Legends of the University #2

***** Rudeus' POV *****

"Luna? What happened?"

I could tell something was wrong. She was trying to hide her face, but I had already seen that she had been crying.

"Nothing... I-I Just want to go home."

It was obvious something had happened. Even still, forcing her to go back to class would only make things worse in a situation like this. What's most important right now is getting her out of view of all these other curious students. I'll give them something else to gossip about.

I leaned over and gave Luna a hug. She grabbed me tightly and buried her face into my chest as she continued crying, likely because she didn't want everyone to see her. As I patted her back with one hand, I subtly cast the cumulonimbus spell with the other.

Dark clouds quickly started forming over the campus. Soon, a torrential downpour burst forth from the dark clouds. All the students around us hurriedly ran off into nearby buildings to avoid getting drenched. I stopped feeding mana into the storm quickly after it formed. It should dissipate after a short rain session.

"Are you sure you want to go home, Luna?"

"Y-yes. If... that's alright?"

"Of course it is. Follow me."

Luna and I walked along the pathway now devoid of students towards my room in the research building. Luna looked above us in wonder as the rain seemed like it was hitting an invisible umbrella above us as it dispersed in all directions. I had silently begun casting the wind blast spell at a constant output to keep us dry.

"Where are we?"

"This is the research building."

"I heard about that in class today. Isn't this where you can go to test out experimental magic tools and implements?"

"That is the public side to it, yes, but they also have private rooms reserved for high level faculty and special students to conduct their own research. In fact, I have a room of my own here as well."

"So... You're not taking me home?"

"We can still go home if that's what you want, but I thought you might appreciate some time to talk things through before we leave. It is your first day here after all."

We walked through the halls of the research building as we talked. Once we reached the door to my room, I placed my hand up to a magic circle on the door and dispelled the shimmering barrier blocking our entry.

Each room came with its own lock and key, but I removed the physical lock to my room and opted for a magic barrier of my own design. Mana had to be supplied to the magic circle engraved on the door at specific points in the correct order to open the door. Kind of like a combination lock.

"That's so cool", Luna said in wonder.

As we walked into my research room, at first glance it seemed mostly plain and empty. It contained just the very basics of any living quarters. Against the north wall of the room was a workbench with some miscellaneous gadgets I had been tinkering with. To the untrained eye, it probably just looked like random junk. Leaning against the west wall of the room were some crates and barrels filled with raw materials like different types of wood and stone as well as a crate filled with magic stones. (Though this wasn't visible from the entryway as the crate was closed with a lid). On the East side of the room was a small dining table with only one chair and a fridge. I had designed the refrigerator myself. It was powered with magic stones and engraved with magic circles to regulate the air temperature within. The center of the room was a wide open space. The only thing that occupied it was a generic unassuming rug.

The moment we walked in, Luna seemed to mostly forget about her trauma as she was overtaken with intrigue and curiosity. She began ruffling through my gadgets one by one, asking "What's this?" or "What does this thing do?"

I spent a while messing around with her to give her some time to calm down before finally I decided it was time to bring back the topic at hand.

"Luna."

"Yes?"

"What happened earlier? Why did you run out of the general studies wing crying like that?"

Her expression soured.

"The people here... they hate me."

"That's not true."

"You don't understand!"

The truth is, I did understand. I understood better than anyone what she was going through. But I also understood that telling her that is the last thing she wants to hear right now.

"I can't understand if you don't explain what happened."

"...Fine."

Luna proceeded to tell me all about her day. About how she met new friends and everything was going perfect up until her last period when she saw what her new 'friend' said about her behind her back.

"You know you shouldn't use your ability on friends like that, right?"

"Yes, but... she looked sad. I just wanted to know what was bothering her."

"If she's your friend you should respect her privacy."

"Well she's NOT my friend! She just pretended to like me so she could make fun of me when I wasn't looking."

"Sounds to me like she was just jealous."

"Jealous? Of me? There's no way."

"Why not? You're beautiful, smart, and easy to get along with."

"I'm not beautiful! I'm fat."

"Pssh!", I laughed. "You're not fat. I've known plenty of people who were actually 'fat' and trust me, you're not at that point."

Luna pouted. Maybe I should have phrased that better? I mean she *is* a little chubby, but I definitely wouldn't say she was fat.

"Besides", I said, changing the topic, "I'm pretty sure that Rose girl was just jealous because you were getting too close to that Halfort boy."

Luna paused to think for a moment.

"You know what... you might... actually be right. When I was looking through her thoughts... when I was watching myself through her perspective... I felt... bad. It's hard to describe, but maybe... maybe it was a feeling of jealousy?"

"See? I told you. Rose probably DOES like you. She only made fun of you because she felt insecure about herself."

"Still... I don't want to go back there. I don't think I can face them after what happened."

"It's Rose who should feel ashamed. If she's not capable of apologizing to you, then just move on. She'll be the one who's missing out on a good friend. You'll make plenty of new friends. It's literally only your first day."

"But the whole class... they saw me run out of the room like an idiot. They're all going to think I'm weird. And Rose. She's probably telling everyone how fat and dumb I am now that I ran off."

"No she isn't."

"You don't know that!"

"Yes I do. I might not look like it, but I've been through the same stuff that you're describing right now, and I've seen it happen to others too. Everybody has moments like these. You just have to realize you're not the only one and move on."

"..."

"That Halfort boy. You said he wants to be a swordsman, right?"

"Yes."

"Why don't you take a couple beginner level swordsmanship classes?"

"H-huh? Why?"

"Sword practice is a great way to get in shape. Besides, didn't you say you wanted to be like Eris?"

"...Eris?"

"Er... oh yeah. Like Ruijerd, I meant. I told you that wasn't her real name, didn't I? Her real name is Eris, and she's a swordswoman."

I continued advocating for my idea as Luna was taking in what I just said.

"Not to mention... Halfort's going to be in those swordsmanship classes. It might be a good way for you two to stay in touch."

"I'll do it!", Luna said with conviction.

It didn't take long however, for her determined face to crack as she realized it was already too late to sign up for this year's classes.

"Don't worry", I told her. "You tell me what class you want to be in and I'll make it happen."

"You can do that?"

"Sure I can. Just leave it to me!", I said as I grabbed my right bicep in comical fashion. "Now why don't you head back to class so we don't make Therese worry about you."

"...Okay."

***** Later That Day, VP Jenius' office *****

"What do you mean you can't do that? You're the Vice Principal!"

"I'm sorry, but rules are rules. I can't go making exceptions for everyone who's your friend."

"Just say that she missed the first day. Or maybe a scheduling mistake? There's plenty of ways you could make this work."

"I sincerely apologize, but it's simply not possible."

"Fine. If you're not willing to budge, then just change the rule. I know you've changed rules before. Like regarding guests and matrimonial duels during the mating season for the sake of the beast folk."

"That's a different matter entirely. That was for an entire group of people, not just one single person."

"Ok. We both know I'm not giving up on this. Why don't you save us both a bunch of time and just tell me what it's going to take."

Jenius smiled.

[Legends of the University #2: Even rainwater knows better than to anger the Boss]