Chapter 23:

A blast of savory scents assailed Stryg’s nose as he entered the dining hall. Of all the magical places he had visited in the academy, this had to be the most. The first time he had arrived he wasn’t sure what to make of the situation. Long counters were filled with people serving all varieties of food. It reminded Stryg of when he visited the trade district. Stryg had no money to buy any food or anything for that matter. He thought he would go hungry, until he learned that all the food in the dining hall was free for students and staff. Since then, Stryg loved this place.

His limbs were still numb and his body felt heavy, but it didn’t stop him from hobbling his way to the onion cream soup.

Ava, an elderly cook, smiled as Stryg walked over. “Well, if it isn’t the goblin gobbler himself. What would you like to eat today?”

The cooks had given him the moniker after he had eaten enough food for five people. It shouldn’t have been possible, especially for one of his size, but he had done it easily. It didn’t hurt that the food was amazing. Stryg had never been able to eat so much back in the village, no one had.

He made a small smile. “Hello, I’ll have some of that soup.”

“Nice choice, I made it myself. I even added my own secret sauce, the trick is in how long you cook the chicken broth.” Ava grabbed two bowls and filled them to the brim.

Stryg’s smile grew wider as he saw both bowls. “Thank you, it smells wonderful.”

“I should be the one thanking you. Most of the kids here come from wealthy families, many of them named houses. They all pretend that the food here is of ‘low quality.’ I would be out of a job if it wasn’t for people like you. Especially you, gobbler. You have a genuine passion for food. I admire that,” Ava said as she handed him the bowls.

Stryg was stunned. That had to be one of the nicest things someone had ever said to him. “Uh, thank you,” he whispered before rushing off.

“Hey, Stryg!”

Stryg turned to see Callum waving at him from one of the dining tables. “Why don’t you join us?”

An irritated Kithina gave Stryg a pleading look. She had just sat down with the half-vampire in hopes of having a one-on-one conversation. She didn’t want Stryg to get in the middle. Stryg, oblivious to her actions, sat at the table.

“I’m glad you’re looking better. We were worried that you had been seriously injured.” Callum smiled.

Kithina nodded begrudgingly. It was true, she had been worried for the goblin’s health. But, not more than she would have been for any stranger, she argued to herself.

“How do you feel?” Callum asked.

Stryg shrugged, “I’ve been worse.” He saw no reason to mention his past, it wasn’t great anyway.

Kithina looked at Stryg’s face, he looked pale. Had professor Loh even done anything to help him? Or had Stryg just shuffled his way here? His lilac eyes darted around the hall, looking everywhere but at them. His pupils were shifting from slim ovals to thin slits, it was strange. She didn’t know what he was thinking. His eyes were weird, yet beautiful, she thought. In fact, the more she looked at him, the more she noted his odd features made him look handsome, in an almost otherworldly manner. She shook her head, what was she thinking? He was the guy who had come into class smelling like booze. He didn’t even know how to tie his shoes. He was an unkempt stupid goblin.

“Half-goblin,” she muttered in correction.

“What did you say?” Stryg’s eyes looked straight at her.

Kithina’s mouth hung open in horror. Had she said that out loud? She didn’t have to guess what Stryg was thinking, anger was clearly hidden behind those alien eyes.

“Kithina doesn’t care if we’re hybrids, isn’t that right?” Callum stepped in.

“Ah, uh, yeah. It doesn’t matter to me.” Kithina silently thanked Callum.

“Besides, being a hybrid isn’t all bad,” Callum went on.

Stryg looked at Callum in surprise, “What do you mean?”

“Well, the way I see it, hybrids have unique abilities. For example, even if I’m a half-human I’m still physically stronger than any human could ever hope to be. And while I’m a half-vampire, sunlight doesn’t bother me. I may not know what your parentage may be, but today you ran faster than any goblin can. You were faster than even Clypeus, and he’s a full-blooded vampire.” Callum explained.

Stryg felt like mother moon Lunae was mocking him. He was finally able to keep up with the other tribe’s hunters, maybe even surpass them. Yet, the very thing that allowed him to do so, was what guaranteed he’d never be able to join the tribe again.

“Best of both worlds, huh?” Kithina mused.

“Not always.” Callum went on. “While vampires live around 200 years, humans live at most a hundred. I’ll probably live somewhere around 150 years.”

Stryg disagreed with his words. Just because someone’s lifespan could reach a long time, didn’t mean it would. In fact it probably wouldn’t. Goblins could live up to 80 years. Yet, Stryg had never met a goblin over the age of 40.

“But, overall it’s pretty good, right?” Callum grinned.

“That’s not what I meant,” Stryg said.

“Huh?” Callum asked.

“You said being a hybrid isn’t all bad. What did you mean? Besides being freaks of nature, is there another problem with us?” Stryg asked in a harsh tone.

“Hey, don’t talk to him like that!” Kithina yelled.

“It’s fine, Kithina,” Callum said in a solemn voice. “I know how you feel Stryg. And yes, besides being freaks, as you put it, there is one other problem… Hybrids are all sterile, without exception.”

Kithina gasped, she hadn’t known.

