Ashern City - Reinhart Institute of War, 1st of Brightforge, year 315 UC

Bryan entered the cafeteria, nearly colliding with three students rushing out. One brushed past him roughly, glancing back with a click of his tongue before continuing on.

Bryan looked the boy down and smirked to himself, thinking the situation was funny but also stupid. Someone bumped into him and was upset that it happened; they also did not apologize. It was absurd, really, but he couldn’t help but laugh inwardly, thinking of how dumb it would be to act in retaliation. He was not that petty.

The cafeteria of Reinhart Institute did not have the same luxurious feel as his room. Its high vaulted ceiling was adorned with red crystalline lights that cast shadows across polished marble floors. Long wooden tables stretched in neat rows. Most stood empty now, with only eight students scattered throughout the space meant for hundreds.

Tall windows lined the walls, their stained-glass patterns casting colored shadows across the floor.

Bryan made his way down the central aisle, his footsteps echoing in the relative quiet. The serving area featured sleek counters of polished stone, behind which staff displayed various types of food. Six different main courses were available for purchase with their prices listed below.

He selected the baked chicken, along with a steaming baked potato and fresh garden salad. It was basic, but would fulfill his needs and he normally did not eat a lot. Chicken was also something he was used to eating as there were different ways to use it in meals, and he had a lot of chicken in the Inquisition.

As far as drinks went, he kept it simple by filling his crystal glass with water. It was the only free drink available, as everything else cost and Bryan was not to keen on sweets.

At the payment station, he pressed his Academic Card against the reader, watching as 50 AC was deducted from his balance.

Turning with his tray, Bryan surveyed the scattered students. Most sat alone, some still whispering about whatever incident he'd missed. His eyes landed on Alessia Hayes, seated by herself near one of the stained-glass windows. She'd changed her hairstyle from a braid into a high ponytail, the dark auburn strands catching light from the window.

Her attention seemed to be fully focused on a book as he noticed her salad looked full.

'Well, isn’t that convenient.'

Bryan thought as he walked in her direction. Her teammates were nowhere in sight, and he figured that she would be misspopular given her family's status. Seems he was wrong about that.

He approached her table choosing a spot two seats down from her, he set his tray down. The sound drew her eyes up briefly – deep green with gold flecks, he noticed – before they returned to her book.

Bryan settled into his seat, positioning himself to maintain awareness of both Alessia and the rest of the cafeteria. The chicken was perfectly cooked, releasing steam as he cut into it.

'Huh, this is actually pretty good. A lot better than the tasteless baked chicken he was used to having.'

From this distance, he could make out the title of her book: "Advanced Theories of Erosion Magic."

‘Erosion huh? Is that what kind of attribute she has? Seems a bit too farfetched to read about something that’s only appeared a dozen times, when there’s more information on other attributes.’

His eyes looked her up and down as he spotted accessories on her body that looked magical in nature. The purple heart-shaped necklace was for sure one, it pulsated with a glow every five seconds.

Her family was definitely rich considering, but given her standing she should have at least someone following her around like a lost puppy. There were always people trailing behind those with a higher status as it made them feel important, and they hoped to use that connection for their own gains.

Yet, she had no one around her.

‘Maybe it’s too early for that to happen? There are not enough students here, and it is still early as today is day one. Might have to give it a few days to see what shakes.’

Bryan thought.

Two students at a distant table kept glancing their way, whispering behind their hands. Another student, sitting alone, seemed to be trying to make himself as small as possible.

'Something definitely happened here.'

Bryan concluded, maintaining his casual demeanor as he ate.

‘Could be the reason she’s alone. A fight of some sort? Although, she does not look the type to start a fight.’

He noticed how Alessia's fingers tightened slightly on her book whenever someone walked past, though her eyes never left the page. Her salad remained untouched, the dressing beginning to wilt the leaves.

A gentle breeze from somewhere ruffled the pages of her book, causing them to flutter. For a moment, her control over her magic seemed to slip – tiny scratches appeared on the table's surface where her elbow rested. She quickly adjusted her position, but not before Bryan had noticed.

‘Well, look at that. A slight breeze ruffled her enough to do that? Either she’s easily startled, or her control may be lacking. No way an elbow leaves marks like that.’

Bryan thought as he took another bite of his potato. He made sure to look a bit closer at the mark left where her elbow was, and he noticed it seemed to sizzle.

There were no scorch marks so it wasn’t fire-related, but it was able to burn the table enough to leave a mark behind. Lightning and magma were also out of the question.

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‘Either poison or…’

He glanced at the title of the book again.

Bryan took a sip of water, his eyes drifting to the fresh scratches on the polished table surface where Alessia's elbow had rested.

"That's pretty advanced stuff you're reading."

Alessia lowered her book just enough to peer over its edge, her green-gold eyes narrowing slightly as they met his. Bryan held her gaze, noting the wariness in her expression.

"Never seen someone with an Erosion attribute before."

His eyes flicked to her untouched salad, watching a drop of dressing slide off a wilted leaf.

"Must be a pain..."

He paused deliberately.

"To live like that."

The book snapped shut with enough force to make nearby plates rattle. Alessia's ponytail swung as she turned to face him fully, her fingers pressing white marks into the leather binding.

"What do you know?"

Her voice carried an edge sharp enough to cut.

Bryan shrugged, maintaining his relaxed posture.

"Erosion magic? Not much."

He met her stare evenly.

"But pain... I think I can understand that."

Something flickered across Alessia's face – recognition, perhaps, or uncertainty. It vanished quickly behind a mask of disdain.

"Is this your way of picking up girls? Because it's not working."

A genuine laugh escaped Bryan, surprising even himself.

"As if."

He pointed his fork in her direction, a piece of chicken still speared on its tines.

