“Well, um, we’ll resume the sorting after the boot reforms in a few hours. Those of you who have been sorted may choose to leave.” repeated the orator, presumably the president of the school.

“Tough luck, Arthur.” Said Marcus.

“How so?” I asked.

Marcus opened his mouth. Then, closed his mouth. Thought about what he was going to say, and chose not to say anything at all. He patted my shoulder.

“We’re not even on speaking terms anymore?”

Marcus nodded his head, signaling a yes. Or was it a no. It depended on how he interpreted the question. It could be a yes, we’re done associating with each other. Or was it a yes, my shoulder felt heavy and my head bobbed for only a split second and I actually disagree. While the first possibility was more likely, I’d like to think he meant the second option.

I didn’t really know what was going on. I stood there and tried to figure out what was so bad about this, apart from the burned flesh, and apart from the hell Brethslan was going to create at the dinner table tonight.

I needed answers that could not be found in this university. Luckily, everyone gave me a wide berth as I exited the building. It was more than how I smelled. It was who I was labeled that kept them away from me.

By now, the sun had already begun to descend although it was still too early for nightfall. It had been a longer process than I initially thought. I was turning around to the idea of letting students pick the classes they want. At least that would’ve helped me.

As I opened the door to the room, Azog and Rose stood in the room smiling ear to ear. I could hear the sound of the shower still running. These spiders really took their time in there. I still wondered what they did.

“How did it go?” asked Rose.

“Well, my student didn’t get the necromancer path. But other than that I think it went well. WEll, except for the magic brand that got added to my skin, the other students avoided me like I was a bad omen, and the lurking suspicion that dinner tonight will be awkward.”

“How was your day?” I asked.

“Well, I’ll tell you what. I came to my senses, when I realized the vegetables were winnin’ more than me. Took some time to walk around, I hit the jackpot,” said Azog.

“Twenty five platinum coins? Wait, no, One-hundred platinum coins?”

“Not that much of a jackpot. I got a job as a bartender. There was this old man who was dyin’. I gave him a squeeze, a dog was freed from the shackles of time and space, and I woke up in a tavern behind a bar.”

The mushrooms, I realized. Azog had eaten too many and had hallucinated his way to a job. It wasn’t as uncommon as you’d think it would be. That was assuming he actually had gotten a real job.

“How much are they paying you?” I asked.

“A silver a week. With half of my tips. Haven’t gotten any ‘em yet. Don’t think tippin’ is too big around here.”

It was a real job. I nodded my approval.

“And you, Rose?” I asked.

“I went to the library, where they had some free biscuits this morning. I ate two of them, even though you were only allowed to have one. More importantly, I think I may have found where my parents might be. They aren’t in this city, but they might be in this province.”

“Half elves were reported to show up on this island during the great anomaly. Apparently many of them took on new names, and have created multiple enclaves to the north. There’s one that’s only an eight hour journey by horse.”

“But we don’t have horses.”

“Not yet.” Said Rose.

“Not yet,” I agreed.

There is an abundance of etiquette needed for dinner parties, held and experienced by the elite aristocracies. Rose, being an aristocrat, was constantly trying to straighten the wrinkles out of her still wet robe. Without access to the shower room, the cold water made her shiver in the somewhat warm but definitely not warm enough night.

Azog had tried to comb his hair with his fingers, after Rose insisted he do that, but was having trouble with it. Out of the three of us, he looked the most homeless. His robes were tattered from the excessive sewer trip, and unlike me, he didn’t have some fancy school robes.

The three of us stood quietly in front of the house. There was no door to knock on and I didn’t feel the need to knock around searching for it. I was certain it could move at will. Eventually, it appeared.

I reached for the handle and pulled the door open.

The first thing that greeted me as I entered was constant screaming and wailing. It was as if someone was dying, but drawn out. In some way, it was a mental death for Brethslan. The second thing I saw was Brethslan’s mother pushing a living tentacle creature into what appeared to be some dark goopy liquid. She seemed calm and unaffected by the screaming. She smiled, gesturing us to come into the kitchen.

“Brethslan’s throwing a bit of a tantrum. He didn’t get the path he wanted, and it’s hard on him. Thank goodness he has three wonderful friends to come comfort him over dinner.”

“Yes, maam. We’re delighted to share a meal with you this evening.” Rose curtsied the best she could. It was rule section three shape four of the princess guide’s handbook. Guide’s never eat before they thank the host.

“Oh, how sweet of you darling. Your skin is so pretty. You must try on some of my beauty products after we eat. They’ll absolutely make your skin glow.”

