Or maybe today would be terrible. Dek surmised as he walked into a large parlor where students where eating on the warm spring day. He had bought himself a simple sandwich from the cook at the café next to the parlor, but as he went to find a place to sit he noted how all the tables had at least one person on them. He slowly began making his way through the round tables.

“Hey you’re the new kid, right?”

Dek turned to see Emily, from class, motioning him towards her table. The table was already full, all except for one seat. At first, he walked slowly towards the seat but then quickly sat down, grateful to have the invite.

“Dek is it?” A boy asked.

“Um, yea. What’s your name?”

“John Jade. This is Emily Roseglade, Lena Keen, and Taegen Hillow.” John pointed towards the other three sitting at the table. Everyone had last names, the symbol of being highborn, a noble. Dek was reminded again of where he was. He had never been in the company of four nobles.

“So, have you really seen the ether lights?” Lena asked.

Dek suddenly found his mouth dry, dammit, why now. She was just a cute girl, just a person, like anyone else. Well, except for the fact that she was a noble, so not like every other person, in fact her dad could possibly order his execution if he so much as touched this girl, possibly, well maybe not. He wasn’t really sure about all the rules that applied to nobility. Dammit, he had to answer the question.

“Uh, yeah,” Though, him coming from the south of the empire was a cover, he still had visited the region and seen the lights with his parents at one point in time.

They all stared at Dek.

“So, what’s it like?” Lena pressed.

“Um, beautiful I guess? Well, now that I think about it I did draw a sketch of it so yeah, I guess it’s worth the trip to see it at least once.”

“Wait, so that thing about you drawing is true then?” John asked.

“Well, yeah. I like to draw, been doing it since I was a kid.”

The teenagers laughed, save for Emily who tried not to but still managed a smile. Dek was confused and suddenly felt like the pun of a joke.

“Dek, drawing is totally a woman’s art. Men don’t draw. The nobility must be laughing their asses off to no end about you.” Taegen said between laughs.

“Why?” Dek asked defensively, “I’m not a noble, why should I care.”

“Wait, you’re actually not a noble?” Emily asked surprised.

“Yeah, I said my name was Dek didn’t I?” Dammit, Carl, that was the name his alias credentials had put him as. Now he remembered.

“Well, we thought you were just giving some kind of cover or title or something, you know, how like knights with their sobriquets or in plays or whatever… Dramatic flair kind of thing, you know?” Emily explained.

“I mean who actually has a name like Dek?” Lena said.

“W-well it’s short for-

“Deck of cards?” Taegen laughed, as did Lena.

“Hey come on guy’s he’s a commoner. Who knows what kind of names they have,” John tried to calm the situation.

Bad move, Dek thought. He may not have been good with relationships but he had learned in the past two years to be wary, and with that came a sense of knowing when a predator was about to pounce on its prey.

“Of course, a commoner, they all do have some crazy ideas. We can’t hold them to our standards. But truly, I wonder what kind of illness must have plagued your father to name you. Oh, maybe he was a fisherman, naming you after the deck of a boat perhaps? Which means he was delirious, probably had scurvy.” Taegen guessed. Lena laughed, which seemed to be his goal.

“Guys come on,” Emily said.

Dek had been naïve, to think he could make some friends right off the bat, if at all, and especially with nobles. He’d normally never be so careless, but he was tired and happy to be at this school. He chastised himself but retorted anyway, “My mother named me.”

Which somehow prompted Taegen and Lena to glance at each other and enter another bout of laughter.

“Hey, sorry about these two idiots, ignore them.” John placated.

Dek had suddenly remembered why he wasn’t good with people. It wasn’t just that he didn’t take social cues very well, or that he simply wasn’t good with relationships, well maybe a bit. But in general, he disliked people. He rather be alone, or so he told himself. But this time he had wanted to try and make some friends. He looked at the nobles laughing faces, he was wrong. Dek was reminded of all those people. Of all of those who simply watched as his life had been torn from him.

“No need,” Dek responded, stood up, grabbed his sandwich and walked away.

Emily looked at her two laughing friends, “Really? Making fun of the new kid, real mature.”

“Oh, come on, he’s just a commoner, so what if we poke a bit of fun. No harm done. Besides you thought it was funny too.” Lena shrugged.

John got up and glared, “You two shame your houses. You’re not fit to be called noble.”

Lena’s face paled in fear. Taegan got up and glared back at John, “You take that back, or I’ll-”

“You’ll do what? Come on tell me, Hillow. Last time I recalled your father was a baron, no?”

Taegan’s eyes widened and he realized his situation and mistake, he slowly looked away and sat down.

“That’s what I thought.” John said, he stretched his hand out to Emily, “Coming?”

“Of course, love.” Emily grabbed his hand and the pair walked off.

