After a lifetime of waiting we finally managed to get inside the city, although the guards did have weird expressions at the sight of my disheveled and burned appearance. Thankfully the usual emblem of the Fist from Martha urged them to make a quick decision. The only correct one.

We made our way to the stables near the gate however instead of the common stables we approached a bigger fenced one. The guards stationed there also folded at the sight of the badge, allowing us in and saying a “Welcome ma’am.” to Martha.

Inside the building an incredible sight welcomes me. Stables are for horses, or so I thought. There are horses in here, yes, but the throng of flightless birds, agile lizards, weird blobby things and even some canines is what really catches the eye.

[Goa lvl ??]

A big, lanky chicken-like bird with long and muscular legs and a dumb face.

[Gecko lvl ??]

A sleek black, red spotted lizard with wide feet.

[Hound lvl ??]

A big-ass dog.

And many other types of creatures, their noises filling the stable as they stir at the new arrivals. It's not only the sight that’s astonishing, there’s also the smell… Yeah, let’s not even talk about the poop everywhere, that’s a whole other story.

“This here is my little Sheela.” Martha walks up to one of the larger Goas.

The beast looks really excited to see its partner. It runs in tiny circles while chirping deep and flapping its comically small wings.

“She was my mount on missions back in the old days when I was still active. Dressed in our glorious armor, making enemies cower wherever we went right?” She talks to the bird, and it seems to somewhat understand her, or just wiggling in happiness. “This is the stable of the corps. If a detachment needs to arrive somewhere and fast we have our own well-trained mounts to carry the squads. However, if not in a hurry or marching as a full regiment, the mercenaries of the Fist travel by foot. Or wagon to carry the supplies.” I’m still rooted in place, eying the sight of many creatures.

Especially the Geckos, their big eyes are so~o cute.

Right at this moment one of them licks its eye, which shocks me to no end. Okay maybe not too cute, still nice. The wolves and hounds only look moderately fluffy which is still acceptable to a certain degree.

“We don't have any flying mounts?” I ask, having hoped for at least one.

A griffon, a roc, or maybe a unicorn, or a wyvern… Damn, those would’ve been cool.

“We do, or the head does. Flyers’ license is a big privilege here in the Empire and not everyone needs mounts to fly. I can fly with simple magic though not as long or stable as a legitimate flying creature.”

No way, could I use my magic to fly as well? Not for a long time probably. I can’t lift earth a quarter of my weight with dedicated earth magic. Okay, it's technically arcane, still… Let’s shelf that idea for now.

“That’s so cool, can we fly back to the fort?” I ask, having dreamed about flying, back when I was five.

“Sadly Granhall does not allow for individual flight, not without a good reason.” Bollocks, as Bennett would say.

We say our goodbyes to the beasts and make our way back… to the Fort or maybe I should get used to calling it home from now on.

By now Solaire is barely visible on the horizon, marking the start of dinner time. The streets are still filled with people although not the same way as during the day. Almost no passersby walk around with a clear direction in mind or a clear mind in general. Drinking and watching some street performers looks like common entertainment in squares. A lot more food vendors shout their offers all around and restaurants seem full as well. The sounds of music and singing travel through the night air in Granhall, the whole mood filling me with happy buzzing.

I really hope the mess hall has some music too.

***

We don’t have music, we have drunk people shouting and the clinking of tableware. I don’t consider that music to the ears. The mood is still pleasant, it's just… music would make things even better.

I sit back in the same place as last time, the plate no less full either. Not long after I start eating Victor plops down next to me with a cheeky grin.

“You look like shit. Did you have fun?” He asks like we’re best buddies.

I throw him an annoyed ‘shut up and leave’ glance, which seems to just bounce off him.

Remember Eli try making friends.

“It was fun actually, for the most part.” I lie. It was quite boring and life-threatening. “Now shut up, I hate being interrupted while eating.” I growl at him and turn back to my food.

Then a green-haired girl, around our age, sits down next to Victor. Green hair, amber eyes, pointy nose and even pointier ears. Rare features even amongst elves. She's all smiley and bright, almost annoyingly so.

“Hey Vic, what do you have, I picked some…” Blah blah blah. I tune them out after the first few words.

The girl is too flowery and Victor is annoying on purpose, a wonderful duo.

“Who’s this girl here? She’s new, isn’t she? Oh, I saw her this morning in that brawl. Where did you go during training a few hours ago?” She just spams the questions.

I can’t even remember the first one she asked so I make it short.