“I would love to,” said Rose.

“Erm. Thanks as well. Looking forward to the food.” Azog added.

“And you too. Are you from the Isles? I noticed the tattoo on your neck.”

Azog scratched his neck nervously.

“Yes. But it's been awhile since I lef the tribes. I’ll kake my way over there eventually to visited my tribe. I plan on reuniting after being gone for so long.”

“Oh, you’ll have to tell me about your adventure into foreign lands.”

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Azog nodded.

“And you, Arthur! Congratulations on your new path!”

“Is it really something to congratulate? I’ve got no context and Brethslan’s still screaming in the back.”

Brethslan’s mom, glanced at the yelling.

“If it’s a class my son got, it can’t be bad. There are rumors… Actually recorded facts of the users not ending well. This time will be different, I know it.”

A sinking feeling entered my chest. There were only so many deaths someone could avoid before one of them caught up to you. While I hadn’t seen the dark one since his absence, I still couldn’t sleep with both eyes closed. Well, I could. It was a metaphor or something.

“We can talk about it over dinner, honey. Do all three of you like kraken dipped in eternal darkness?”

“Haven’t tried that ma'am. But just lookin’ at that pot over their is makin’ me hungry.” said Azog.

“Oh, my cauldron? There is some good stuff brewing right now. Most guests don’t have the courage to try it, sadly. It would do so much for their complexion.”

“How so?” Rose asked with more interest than I thought would give to a vat of black ichor.

“It’s the eternal darkness. Nothing’s better for a glowing complexion outside of my box of magic makeup. You’ll be glistening by the end of dinner, trust me.”

“Does all the dinner make you glow? Glistening-” I was cut off, as Rose smashed her fist into my stomach. I lurched over.

“Oh my, look how close the three of you are! Please take good care of my boy Brethslan.”

“Will do.” said Azog, as I huffed trying to regain my breath.

A dark eldritch voice, that was deeper than that of a dainty mother, made me jump back.

“Brethslan! Hrk Ithcar Ilb B’th. Come to dinner, we have GUESTS.” boomed Brethslan’s mother. Eldritch energy seeped from her eyes; her eyes were pitch black. I blinked and everything was seemingly normal. I wondered if I was still hallucinating. I made up my mind that I’d only come visit whenever I was starving or needed to save coins. Unfortunately, I could tell that I’d need to do both in the near future.

“What?” Brethslan asked, as tears covered his face.

“Guests! Three of them, my dear child. Isn’t this wonderful!”

“Of all the days you brought guests. Do you not care for my plight! I am going to die , mother! To die!”

“What?” I asked.

Brethslan looked at me with hatred, as if blaming me for sorting shoe. Maybe I was partially responsible. I didn’t know much about the sorting and still didn’t.

Rose kicked my shin again, and hissed into my ear.

“It’s rude to ask sad clarifying questions during dinner.” whispered Rose.

“No, this is important though.”

“Can you please pass the rolls? Azog asked as he sat down and tucked a napkin underneath his lap.

“Oh, absolutely, everyone have a seat! Bread goes so well with eternal darkness. Soaks the goop right up.”

Even Brethslan didn’t dare stay standing, although his eyes told me he wished he could stand on the table and scream. I began to sweat, as I realized that something was very wrong. The small feeling of unease I had felt from earlier, was starting to grow. I had associated it with the food kicking around in my stomach, but I could tell this was different. It wasn’t the pungent odor coming off the tentacles. I grabbed the two pronged fork on the table, and stabbed at the mystery meat.

“So these, uh, mana batteries sound really special. If you wouldn’t mind me asking, what exactly does this entail?” I asked.

Rose glared at me, but she’d be breaking etiquette if she interrupted me according to the Guide Book, so she kept her mouth shut. Azog was too busy eating the strange black liquid to pay attention to our conversation.

“Oh, you’re so right. It’s such a special honor to be assigned that path. Very few people get assigned that path.” Said Brethslan’s mom, her voice very cheerful.

I was starting to think that there were a few screws loose in her brain, but I kept that to myself.

“Tell them, why no one wants that class, mother.”

“A couple of deaths here and there, don’t make the path bad. Look at what those who were assigned to the path did. All so much wonderful stuff.”

“Exploding, doesn’t sound wonderful. I want to live a long life. None of the mana batteries get to do that. Instead, they’re used and abused before being tossed to the side like a defective enchantment. Atleast, I have the satisfaction of knowing that you’ll be joining me in death, Arthur,” said Brethslan.

