Trauma Bonding 2
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"Anything interesting?"
It was the same bald guy from earlier. 'Seems like he wants to talk.'
"Not really, I can't even see the map. Anyway, thanks."
"Bro, same." the baldy guy replied, "Bet they all watching us right now and rofling."
"Huh? Who?"
"That devil, what's her name? This tattoo makes illusions. How could it not be bawfling? No way dealing with it is easy."
"It's baffling, little brother."
"Noo wway." Dalda butted in, her head scanning around as she stuffed herself with another drumstick. "Are they really watching?"
"Nah, nah, just my delusions. I'm still feeling a little queasy, that scare that we got."
"A little horde terrorized you so? Quite disappointing."
[What's a horde? You land-dwelling Verms underestimate leviathons.]
[Don't call me worm, peasant. Your fables don't scare me. A little horde of direwolves is quite manageable."
"Curious."
"Huh? Wait... this doesn't add up." [Asva, we got attacked by leviathon? Like the giant serpentine water creatures that sink ships.] said Tommy.
[Exactly. Its jaws..]
"Weird. I saw tall black figures, like wraiths. I thought they finally came for me, for us all. I couldn't move." Dalda added.
"Pardon me. What did you see, umm... Baldy?", Tommy said addressing the guy next to him.
He just shook his head, resigned to the name.
"A lot of cold witches. Cauldrons and pot, switches striking hot on my ass, caught and knotted and we were cooking."
"What nonsense. It was obviously direwolves."
Tommy ignored the comment.
"Aldy?"
"Apologies, it's personal. Safe to say that we all experienced a different calamity."
"But direwolves and wraiths are babies compared to a leviathon. The utter dread of a half-dragon -"
"Preposterous? A half-dragon? You would be... Impossible..."
"Dead? Yes, I died. You too." Tommy replied.
[Me too.]
"But... why so different? Is that what the homework is about? My head hurts."
"Why indeed?"
"It's obvious", Baldy interjected, staring at his brother.
"You mean... certainly, little brother. I feel a fool."
[You are... jackass.]
"Insolence!"
"Please go on." Aldy said, leaning forward to face him.
"Tsk... Humor me, D'vier. War's brewing in the South. What does the kingdom need, more than ever?"
"Depends. Supplies, troops, a strong economy, alliances..."
"No. Mages. They need mages. "
"So? There has always been struggle at the Souther front."
"No small fights. Real war has begun. Half a class of elite future mages is dead. Were it not dire, would they have stooped to inviting you lot?"
"Brother, please."
"I tell the truth, little brother. The Royals have filled this class to the brim, squirming free of the chokehold the pesky court has on the supply of competent mages. The houses can't possibly like that, particularly when they lost their best prospects so recently."
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"Hmm.."
"Trust me. They would still suppress the new blood. The crown would let them too, just to soothe their hurt egos. Eventually, they'll even blame the houses for the bullying and get some loyal mages. Bloody politics."
"So, the nobles target us? Why tell us? Aren't you one too?" Tommy asked.
"How dare you lump me with those upstarts?! I will not be..."
"Aye, shh, not so loud." Baldy shushed them, his brother specifically, then said queitly. "Clouds will part and you'll see."
Their voices had gotten steadily loud and they were attracting attention. The short pause allowed them to ponder the revelations, until Comm couldn't help but continue in a hushed tone.
"They hang by the coattials of the most ancient house Buchanoir. We protect the flame that warms the realms while they would burn the forest down to forage for dead meat. Despicable conniving bugs all."
"Really? So the other cadets aren't affected? Just us?" Tommy whispered. 'This does not make sense.'
"They do be dubious, but it is no act. Prolly a mild concussion for them while y'all are whacked." Baldy theorized.
"I would add that Professor Kim is a master Illusionist, maybe even an archmage. Her control is impeccable. And she hates commoners and outsiders."
"More than you?" Tommy asked.
"A hell lot more", it was Baldy who replied for his brother.
"Sorry, I can also see it happening. You all from team 20 do stand out." Dalda added, grim and serious for once.
"Huh?"
"A foreigner, a knight, a merchant - not a drop of noble blood among you." said the jackass.
"As expected." [That explains why you were singled out.] Aldy added, nodding to Asva.
[Hooo, which bastard dares... wait a minute.]
She squinted her eyes as she looked from one to the other, and finally said,
[Does everyone here speak Gillish?]
[Umm, yes.] [Aye aye.] [Every worthy noble does.] [You already know.]
'I guess that's a yes.'
[How about you all go die?! None of you told me, not one. Et tu brute? We worked together the whole class.]
"Pfft..."
She stuffed a large piece of steak in her mouth, chewing with vengeance to get the point across.
"Obviously. I didn't want to chat in class."
[Carp's piss on a retarded midget's buttcheeks!!]
"You are making her cry. Look at those large beady eyes."
"Heh. She looks like my cat."
"More like a hamster, really."
[Take that back. I. Do. Not. look like a rat.]
"Kekeke..."
[Bastards.]
...
Despite the discussion, the six had become a lot livelier. The lunch time had ended, so they continued chatting as they headed back to the classroom, sharing mostly inane comments on important topics.
[Umm, any tips for the practicum? I'm kindov out of mana.]
...
[Observe, you must, young minion. Observe.]
[Be gentle.]
[Get bigger balls, obviously.]
[And use the full range, not just the tip.]
[Don't forget to pace yourself. It is not fun if you finish too quick.]
[...]