Monday after classes Maria took me to the library. The library was located on the first floor but we had to enter from the first floor. The reading space was on the ground floor and the books were on the first floor. First I have to learn the important languages of this world. There were two languages for humans, two for elves, one for beastmen and one for demons, and then there are the dialects.

“There are so many people here, you know.”

“Not many people can come here and above anything else it’s Monday, nobody does anything productive on Mondays.”

“If I want to learn a foreign language where should I look for a book to help me?”

“It’s easier to show you.”

The books were organized alphabetically so if you want to read something you’d better know the name. You’d think that organizing books both alphabetically and by genre would be a good idea, well, not for them.

The human language was found in a book called “Human words”.

“But why this title?”

“The book is addressed to everybody, including those who don’t know how to read well.”

“I really want to see how a dictionary looks like.”

“[Human words] is so thick because it explains the meaning of most words.”

I wouldn’t call a 400 page book thick but I guess that’s the difference in our standards.

“Next would be an elvish language book.”

“That would be [Fantasia, Language of elves], we went past it.”

We went back a little. Almost all the books in the library were on bookshelves but there were a few exceptions, books placed on pedestals. Apparently one of the books was the one I was looking for. Now that’s a thick book, the book had a green cover and was as thick as a dictionary.

“Well, that’s something.”

“Don’t think too highly of it, the writing is big and there are mostly pictures, honestly I think that the pictures get in the way.”

“Now I need beastmen and demon language books.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. While the beastmen aren’t hostile to us it doesn’t mean we are on good terms with each other. Humans aren’t interested in speaking the same language as demons or their kind, that’s the generic explanation.”

“And the real explanation?”

“Humans want to feel superior to other races and so they don't care about them.”

“I thought this wouldn’t happen in Sonne.”

“It’s a common occurrence; humans look down on other species.”

“Talk about hypocrisy, isn’t Sonne supposed to be all about knowledge?”

“We only share our knowledge with elves; that is the policy.”

“I thought that this place would be an exception.”

“The young people still hold a grudge against other races because that’s what they are taught at home.”

“Is this the reason why the school has dormitories?”

“Yes.”

So my hometown accepted Mau because it was mainly made of old people who knew how the world works. I don’t really want to play by those rules but I don’t really have a choice now.

“Why are you so interested in all this?”

“Didn’t Liliana tell you, when I was younger a merchant with a slave came to our village to buy some weapons and pottery. The slave was injured, tripped and most of the things she was carrying fell on me. The merchant ignored me, thinking that his things were less important than me so I proved him wrong; I freed his slave and now she is staying in the village.”

Maria was surprised, for a few seconds she looked at me without saying anything, maybe because I told the story like it wasn’t a big deal.

“That’s insane… No, it’s impossible. How can you even remove a slave mark, that’s advanced black magic?”

“You know I can heal a person by transferring their illness to me, it’s almost the same principle for curses.”

“I know you removed your mother’s curse but removing a slave mark is not the same thing. Look, a slave mark is like a magical death sentence, those things can only be removed by the ones who cast them or by a light magic master.”

“It was a weak curse.”

Maria sulked. I don’t understand what she wanted to tell me. I know that only light magic is effective against curses but I’m not removing them using the usual method.

“It doesn’t matter how strong the curse is, removing it takes a lot of magic and a physical strain on the host’s body.”

“I just took her curse; my body removed it on its own.”

“Demons are immune to most curses…but…for you to do that is incredible.”

“Do you have any more questions?”

“No.”

“Then can we continue?”

“Of course.”

The school’s textbooks were found at the end of the room, separated from the rest. I had Maria tell me which books were for every year to save some time. I also found out that the seventh and eight years were necessary for those who want go to the Imperial Academy to become scholars, from what I heard there is an easier way to enter the Academy, a letter of recommendation.

After being showed the location of the books I took a first year textbook, I was curious about the method of teaching. Apparently kids are taught how to write in the first school year, I remember Ellen teaching me reading, writing and speaking at the same time.

