Chapter 16

The director waved to the students then turned and walked off the stage. As one, the students sitting in the auditorium got to their feet and began filing out of the room. Many of them striking up conversations as they went.

Nate turned to his right. Down at the end of his row he could see the struggle of students trying to slip into an opening in the crowd.

“Do you mind?” someone yelled to be heard over the din the crowd was making.

Turning to his left, Nate saw there was a line of people waiting on him. The row was too small, for the others to get by, Nate would have to stand up to give them room.

“What’s the rush?” Nate pointed to the jumble of students on his right. “It’s not like they’re going anywhere soon. Let it clear up some.”

The boy that spoke to him earlier just stared at him. So, did the others waiting on him. Nate sighed and heaved himself onto his feet. His movements were like an old man, slow and tentative. He shuffled his way down the aisle and waited for a chance to slip into the crowd.

The past two days had done wonders for his body. Before, he couldn’t get anywhere without a wheelchair, and now he was able to walk on his own. His body wasn’t anywhere near its full potential, but it was getting there quick.

“Watch it!” A shoulder rammed into him, shoving Nate out of the stream of traffic.

Nate almost fell, but managed to catch himself at the last minute. He turned around with a snarl, ready to curse out whoever had shoved him. A blonde girl four inches shorter than him stood there in an aggressive stance.

The girl had two friends flanking her sides, giggling at him. They were all dressed in similar clothing, tight t-shirts, and jeans.

Nate took all this in in one glance. He also noticed how the stream of traffic had slowed as people began to stop and stare. He couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

“What’s so funny?” The girl’s smirk had turned into a snarl when Nate began to laugh. “Aren’t you going to apologize for running into me?”

“The scrawny bitch-boy doesn’t know what’s good for him.” One of the girl’s friends remarked. “You should just…”

Whatever the girl was going to say next was cut off as she was pushed from behind herself. “Hey!” She shouted at the giant orc who now stood in her place.

“Oh, so sorry.” The orc apologized with his hands clasped and a low bow. “My stomach gets away from me sometimes.”

There were a few chuckles in the crowd of bystanders. The girl looked like she wanted to rage some more but the dumb smile on the orc’s face made it hard to throw a fit. She would just look like a lunatic if she shouted at him for something so small.

The orc made his way over to Nate and put a large hand around him. “Come friend.”

Nate followed the orc as the stream of students turned back towards the exit. There were a few grumbles from the dissatisfied students who wanted to see some action on their first day of school.

“You didn’t have to do that.” Nate said once they were farther away.

“No problem. That’s what roommates are for.” The giant orc said. “I’m Snog by the way.”

“I don’t know what to ask you first: why you stepped in, how’d you know I was your roommate, or what kind of name is snog?”

“Ah, I’ll only answer one then. Snog means sex in the orcish language. I think my parents named me that as some sort of ironic joke.”

“What do you mean?” Nate’s eyes suddenly widened in understanding. “You mean…?”

“Yes, I’m a virgin.”

Nate couldn’t help but laugh at the orc’s sullen expression. “My bad.”

“It’s a cruel fate my friend, one I wouldn’t wish on anyone.” Snog smiled, but the look in his eyes seemed hopeless. “Maybe one day.”

Snog led Nate to a building with a giant ruby crest at the top. “There are two residence halls. This one is for the mages, that one over there is for members of the spirit school.” Snog said as he pointed across the quad to a building with a large crescent moon at the top.

He led Nate into their building and up to the fourth floor. The elevator was broken so they had to take the stairs. By the time they reached the fourth floor Nate was panting for breath. His body was still very weak, and his heart was pumping like a piston.

“We’re almost there.” Snog said without the slightest hitch to his voice.

Nate looked at the overweight orc with an incredulous expression. “Aren’t you tired?”

“Nah, I’m a shaman after all.”

Their room was at the end of the hall. The door leading into their room had two nameplates with their faces on it. Nate finally understood, Snog must’ve arrived earlier and saw his face on the door.

The interior of the room was utilitarian. There were two beds on each side of the room, two desks, a bookshelf, and a footlocker. One side of the room was already settled into so Nate went over to his side and crashed on the bed.

“What was that about anyway?” Snog asked. “I know the school has its rivalries, but it’s a little too soon to be targeted by the nobles.”

“Nobles?” Nate had an arm across his face as he tried to rest his tired body.

“That’s what we call the mages who were born to mage families. The nobles think they run this school because of their prowess in magic, they often look down on both our groups.”

“Which is?”

“Commoners and outsiders. The humans who were exposed to magic and became aware of their magical aptitude are called commoners. Any non-human is considered an outsider.”

“Interesting.” Nate didn’t think he was attacked because he was a ‘commoner’. He was sure it was because of Master Andrea, the mage that was so vehement on banishing him to the NetherRealm.

