Chapter 87 – Kicked Out
"You What?!? Have you got any idea how hard it is to make that band?" Althea lectured her nephew. "And here you tell me you just lost one?! I was planning to boost it up for you after the tournament!"
"Sorry, but I was in quite a predicament, see, there was this Dryad lady called Dennison, and she was really tough!"
"Dennison? You went against Eurydice Dennison?"
"You know her?"
"She used to be part of the Magic Division. She went to the Military Division after finishing her studies in Magic Flora. Did you win?"
"Yes!" Dorin said proudly. "But she was able to break my token as well, so I guess it was a tie, though she did lose consciousness..." Dorin fell quiet, lost in thought. "She was very pretty," he added.
"Ho! Don't tell me you have a crush on her?" his aunt teased him.
"I-I just think she's really pretty..." Dorin replied, his face turning red. "Her hair was green, and so were her eyes... just like mother's."
"Ugh, there you go again with your mother complex!" Althea snorted, "Well, I'm not against you crushing on someone, but remember, your studies must always come first!" Althea sighed, and rustled his hair. "Anyway, make do with one band for now, just remember to tone your powers down when ever you use it, what ever you do!"
"Okay," answered Dorin. "Can I go back now?"
"You came here alone?"
"Yup, I asked Xander to drop me off, they went straight back to the dorms with Johan."
"Then stay there and let me send you to the main hall at least."
Sebastian was having the time of his life.
It felt like decades since he had the room to himself; no pesky Dorin, no noisy Johan, no clingy Azra who was currently watching TV with Dagon. He gave a deep sigh and dipped himself under the hot lavender scented bubble bath he prepared for himself.
He was still soaking in the bath, humming to himself, when he felt his locking spell being opened.
"Ah, Dorin and Johan are back... too bad, I still wanted to enjoy the silence..." he said to himself as he lazily got out of the tub.
He took his towel to dry himself then began to dress in his pajamas. As he was opening the bathroom door, he heard people talking outside.
"We have guests this late at night?" he peeked outside and saw a tall man standing with his back to him.
"I guess he can take one of the spare rooms..." he heard Johan say.
[Prof. Dupont?] Sebastian wrote as the tall professor turned around. [What seems to be the]
He was stopped mid writing as he saw the young man by the door. It was Bennette, his military uniform thorn, a bruise on his cheek and a patch on his left eye.
[What happened?] Sebastian quickly went closer to the young lieutenant. [Who did this to you?!]
"Sadly, it was his own father," Dupont said darkly. "He didn't take well on the news of his son being drafted into the Special Classes. He stripped him of his badges, kicked him out of the Military, and sent him here."
"I-I'm sorry for disturbing you..." Bennette stammered, "I-I'll just go to my room and..."
"Have you eaten yet?" Johan called from the kitchen. He was already preparing some porridge for the wounded medic. Dagon hang on his shoulder while Azra stared at Bennette.
"I... You don't really need to bother..." Bennette mumbled.
"Where's Dorin?" asked Dupont who looked round the room.
"He went to his aunt for something," Johan answered absentmindedly.
"Alone?" he sounded worried.
"Don't worry, that kid can take care of himself."
[Come, I'll show you to one of the empty rooms] Sebastian told Bennette.
They went to the room next to Johan's and opened it with Bennette's black class card.
[You need to whisper your class number when you close it from the inside, so it can only open with your card.] he told Bennette. [You know where the bath is? You want to take one?]
"No, I'm fine. Thank you very much for everything," he sat on the bed and sighed. "I hope you don't mind... I would like to take some rest now."
[Of course. Just call if you need us.]
Sebastian went back outside and saw Dupont talking with Johan who was showing him his new sword.
"I'll look for a scabbard for you," said the professor, "It would be such a waste if you just leave it like that." He seems to be in a hurry as he looked at the door. "Well, I'll be leaving now," he said. "It was a good thing I saw Bennette leaving the infirmary while I was heading to the staff dormitory. He looked like he didn't know where else to go."
"His father's a bastard!" hissed Johan. "A stuck up army man no be'er than those bastards who keep harassin' us at the mines. I'd like to kick his stinky ass `n snobby nose `n see if his dragon badge ain't all for show! I ne'er liked the looks of `em."
"Johan, watch your language," said Dupont. "The Bennettes are known as the Alciones who lost their magic, but whatever they lack in magic, they make up for with enhanced physical strength. In fact, the Gunnar family comes from their branch of the Alcione blood line," continued Dupont. "That is also the reason why they have completely turned their backs on magic."
[But that's no reason to do that to your own son!]
"True. But even before Patrice was included in the Special Class, he was already well known as the 'Yellow Bennette'," Dupont sighed as he continued. "It seems that Patrice prefers to be a Medic and refuses to even hold an elemental weapon. What's more, he was born with a weak body, or should we say, as an ordinary person with neither extraordinary strength nor skill in combat. Thus, as a Military General, his father views him as a failure and a disgrace to the family."
[Come to think of it... The Bennette ensign of the closed fist, Patrice does not have one, even if he's the son of the current head.]
"Exactly. And now, he has been formally disowned."