When I started reading I found out that if I read slowly I can remember what I read faster and I really had no reason to read fast since time was the only thing I had in abundance.

I stayed in the library reading and didn’t notice that it was already midnight, which means I have to hurry.

“You are late.”

“I was reading. I already learnt Shadow Step, what do you want me to do? “

“It’s time to teach you Shadow Dash. What’s with that face?”

“Last time I tried to release more than the bare minimum amount of magic the ground exploded.”

“All you have to do is to exercise your magic control.”

And so I spent the rest of the month practicing my control over magic but this time my luck was on a break so there were no good results. On the other hand I deepened my friendship with Maria and Liliana and strengthened my position as the smartest guy in my year.

The first Friday of November after we finished classes I went to the library to read the first volume of Karma Sutra.  It was almost 10 P.M when I returned to my dorm room. I expected to find Jaden smiling like an idiot ready to brag about how his date went.

When I entered the room I saw Jaden beaten up. He had bruises on his face and hands, his uniform was in tatters and he had a black eye. Mir was treating him with light magic but those things take time.

“What the hell happened to you, did you tell her something she didn’t like?”

Jaden looked at me almost ready to cry. Mir looked like she wanted to say something but she had to concentrate on healing Jaden.

“Really now; what happened?”

“There’s a boy, he is an eighth grader, who is a fighting genius saw me with Saya and beat me because he loves her.”

“Is it mutual?”

“She doesn’t like him but he keeps going after her.”

“How old is he?”

“Eighteen.”

I was about to make a joke about pedophilia but I remembered that the concept doesn’t exist in this world.

“Let me see you wounds?”

My power can tell me the extent of his injuries. Apparently his left shoulder was dislocated but besides that the damage was external, it was most likely a demonstration. Now I have an excuse to beat somebody.

“Stay still, I’m going to show you a new type of magic.”

I used dark transfer to heal his wounds.

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“What is happening, my wounds are healing?”

It’s good that the he wasn’t badly injured because I was able to heal the injuries before they got to show on my body.

“Done, now I am going to have a little talk with that guy and you are going to show me where he is.”

“I will. Damn, they really dealt with it quietly; I mean you didn’t hear anything before coming here, did you?”

“Sorry.”

“I’m tired, can we resume this tomorrow?”

“It’s fine, good night.”

After Jaden fell asleep Mir and I went to the rooftop.

“Do the forbid a third-party from interfering?”

“Yes, and even if I go and teach that kid a lesson Jaden will take the blame for it.”

“Then I’m going to beat that guy in your place.”

“I know you are his friend but that can’t be the only reason… I understand, if you beat him you will be acknowledged as the better fighter.”

“Yup, it’s that simple. I’m actually very lucky; I get to fight the boss directly.”

“I will be watching you, make sure you win.”

During training Maria avoided my questions related to this incident, if she can’t talk about it, it must be something serious.

OK, Saturday morning, Jaden was mustering courage to get out and I was preparing to meet the guy.

The meeting place was the courtyard; this place was starting to look like an underground fighting club. On the left side we have the red team; on the right side we have the blue team, in the middle of the field we have Ren a.k.a. The Big Red, the guy whose only mass is muscular mass; Really now this guy had half as many muscles as Kraft, that in itself was amazing.

“So you are that little guy’s friend. Did you come here to get beaten up too?”

“Wow man, careful there, if you speak that much you might pull a muscle in your brain.”

“YOU BITCH!”

This guy’s fuse was so short you couldn’t even make a firecracker with it. He is called a genius fighter because he mimics boxing. His stance was the same as the one boxers use.

“OK little outsider, let’s see what you’ve got.”

I intend to let him hit me a few times then find an opportunity to hit him.

He closed the distance between us and began throwing jabs. He kept hitting me but I wasn’t reacting, I was just staying still. Jaden and Saya looked so scared it was almost funny.

