Once lunch had ended, the Watchers arrived to bring the Starter Students to their next classes, with Hadai and several other adults escorting the youngest children.

While walking down the halls, Key patted his stomach with his good arm and remarked, “Wow! I’ve never felth’ so good before! Is this wha’ feeling full is like?”

And although Keyaxel’s broken arm still wasn’t functional, the bleeding had already stopped, having scabbed over during lunch. And by now, the scabs had dried up and fallen off.

“Uh… You mean you really don’t know what being full is like?” Jareck asked.

“Naw. Never athe’ enough to feel like this before,” Key answered while drumming his torso.

Poking him in his right temple, Maveric asked in an accusing tone, “You saying you’ve really been running around with an empty stomach up till now?”

Paying the invasion of his personal space no mind, Key answered, “Hmm… Yeah, I guess.”

Twisting the very edge of his lips into a smirk, Felirick commented, “Well then, it will be very interesting to see how much your physical and mental performances improve once your body gains all the needed nutrients. I am not a Patcher, but your body should be fully replenished within a week to a month.”

Pulling his finger away from Key’s head, Maveric blinked at Felirick in confusion, a feeling shared by the other boys. He then looked back at Key and stated, “Yeah…! What he said.”

“Hey, um… Uh…” Nalgo’s voice suddenly chimed in as the boy walked up to the group.

Spinning in place to look at Nalgo, Maveric exclaimed, “What is it?! I already told you to speak up at lunch!”

It was halfway through the lunch period now. The boys had been eating, and Key’s arm was mending itself quickly. All the while, Felirick was finishing his explanation, “And so the clubs run by the Finisher students are where you can acquire new clothing. If you have anything of worth to offer them, that is.”

“Or if you catch ‘em in a good mood. That works, too… Sometimes” Maveric added.

Leaning forward as he rested his arms on the table, Jareck asked, “Sorry, could you explain how all the kinds of students are different again?”

Twirling noodles onto his fork, Felirick answered, “That is no issue. We, the Starter students, are composed of everyone from ages eight to twelve. The school controls nearly all aspects of our day-to-day lives, excluding how we spend our time during lunch and free periods.” The intellectual boy then took a bite of his meal before continuing, “After us, there are the Higher students. They consist of students ages thirteen to seventeen and have a bit more freedom than we do. Primarily, they have the option to join student-run clubs. Finally, there are the Finisher students who are ages eighteen to twenty. They have the most freedoms of us all and are the only ones who can found and run these clubs.”

Taking a sip of his water as Key and Jareck watched Felirick, Maveric let out a satisfied sigh and commented, “Those guys’re where we got our clothes from.”

“Ooooh… Munch!” Key remarked as he took a large bite out of his food.

Nodding, Felirick concluded, “Our three classifications are housed in different sections of the castle for the most part. However, all the classes are permitted to intermingle during free period. Meanwhile, the Highers and Finishers have an additional hour after classes end for their clubs.”

Once Felirick had finished, Maveric produced a pocket knife from his palm, poked his friend's bowl, and remarked, “Thought you said you weren’t hungry.”

Felirick held up his fork and replied, taking another twirl of noodles, “I did say that. But that doesn’t mean I can’t snack while we sit.”

Snapping a large bite out of an apple, Maveric chewed, swallowed, and grumbled, “If we weren’t friends, I’d kick your butt for being a smart jerk.”

“You have said as much before,” Felirick replied, sounding both satisfied and exhausted.

Scarfing down a couple bread rolls while his new friends bickered, Key swallowed hard and slammed his hand down while asking, “Guh! Hey, Felirick. You keep saying stuff abou’ clubs. Wha’ are-?”

Before Key could finish his question, though, he was interrupted when the gold-haired Nalgo walked up from behind him. He was stuttering and stumbling over his words, but it was still clear he wanted something.

“Hi- uh, I just- Um, you see… Uh…”

Furrowing his brow as Nalgo failed to enunciate, Maveric snapped, “Speak up, shiny hair! Whataya want?!”

Nearly dropping his plate, Nalgo managed to squeeze his words out, “I… I just wanted to ask if I could sit with you guys.”

“Huh? Really?!” Key eagerly asked, nearly jumping from his seat.

“Yeah, I… Um… See, I thought you guys looked really cool when you beat those big kids up.”

Hoisting his trident like a trophy, Maveric remarked, “Yeah, I guess I can get that. I’m a real badass… And these other three are pretty cool too. But as the toughest one here, I don’t think-.”

“You realize all you did was threaten one of them, yes? Myself, Key, and Jareck were the ones who actually fought,” Felirick suddenly stated without a hint of emotion.

“Huh…? Hey, stuff it!” Maveric hissed.

“No,” Felirick replied tonelessly.

Cutting in, Key cheerfully told Nalgo, “Sure! You can si’ with us! Having more friends is always more fun. Tha’s wha’ my big bro told me.”

Raising his hand, Jareck added, “I don’t have a problem with Nalgo sitting with us either. He told us about his Gift on the airship, and it sounds really cool. And he seems nice enough.”