******

The next day of school was not better for Shen. He woke up with even more pain than when he had gone to sleep, and though the swelling on his face had gone down he now had a black eye. Every time he took a step he could feel the pain of his bruised balls. Shen’s uncle had sent a doctor to the dorms this morning to attend to his wounds. The doctor had diagnosed him with a cracked rib and a mild concussion. He had given Shen a vial of liquid that he had to drink once every day, it’d help with the pain or so he said. Shen didn’t believe it since he had trouble breathing and walking just from the dorm to his classroom. The class stared at his eyes and began to whisper amongst each other, Shen simply walked to his desk. Normally, he’d care about what some of these people thought about him, but right now all he could think of was trying to ignore the pain coursing through his body.

After class, several students asked him of what had happened to his face. They had heard several rumors. Of how he had attacked a fellow noble. The accounts were different. In one he had attacked a man who was escorting his girlfriend back to his dorm. In another he had gotten into a fight with a delinquent. The most absurd rumor Shen heard though was about how he had jumped off the professor’s tower and landed on a man’s girlfriend, killing her and instigating a fight between both men. Shen had been surprised that the rumors had travelled so far, he guessed that’s how it was, being amongst nobles. It seemed that half of the rumors had somehow been started by Alan Cordon, who had woken up, though no one had seen him out of his rooms yet. Shen just shrugged off most of the rumors and simply implied that he had been in a fight and that he may or may not have, though most likely, beaten up Alan. Shen didn’t personally know the guy, turned out he was a fourth year, but what he did know was that he was a prick. Not uncommon among nobles, but still. What kind of person would randomly attack you, even if drunk. Maybe if it was war sure, but dammit, why were there so many nobles that were stuck up. In many ways Shen hated the nobility, despite being one himself. They weren’t all bad of course, but that in fact just made it worse. It made Shen feel conflicted more than anything.

After morning classes Shen decided to get some lunch at the café. As he walked down the steps he heard a voice that stopped him in his tracks.

“Yoooo, Shen wait up!”

He turned around, his eye began to twitch at the sight, “I can’t believe it. I see a ghost.”

“Nope, I’m alive. My amazing acrobatic skills have kept me safe and sound.” Jack smiled.

Shen looked at his cheeky smile and then at his broken foot which was covered in a cast, then to his crutch, then back to his face.

“Well, safe and sound relatively speaking.” Jack said limping up to his best friend.

“Nope, you died. The Jack I knew was an idiot who jumped off a damn tower.”

“I did jump but I’m alive. I grabbed the rope.”

“I remember his last moments as he flew like a bird.”

“I’m still here. Hey don’t walk away from me!”

“You may have never been a phantom thief, nor a particularly good thief. But you have turned into a wonderful phantom.”

“Hey, I said don’t *pant* Dammit, stop walking.”

Shen did eventually stop, but not for Jack. His own ribs were killing him, every breath was painful.

Jack eventually caught up, “*pant* Wow, I need cardio. *pant* Damn. But, at least *pant* I don’t look like *pant* shit.”

“Shut up.”

“I mean damn did *pant* did a lama attack you or what.”

“There are no lamas this far north.”

“Really, I could have sworn I saw some the other day.”

“Jack.”

“Yeah, they were these weird masked guys riding them. I mean it was weird enough riding a damn lama, but hey I don’t judge.”

“While I’m glad you’re alright and a strange way admire your guts for jumping through an eight-story window, I need to ask-”

“Yes, your face is pretty messed up. I don’t think you’re going to get any girls wanting to go to the summer ball with that face.”

“Jack, I will take your crutch and force you to hop back to the dorms.”

Jack laughed, “Please, you act as if you could take it from me. Hey by the way, I heard you got caught, you didn’t by any chance…”

“No, I didn’t give you up. Obviously.”

“Of course, cool, cool.” He looked at Shen’s face, “So, um what did happen anyway?”

“Well, after you’re attempted suicide jump, I ran down the tower. Eventually I got to the first floor and came across this drunk hitting on a girl, though she wasn’t interested. So, I told the guy to back off, then he started hitting on me. Literally.”

“Of course, always the hero. So, did you win?”

“Yeah, though not before taking some hits myself. It was my fault for letting my guard down like a fool.” Shen chastised himself.

“Well, at least you won. So, who was the idiot who dared mess with a Stone?”

“Alan Cordon.”

“Just like the rumors, eh? I hear that guy hits on anything that moves. Stuck up ass, but what else can you expect from a firstborn. Just because they inherit the titles they always think the world has to obey their every wish.”

“Yeah, well. That’s just the way it is I guess. And now I got in trouble because of it.”

“At least you helped that girl? Was she hot?”

“Well…” Shen scratched his head.

Jack laughed, “So she was eh? What’s her name?”