The best way for Master Andrea to banish him would be to provoke Nate into causing trouble. Nate knew this, and he knew it was a good plan. His anger would be his downfall if he didn’t keep it in check. But the girls had tried to bully him like some high-school children. Nate found it amusing rather than rage-inducing.

“Class starts soon, let’s go.”

Nate groaned. He didn’t want to face those stairs again. What if that bastard tampered with the elevators somehow. If anything, Nate was angrier about having to use the stairs than anything. If the Master mage had somehow caused that, then the man was more insidious than Nate thought.

…

Nate’s last class of the day was combat training but because of his physical condition he was allowed to sit in the bleachers after doing a few drills. The field was split into two, both halves being used by two different classes.

He was drawn to the field opposite the one his class was using. The field was being occupied by one of the classes from the Spirit School. Nate saw Adrian in the distance. He was standing with a small group, talking, and laughing.

Nate felt a pang of jealousy that he quickly dismissed. Although he loved Adrian like a brother, they needed to stay away from each other for the time being. Nate could feel Adrian held some animosity towards him. Although he tried his best to hide it, Nate could still feel its presence.

Adrian’s eyes began to wander and he saw Nate staring at him, he waved. Nate returned the wave and looked away from their group. He felt boredom begin to settle in as he waited for class to be over. Once the bell rang he left the combat field and went towards the dining hall.

As he came into the hall for dinner, Nate increased his pace towards the buffet line. Once he had a tray stacked full of food and a large drink, he searched for an empty table. He saw Snog sitting at a table alone and made his way over, sitting across from the giant orc.

Snog looked at his tray of food appraisingly. “For a scrawny boy, you eat a lot.”

“Gotta get back to fightin’ weight.” Nate said before stuffing his face.

As Nate was shoveling food into his face, a commotion stirred several tables away from them. Several students were being forced to leave their spot as another group pushed them out.

“Fucking first years, learn your place!” He heard someone shout.

Snog was watching the commotion take place. Nate didn’t bother paying attention. He’d seen behavior like this back at his high school, he was just surprised a magic school was behaving similarly.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake! Look at these idiots!” The voice belonged to a male with a posh English accent. It was coming from the end of Nate’s table.

Nate glanced up and saw several boys standing there looking at them with hostility. “You got to be kidding me.” Nate scoffed as he looked at the group.

“What’s this? First year scum giving me lip?!” The tawny-haired, freckled boy shouted in his English accent.

“Go fuck yourself.” Nate spat. He couldn’t deny the fact he was starting to get angry by the children here at the school.

“You…” The boy was cut off by another voice.

“Easy Tone, can’t you see they’re just hungry? Let them eat.” A sultry girl with braided hair and caramel skin slid into the seat next to Snog.

The boy swallowed his anger and put on a smile as if he wasn’t bothered. “Generous as always Ahri. Sometimes, the first years need to be taught the rules. It’s good for them.” He said as he sat down beside Nate.

Nate felt the boy was still hostile towards him but he ignored him as he turned back towards his food. “What’s with the people here? It seems like they’re all itching for a beating.” Nate said aloud as he continued with his meal.

Tone was about to start yelling again but Ahri beat him to it as she began to laugh aloud. “The school wants to breed a competitive environment to spur their students on. They figure a little bullying will inspire the student to achieve the power to get back at their bully.” Ahri answered.

“You hear that?” Tone said as he slapped Nate in the back of the head. “I’m good for your development. So, show me some gratitude.”

Nate snapped. A giant incorporeal hand appeared and smacked Tone so hard his body was thrown out of his chair and ten feet away. He looked at Nate with a mix of anger and fear.

Nate’s facial features were stormy. He turned to Tone with violet lightning cackling in his eyes. “GO SIT SOMEWHERE ELSE.” He said with a warbled voice that seemed to echo across the dining hall.

The demon inside Nate was pulling at the chains howling with anger, begging for release. Nate felt his hands shaking with anger that required his whole focus to suppress.

Tone’s expression settled on fear as all thoughts of getting revenge disappeared. He pulled himself to his feet and fled the dining hall, looking over his shoulder once to make sure he wasn’t being pursued.

The dining hall slowly returned to its usual din as people returned to their meals. They had looked upon Nate and Tone’s interaction as if it were a common occurrence, and had dismissed it as soon as the action was over.

Tone’s posse took their leave shortly after his departure. Soon it was only Snog, Nate, and Ahri left at the table. Ahri was staring at Nate with a strange expression on her face.

“What?” Nate finally said after minutes of awkward staring.

“Nothing, it’s just… you remind me of my brother.” Ahri smiled warmly at him.

“Yes!” Snog shook an empty fist in triumph. Then he looked at Nate with an apologetic look. “Sorry friend, looks like you’re off the field. She just see’s you as her brother.”

Nate chuckled. “As long as I have food, who needs women?” He joked as he turned back to his meal.

“There, we have his blessing.” Snog said as he turned to Ahri hopefully.

“Calm down Buddha.” Ahri patted Snog’s bulbous stomach. “I don’t swing that way.”