"I'm not the least bit interested."

Which was true, he had no desire to have a relationship with her. Honestly, he had none for anyone and sometimes wondered if something was wrong with him. Shouldn’t he be trying to have a girlfriend?

Trout, one of his instructors back at the inquisition told him he was a weird fuck, and this is what he meant. Especially when Trout tried to get him to talk about girls, and when he showed no interest Trout thought he might be interested in guys. But it was the same with both genders, Bryan just found people unappealing.

"Good, because your company is poor taste."

Alessia said, as she straightened herself to sit properly.

Bryan nodded, lowering his fork back to his plate.

"I do have a hard time talking to people."

He admitted.

"Thought I'd give it a shot, but..."

He gestured vaguely between them.

"This is not cutting it."

The tension in the air held for a moment longer before settling into something less hostile, though no more comfortable. Around them, the cafeteria remained largely empty, their exchange witnessed only by the scattered handful of other students and the dancing motes of dust in the colored sunlight.

Bryan speared another piece of chicken, chewing thoughtfully before speaking.

"You're Alessia Hayes, right? Rank nineteenth?"

Alessia sighed heavily, closing her book again with markedly less force than before.

"Here we go again."

"Here what goes again?"

Bryan's eyebrow rose, fork pausing halfway to his mouth.

"The whole 'wow, you're so low rank, I'm better than you' stick."

She waved her book in an exaggerated gesture, her ponytail swaying with the movement.

"I've heard enough about it already. First from that insufferable Julius, and then that whole incident in the cafeteria earlier."

Bryan set his fork down.

"That's not what I was going to say. Not at all."

He looked at her before taking a glance over his shoulder.

"What incident are you referring to?"

Alessia's nose scrunched up in frustration, an expression he found surprisingly cute on her.

"Some girl with red-brown hair – loud, kind of brash – got into it with one of the noble teams. I don’t recall what team she was on, did not see her as someone important."

"What happened exactly?"

He asked trying to get more information out of her. Bryan pictured he’d have to drive the conversation for a bit in order to pry it out of her, but it was pretty simple.

Alessia seemed to enjoy this sort of thing as if it were the most exciting topic in the world.

"Well, this tall guy with a stupid superior attitude – not Julius, another one – started complaining about their instructor. Then this other noble, blonde with a face like he'd been sucking lemons, started going on about having to work with commoners."

Bryan watched her gesturing as she described the scene, mentally cataloging descriptions.

'The first one must be Sabrina.'

He thought, filing away the other descriptions for later investigation.

"Then that girl – the loud one – said something back, and it just kept escalating,"

Alessia continued.

"Julius showed up with the others in tow and tried to act all high and mighty about it."

She rolled her eyes. Alessia did not say it, but she clearly did not like the guy. Why did she sit with them then if she hated their company?

"Finally, that scarred instructor came in and shut everyone up."

"Lock."

Bryan replied.

"Whatever."

Alessia waved dismissively.

"They're all pretty childish. Poor company, if you ask me."

Bryan glanced around the nearly empty cafeteria, taking in the conspicuous space between occupied tables. His eyes returned to Alessia, one corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Do you say that about everyone?"

He paused, gaze sweeping across the empty seats surrounding her.

"Or are you the poor company, considering..."

If she was upset, she did not show it in her posture. Even her expression did not change much, only the small smile she had went flat.

"You chose to sit here."

Alessia said, reopening her book with pointed deliberation.

"I didn't force you."

"Thought you looked lonely."

Bryan took another bite of his chicken.

"Far from it."

She turned a page sharply.

"If anything, you're the one talking to me. I’d be rude not to reply back. So much for 'having a hard time talking to people.'"

"Yeah…"

Bryan said, his tone matter-of-fact.

"Just don't see them as people and talking becomes a whole lot easier."

Alessia's brows drew together, her book lowering slightly.

"What exactly do you think I am if not a person? Surely not one of those Orcish brutes, or vile Goblins."

"Well, at the moment I'm seeing you as a mouse."

Bryan watched her expression change to one of disdain.

"A black one, to be specific."

"First, ew. Second, that's just creepy."

The book tilted up, as if she could hide behind it.

"Maybe."

Bryan nodded.

"But it's working so far. Should try it more often."

He waved his own comment away.

"Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that protection you're wearing..."

His finger pointed lazily at each item in turn – the gloves, the necklace, the bracelet.

"It's only doing more harm than good. Can't learn control if you can't even see what you're controlling."

"What makes you think I lack control?"

Her tone implied that he was stepping into dangerous territory. Bryan proceeded anyway.

"Earlier, your elbows were on the table. Then something seemed to startle you, and where your elbows were..."

He gestured to the marks.

"Those weren't there before."

His eyes swept over her accessories again.

"Plus, I know magitech when I see it. You've got quite the collection – probably more than I can see if I had to guess."

Alessia's spine straightened, her chin lifting.

"Ah yes, now we begin the whole 'you can't control your own power' bit. Let me guess what comes next."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Either you tell me how I can control it with 'proper guidance,' or you go on about what a disgrace I am. Which is it?"

"You sure are one to jump to conclusions. What is with that?"

"Tell me I'm wrong then."

Bryan shrugged.

"The former."

Alessia scoffed, pushing back from the table as she stood.

"I don't need a lecture. And not that it's any of your business, but only one of these items is meant to tighten the output of my power. The rest are accessories."

"You going to eat that?"

Bryan nodded toward her untouched salad. He already ruined things with her, might as well continue and see what happens next.

"If not, clean up after yourself. They don't have servants here."

Alessia snatched up the plate, despite her obvious irritation. Without another word, she turned and walked away, her ponytail swaying with each step.

‘I think I might enjoy this mission.’