“I don’t get it. What if you just fail out? They can’t force you to learn magic.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

Brethslan did not elaborate and I could see Rose brandishing her butter knife ominously. If I pushed this conversation any farther than I wouldn’t have seen the end of the night.

“Say, Miss Rose. Are you half elf, by chance. I noticed your delicate ears. Aren’t they just lovely,” said Brethslan’s mother, who talked about other people's ears like she wanted to cut them off and keep them in tiny jars.

“Well, yes. I actually came looking for my family. There was a convergence that took place when I was young, a lead told me, well erm, us that they might have ended up in the Isles.”

“That very well might’ve happened. But the journey out of the underground can be dangerous to those who are not familiar with the land. I know that Azog is from the Isles, but his secluded tribe comes from the islands to the West. He is not familiar with our island.”

“It’s true, I don't know much about this island. I’ve heard stories, but that’s all.”

“Some of those stories might even be true, but the fact remains. Someone as delicate and beautiful as you shouldn’t leave and risk getting captured by marauders, or, worse, halve elves.”

“I’m a half elf.” said Rose frowning.

“No, no the pretty half elves like you. The mean ones. What do they call those, uh, differences Brethslan? The cultural ones.”

“They’re different factions I think, mother. One of them likes chopping the heads off of lone travelers. It’s something of a hobby.”

“Yes, different factions.”

I furrowed my brow. People never chopped off heads for no reason, there was always a reason behind severed necks and rolling faces. The question was, was the reason justified.

“It can’t be-”

Rose flung her fork at me, the dull end hitting my head, her temper getting the better of her. I grimaced and rubbed my temple.

“Now, let's not be rude, Arthur. These people have accepted us into their home. We should hear them out, because they’re gracious unlike you.” said Rose.

Brethslan’s mother didn’t seem to notice. Or if she did, she chose to ignore that interaction.

“Say Rose, dear. Would you like to come work for my beauty class? I’m always needing good models to apply makeup too. It’s part time, so I can’t offer you more than three silver a week.”

Rose perked up at this. It wasn’t often you were gifted an opportunity to acquire free magic makeup.

“I’m definitely interested.” Said Rose.

It hurt a little bit inside, that my full time gig as a student paid less. But I guessed the difference was in the price of admission. I got to learn magic. I got to become a mana battery.

“Wonderful! Now, you’ll be friends with Brethslan forever.”

Brethslan groaned.

“What if I don’t want these lunatics as friends, mother?” he asked.

Brethslan’s mother’s eyes turned pitch black and crackled with power.

“Brethslan, Hrk Ithcar Ilb B’th. You shall make friends or your very existence will be in question. Do not dare cross me. For I have warned you, what happens to those who do not mingle.”

Brethslan’s face paled.

“Fine, I’ll be their friend,” Brethslan said while crossing his arms. He whispered something to himself but it was too quiet for me to hear.

Even Azog had stopped eating to stare at Brethslan’s mom. Rose played around with her bowl of tentacles and I tried looking at the ceiling. There was seriously something wrong with this family. The family dynamic was just off.

“So who's ready for dessert?’ asked Brethslan’s mother.

“What’re we having?” Azog asked, sitting visibly straighter.

“Dolce of Death. I’ll just go to the kitchen to fix it up.”

“Would you like some help Mrs. Plimor?” asked Rose.

“I would love that.”

Rose and Brethslan’s mother walked away from the table and into the kitchen.

“What are you doing here! I heavily implied that it was in your best interest to avoid signing those blood contracts. After dinner, the three of you need to leave and never return for dinner. Possibly leave forever.” hissed Brethslan.

Azog continued eating, but looked a bit guilty as he took in another bite.

“I’m not in a position to quit my duties as a student aide.” I responded.

“You still don’t understand?”

“I understand that whatever this situation is more dire than your mother let on, but nothing good will come if I give up.”

“You’ll see. Come the first day of classes you’ll see. And when you do and come to your senses, leave me alone.”

The dessert that night was interesting, strange, and somewhat unappealing. I had thought little of the dessert though, thinking more about my debt and Brethslan’s role in that. While I was obligated to my job as a student aide, it was Brethslan and his family who were paying me. They were not obligated to listen to the whims of an indebted necromancer larping as a mana battery, or was it a mana battery larping as a necromancer. It was true that I had yet to learn many formal spells, besides the free casting I had worked on. Anyways, I thought that maybe it would be best to focus on myself for the time being. Maybe even learn about the academy about the dark arts and my path before making a rash decision.

After walking home, in the brisk cold night, I succumbed to my exhaustion.