“I don’t know.”

Jack stopped walking, “Dude, what? You took a beating for this girl and you don’t even know her name?”

“Hey man, it wasn’t like that. The girl was a bitch, she kicked me in the balls after I helped her.”

Jack laughed, “Seriously? Dude you first let some idiot get the jump on you and then you let a girl kick you in the balls. Man, your rep is going to suffer for this.”

Shen sighed in defeat, “Don’t even remind me. It hasn’t been going well for me. At least we got the history exam.”

“…Um… Actually, you see.”

Shen slowly turned around, “What? Don’t you dare tell me.”

“Yeah, well, when I jumped out the window I grabbed the rope but I smacked right into the tower, and kind of dropped the papers, and they might have been blown away in the wind, and possibly be lost. For good.”

“You’re dead to me.” Shen went for Jack’s crutch, but he did a spin and dodged Shen’s grasp. Shen lunged at Jack, but he hopped away.

Jack raised his arms, “Now I know your mad, but hey professor Guila will probably change the exam now that she thinks we stole it, which we did.”

Shen did a quick jab and punched Jack right in the nose.

“Ahhh! Dammit!” He screamed in pain and spun in circles holding his bleeding nose with one hand.

Shen ripped the crutch from his stunned friend’s hand. He flipped it then swung down, sweeping Jack right off from his feet. He landed with a loud thud and groan. The nearby students looked on in surprise, no doubt this would create even more rumors. Seeing his friend on the ground was the first moment of happiness Shen had all day. He began walking to the café once more, Jack trailing behind and failing.

As he arrived at the café he paused. He couldn’t believe his luck. Maybe today would be better after all. He walked up to the table in the corner of the café and sat across the only other person there.

“We meet again.” Shen stared at the surprised girl. Her oak colored eyes widened in surprise.

“It’s you. From last night.”

Shen looked at the girl who had kicked him and left him gasping in pain. She was the whole reason he was caught and beat up in the first place. She put her fork down and moved her plain salad to the side.

“So, miss…?”

“What’s your name, first?”

“You don’t know it? After all the rumors running around about the fight last night, because of you.”

“I don’t keep up with the gossip. And if I recall you started that fight with your threats to the other guy.”

“Only because he was harassing you.”

The girl glared at him, “I had it under control, I didn’t need you butting in.”

“Oh really? And how would you do that. Your what?” Shen looked her up and down. He was surprised to see she was wearing pants, an uncommon choice for a noble lady. She also wore a short-sleeved blouse, which displayed her bronze arms. Though they were toned they weren’t particularly muscular either. “Five feet? Last I recalled the average noble lady doesn’t attend combat classes either.”

“I handled you pretty, well didn’t I?”

The insult hurt more than he had expected. “I was just caught unaware. I mean what kind of ungrateful person kicks the guy who just helped them!”

“The kind of person that witnesses the other beat a man to a bloody pulp. Then with their bloody hands tries to grab you! What else did you think I was going to do?”

“Yeah, well. Dammit, you just don’t kick someone in the balls.”

“Then don’t put your hands on a woman without their damn permission!”

Shen sighed he was tired and in more pain than he had realized. The walk over here wasn’t helping. “Yeah, fair point. Still shouldn’t have kicked me. I got busted thanks to you leaving me incapacitated.”

The girl sat silently, she hadn’t expected him to actually relent. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.” She actually seemed regretful.

Shen lost focus for a moment, his concussion was making him feel disoriented. He found his eyes began to wander and settle on her well-rounded breasts.

“Or not.” The girl stated irritably.

“Hm, what? Oh sorry, just a bit tired, got hit in the head.” Shen looked up and pointed to his temple. “Because of you.”

“What is it you want?” She gestured to him.

“Shen, my name is Shen Stone. And you?”

“Alice.”

“Alice, got it. And your family name?”

Her glare somehow became worse, “Don’t have one.”

“Oh. Oh, I see. Ummm…” Shen didn’t know how to respond.

“What. Do. You. Want?” Alice got up from the table.

Shen quickly opened up his backpack, “I wanted to return your book.” It had a blue cover and was titled, “Biological Studies of Permaculture.” He looked at it and grimaced, “Sorry I got some blood on it.”

Alice looked at the book and groaned, “Ah man, seriously? You had to get blood on it? The librarian is going to charge me a fortune to fix this.”

“Well, the library fees can’t be that bad.” Shen couldn’t understand, she got her book back. What was the problem with this girl.

Alice’s grip on the book tightened, “Not everyone has money to throw around.”

“Oh, sorry. What I meant was-”

“Oi! Dammit, Shen, give me back my crutch!” Jack shouted from behind.

Shen turned around to see his friend hopping his way towards him.

“Persistent jerk.” Shen muttered, by the time he turned back Alice was gone.