"Kelric! Get off of me you brute! I'm the son of a Duke I'll have you know!"
"If I'm your brother.. wouldn't that mean I'm also the son of a Duke?"
"Nope. You're adopted, doesn't count."
"You're an idiot."
His grin at me makes me forget the events of the day and pulls me into the past of how me Harry would horse around. The thought is painful and saddens me a little as I get off Elias from where I pinned him down.
"Gods Kelric.. you've ruined my clothes. Why do you have so much blood on you?"
I'm a little sheepish as I reply, I forgot that blood was vomited onto me.
"Sorry.. that's from a couple people I killed earlier."
Elias instantly wanted to know more and I gave him the story of what I had been up to since the Subjugation test.
"Gods damn dirty Kalabarians. Those people and their culture make me sick."
I nod to Elias's words, I agree with him wholeheartedly.
He looks at me with another teasing smile.
"Though Kelric.. I didn't expect you to have such a bleeding heart."
"Shut up.."
A knock comes from the door behind me and the butler steps in.
"It's quite late, I recommend that you both retire to bed soon so that you can see the academy's acceptance list tomorrow before the crowd is too large."
Elias nods.
"Thank you for reminding me, I want to see if Kelric was fibbing about passing today."
He smiles at my glare.
My eyes close as soon as hit the bed today, the strain of using my rage twice today had exhausted me. My sleep is dreamless and I'm awoken too soon.
The clothes prepared for me today are the same as yesterdays and breakfast is just as good.
"Kelric. Could you show the barest hint of manners, you eat like a slob."
My mouth is full as I respond.
"I'm just showing my appreciation for how good it is."
"You're 'appreciation' could be a little less.. disgusting.."
I ingnore him as I stuff my face and soon where out in the cool morning air.
When we reach the academy's entrance, a small group is already present. It seems that they haven't posted the results yet.
Stares are directed at me and it feels somewhat familiar to the looks the crowd in the arena would give me.
I do not like it.
Elias elbows me and I'm about to return the favor, when I notice what he was trying to get me to see.
Marinah is walking towards the group with Kathlyn and hasn't seen me yet.
Her appearance is enchanting today as her ears are outfitted with shining green gemstones to match her eyes. The grace in which she walks-
"Holy gods above… you're completely smitten with-"
I return his elbow then, much harder.
I can't help myself as I stare, red hair flows gently in the breeze as her gor-
I pull my eyes away and admonish myself.
'You do not have the time to waste on something like this! Focus Kelric, there's something more important at stake here!'
I'm just getting myself under control when I hear Elias shout out.
"Heyyyy! Kathlyn! Marinah! Over here!"
I turn to look at the smug bastard who was trying to sabotage me. His voice is grating to my ears.
"No need to thank me, I'll always help a friend in need."
I accept my fate as the girls walk over.
Marinah's voice is small when she greets me.
"Good morning, Kelric."
"Uhh yeah.. same to you."
We stare at each other for a long while until Elias opens his stupid mouth again.
"Gods.. get a room you lovebirds."
I turn to stomp on Elias's foot, but he had taken precautionary measures this time and backed far away.
His words have upset Marinah as her cheeks glow. I feel better knowing that she hates the idea of being with me, it'll make it easier to focus on revenge.
The crowd is quite sizable now and the rush of excited whispers make me turn. The older gentleman who came out the previous morning returns with a large scroll.
The fence surrounding the academy is quite high, so I'm a little surprised as he effortlessly leaps up onto one of the thick stone pillars where the gate is hinged.
"If you're not on the list, you failed. Those who are, must return in three days time so the home room instructors can bid on you."
His words irk me and I do not very much like the thought of being sold or bought.
The scroll he's holding unfurls to reveal the names. A spring that I didn't see before, has a long thin piece of metal that presses along the top of the stone pillar. The old man pulls it back and clamps the scroll down.
I'm very good at estimating, but actual math is beyond me. I can't tell how many people have passed as two rows of names sprawl down to the bottom.
They didn't do it in alphabetical order it seems, because my name is at the top to the left of someone I've never heard of.
Elias's name is further down the list a few spots and I have to use my fingers and toes to see that he's twelfth.
Marinah's name is even further below his and I can't possibly know what number hers is.
Elias starts to make a weird noise, so I turn to him with an eyebrow raised.
"What is wrong with you?"
"K-Kelric.. how did you finish in first place.."
"Does the ranking of the names mean something?"
He looks at me like I'm stupid when I ask this.
"Yes.. it determines who had the best performance on the exam. You can't even read… why are the gods so cruel.."
I don't really hear his explanation because my body is currently not functioning. Marinah had flung herself on me after I asked my question.
"Wow Kelric! You got first place, that's incredible!"
Her closeness and the way in which she clings to me has my mind blank. She lets go after a moment and I notice she looks madder than ever as she stares at the ground.
'I didn't even do anything this time..'
Elias's voice cuts through the weird air between us.
"This calls for a celebration! Kathlyn, Marinah meet us at the Frosted Rose around 5. After, we can have a small party back at my place!"
Kathlyn shakes her head at this.
"We can meet at the Frosted Rose, but father wants to meet the man who saved my life. He's throwing a ball tonight."
"Ugghh.. fine. We can do it my way tomorrow.."
I'm not really following the conversation, "Who saved your life recently?"
I guess I shouldn't have asked because the stares I receive are insulting.
"You did? Did you already forget what happened a couple days ago?"
"But I saved Elias.. not you."
"Hahaha Kelric you're too much. Of course you saved all our lives. That man probably would've killed the three of us if you weren't there."
Her words make sense to me, "Oh okay."
After ironing out a solid timeline, Elias and I head back to his house.
I think I might try sleeping around in that comfortable bed all day, but my conscious doesn't allow me the option.
"Hey, I'll be back in a little while."
Elias shouts after me as I walk down a familiar alleyway.
"You don't have to follow me, this will only take a moment."
"I'm coming with, so suck it up. How do I explain to Kathlyn or Marinah if you disappear all day like you did yesterday."
My sigh is loud as we bend the corner and take a left.