26 Chapter 25 []

It's been a week since then.

Marshal and I did everything we could to keep Kate from being bombarded with questions. Rumors were a problem we couldn't do much for, but other than some minor hiccups Kate's return went relatively smoothly.

Kate's apology also seemed to go smoothly—from Kate's word of mouth, and lack of a fruit basket when she'd returned from the medical ward. Though, Kate wanted to apologize to more people than just Floven. She made it clear to Marshal and me that she also felt bad about deceiving our teachers and worrying her clubmates.

It was only when I accompanied Kate to her club did I realize I probably could've relied on them for help in the operation. I internally facepalm even now, but I don't totally regret the way things turned out as bittersweet as it felt.

Currently, I'm in the dining hall for lunch, sitting at a table, savoring a cup of yogurt. Like most food at the academy, it's not just any old yogurt—it was the stuff of dreams. It's so light and creamy I can only feel the weight of my spoon. Its nectar-like sweetness drips and spools across my tongue with a long and delightful aftertaste that reminds me of the fluff of clouds and the warmth of sunshine rather than any taste or smell.

In fact, the yogurt was such bliss it was almost enough for me to tune out my very loud and obnoxious senior, whom I'm currently trying to ignore. I look over to her as I go in for another spoonful. She greedily ravages her own lunch. Flashing me a grin, her curiously sharp teeth seem to glean.

"Benji, Benji, are you gonna finish your lunch?"

I divert my eyes opting to ignore her while making it very clear I had the intention to finish my lunch. I've known my bubbly senior, Kravlof, for a while now. We actually met on my first morning at the academy.

Before the duels, I'd gone to the bathroom for my morning routine. I'd finished it completely, and gotten entirely into the baths before realizing Kravlof had been in the bath herself and staring at me the entire time.

I'd screamed, she'd laughed, and I still don't fully understand what happened. How or why she got into my wing's baths is still unclear, but after much teasing, and talk I got out of there more or less ready for my duel.

Since then whenever Kravlof wasn't "busy" she'd hang out with me like this, and give me tips on how to survive at the academy. After all, she's been here herself for five years. After mindlessly eating for a few moments I realize my spoon hasn't been retrieving yogurt. I immediately glance at my plate to realize my potatoes were also gone.

Cooked in such a way that the exterior had a satisfying crunch. I was saving them for last. I would avenge them. I turn my eyes to Kravlof who is grinning at me—coy—as she continues to shovel my yogurt into her mouth to my dismay.

"My yogurt," I cry trying to grapple it out of her hands.

"This is what you get for ignoring me," Kravlof teases somehow getting more yogurt into her mouth despite my renewed efforts to wrestle it out of her hands.

"Why do you even want mine—just. Get more. At the serving counter," I say as our struggles continue to escalate.

"No way, there's probably no more left. Ehe, it also tastes better when it's someone else's. Ha," Kravlof cheers as she shoves me off of the table. Luckily we were the only ones occupying this table, but we were attracting some odd stares. I groan as I stand to glare at the thief.

"I win."

I sigh, "Fine."

"Aw, you're no fun," Kravlof whines as she gets off the table, sitting back down.

I return to my spot next to her keeping my eyes off of my captured snack.

"You know you shouldn't give up so easily, Benji. With that attitude you'll never win any fights even if you're a little strong," Kravlof teases.

I sneak a glance at her as my opportunity opens, as I quickly snatch back my yogurt the little remaining spilling on Kravlof.

"Ack, Benji," she growls.

I grin devilishly as I scrape the remaining yogurt into my mouth, "I never said I gave up," I comment.

After thoroughly savoring my victory, I walk up to the serving counter. The kind serving lady, Cheryl, smiles as she hands me some napkins.

"If it's worth fighting over, I'd say I've outdone myself today with my yogurt, huh."

I nod.

"It's the best I've ever had."

She smiles warmly.

"What'll it be, son," she asks.

Noticing the empty serving tray for the yogurt I settle on finishing my lunch as intended.

"Just some more of those potatoes, please."

She nods serving me.

"Ah, to share," I add, knowing my ravenous senior would hesitate to help herself.

'I'll definitely need to ask the chef who made these potatoes how they managed it.' I think as I walk back over to Kravlof.

"I got enough to share this time," I say as I set the plate down handing Kravlof some napkins.

"Thank you," she coos wiping her face.

"The Winter Aestimatio tournament is coming up soon, huh. I wonder what the headmaster will do to you humans this year," Kravlof says after a while staring off blankly into the distance.

'Hm?'

"What do you mean," I inquire.

"Eh, don't tell me you've never been, Benji. It happens twice a year you know," Kravlof explains.