The moment Jareck told Nalgo his opinion on his Gift, the golden boy smiled shyly at him with what seemed like admiration.

“And I am indifferent on the matter. That leaves you outvoted if you had any issues, Maveric,” Felirick told his friend.

Seemingly flabbergasted, Maveric stuttered, “What? But… But I already have blond hair. Is gold hair really okay too?”

Even Felirick’s expression faltered when Maveric voiced his reason for objecting. All four of the other boys wordlessly stared at Maveric with bewildered expressions, trying to comprehend his logic but failing.

That is, until Key proclaimed, “Huh? You’re worried abou’ tha’? Buh’ you have tha’ really cool armor stuff on your clothes. Tha’s way more cool than shiny hair.”

“What?” Nalgo asked, almost offended.

Maveric, though, lit up at Key’s remark as he smirked and replied, “I… Yeah! Hell yeah! I’m a kick-ass warrior! That’s what’s really awesome about me!”

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Pointing his fork at Maveric’s triton, Felirick stated, “I would say the fact that you’re a walking armory is a far more defining trait of yours than your looks.”

“Rai’! Thath’ too!” Key cheered, oblivious to the meaning of the word armory.

Shifting his eyes around, Nalgo nervously cut in, “Uh… Hey, so what were you guys talking about before I got here?”

“Well, Felirick was tellin’ us ‘bout the clubs the older kids get to join,” Jareck answered politely.

“And I was gonna ask him wha’ a club is,” Key added chipperly.

All at once, everyone but Keyaxel dropped their silverware as the uneducated boy continued to smile eagerly.

Walking down the halls and gulping nervously as Maveric told him to speak up, Nalgo hesitantly said, “Well… Before we get to training class, I just wanted to know if there were any kinds of clubs you guys would wanna join…?”

Tilting his head as their class marched, Jareck replied, “Whatta ya mean? We’re too young to join any clubs. Felirick said so.”

Clasping his hands together at Jareck’s reply, Nalgo clarified in a flustered tone, “I meant… I meant when we’re older.”

“Ooooh, right… Um… Maybe, if there’s a club that can help me learn to use my Gift better,” Jareck answered.

Without waiting an instant, Felirick remarked, “That sort of thing is normally handled by the training class. So, no, there are no clubs specifically for that.”

His body wilting with disappointment, Jareck replied, “Oh…”

“However, if you figure out what sort of job you want as an adult, then you should join a club where you can learn to apply your Gift to that career,” Felirick studiously concluded.

A bit of life coming back to him, Jareck replied, “Really? Cool… Hey, what about you, Key? What do you wanna do when you’re older?”

The question somewhat distressing him, Key focused his intense eyes on the ceiling as he replied, “When I’m older…? I guess I wanna do something tha’ would make people like me more. I don’ have much else to do.”

With none of the boys picking up on Keyaxel’s subtle shift in mood, Maveric exclaimed, “I’m gonna join a blacksmith club and learn how to make even better weapons! That way, I can pull out even sicker weapons with my Gift!”

“You have to know how to make a weapon to pull one out? Then how’d you make all the stuff you’ve done so far?” Jareck asked.

Grinning pridefully, Maveric explained, “I read a bunch'a books about blacksmithing before coming here. I’m already kind of a pro.”

Folding his arms behind his back, Felirick said, “By pro, he means passable. The school tosses away all the weapons he leaves lying about due to their poor quality.

“Put a sock in it!” Maveric yelled while pulling a knuckleduster from his kneck.

Ignoring Maveric’s yelling, Felirick said, “As for my ambitions, I wish to pursue a career as a city mayor when I’m full-grown. As such, I will search for clubs to help improve my understanding of the political world… And what of you, Nalgo? What are your ambitions?”

Almost panicking, Nalgo replied, “Huh?! Why are you asking me?!”

Joining back into the discussion, Key cocked an eyebrow as he said, “Because you started this. Remember?”

“Indeed. You should have no issues providing an answer.” Felirick said

“I… Uh- Well, I don’t… Mmm,” Nalgo muttered as his voice trailed off.

Annoyed again, Maveric snapped, “Seriously! Speak up! How many times do I have to tell you that?!”

While Nalgo was pushed further into his shell by Maveric’s yelling, Jareck looked to Key in hopes that the bolder boy would intervene. However, these hopes were dashed when he realized that Key was in his own little world. His interest had left as fast as it had come, with him staring back at the ceiling.

Digging up a scrap of resolve from his heart, Jareck spoke up, “Hey, uh… Come on, Nalgo. You can tell us. We’re gonna be friends now, right?”

With his eyes lighting up at Jareck, Nalgo looked at him in admiration for a moment before saying, “Oh, um-. Well, I guess so… If I had to pick, I think I’ll just try to be an Underguard… Because my Gift is really good for fighting, right?”

Raising an eyebrow, Maveric commented, “Jareck said you have a cool Gift too. What is it?”

