for easier waking purpose and white pants and navy blue boots to go along with it.
You had to practically kick Marie out when she tried to undress you.
Modesty was a thing for you. And you got two perfectly healthy useful hands, why not use it.
The thought of someone invading your privacy sent shivers down your introvert self.
"So shall we begin." A middle aged bespectacled man stood across you. Gray hair tied in high pony with sharp black eyes as they peered over you in calculating move. Uniform similar to yours only for male gender adorned on his body. He was your tutor for the course of herbs ; Roman.
Currently you were in a laboratory where experiments with plants are conducted. Many rare preserve plants lined up the shelves attached to the wall.
Roman the highest ranking Healer started educating you on different plants and it's implications.
"This is Regulis. A rare plant which has poisonous fragrance. Only one sniff of it and that'd be enough to paralyse your entire being for as long as you live if immediate measure isn't taken." He picked up a flower with lilac petals which had faint blue glow in it. He made sure to use gloves and have mask as he explained it's purpose and advantages.
You had a mask too. Thank god, it hid your grimace well.
You were awe at the man's -- Roman's knowledge. He explained things to you efficiently and precisely. It was easy for you to memories it.
But one detail sent chills down your spine.
Why is it all pertaining to poisonous plants...?
Whatever plant he explained it all ended with harmful and hazardous effect it has on a person.
You throat went dry. A cold feeling settled in your stomach.
Your situation was much more dire than you imagined.
Instead of teaching healing herbs and methods pertinent to healers, they're teaching you poisoning method and easy ways to eliminate your enemies.
Did they really think you wouldn't notice? The obvious difference in what you were promised and what was served..?
"Let's see how much of a prodigy you are." Roman looked at you adjusting his glasses. "A village bumpkin who has knowledge enough to rival those of professionals. I'd very much like to see that."
Great this man hated you right off the bat. Prejudice against you for being a village girl was really starting to wear down. It was getting old to be the sole reason for the hate to your existence.
But you needed to put your feelings aside and play your cards right.
You have to show them that you were really a naive girl who had knowledge but not enough to turn into a weapon.
"They exaggerate, old man. I'm very much a simple girl with small drop of knowledge. There's no way I could hold a candle to professors like you who devoted their entire life in this field." You batted your lash innocently as you smile cutesy at him. See I'm totally stupid navie girl.
You have to go by with some rules if you want to last here for a day.
1) Don't make enemies of them.
2) Don't exude knowledge beyond what a nine year should have
3) Mess up enough to let them think you weren't a prodigy.
Yep, this was the only way you could dodge the bullet. Only way you would survive.
"Hmph. Good to know you didn't let the false praises get in your head. A little knowledge from your dead woman wouldn't make you a professional healer." He smirked. "But seem like yourself acknowledge that. It'd troublesome to discipline you too."
A tick mark appeared on your forehead. But you continued to smile, a bit strained.
You exhaled. Don't let him get to you. Calm, girl. Calm. Handle the situation like the champ you are!
"You're right, old man. You can't compare yourself to my Mother. You never could."
Roman glared at you. "Don't call me a old man!"
You gave him a smile. A sarcastic one. "But you're old, right. That's why you have been assigned to me because of your wisdom of your old age, right?"
The first rule was going to hell fast.
He looked at you, anger and conflict battling on his face. "Of course I'm a wise man. But I'm not old!"
"But wisdom comes with experience. Experience comes with age. So you're old! No more like grandpa!" You beamed. You could insult people while complimenting them. Render the opponents unable to make retort. That's a ability you acquired when you Mom forbidden you from downright insulting someone. And maybe some credits goes to Claude too. He could insult someone without sugarcoating anything.
"Such impudent behaviour. Hmph! Disrespecting someone higher than you. And your speaking way is too sloppy and unsavory. Your mother didn't raise you to be a proper lady, did she?" Roman said with a hint of disgust.
Yep forget about the first rule. This man messed with wrong nerve. Bring up your Momma and insulting her. Yeah that was the last straw.
You smile fell and you glower at him. "Don't talk about my Mom, you sleazy old bag of bones. Her teaching is what keeping me from cracking your nut for disrespecting a deceased person!"
His face flushed in anger. Gritting his teeth he glared at you. "Why you little--"
You were ready to destroy this man's whole life with you razor sharp words but the words died down in your throat.
Your anger was replaced by shock when you saw a vial filled with liquid hover over the unsuspecting man.
You quickly put two and two together. Ether...!