[Druid lvl 21]

“I’m Elyssia, a pleasure. I arrived today and during training, Martha took me out to teach me a lesson as I was too cocky.” I answer with a full mouth, can’t be bothered.

“Oh, that’s wonderful. My name is Kayla, as you can see I’m an elf. I’m a support and Tamer. I hope we can work together in the future, I was really surprised how well you fought off those three today.” Does she even need to breathe? “Oh I see you eat a lot, probably had a nice outing with Martha, if your hair is anything to go by.” Yeah, I managed to change clothes to a skirt and blouse but the bath had to wait. “You must be tired, right? Usually, nine-year-olds aren’t taken on outings into the forest, so you must be quite something. I know it's rude to ask but you’re not just a simple Wind mage, are you? You can use too much mana and you threw Arcane spells around this afternoon. I saw it. How did you do that, is it a special class? Oh, you don’t have to answer, it’s just my mouth can’t stop when I’m excited.”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

I’m not too worried she caught me using other elements besides wind. If she noticed it, then so did Martha, and if no scolding came my way yet then it is safe.

“I can hear that.” I swallow, being around halfway through my dinner. “How about we continue this conversation after the meal?” I ask hopefully because my ears feel like melting after all this pointless speech.

Victor bursts out laughing at the exchange, tears flowing from his eyes as he slaps the table. “Yeah…heh… I hoped for something like this. Hahaha… opposite personalities, one gloomy one sunny.” He jests.

“I’m not gloomy, just find me when I’m not eating. It’s hard to speak with a full mouth or when this girl talks more than a full room of married women.” I really hope no more interruptions occur during this dinner.

Just as I finish that thought, Bennett walks over to the children's area.

Oh, what now?

“Listen up ankle biters! It looks like our little home has been quite popular recently, as today another brat joins your little horde. This grumpy shorty here is Augus, take good care of each other. Enjoy your meal.” And he’s already gone.

Just the way it happened to me. He’s not joking, it has only been a day since I arrived and there’s a new face already. Are there really this many orphans dumb or desperate enough to come to decide they wanna be a Bennett in the future? I mean, the food is good and the beds are warm… Okay, this is a good choice actually, it's just me who dislikes being here.

By the number of eyes aimed towards me, I’m not the only one having the same line of thought. Many other kids are looking at me and then back at the boy. He seems to be my age despite being a bit shorter. I like to rank kids by height since I usually win in that department.

The boy has dark red hair and light amber eyes, a bit dimmer and a lot colder than Kayla’s. He doesn’t look scrawny despite being a street rat just joining the Fist. Quite the opposite actually, he looks fit. Maybe high-intensity games of tag and intense street brawls did their job if his ragged clothes are anything to go by.

[Warrior lvl 18]

Huh, I might no longer be the weakest here.

He meets my eye and our gazes lock for a few seconds. I don’t stop chewing as this spectacle is not worth that much. The boy examines the crowd once again, then begins walking in my direction.

Eh, whatever, back to the plate.

I barely take the next bite, before a kick lands on my side, irritatingly similar to today morning’s events. Just like my last dinner here I hit the ground with a painful grunt and slide a few paces back.

Now I’m extremely pissed. I got bothered during my meal, almost killed by some damn bugs, had to wait in line for an hour and now THIS? I slowly rise to my feet, eyes twitching and teeth clenched. The fucker just stands there defiantly, like he’s done some heroic deed.

“You know what?” I mutter, my voice shaking with fury. “I had an extra shitty day so I won't even question why you did what you did.” I dust myself off, pull my hair out of my face and take up a fighting stance, or something similar. “Just come here so I can beat you half dead.” I narrow my eyes at him as he adjusts himself into a lower stance and rolls his shoulder.

“You really shouldn’t fight in the mess hall, it’s…” Kayla doesn’t get to finish, neither of us listens anyway.

The boy pulls out a stone from his pocket and throws it at me with full force, then sprints forward on a crescent path. Premonition kicks in and my body reacts, dodging the rock with minimal effort, I trace August with my eyes, trying to come up with a plan. However… he’s ridiculously fast! I won’t have many options to strike before he reaches me.

I remember the secret against the similarly fast-moving locusts, which gives me an idea. I hurl a few wind bolts his way to throw him off balance, hoping to divert his attention.

He dodges the attack with surprising grace and ease but that’s fine. Just as he reaches striking range and raises his fist I lightly stomp the ground, tilting the floor tile a bit beneath his dominant foot. This makes him lose his balance and start falling face-first forwards. I’m not in a merciful mood now so I knee him in the face.