Pressing his fingers together, Nalgo answered, “It’s, uh… I can shoot myself at stuff. Kinda like a cannonball.”

Blinking in bewilderment, Maveric remarked, “Huh… That sounds like it’d hurt.”

“Well, no, it’s… Um... How do I-?”

Before Nalgo could reply, Hadai’s voice suddenly cut into the conversation, “Best if you wait for Training class if you want to show off what your Gifts can do. I always figured the best way to explain something is to show it.”

All five of the boys, even the distracted Key, and the stoic Felirick, snapped to pay attention when Hadai spoke to them.

While the friend group stared at their Watcher, Hadai tapped one of his ears and told them, “Y’all look shocked. Listen, I haven’t gotten old enough to start losing my hearing yet. And even if I was, with how much you brats were screeching, I bet I still could’ve heard you. If you wanna have private conversations, try not to shout your heads off in the future.”

All at once, many of the Starter kids began laughing at Key and his friends. The intensity ranging from minor chuckles to howls of amusement from the more immature children.

Each of the boys had different reactions to their public ridicule. Jareck did his best to avert his gaze as he folded his arms and frowned. Maveric was gritting his teeth and scowled as he slid on his knuckleduster. Felirick simply rolled his eyes and commented loudly about how idiotic he thought the surrounding kids were being. Meanwhile, Keyaxel just scratched his head as he appeared puzzled.

“Peoples’ hearing goes bad when they grow up…? Huh. Guess I don’ have to worry abou’ that,” Key commented, seemingly oblivious of the laughter. Or perhaps he simply didn’t understand where it was directed.

However, the most volatile reaction came from Nalgo. While his face was flush with embarrassment, he was also glaring hateful daggers at anyone who would meet his gaze. Simultaneously, it appeared as if he were a straw away from crying his eyes out. And as his mood worsened, Nalgo’s small body began to glow with violent yellow light.

Grimacing as the situation was getting out of hand, Hadai raised his voice and yelled, “Alright, shut it, morons! All I did was rib ‘em a bit! Why’re you laughing like maniacs?! You all want to get sent to Punishment?!”

Whatever this Punishment was, the threat was enough to even get the oldest kids to go silent. Meanwhile, Hadai’s yelling was more than enough for the first-year students, even if they didn’t know what he was threatening them with.

Exchanging a confused and nervous glance with Jareck as he looked behind himself, Key murmured, “Wha’ kinda punishment do you think he’s talking abou’?”

Before Jareck could give an answer, Felirick whispered harshly, “I’ll tell you both later! Just be quiet for now!”

“Oh… Sorry,” Key replied, baffled.

With all his charges eventually going silent, Hadai pointed down the large hall and exclaimed, “That’s right! Now guess what’s gonna happen. Since you brats apparently can’t control yourselves, we’ll have to work on that flaw. So no more talking unless spoken to until after training class is over.” And as a few groans started to escape his students' mouths, Hadai concluded sharply, “And anyone who breaks this rule will get a serious lashing from me! Are we clear, brats!?”

Just like that, all at once, the noises of displeasure died on the childrens’ lips.

Key, though, seemed almost excited, thinking, We gotta be quiet…? Cool! I’m good at this kinda thing.

As no one was willing to speak anymore, Key’s friends and other kids walked where Hadai gestured. Although, Nalgo’s stride was noticeably lagging behind his peers.

Picking up on how Nalgo was faltering, both Keyaxel and Jareck wanted to turn around to talk with him and ask what was wrong. Neither would have the chance, though, as Hadai beat them to the punch.

Placing his strong hand on the upset boy’s shoulder, Hadai leaned down and whispered to him, “Didn’t mean for you to be humiliated like that. But if you wanna show them up, then cut loose and show off what your Gift can do in class. Sound like a plan, lightbulb?”

“I’ll… I’ll destroy them,” Nalgo replied coldly.

Giving a light wap to the top of Nalgo’s head, Hadai reprimanded him, “No killing anyone. Just humiliate the idiots on the field, lightbulb.”

Rubbing his head to soothe the light pain, Nalgo said, “Right… Sorry.”

Having watched Hadai’s pep talk with their newest friend, Key and Jareck couldn’t help but smile as Nalgo approached them. Nalgo smiled back at them, or perhaps only at Jareck, focusing his gaze primarily on him. Not that either of the boys picked up on where his eyes fell.

With his posse regrouped, Key and his friends walked with the other Starters toward their next class. And despite all the angry glares he and his friends were getting from his fellow silenced students, Keyaxel couldn’t help but feel optimistic about what was to come. After all, he had already proved his worth in training class the prior day. Now all he had to do was repeat his physical performance and hope no one had any Gifts that would outshine him too severely.

But despite his best efforts to dam them, Key couldn’t prevent his anxiety-fueled feelings from dripping into his heart. Past experiences, combined with knowing his arm wouldn’t be healed until the next day, forced him to keep his hopes from growing too high. After all, Keyaxel had learned one too many times in his life that normal strength could never compare to a Gift’s.