I sigh sipping my water, "Of course, I've been. I'm asking what you meant about the headmaster."

"Oh, the headmaster is pretty adamant on getting Humans to win. Every year he rounds some of you up and makes you train until your eyes bleed," Kravlof explains.

I cringe a little at the visual, but now that I think about it humans have never won a Tournament of Aestimatio. Winter or Summer. Some years it got close but the Elves have held a winning streak for years, and while the tournament is simply to determine which race has the most complex magic system, each of the three kingdoms takes it very seriously.

"I'm actually surprised the headmaster hasn't done anything yet. The tournament's not too far away, and I was sure I'd get to see you train. Do you know what the headmaster calls you guys," Kravlof asks.

"Hm?"

"'My golden trio. Sandra's boy, a unique affinity user, and that Cranel boy. I can feel it. This is the year, I just know it'," Kravlof answers with an accurate impression of the headmaster I'm not quite prepared for.

I almost spit out my water trying to contain myself.

Kravlof sighs.

"He spoke so highly of your squad. He even said he was going to pull out all of the stops this year with his 'pre-tournament training'. 'Whatever it takes.' He said and after all that talk I haven't heard a peep."

While I'm curious about her relationship with the headmaster to know all of this, I instead try to learn about the training "Golden trios" of the past endured since I'm apparently one of them. I learn only in recent years did the headmaster train small groups of promising students.

This was mostly due to years of instructors getting upset with the headmaster uprooting their classes and disappearing for a month. It was only a few years ago when it was quite normal for the headmaster to "snap" and round up all the human first years or otherwise and take them somewhere for a "training camp".

Kravlof had tagged along to many of these "training camps" not having to train because she a beastman couldn't represent the Human Kingdom. I listen intently as she recounts some particularly gruesome drills and their victims.

"He sounds a little—"

"Unhinged, delusional, obsessed," Kravlof offers.

"Er, yeah."

"Tell me about it…Oh. Speak of the devil I think your time has come, Benji," Kravlof says looking over to the dining hall doors.

Low and behold the headmaster had burst through the dining hall doors his eyes quickly darting about the room, zeroing in on me.

"I know that look well," Kravlof whispers to me as he approaches.

"Hey old man, finally making a move huh," she says once the headmaster makes it to our table.

The headmaster smiles at Kravlof with an unreadable gaze.

"This year is the year I'm sure of it," the headmaster responds grabbing my wrist as he starts leading me out of the room. I momentarily morn the fate of my leftover lunch, and just before I can ask him anything.

"I'll let you know everything once everyone is together," the headmaster answers as he leads me to a part of the school I've never been to.

"Does this have to do with the tournament," I inquire as I'm led.

"Right on target, and you won't believe what I have in store for you," the headmaster says grinning.

'Somehow that doesn't make me excited.'

After a while, we arrive at a door.

"My office is just past that door down those stairs wait for me in there while I go fetch your friends," the headmaster says power walking away.

I sigh, shaking my head.

'There must've been an easier way to fetch us rather than going in person.'

I open the door and it leads down into a tight stairwell. I make my way down, and just as I'm going around the last bend. A voice greets me.

"Finally, are you gonna tell me why I'm here old—"

The voice abruptly stops once its owner sees I'm not the headmaster.

"Oh ah. It's you," the boy says.

It's the boy from the carriage. He continues to pour tea into a cup, before stopping to drink. The awkward silence sets in quickly. The boy clearly wanted to say something to me but diverts his eyes when I look over.

'Ack, this sucks. If only we'd met in a less embarrassing way. I've got to break the ice somehow.'

"So um—"

"Hey erm—"

'We spoke at the same time…of course.'

We sit silently for a few moments more, and after a couple of minutes, he's finished his tea. He takes a deep breath, before finally making eye contact.

"Thanks."

'Hm?'

"You know, for not telling anyone about what happened—in the carriage."

'Oh.'

"Oh that, you don't have to thank me," I say.

"Maybe, but my teammate, she appreciated it. She…didn't want any rumors spreading on her first day, so. Thanks."

'So this is what he's like.'

Most times when I saw him he's always butting heads with Marshal or irritated at someone, but I feel like this more mild-mannered side of him was what he's normally like.

"Tea," he offers in a gruff tone motioning to the pot.

I nod accepting a cup along with some tea. Soon we hear a new set of footsteps coming down the stairwell. The footsteps are soon revealed to be Marshal's as he enters the room. I hear a small crack behind me, and see the boy is gripping his teacup intensely whilst glaring at Marshal.

Even now I don't understand the animosity between the two, but Marshal doesn't even seem to notice the piercing glare as his cool eyes stare right back unfazed.

"Looks like something fun is happening, eh, Benji?"