The training concluded unceremoniously. "We're done. Go back."

So after a generous helping at dinner to replenish his lost energy, Mathias grabbed clean clothes and went the bathes.

He already cleaned himself of the dirt and sweat, but soaking in water was much more effective in reducing his muscle soreness.

"Hey! Did you walk in on Lisanna yet?"

"Huh?"

"Like her changing or anything interesting?" Erik said.

"No?"

"Don't make it harder than it has to be: yes or no?"

"No? I said no, didn't I?"

Thomas and Jebb appeared from the side. "Man, that's just how it is. Ah, right. I'm Thomas and this is my brother Jebb. We're his neighbours and met the night of the orientation."

"Hello," offered Jebb before soaking in the water.

"Erik. A pleasure, man. But, seriously. You see this guy talk to gorgeous girls all day and think nothing of it. I'm jealous, but I've already started talking to some of the less-psychotic girls in our class. How about you? Any leads?"

"Leads? Hmm, I have one... hey, let me get a second opinion this, alright?"

"Yeah, man!"

Erik and Thomas quickly become friends whereas Jebb and Mathias lazily sat in the water.

Unlike the other two, whose voices could be heard from across the bath (but thankfully not in the girls' bath), Mathias and Jebb just sat in comfortable silence until:

"Hey! You! What's the deal!"

"What?!" Another kid shouted. "I didn't do shit, so the hell you want?!"

"You know exactly what you did!"

One boy was being extremely circular in his line of accusations whereas, while furious, the other just kept asking in genuine anger and puzzlement what the hell the other guy's problem was that getting in his face in a bath.

Of course, meaningless arguments like this happened a lot amongst guys, but it was usually swiftly resolved by others chiding the two - to put up or shut up. No one was interested in the two's dilemma, however. They were all in a corner of the large bath, with Erik and Thomas at the center.

Mathias had a bad feeling about the gathering, so he tried to briskly walk away.

Except a hand was set down on his shoulder as he was just about to turn into the changeroom.

"Mathias... I'm sorry to bother you, but do you mind coming with me?"

He looked to see James looking at him expectantly. It did not seem malicious, but the other boy was a little too serious so it was hard to get a read on him.

"I'm sorry-"

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"Please?"

Eldrich appeared.

"Still, I've-"

He was dragged regardless of his feelings. He was just thankful he wrapped the towel around his waist before he was lifted on James' shoulder. Mathias was confused: was he being kidnapped? He was more confused by the weird conversations though.

"... So, you know Chloe and her best friend, I've heard from one of the girls in my class that she's easy, but I need someone from Centaur to confirm it. I've talked to her in training in passing, but I can't tell."

"I'll do it-"

"Idiot, you just came down here! Know the rules: you strike out, you're done - no harassment. No complaints. No leaking information. This is privileged information we got. So if you ruin it, you ruin for all of us. We're looking at the long game here," Erik explained.

Mathias sighed. It was exactly as he thought when he saw the two join together. "No more than ten minutes, huh?"

Thomas said, "yeah, this man is a genius. I might know a lot about the girls from getting to know them, but I can't act on it alone."

"And I haven't got to know many yet," Erik said. "I wanted to thank you for introducing us."

"Is that all? Then I'm going-"

"No, no. If you're part of the circle, you have to contribute something. We need information, men! This is war!"

"Hoo-rah!"

"Hoo-rah!"

"Hoo-rah!"

A ridiculous chant echoed in the baths.

"... I have nothing to contribute. I don't know anything."

"That's impossible," Erik said flatly, to which Thomas nodded.

"You live with Lisanna," Erik nodded to Thomas' words.

"It just makes sense you'd know something."

A full group nod accompanied those words.

"All I know is she likes white-"

"She wears white?! That's unexpected! That's better than half of theses idiots! Guys, regroup!" Erik shouted and added, "everyone better follow his lead from now on - we need good, solid information like that!"

Mathias was thankfully pushed out of the circle by the over-eager boys. "... Furniture...? Hmm, but her nightgown was black lace, wasn't it?"

The words were lost on deaf ears.

If only they knew.

After returning to the room, he stopped dead in his tracks.

He stared at the defenceless figure, futilely resisting on his bed as he shouted, "no! No! Set it down! I told you!"

"I-I couldn't help it!" Lisanna shouted, in much more opaque pyjamas this time, "blame yourself for having such nice things..."

She did not let go of the giant lynx fur. Mathias charged her, but she deftly dodged. It took an hour, but he finally managed to pry it from her hands.

"At least tell me where you get it! I want it!"

"No! Not after this!"

Mathias protectively clung to his prized fur as Lisanna sulked in her bed.

A lull of silence - filled with absolute tension for Mathias - filled the air. Lisanna began: "Hey?"

"No, I refuse. I absolutely refuse."

"It's not about the fur!"

"... Then what?"

"... What are planning to do-"

"I'm not giving it to you!"

"Not the fur!"

"Okay, fine. We've decided you'll never get it-"

"Hey! That's too far!"

"So you were after it?!"

"Th-that- this and that are different things."

Mathias made a point of protectively sitting on fur as he stared at her. "Then what?"

"I want to know what you are planning to do from here on - and no, this is not about the fur... though it is really soft..."

"No fur."

"Answer the first part of the question!"

"Hmph, then don't add the second-part." Mathias adjusted himself deliberately, seeing her eyes sharpened in displeasure. She recognized his actions were taunting her, but she accepted it - for now. He was not foolish enough to see otherwise. "I will go to class, pass, and then live out my life."

"That's too vague! What is it you want!"

"To pass?"

"Beyond that!"

"... To pass... and then live out my life? I thought I was clear?"

"If you don't answer me properly I will burn your lynx fur to ashes next time you leave."

He yelped, tucking himself and the fur underneath the blankets. It cost a whole gold coin! He spent an entire year saving up each copper he earned just to buy it.

"... I don't have plans beyond that. Also, if you burn my fur, I'll cover your entire body with water-blisters without you even feeling a thing - until they burst and scar."

"S-scar?!"

"Yep. I made a mistake when I learning how to deal with muscle fatigue - and now I know how to protect my fur!"

"Stop talking about your fur already - oh God, to hell with it, I'm going to bed!"

He stayed in bed for an hour, despite the soft snores, to ensure the safety of his most prized possession. Only after securing it - and his own bed this time - did he finally relent to get up, grab the textbook to reread it as the fatigue from the morning started to disperse.

It was still too early, but he did not trust Lisanna alone with the fur.

And he did not care to involve himself in the other boys' ridiculous meeting.