You felt a similar weight on your head as that thought flashed your mind.
The man continued to belittle you unaware of the catastrophe coming his way.
You nervously shifted from one leg to another. Ether must be using magic since Roman gave no indication of spoting him.
Ether...!
Shit, no baby please don't do anything. It already seem like I'm in the bad books, don't make it worse, okay?! Though this old bones totally deserves that but it will cost complications for me!
The other vials behind him too started floating around. Ignorant of it Roman continued on belittling you.
You could feel the evil smirk of your cat as he watched the man.
Oh shit.
The vial collided with each other and not a second later.
Boom!
The laboratory filled with black smoke as the sound of other things breaking echoed in the room. The explosion caused a wind as it crashed into you and other things present in the laboratory.
Surprisingly enough you remained unscathed. Not a speck of dust or black mass on you but you couldn't say the same to the laboratory. It looked like a nuclear boom went off in the room destroying everything. Everything was covered in charcoal. From chairs to bookshelf to the ceiling to floor. It looked like a black room with no colours.
Roman stood in middle of it. He was too covered in black charcoal from head to toe. His silky gray pony was frayed and he barely had any hair on his black bald head. A puff of black smoke came out of his mouth as he gaped at you.
He made a strangled sound as he faceplanted, knocked out cold.
"Ether I think you went a little too far." You sweat-dropped.
You quickly went to the man, kneeling beside him. You slapped his cheeks.
"Oi old man. You dead?" You continued to slap his until his cheeks went red and he groaned.
Hah, I put a little too much strength behind the slaps. My bad~~
"Get out. Get out you insolent brat. You're nothing but a bad omen." He weakly said before going cold again.
"With pleasure." You beamed. "Have a good day, old man. Oh well he can't hear me."
Ether continued to purr on your head, his whiskers trickling your head.
"I don't even have the energy to lecture you. But that was a well deserved payback." Soon you felt the weight on your head disappear. Your fickle cat off to again god knows where.
Overwhelmed by emotional exhaustion you dropped on the floor leaning against the pillar, not caring how would you look to others. Though the chances of them noticing was slim since you were outside. Your forehead rested against the pillar, eyes closed.
They can go to hell for all you care. You're just too damn exhausted to care anymore.
Footsteps reached your ears in reaction you opened your eyes to see Claude's indifference face peering at you.
You raised you palm. "Sup, Claude."
Claude stood still with a stance that said 'couldn't care less' looking at the black smoke raising from the tower of Healers. His blank face looked even more deadpanned.
"Let me guess. The culprit behind the smoke coming out of Healer's tower is none other than you."
"Hello to you too!" You beamed at him sarcastically.
"What happened for you to bomb the Healers resident?"
You blinked. "Nothing".
He raised a skeptical eyebrow at you.
"Really, nothing at all. Though my blood may, may not be boiling to kick someone's balls. Other than that everything is okay!" You gave him a thumbs up with a bright beam.
Claude snorted. "That's a new definition of okay. I definitely believe you now."
"Well, something did happened." You said vaguely.
Claude rolled his eyes, his face stoic. "No kidding. You were storming off while cursing in very unladylike manner."
You huffed. "I don't curse unladylike. I curse very manly ladylike."
"Yes. Of course. Because that sort of thing exists." His lips tugged into a sarcastic smirk.
You huffed a bit peeved.
"So are you going to tell me what happened or am I just wasting my precious time on you." He leaned against the pillar nonchalantly. His trademark cold glare in his eyes. That sure was a hella of a scary resting bitch face you've ever seen.
Boy you sure suck at comforting people alright.
You thought about it. His offer was kind and geniune. "Yeah, why not. I really need to get it off my chest or else I'll drive a knife in certain someone's chest."
Claude snickered looking disinterested and indifferent. He looked like he had zero interest in the conversation but since he stayed that counts..?
"It just my first day and I already feel like scaling the walls and escaping." You throw your head back and groaned.
"That would quite difficult. And not to mention ridiculous." Claude added unhelpfully. You give him stinky eyes which he ignores unfazed.
"Nah, dealing with self conceited senile old man is way more difficult."
Claude looked calculative before saying. "So it's about your tutor. Your meeting with your tutor didn't go well, huh?"
"What do you think?" You replied in dry tone.
"That's the reason you're whining, I see." He nodded his head in understanding. "It's your first day only. If you can't stand today, how will you stand against the upcoming days. It's going to get rougher from here. If you keep whining about it, it wouldn't take long for them to get rid of you. So tough it out." Claude adviced very coldly.
