After the abrupt end to the match. The introductory spar finished faster than a man with a dysfunction problem.

It was not to say that there weren’t gossips, murmurings and even reverence once the fight ended.

But you know, that was expected. Especially when one of your mates nearly lost his life on the very first day of school.

The instructor had told them to explore more of the academy, prepare for their first classes tomorrow and maintain the peace.

Dean and Olsen walked across the narrow corridor trying their best not to be caught in the wave of stares.

But it seemed the eyes had finally won. Dean suddenly staggered. His head felt light as if he was about to collapse.

Olsen was quick to catch him. "You’ve lost a lot of blood."

’Blood?’ Dean squinted like he heard something foreign and then he felt it.

His face felt like it was on fire and blood was still dripping down his chin and his stomach seemed to be running empty as well.

’Damn. What was I thinking,’ Dean would have face-palmed, if his face wasn’t...You know..

He’d made a fatal miscalculation. This level of pain was something he could’ve handled with his old body.

After all, he had gone through worse and was trained for it. But in this new world. He was only 17.

That reality seemed to slip off his mind more often than not.

"We are going to the school clinic," Olsen said as he placed one of Dean’s hands over his shoulder.

<><><>

They were halfway to the clinic when Andre stepped into their path.

Olsen tensed. Dean didn’t.

Andre’s eyes were cold, with a touch of annoyance underneath.

"You held back."

Dean’s jaw tightened. "Marcus would disagree."

"You stopped yourself. I saw it." Andre’s voice was flat. "The fist..the one that she stopped. Would’ve actually killed him."

Dean said nothing.

"If we ever fight," Andre continued, "don’t stop. I want to see what you’re actually capable of."

Dean faked an exaggerated grimace "You’ve seen what happens, when I don’t hold back."

"No..I saw you lose control." Andre stepped closer. Close enough, Dean could see his pupils.

"That’s different from choosing not to hold back. Figure out the difference."

He walked past without waiting.

Ash’s eyes tracked him. Its body tensed and ready to strike if Dean gave the word.

Dean exhaled slowly. "Calm down, buddy."

The slime settled down. But its gaze stayed locked on Andre’s back until he was out of sight.

Olsen let out a breath. "That guy’s too intense."

"He’s a fan," Dean smiled and started walking again.

"And...he’s also right."

<><><>

At the clinic. Dean laid on a bed. His right hand touched the healing claw marks on his face.

"Can’t this healer just heal me properly?" Dean looked at Olsen.

The gentle giant sat on the edge of the bed, Ash curled on his lap, smaller than usual.

Dean could feel its exhaustion through Resonance. The slime was drained from the transformation.

Olsen shook his head at the question. But before he could even begin explaining the why’s to Dean.

The curtain was pulled to the side for a young woman to step in.

With yellow hair as bright as sun flowers, she had soft pink lips but what Olsen’s eyes immediately locked on like Dean’s was the snake tattoo just above her heavy cleavage.

"You look better, after a single session." She said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

’And you look like the shit!’ Dean thought. The girl’s eyes were deep. Too deep. Like she was an insomniac.

And her insistent sucking of the lollipop in her mouth made Dean even more irritated.

"..Yes.." Dean answered while he nudged Olsen with his legs.

Understanding the signal, Olsen stopped staring. His muscles relaxed. And before Dean could say anything else, Olsen spoke first.

"Why does my friend have to come back three more days.. it’s just a claw–?"

"It’s not my fault," the girl sighed.

"It’s just that Madame Flora is on vacation and Lady Argent had an emergency."

"...Argent?" Olsen blurted out.

"Yes.."

The boys exchanged surprised looks, well aware what that emergency could be.

Seeing them stare at each other. The nurse, if you could call her that. Coughed.

"You should know... all the rumors about Lady Argent are lies."

Quickly, Dean’s head snapped at the girl.

"What rumors?" He asked with intrigue.

"Never mind," the girl answered as her eyes darted away in embarrassment.

Dean was unsure what that meant. He just wanted his face fixed.

She moved closer and it made sense why Olsen would take interest in her.

They were different sides of a coin. Tired and wishing they could be anywhere else but here.

She placed ointment on the wound that had closed up a little due to her minor healing prowess from earlier.