“Come on, are you just going to let me punch you, not that I care.”

So he thinks he’s smart, then let’s make thing interesting. I started dodging his punches by using his own footwork. Compared to other he was fast but not fast enough for me.

When he noticed what I was doing he lost his balance for a second allowing we to do a one-two combo. He came at me with the intent to kill. He changed his aim, attacking my body instead of my head.

“Nope.” He tried to hit my liver; I blocked his punch and delivered a jab.

“Stop moving kid.”

“How about you stop side stepping first?”

It was I noticed when I started practicing with Kraft; most people tend to stay still making them easy targets.

Now he went from punches to kicks. He tries to hit me with no success. I don’t know what annoys him more the fact that I dodge him or the fact that when I’m not dodging I counter him and him with a few jabs.

“You…I’m bringing you down.”

He charged at me and tried to punch me…or not. It was apparently a feint. He tackled me, picked me up and threw me a few meters away.

I landed on my back. I took more damage from the fall than I took from him.

“Alex, are you all right?” Jaden and Saya came running to check up on me.

“I didn’t notice earlier but the sky’s quite clear today; it's beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Are you all right man?”

“No, I’m pissed and tired of playing.”

I got up and walked towards Ren. He took his stance and watched me carefully.

“Come on genius; let’s see your best move.”

“You gave up huh, very well.”

And now this idiot was trying the move again. When he tried to tackle me I slipped and tripped him.

“Is this all you can do?”

He got up, took his stance and used body empowerment on his fist. This guy wants to give me a fire magic enhanced uppercut; I guess I have to use body empowerment too.

“HOW ABOUT THIS; BURNING CUT!”

He tried to make me drop my guard by kicking me. I jumped back then delivered a knee kick to the face. The man fell on his knees, I grabbed his hair and started knee kicking him more.

Skin contact made it possible for me to know how much damage I dealt to him. Apparently I broke his nose and a few teeth fell off and there’s also a little bleeding problem originating from his face.

“Feeling inferior yet?”

“Let…me…go.”

“Nope.”

I kept hitting him. I realized that everyone is staring at Ren while he’s getting beaten up without trying to help. Jaden came running when he thought I was in hurt but I’ve been hitting this guy for a while and nobody tried to help.

“STOP THIS AT ONCE!”

From the crowd of statues came the dorm leader. I thought teachers were away on Saturday mornings.

“He started it and I’m finishing it.”

“You went too far. Beating one of the special students, I’ve never seen anyone this foolish. Release him at once!”

“Fine.”

I threw Ren at the teacher. He landed at his feet, his face covered in blood. Body empowerment really is one amazing technique.

“You can keep him.”

“I’m taking Ren to the infirmary, don’t you dare moving from there.”

I bet I’m going to get punished for what I did. Now that I bullied the bully everyone knows it’s better to stay on my good side.

After the teacher took Ren away the crowd dispersed, the only remaining people were me, Jaden and Saya.

“Something wrong?” I asked Jaden who looked at me worried.

“I never expected a teacher to show up so early in the morning and he even saw you.”

“It’s fine. What did you think about the fight?”

“I understand your desire to toy with him; if I were as strong as you I would have done the same but you could have finished the fight sooner. Oh and thank you.”

“You are still here; I thought you would run with your tail between your legs.” The teacher came back.

“I beat up your number one student, what will you do?”

“You are going to spend the night in the Dark Room.”

“What’s that; are you taking me to your secret cellar?”

“Lucky guess; I will take you to a dark room without windows with a metal door.”

“Please don't, I'm going to have a nostalgia attack; my parents’ storage room was exactly like that and I loved staying there.”

The teacher took me to the school building. On the ground floor there was a metal door that led to the basement which apparently doubled as a prison. Unfortunately my room was the first door on the left side so I couldn’t get a good look at the rest of the basement.

“See you tomorrow.” Said the teacher after closing the big, metal door.