“Attention ankle biters!” Martha hollers for all to hear. “This here is Elyssia and she’ll be joining your little horde from today on. Be kind and show her the way we do things here.”

Where did the sweet grandmotherly Martha go? And what does she mean horde?

As the woman pushes me forward All the chatter halts and their gazes turn towards me. The species variety here doesn’t seem to be restricted to humans either, although I see a lot fewer dwarves and no beastmen at all.

They don’t really seem... you know, friendly. I feel like a group of street-hardened orphans are looking at me, searching for weakness and a way to use me... Must be my imagination, right?

I gather the courage to speak, as just staring oafishly might make them think I’m the meak kind. “Well you know my name already so there’s really not much more to say about me.” There is, just all of it is to be kept secret. “I plan on becoming unstoppable and one day strong enough to kick Bennett’s ass.” Could’ve been worse.

My joke seems to be a damp squib. Snorts and ridiculing looks welcome my attempt at lightening the atmosphere.

Okay, this is pretty much as bad as it can get.

[Mage lvl 22]

[Warrior lvl 32]

[Warrior lvl ??]

[Ranger lvl 25]

[Warrior lvl 21]

And it looks like I’m indeed a bottomfeeder, both in level and age.

“After lunch, follow the others to the classroom for the theoretical lessons. The discussion about your build will be on hold for the time being but we’ll find a moment to go over it. Probably. Enjoy your meal.” Before I can say anything she disappears again into thin air, leaving me here with the feral kids.

Well shit, I guess it's only forward then.

I walk over to a bench and plop down a bit away from all the other kids. Grilled meat, crispy veggies, bread, soup. The selection is surprisingly broad. My hands are on the border of shaking as I carefully choose what to eat first. It's just as tasty as it looks so I have no intention of breaking any food-related rules.

As the warmth of fresh proper food fills my stomach the outside word gets tuned out and I hum a merry little tune while chewing like a squirrel.

Around halfway through my meal, three kids walk over to me so I decide to just ignore them-

I hate being interrupted when I’m eating and that didn’t change just because I’m no longer at home. If they wanna get to know me or have a little chat they can wait until after my plate is empty.

Not even my parents are exempt from this rule of mine. From the corner of my eye, I see their face be overtaken by a frown that grows deeper by the second.

“She really thinks she can just ignore us? Hey, you ugliness, that’s our spot, piss off.” One of them wastes air on opening their mouth. “Who the hell do you think you are acting all haughty, huh? Degenerate filth.”

I’m too damn close to breaking some mess hall rules and some skulls right now already. I haven't even been here for ten minutes… So I just take a few deep breaths and continue my meal with a tranquil heart. Thankfully I’m too hungry to willingly leave my plate this quickly and escalate.

One of them is a somewhat fat boy with brown hair and eyes, being only a little bit taller than me. The second is a girl, her skin is dark brown just like her hair and eyes, kinda pretty, like almonds. I’ve rarely seen anyone like her. Mom and dad told me they are exactly the same human as any other just live further south, near the desert with more sunlight. The last boy, the one in the middle who just spoke to me, seems older than me, taller, heavier… the whole bully package. Red hair and green eyes.

I already hate his face. A face that turns ever redder as I continue to ignore him. This is kinda fun.

[Warrior lvl 22]

[Ranger lvl 24]

[Warrior lvl 25]

Not that much above me, likely just a step up on the ladder. Hope they don’t do anything stupid.

Then out of the blue, a hand grabs my shoulder and yanks me back. I fall on my butt, off the bench I was just sitting on, minding my own business… I soften my fall with my hands, making the spoon I was holding fall to the floor.

I know where this is going, and I’m not gonna play their game. Let them break the rules, I wash my hands.

“Oh look, the mongrel can’t even sit properly.” They burst out laughing. Really, that’s your best insult? “Or maybe you just realized your mistake and were about to give up your seat? Did you mongrel?” He leans closer.