"Ouch,"

"You’ll be fine.." she said with another fake smile. Before moving to the next bed.

"What a nurse.." Dean said in a hushed tone.

Olsen smiled and nodded as he kept petting Ash.

Turning his attention fully to Olsen. Dean raised a brow..

"You were saying something earlier."

"What?"

***

Ten minutes later, the duo was outside the clinic room. Dean was still hungry and his growling stomach didn’t even bother hiding it anymore.

"Let’s grab a bite," Dean said.

Olsen gave him that look again. He knew exactly what that look meant.

"I can’t." Olsen answered while he faced the opposite direction.

Dean frowned. "Where do you keep going?"

Olsen’s shoulders tensed. "It’s a family thing."

"What kind... of family thing?"

"Business." Olsen said flatly, somewhat uncomfortable as well."Can’t really talk about it."

Dean studied him closely. The gentle giant looked stressed. Actually stressed, not just tired.

"Is it dangerous?"

"No. Just... complicated." Olsen flashed a smile. "I’ll explain soon... Just not now."

Dean listened closely. Olsen hadn’t pried into his shit. So fair was fair.

"Alright. But you coming back tonight?"

"Not sure."

Dean’s jaw tightened. "So I’ve got a serial killer roommate."

Olsen nodded slowly, grinning. "I’ll try not to murder you in your sleep."

"..."

Dean waved him off as he walked to the cafeteria while he dismissed Ash.

***

[Cafeteria - Different Table]

Clack

The fork hit the metal plate annoyingly. That was the only way Rogue could describe it. Was it the plate’s fault? No..

"Ahh.." he sighed. As he played with the food again. His appetite was dead and buried at this point.

The whispers and eyes that hung in the air around him after losing to Andre made it even worse.

"Don’t be so down bro..." A soothing voice reeled Rogue a few inches away from his brooding.

David continued. "People like Astrea, Louis and Andre," he paused to take a hard bite from some dried meat.

"They are just monsters. And people like us just enjoy the profit from that. While living simple and safe lives."

Rogue lifted his face from the plate. He looked at David who flashed him a small grin. Rogue was disgusted but his face remained unreadable.

The others on the table were silent. But Rogue knew better. He wasn’t like them that were from high-end homes.

His own parents had to scrap their butts through the gutter and even borrow a few thousand quids to get him here.

To be average here, and just accept being insufficient wasn’t his goal. It couldn’t be.

He looked at the food. He didn’t have the appetite for it but decided to eat either way. This was their sweat and struggles.

How dare he... waste it.

Everyone back home always told him, he was talented and one day, his summons and talent could get his family out of struggle.

Being in Franseint was proof they didn’t just lie to inflate his ego but actually believed in him.

For Rogue... that was everything. And this was his chance to showcase that talent.

Get picked by one of the guilds or even the W.S.A at graduation.

From there, he could get a good life and put his lineage on the right track.

’But this fucking blacksmiths’ his thoughts raged again as he stabbed the fork on the plate. Shocking everyone at the table.

He was getting thwarted by the blacksmith boys. One with an invisible blade and the other that cosplayed his prized summon and used it better.

"Hey grumpy," a finger caressed Rogue’s chin all of a sudden.

He didn’t fully raise his head when he felt his face pressed against her sweet spot.

Her alluring scent invaded his nose and sent his mind spinning as all sorts of unhinged thoughts filled his head.

She released him and Rogue looked up and of course it was Vanessa. His long-time girlfriend.

She smiled while running her fingers through his blond hair.

"I heard about your fight. Sorry baby..!" she spoke like she was talking to a child.

And in that moment. Rogue’s anger melted. As he looked at the girl that had repeated her first year in Franseint after failing a certain course.

"It’s not as the rumors say," Rogue said as he gestured for a kiss.

Vanessa leaned in and kissed him on the lips causing a few shifts and stares.

"Get a room already...jeez"

Even as he kissed Vanessa. Rogue’s eyes snapped to the left, noticing Dean enter the cafeteria.

There he was... one of the bastards. The most annoying one.

"Wait a sec, babe." He said as he stood and began walking towards the serving area.

Dean Gray wasn’t walking out of this one clean.

A/N: I’ll be going premium soon. I hope for your support. Please reviews, powerstones and Golden Tickets are much appreciated. Thank You!