"Um. Ouch?" You flinched at his cold words. Harsh but true words.
He softened a bit looking at your defeated face. "Don't let it get to you. Most professor are often strict--"
"Or boring." You cut him off.
He chuckled. "And boring. Things must be difficult for you since you're outsider. You've to work harder than normal student. But I'm sure you can do it." He finished awkwardly. Not used to encouraging people.
"Right." You weakly smiled.
Claude observed your pessimistic face, feeling unnerved. "You're gonna cry because of little pressure? Little Princess wants to throw tantrums because for once thing didn't go her way?"
You rolled your eyes at his sarcastic words. Knowing it was his way of cheering you up.
"Of course not. I'm not a princess who need someone to fight her battle. I can hold my own against wrinkled bones or anyone else in fact. Don't worry."
He sighed in faux relief. "I thought you were damsel in distress in need of desperate help, I was almost tempted to call Felix the knight in shining armour."
You blinked at his sarcasm dripping words. "What? You won't help when I'm in distress?"
He didn't even bat a eyes, replying causally with enough sarcasm to drown you. "If you cry me enough rivers then maybe just to shut you up I would."
"Why sir that's very kind of you. I look forward for your assistance when I cry a river."
"Why you're welcome m'lady." His reply was just as sarcastic as yours if not more.
You both were squabbling like children. Throwing sarcastic insult one after another.
As you bickered you took in his details. He was growing up, becoming more handsome. His golden locks swayed at the hair, his soft pink lips quirk up into annoying smirk.
Check out, ladies the future walking breathing, wet dream of every girl. He's totally the lady's man type of person. Beware future girls or you might end up dying by nosebleed.
He seem to glow more ethereal than other day. But what you found unnerving was the lingering darkness in his jewelled eyes.
You couldn't help but feel a bit guilty at jumping at conclusion. He was more than a cold, sarcastic angst boy. He was more than a boy battling with his tragic life. Despite his hardships, he still could extend his hand and provide kind words to one in need. He wasn't just a person shackled to his tragic childhood but so much more.
"What are you smiling like a idiot for?"
"I just feel like smiling and being happy."
"You're weird." He flatly stated.
You shook your head a but still smiling. "Thanks for giving me a push. Seem like my debts is just stacking up, huh?"
His face slightly changed. He averted his eyes, mumbling. "You're an idiot. You shouldn't feel like you owe me anything. Aren't we friends?"
Your jaw dropped. You were speechless at his sincere yet ambiguous words. Those words were unexpected from him.
You knew he hadn't accepted you as friend but something had changed. He had fully embraced the concept of friendship. And it rattled you to your core.
"What's that look for?" He asked irritated.
"Eh? No it's nothing. Heh. I misjudged you."
"What?" Claude tilted his head puzzled.
"Each day I get to know you I find surprisingly different layers to you." You said honestly feeling your heart race at the adorable golden hamster. "And I don't dislike any of those. Instead it just fills me with more curiosity."
Claude deadpanned. "I don't get what you're saying. You just talking nonsense at this point."
"Huh? You know people would like a polite thank you with a bashful blush when they compliment you." You wagged you finger at him like scolding a rebellious child.
"That was a compliment?"
"Er...sort of?"
He rolled his eyes. "Just don't get yourself in trouble. You happen to have a knack for it.
"Can't promise that!" You waved him smiling.
There was comfortable silence as both of you looked at the floating clouds for once feeling serene in each other's company.
That soon broke when footsteps echoed in the hallway. A ravenette boy marched towards Claude who straighten up, mask of cold indifference slipping in place along with his withering glare.
"Lawrence." Claude curtly acknowledged the young boy's presence.
The boy's eyes flickered to you in confusion before he bowed his head. "Sir, the king has commanded your presence."
"Again?" Claude mumbled with a rough edge in his voice before nodding and leaving. You pouted when he didn't spare you a single glance, walking away coldly.
"Who are you, dude?" You asked the lingering ravenette who jolted in surprise.
He stiffly answered with a raging blush on his face. "I'm Sir Felix's sparring partner. Lawrence Welheim."
"Well nice to meet you, Lawrence. That's quite mouthful by the way. I'm (Y/n)! Since you're Felix's friend we might see other more often than not."
He blushed even harder much to your amusement before bowing and scurrying away in hurry.
You shook your head with a smirk. "Boys. They are so weird."