"Well, if that's the case, then we will gladly adopt him!" said Johan. "Back in the mines, whenever one loses a family, he gains the whole mine."
"Glad to hear that," said Dupont who touched his wrist watch, "Well, I better leave now, perhaps I'd run into Dorin along the way."
[Good night.]
"See you tomorrow in basic elements!" Johan called to the professor as he left the room.
Dupont was on his way down to the 1st floor when he ran into Dorin.
"Prof. Dupont! What brings you here this late? It's almost 10 in the evening."
"Ah, glad to see you're back." The professor placed an arm on his shoulder and began to pat his back. "I was about to fetch you from your aunt's."
"Why, is there something wrong?"
"No, no, I just wanted to give you something."
Prof. Dupont took a cellular phone from his pocket and handed it to Dorin.
"Woah! A cellphone? Is this for me?!" Dorin exclaimed happily.
"Yes, I was in the infirmary this morning and heard your aunt grumbling about not being able to contact you."
"Oh, but, I can't accept this, it would easily break if I use my magic..."
"Don't worry, I had the technology department modify it to withstand sudden fluctuations of electric surges," Dupont said with a laugh. "I had it especially made for you."
"Wow! Thanks a lot, Jacob!" Dorin jumped at the tall teacher and gave him a big hug. Prof. Dupont looked surprised, then did the same.
"Okay now, it's time for you to head upstairs and get some rest," he told Dorin.
"Thanks again! I'll take very special care of this!"
"Good then, I'll see you tomorrow at Elements 101."
"Welcome back! Did you run into Jacob?" Johan asked as Dorin entered their room.
"Yeah, look, he gave me a new cellphone!"
Johan looked at it and sighed. "I could never get the hang of using those gadgets."
"Now, I wouldn't need Sebastian and Margarette to text for me!" Dorin looked around the room. "Where's Sebastian anyway?"
"In his room," answered Johan. "Also, we have a new room mate."
"New room mate? Who?" Dorin asked, brows raised.
"Jacob didn't tell you?" Dorin shook his head. "Bennette was kicked out from the military division. He'll be staying here from now on."
"Really? Then I guess Sebastian won't be free to talk in the room again..."
"Unless he talks to Bennette."
"Well, there's that, but I think there's already too many people who knows about him."
"True. But we'll have to live with him from now on, and he seems harmless enough. Did you know that he was called the 'Yellow Bennette' because he refuses to fight? Seems he prefers to be a medic."
"Is that why he was kicked out of the military?"
"Seems so... well, he'd be better off as a medic, after all. Too skinny."
"Yeah, but he would have made a good spy, being that unnoticeable." Dorin's tummy begins to rumble. "Anyway, is there anything to eat?"
"Some porridge. I can fry you some sausages if you want."
"Yes please!"
One floor bellow, two people have decided to have a sleep over. Or rather, one decided to stay in the other's room for the night.
"How's your breathing?" Mordecai asked his ward.
"Better," Xander grins. "I told you, I'm feeling fine, the air here is so much fresher than the Capital's and the exercise is doing me good!"
"But your blood pressure is a bit elevated, and your temperature..."
"That was because of the tournament, I'm doing better now! Tomorrow, let's go by the SCS room to see Azra. I always feel lighter after some time with her, and the last time we were together, I swear I saw her eyes get redder as she stared at me!"
"We'll go if we have time, you know that those people are still a bit wary of us."
"I just wish they would be friendlier to me... I only want to be closer to them... And Johan! I've got new-found respect for him after seeing what he was actually capable of! Did you see?! He was a Metal Master as well! And at such a young age! Even the youngest Metal Masters in the imperial capital were at least thirty years old!"
"Well, Dorin seems to be one as well," said his aide.
"Oh, but Dorin is the prophesied Golden One! Of course he can do anything!" Prince Xander said excitedly. "And did you hear Johan's story! The song really was about the Golden Prince! And now that the Golden Prince is here, we only need to wait for the Silver Deity to appear!"
"But the silver enchanters are long gone, and with the last pure Ravante dead, there's no chance to get an heir..."
"But don't forget Elazar, the rebel Ravante! He might come out any day, then the doorway to paradise will open again! Oh, Mordecai! At least, I would be able to see the Garden of Paradise! At least I'll be able to set foot on it before... before..."
Xander begins to whiz.
"Really, Prince Xander, that's enough excitement for today!" Mordecai worriedly placed a hand inside the prince's open shirt. It glowed a pale blue as it touched his chest, just over a long scar along his sternum. "You should take some rest for now, and don't forget your father's orders."
"I know..." he answered softly. "Just tell him that nothing special has happened today," he sighed. "I'm thankful that he sent me here, but I have no intentions to spy for him. I just want to be an ordinary student... with ordinary classes... and ordinary friends..."
Prince Xander closed his eyes, his breath, finally getting stable. Mordecai sighed as he brushed a stray strand from his ward's face.
"You finally got your wish, my prince," he whispered to the slumbering boy. "You have finally flown free from your golden cage, but take it easy. Flap your wings, rise one height at a time, and beware, lest the sun's flame burns your feathers."
He trailed the scar on the prince's chest before buttoning his shirt and finally settling down on the long couch beside Xander's bed to go to sleep himself.