Anger is a difficult emotion to suppress and my slight shaking just confirms my bubbling fury. I take a deep breath to calm myself, push myself off the ground and pick up the spoon.

It's time to use the technique mom has shown me. The tactic of pissing off bullies and drunkards.

I look at them like someone finding shit on their doorstep, shake my head, click my tongue and turn away. “These halfwits, wasting not just the air they breathe but also the food... They should just go back to the streets to be reminded how scarce a good meal is.” And continue where I was interrupted.

Yesss, perfect execution. Now if all goes well they'll-

All does not go well. My plan doesn’t really play out as I’ve imagined. The redhead kicks me in the side strong enough to make me fly off the bench and skid across the floor. I sit up with a groan and pat down myself, finding nothing broken.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

When I look over I can see him walking towards me to kick me again, so I put up a thin Mana Shield in the path of his shin. He kicks right into it with quite a bit of force making him kneel over holding his leg and hissing. The girl watching the whole ordeal and seeing her friend in pain, and of course, finding me at fault picks up a fork and throws it at me with deadly precision before dashing after it.

I block the fork with another shield but the girl just vaults over it and jump-kicks me in the chest before I can get up. I slide back further before bumping into a wall. My chest feels like cracking as I gulp deep from the air to refill my emptied lungs.

Now I’ve had enough. I conjure four Mana Bolts of pure arcane, each with a blunt tip as I don't want to actually kill them and launch the projectiles at my attackers. The girl nimbly dodges the two sent her way but the boy on the ground eats both shots getting knocked out cold.

We’re about to continue our melee when someone has a different idea. “You imbeciles, stop it right now!” A small, skinny man storms in. “Why can’t you just eat in peace for once? Get over here right now!” He roars, pointing at his feet.

The girl and I just frown before walking over, trading nasty glances along the way. The unconscious boy remains on the ground and the fatty shuffles over as well.

“The rules of the mess hall have been repeated countless times already yet you go around and kick up a row as if being senile. I would slap all of you if it wouldn't kill you right away.” He raises his hand as if actually preparing to swing. “The instructors will hear about this and dish out your punishments. I’ll make sure of it. Now don’t make me come over again or I won't be this lenient.”

“We didn’t even start it” Lies the girl through her teeth. “This bastard messed with us and threatened to-”

“Lie one more time and it’ll be your last one, girl!” The man steps closer to her. “You think we’re blind, or deaf? Everyone around you heard everything, we even expected it, and yet you dare-”

“But I didn’t even touch her.” Pleads the third member of their gang.

“Yeah, still you were about to.” The man looks at the boy’s arm that he holds behind his back. “Put the knife back on the table and come with me. I can’t be bothered with you any longer.”

“That won't be necessary, Jet, I’ll take it from here.” Bennett stands up from a nearby table and walks towards us, a plate of pork still in his hand. “You know how kids are… Full of energy and competition, maybe a bit too much of it.” The smaller dude just huffs and stands aside letting Bennett take over the scolding. “I was curious where this was headed so I let you duke it out a little. I have to say it was pathetic.”

“Can I finish my lunch now?” I ask, gaining a lot more confidence when faced with the old man. I enjoyed the meal and followed the rules. “You know… don't waste food.”

Bennett and Jet look at each other and the skinny man starts chuckling. “Gutsy little one aren’t you? But your reasoning is fine, food is precious.”

Bennett just massages his nose bridge, as usual. He has done that more and more since I met him, and I wonder why…. “Fine, I know you are the closest thing to the victim here, however, don’t think you’ll be able to get away this easily, you’re not that innocent. You two on the other hand, after me!” Bennett scoops up the boy sniffing the floor and two idiots follow the big idiot out of the mess hall, making peace return to the tables.

I keep the mocking face up as they leave, enjoying the sweet sweet victory. I didn’t even have to say a word in my defense.