His head recoils from the impact and he falls onto his knees. Still not finished, I sidekick towards at head yet to my surprise he raises his arm and dampens the impact, rolling on the ground and landing on his feet. An impressive circus trick with incredibly fast reflexes and movements, nothing else.

Blood is pouring from his broken nose and his face looks furious. Serves him right.

Looks like he really lost his temper this time as he snags a few knives and forks from the table and throws a few in my direction, which I block with ease using a wind barrier. Just as the cutlery lands on the ground and I would refocus on him, he’s gone.

Where did he run? Left, right? I look around frantically. No. Up! I’m too late to realize and he lands on me plunging a fork into my shoulder and grappling me in a chokehold. I shout as the fork digs into my flesh, not too deep, mostly irritating, but still painful. I have difficulty breathing as the boy takes me down to the ground and we keep struggling there.

Ok, if that’s how you wanna play…

I use lightning magic and spread it through my entire body, zapping my enemy. He tries to release me as he groans and twitches due to the electricity shocking him but I won’t let him go that easily. I grab his arm and pull him down, after he’s on his knees again I punch him in that irritating face, then again, and a last time just for good measure.

The boy falls face-first to the ground, barely conscious, and with some electricity still coursing through him.

I pull the fork out with a grunt, throw it next to him and spit after it. “Try shit like this again and I won’t be this lenient. DO NOT disturb me while eating. This was the last warning.”

With that said I turn around, having vented my frustration and walk back to my plate. I might’ve gone a bit overboard but if this happens again during tomorrow's dinner I might actually kill someone.

[The general Skill [Premonition] has reached lvl 2 ->3.]

[The general Skill [Quick Witted] has reached lvl 16.]

Okay, I won't kill anyone but right now even after beating someone to a pulp and being stabbed I still don’t feel satisfied. People should leave me the fuck alone, honestly. Why did this happen for two damn times just today?

“Is this kind of shit usual?” I ask Victor, my tone leaving no room for goofiness. At least he has his use besides being very annoying.

“You mean being attacked back to back? Nope, maybe if you were re~ally weak and easy prey, however like this? Nope.” He answers with some fear in his voice and side-slipping slightly farther from me.

“This is why you let me be when eating.” I sit back down and pray to be finally able to finish the damn meal in peace.

But nooo. Bennett arrives, late as usual of course, assessing the situation like he wasn't observing everything from the start.

“Just what the damn Abyss happened here again? Another kid beaten half dead, Elyssia bloody and bruised… Can’t you just behave for one day?” He asks as if this were my fault.

I of course get pissed, again at this and decide that it's not worth the effort and just shovel the last few bites into my mouth. The food becomes less enjoyable but I’m not taking risks anymore. Bennett still hasn’t moved, likely waiting for me to answer his dumb question. Let’s get this over with so I can take a bath and get some sleep.

“Ah wahnt he ohe wo sraheb il, he ahhaked-” I try to say. (I wasn’t the one who started it, he attacked-)

“Chew and swallow before speaking, make it quick.” He stops me with a tired face, again massaging the bridge of his nose.

He walks over to the injured August, the guy is breathing heavily and not even trying to get back up. His eyes are a bit hazy but they stay fixated on me, with unreadable intent.

I do as I was told and then speak. “Anyone here can testify that he just attacked me out of nowhere. I didn’t even annoy anyone this time. He’s messed up in the head, so I hit him a few times, maybe that’ll fix things.” I say with a shrug and zero regret.

Bennett just crouches down next to the boy and pats him on his face, earning little reaction.

“Hello? You in there?” He quickly gives up seeing the boy being mostly unresponsive. “You fried him pretty badly, were you trying to kill him?” He looks at me questioningly.

“No…? Not really. And I’m also feeling pretty well, thanks for asking.” I point at my still-bleeding shoulder.

Bennett calls over a lady, who I guess should be a healer, to patch us up. Her magic flows through my body with soothing warmth, closing my wound instantly, and I purr as it pampers me after everything is healed. She moves on to August and as soon as the magic washes over his body the boy passes out, the soothing feeling probably forcing his tensed body and mind to relax a bit too much.

“We’ll deal with this tomorrow.” Bennett tells me and takes August away.

He doesn’t need to tell me twice. I beeline to the baths, being one of the first girls there, I have plenty of room to finish quickly. I dry myself off with magic and return to my room, passing out right as my head hits the pillow.

What a day…