“I don’t know what sterile is,” Stryg said. He was getting tired of not knowing things. He felt like an ignorant babe on top of everything else.

Callum sighed, “While people of different species can mate and have children, those children cannot have kids of their own, no matter who they mate with. It’s why many people dislike hybrids.” Callum bent his index and middle fingers, “It’s why they call us unnatural. So, yeah Stryg, I know how you feel. You’re not the only freak here.”

Stryg stayed quiet. He wasn’t sure what to make of Callum.

“Is that why Clypeus called you a mongrel this morning?” Kithina’s hands turned into fists. “Because, you can’t have kids? That bastard.”

Callum grimaced. “It’s not that simple. Clypeus is from house Gale. They are a family of vampires who have been loyal to my own house, the Veres, for centuries.”

“So, shouldn’t he respect you then?” Kithina argued.

“Like I said, it’s not that simple. My father is the head of my family,” Callum said.

“Wait, your dad is on the city council? Your dad is a city lord!?” Kithina shouted.

People from across the room turned to glance at their table.

Kithina blushed and looked down, “Sorry.”

“It's fine. And yes. My father is a city lord. But, I can’t carry down the bloodline. It makes me look weak, and by extension my father and the family. House Gale, the shield of House Veres, can’t have that. So, instead both families make sure to publicly distance me from the rest of the Veres. If others just see me as a… bastard, then perhaps I’ll just look like some random mistake by my father, not a weakness to be exploited.”

“That’s so cruel,” Kithina said with teary eyes.

Perhaps, but Stryg had seen true cruelness, the kind not born from self preservation. The kind of cruelty done simply for its own sake, for the enjoyment of seeing others suffer beneath one’s foot. Stryg had been the target of such cruelty enough to know the difference.

“It’s nothing. My family still provides for all my needs. Like this.” Callum raised his hand. A human woman who had been standing in the corner walked over. She was dressed in a small black outfit with white frills. Stryg thought she looked pretty.

“Young master,” she bowed to Callum.

“This is one of my attending maids,” Callum said.

The maid removed a bandage around her arm and offered her wrist to Callum.

“This is a problem with being a half-vampire. I need to eat regular food like a human, but I still need to ingest blood to stay healthy,” Callum explained as he bit into his maid’s wrist.

Kithina watched in obvious discomfort as the maid began to moan. Did she like having her blood sucked? The thought of drinking blood was nauseating to Kithina. Stryg had no problem with the sight and kept eating his food. After a minute Callum lifted his head. The maid dabbed and wiped his bloody mouth with a handkerchief. She then rebandaged her punctured arm.

“May I help you with anything else, young master?” The maid panted.

“No, that will be all,” Callum waved her away. She nodded and went back to the corner.

Stryg noticed the maid also had bandages wrapped around her thighs. He wondered how many places Callum fed off her. Kithina just stared at Callum, judgement oozing off her.

Callum coughed, “*Ahem* Stryg, why do you have two bowls of soup?”

“Because, it tastes good.”

“Really? I always thought the food here was subpar,” Callum said.

“One of the cooks says rich kids like you think that way. But, I don’t get it. I love the food here,” Stryg said.

Callum laughed, “That’s because you haven’t gone to a real restaurant before.”

“A restaurant?” Stryg asked.

“It’s a place that serves food,” Kithina explained, while still staring at Callum.

“Oh, I’ve been to one of those. A tavern I think it was called. Merry Crescent, that was it,” Stryg recalled.

Callum fiddled with his collar, “Taverns are for the lowborn. Um, no offense to either of you. But, you're both magi now. And a mage would never be caught frequenting such a shoddy establishment. When we get the chance I’ll treat you both to a real restaurant. Not that stuff in the commoner or trade district, but a high-end one in the villa district or the night district. We’re magi now, we should act the part, yes?”

“Appearances are important I guess,” Kithina glanced at the maid in the corner.

Stryg didn’t think food could taste much better than what was served in the dining hall, but he would definitely like to be proven otherwise. He’d have visited a restaurant already if he had the money. It wouldn’t be bad having others pay for his food, Stryg concluded.

“By the way,” Kithina said. “Why are there so many middle and high-class students here? Isn’t being a mageborn rare? I thought there would be more commoners.”

Callum nodded. “Being a mageborn is technically rare, but it’s also hereditary. In a group of a hundred ordinary people you might get lucky and have one mageborn. But children born from mage parents? It’d be highly unlikely not to be a mageborn. That’s why most people here come from more prestigious backgrounds.”

Wow, so the rich do get it all, Kithina thought, dejected.

The class bell rang, announcing the final class of the day.

“You know, I normally don’t eat here at the dining hall,” Callum began. “But, I’m glad I did today. I got to know my class project partners a bit more and I daresay we’re on a fast track to being friends.” He smiled, his teeth still stained red with blood.

Kithina had heard so many stories of vampires. Of their power and allure, even how they drank blood. She hadn’t been prepared for how weird it actually was. But Callum’s sincerity won her over.

“Yeah, we should do this more often.” She returned the smile.

“Goblins don’t have friends.” Stryg got up and left.