With a job well done, I flop back to where I belong. The food is still mostly warm and just as tasty as when I took the first bite. It quickly manages to divert my thoughts of just what occurred, healing for the mind.

[Your class Skill [Mana Shield] has reached lvl 14.]

[Your class Skill [Mana Bolt] has reached lvl 12.]

Hmm, that’s surprising. The combat wasn't even that intense or deadly, so why the easy level-ups? Not that I’m complaining or anything, just curious. Maybe because this was the first time I used Skills against humans. Or because I used them in a specific way… I’ll ask Martha later.

***

After I polish off the rest of my meal, I just sit around enjoying the soothing feeling of a full belly when someone sits down next to me.

Oh c’mon just leave me in peace.

“Hey, you were quite cool back there, your chances of beating the three of them were also pretty high.” The boy pushes his hand into my face. “I’m Victor by the way, nice to meet you.”

[Ranger lvl 19]

He’s a human like most of them, with light brown hair and eyes deep blue. The glint in those eyes and smirk tell me he might be an even bigger troublemaker than Frans, which is a high praise. He wears the same training uniform as the other kids. White shirt, brown leather pants and leather boots.

“A pleasure.” I answer courtly, cautious after the previous encounter. “What do you want?”

“No need to be so hostile.” He smiles “That little brawl just now is nothing rare here but not all of us favor violence when meeting someone new. I personally believe dialog is the way to finding common ground.” He has a way with words. “Although a good fight also works quite well. Do you want to hang out?”

This catches me slightly off guard. I wasn't expecting someone to ask this so openly after all the hostilities. I don’t know him yet properly and he definitely looks like trouble… but I could give it a shot.

“Maybe. Can you tell me about how things work here?” I start carefully, more info never hurts.

“Sure. In the morning around eight, we wake up, eat a light breakfast and then it's time for physical training. Some running, obstacle course, the usual. Then around noon, we have lunch, like right now. At one o’clock everyone moves to the lecture room, where the theoretical lesson begins. Some basics like math, geography, a sprinkle of history and the general political situation around us. The worst, believe me.”

Quite the packed schedule. I’d much rather ditch all the unnecessary activities and focus on what makes me actually stronger. Okay, maybe running a little has its advantages.

“This goes on for three excruciating hours.” Victor continues. “Lastly we have specialized training and sparring in the afternoon, which is what mainly helps us progress. Some rest and a bath before dinner at seven and the day is basically over. After dinner, we have some free time but the curfew is at half past eight. Get caught out of your room and you can say goodbye to your breakfast, they can get really strict about sleep, kinda like food.”

What is this, a prison? Almost every hour of our daily life seems to be stuffed with rigorous activity. Where did childhood go? And how are the other kids okay with this when their parents… Oh, right. Orphans… Does that mean I’m the softie here? No…

I’m falling into a downward spiral. Being the weakest, softest, youngest, newest, very not bestest… This is not goodest.

The boy, Victor, jumps up from his seat and waves for me to follow. “I’ll show you to the lecture room. It’s best to get there early else the best seats for a good after-meal nap are gone.”

I follow him absentmindedly, tuning out all the pointless chit-chat coming out of his mouth and pondering about my mentality.

Compared to anyone else here I’m sheltered. Had a stable life, with enough food and a roof above my head. I don’t know the struggle. Am I lacking?

We arrive at a pair of hefty doors before I can come up with an answer and step into a spacious room, well lit by the massive windows on the opposite wall. A few rows of benches and tables are curved around a small podium and a blackboard, the spot for Martha to teach the youth.

“The further back the better.” Victor declares and skips towards the back row.

I highly doubt distance matters. Martha can most definitely, hear, see, or even predict anything in here.

I ignore him and take a seat at the very front. Everything I know about the upcoming lesson comes from a boy in the Frans category so I’ll take his word with a pinch of salt. Better see it for myself up close.

“Please don’t tell me you’re one of those teacher’s pet kind of people.” He pleads while plopping down beside me.