The following day, I excitedly walked along the path to my first day of classes. Well, my first day in a few decades. My mind was split between daydreams of reliving my glory days and keeping an eye out for Lance. I had tried waiting along the route I expected him to take, but my attempts to conveniently run into him had failed. It was no matter, I just needed to talk to him during class. This is what I told myself when I gave up and restructured my plans. It would be a shame not to catch up on the way but I had time.

That morning I had taken the potion Oggthrock prepared and, supposedly, my appearance would remain steady for at least a half day. I just needed to remember to take another dose at lunch to avoid any awkward reveals. Oggthrock hadn't seen any signs the curse was going to fade quickly either, so I didn't need to rush it. That said, I wasn't a patient person, so it was perhaps a blessing my initial plan had failed. I probably would have tried to get him to tell me his deepest troubles as soon as I'd seen him. Or as soon as I'd seen him while not being tied to a fence.

It did bother me, however. There weren't that many routes to the school from Lance's home. He really should have passed me if he intended to make it to class on time. I began to worry he had been ditching. It was possible whatever had been bothering him was at the school and he was avoiding it. If that were the case, attending with him wouldn't help anything at all. I had nearly decided to turn away and head to my daughter's house to check on him when I heard a familiar voice.

"I heard we are getting a new transfer student today. I even think I met her, and guess what? She's a clubswinger like you, Lance!" The haughty elf sneered. "You must be ecstatic, there is finally a woman here who won't be appalled by your stench!" My face turned from green to red as my blood began to boil. That racist little snot was mocking my grandson? I picked up my pace and rounded the corner, revealing the two boys. Lance was walking with his head down and the elf was buzzing around him like a fly with pointed ears. I'd been kind enough to decline his duel the day before but I pulled his glove out of my bag as I marched toward him.

"Hey shit stain, you never picked up your litter yesterday!" I called and he immediately paused his harassment to look at me, waving his fancy little glove at him.

"Well well, speak of the coward and she will appear it seems. I'm a bit surprised, last I saw you, you were running with your tail between your legs!" He sneered and I laughed. Curiously, Lance just kept walking, not so much as turning around. Well, that was alright, I just needed to deal with this moron and I could catch up. I was just glad to see he was, in fact, heading to school.

"That's strange, I don't remember anything like that. Are you certain it wasn't like all your other interactions with women? A dream?" I quipped and he scoffed.

"You don't remember running from an official challenge to a duel? Interesting, I knew goblins were idiots, but I had no idea you were also burdened with such a poor memory. It must feel so small inside that little green skull of yours," he retorted.

"Well it certainly doesn't feel as roomy as yours, I think we can agree on that," I shot back and he scowled. "Besides, don't you recognize this dainty little evening glove? I accept your challenge. I'd love to throw you around a ring a bit." When I added that bit, he rewarded me with a near-maniacal grin.

"Is that so? Realized a coward couldn't show her face with a sword on her hip, did you?" he challenged and I smirked.

"No, not quite. I just decided you showing your face under any circumstances was a crime I couldn't in good conscience, allow. At least not without a few welts and bruises to disguise that blemish you call a smile," I answered. He laughed at this.

"You're funeral. Meet me on the training ground during lunch hour. I look forward to putting you in the dirt where beasts belong," he chuckled before turning and finally leaving us alone. Or, well, me alone. Lance had left me there, not so much as bothering to turn and look at the woman, his own 'cousin', as she confronted his bully for him. It was strange, he was always such a sweet boy, but between his soupy treachery and this, I wasn't so impressed with the boy. At least I knew why he had been so down lately. The kid was getting bullied. Well, all I needed to do was teach that elf some manners, and my grandson would be back to his old self.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Impressed with my ingenuity in finding a solution to his problems so quickly, I ran to catch up to him. Even as I rushed up behind him, he didn't so much as look over his shoulder. Finally, I caught up. and started walking next to him. He was reading as he walked and didn't look up. "Lance, hey, fancy seeing you here!" I greeted, and... he just kept reading. "It's me, Lara, your cousin, remember?" I tried again but he continued to ignore me. I was taken aback. When had he gotten so rude? "Young man, I am speaking to you, you could at least give me the time of day after I got that asshole off your back! Or I'll have two teenagers to thrash!"

He suddenly laughed and I stared at him, gobsmacked. He had really laughed at me! I smacked his arm with the back of my hand. He practically jumped out of his skin as soon as I made contact and looked at me with complete bewilderment. It shouldn't have been that surprising after his treatment of me, but he seemed genuinely surprised. I was about to start lecturing him when he reached up to his ear with one hand and... pulled out one earplug. "What was that for," he asked and I stared at him.

"... How long have you been wearing those?" I asked and he shrugged.

"I always wear them on the way to school. That idiot Eldric always tries to pester me while I'm reading so I use them to buy some peace. Actually, where is he? Did he not show up today?" he answered. So he hadn't heard a word I'd said. He hadn't heard a word his supposed bully had said either. The kid was off in his own little world.

"Why did you laugh at me then?" I asked and he tilted his head.

"Cause the book was funny, is it a crime to laugh now?" He protested. "Was there something you needed from me?" I blushed a little. Well, that was a bit embarrassing. But it was fine, it would be the true academy experience without a little embarrassment.

"Uh, no, just wanted to say hi. We're family after all, and I don't know anyone else here. I thought we could walk to school together, actually but I couldn't find you," I explained and he shrugged.

"Oh, right you would have seen me if you are staying at Grandma's house. But I didn't stay at home last night, so I took a different route, sorry about that. Sure, I don't mind showing you around school. Fair warning though, you may want your own pair of earplugs tomorrow. Eldric will probably try to harass you too."

"Eldric, is he the elf that was trying to pick a fight with you?" I asked and my grandson sighed.

"So he was here after all? Sorry about that. Don't worry about it too much. Just ignore him like a persistent fly. If you give him attention, it'll only fuel him," Lance instructed and I rubbed the back of my head with one hand.

"Ah, so... you aren't too bothered by him, huh? He's not... bullying you?" I inquired and Lance chuckled.

"That moron? He certainly tries, but he isn't well-loved around here. No one takes him seriously. Just tune him out and you'll be fine," he laughed. So my guess had been wrong. Whatever had been bothering him, it wasn't some bully at school. "Oh, and he'll probably try and challenge you to a duel at some point. It's the only way he can think of to get the attention he craves since sword fighting is his only real skill. Just ignore him, no one will think anything of it. Just, whatever you do, don't accept. As long as you don't do that, he'll fade into the background.

I didn't respond and just looked away, idly whistling. "Lara, did you hear me?" He asked and I coughed.

"So what is your first class today?" I asked. He looked at me with narrowed eyes, then down at my sword.

"Lara, you didn't agree to a duel with him, did you? Tell me you didn't..." he practically begged.

"No no, of course not," I replied and he sighed in relief.

"Thank goodness. He's harmless if you ignore him but once you give him that legitimacy, well. Let's just say it would have been more than a headache," he explained and a bead of sweat ran down the side of my head.

"Right, of course. Which is why I would never accept a duel with him," I replied with an obviously forced laugh. "But just, uh, out of curiosity, why would it be so bad if I had? Hypothetically, I mean." He paused and then looked at me with guilty eyes. It only took a look and he understood what had happened. He put his palm to his face and sighed.

"You did it, didn't you?" He asked. I pressed my index fingers against each other.

"Well, uh..." I replied and he let out a deep, beleaguered sigh.