Bitten Chapter 1 - Schoolyard Trouble

Chapter one of Bitten. A fight starts during Orientation, two days before teaching begins.

          Queran High School was the only high school close enough to Destor's house for him to walk. Destor walked into his ninth grade homeroom, and sat in his chair. A man, though not his teacher, walked into the room and stood in front of the chalkboard. His shaved head and straight posture unnerved Destor. Something about him seemed a bit too formal to be at Queran. As the rest of the students came in loudly, he cleared his throat and began.

          "Students. As you know, the war against the Lizardfolk has lasted ten years. In this time, our army was expected to crush their forces and establish dominance. Unfortunately, this goal has not yet been reached.

          "I am here to inform you that, as of today, a few of you who show drive and promise have been selected to go to a training camp. This will prepare you for military service, as you learn and hone your combat prowess in order to defend your race as vehemently and proudly as possible.

          "This training has been ordered by Montgomery Kort himself. This opportunity is your chance to become a hero to your people, and is a chance not many will have in their lifetime. I will now read out the first names of the attendees in this class...

          "Jayson. Pierre. Artur. And Destor."

* * *

          Professor Govelli's hunt did not go well. The campus of Oer Academy was massive, with two different wings for the knights and the mercenaries. Today was Campus Orientation Day, which meant the entire academy was open for students to learn. And since they were excited to move about and learn about all of the different subsections and the two wings and the many facilities, there was almost no way to get a good location on Loyal or Casey.

          He did manage to find Michael, and then instantly rule him out. The moment the boy caught a glimpse of the professor, he speed-walked away over to the mercenary wing. That was the second problem; all professors were required to stay in their wing. Mercenaries on one side of campus. Knights on the other.

          There had been a small feud going on for a few years now, with the "reckless and misaligned" mercenaries versus the "holier than thou, hypocritical" knights. It really wasn't that bad, but the king must not have wanted the new students to feel like they were choosing sides when touring. But eighty of them already chose sides weeks ago, when they registered for their courses. There wasn't a point to this restriction other than to get in the way.

          The professor made laps around the Knight wing. Most times, when he passed by the newer students, they'd hug the wall or change course. The older ones saw him coming and usually cleared before he got to them. These reactions were the standard, and so he tried his best to avoid large groups. He stopped at a shout.

          "H-hey, get off of me!"

          "Come on, we're barely close to you."

          Professor Govelli recognized one of the voices. An extended course taker, notorious for causing trouble. So were the entirety of the so-called "Dragon Hunters." Everyone who took those courses aimed to be a soldier in the elite fighting force, responsible for defense in case of a dragon attack, or to be dispatched to protect towns rebuilding from one. And even though they hadn't yet become full Dragon Hunters, these ones were still holding their power over everyone's heads.

          Getting closer, the professor realized who they were surrounding: one of the new transfers as part of the ongoing program, which would begin to mix the education system of the two races. Still, even a Dragon Hunter would know better than to rough up a lizardfolk.

          The poor boy, though taller built, still seemed heavily guarded. The hunters noticed this, and started to lean in a bit. "What's all this fear for?" one said, grinning, while another added, "We won't hurt you. We're nice humans." They edged closer to the lizard.

          "Well, uh, I don't doubt that, but I'd rather just get back to my tour..."

          "Come on, lizardman. We'll be good friends to have. You know who we are, right?"

          "Well, no, I can't say I do...?"

          "Oh, really? Kinda disrespectful to come in here and not know, I gotta say."

          For some reason, the professor only stood there and watched. He tried reasoning with himself: "They'll have their fun and let him go." But they weren't stopping, backing the boy up to a tree. One of the boys in particular seemed very agitated, and he was the one getting the closest. When he reached the lizardfolk, the hunter grabbed his arm quite forcefully.

          But just as quickly, he let go and started to hold his arm.

          "W-what's happening to my arm? It, it's getting so cold..."

          The hunter retracted his arm into his shirt and started to curl his body around it as much as he could while standing. He was still seething, but his anger started to dwindle, replaced with confusion and discomfort. The second hunter, his face obscured by a helmet, looked up at the lizardfolk while feigning a tough attitude.

          "Hey, lizard boy! You- You can't use magic on him!"

          "Uh, no, no, I didn't-"

          The third hunter looked at the angry one, now hitting his arm to try to get it to feel again. "Mason, you alright?" He looked back at the lizardfolk, with a crazed look. "You liar, just shut up and reverse it! Who else could've done that?"

          "Me."

          As Mason stood up straight, Casey walked up to the three.

          "Cyclops... What the hell is wrong with you? Put me back!" Mason yelled.

          "Then promise not to go near him."

          "Like hell- What do you care? It's our business. We were just talking. Just... We were just talking, damn it!"

          Just then, the numbed boy began building up his magical energy. Almost on cue, the other two stood beside him. This seemed to be their natural formation, but the third hunter, a boy with long, brown hair, side-eyed Mason. Mason looked less like a bully, and more like a vicious dog as he walked up. As the lizardfolk took cover behind the tree, Casey looked around carefully, her eye landing on the professor.

          Even with her face obscured, Professor Govelli understood the request. It was all he needed, as he drew a training sword out and started towards Mason. The helmeted one noticed this and backed off. He didn't want to fight a staff member. And he really did not want to fight Professor Govelli. But Mason didn't see him at all, too focused on Cyclops in front of him. He held out his hand, and sparks began to shoot out.

          Casey crossed her arms, forming a small shield of ice to block them off. Almost instantly, it began to get thinner, as she struggled to keep building ice as fast as it was melting.

          Then, in two hits, it was over. Govelli smashed the sword over the boy's good shoulder, then bashed it into his stomach, which sent him to the ground. The professor looked him over.

          "Mason. I don't know what got into you, but you and your friends went too far. Do you understand?" He looked over to the third hunter, frozen in place. "Take him to someone. Now."

          The panicked boy understood the command and grabbed Mason's arm, causing him to gasp in pain. He grabbed the other arm instead, and dragged him away. Casey looked back at Professor Govelli, studying him.

          Govelli looked at the tree. "Come out."

          The lizardfolk hesitated, but slowly walked out from behind it. Just from his looks, the professor could tell he had heard the rumors, as well. He spoke, still shaky from the encounter.

          "Uh... Well, thank you two..." He shot a glance at Govelli, but instantly looked back down. "I'm Malachi. I don't really know how to fight, so... You know, when they cornered me, I thought... Really, thank you."

          Casey brought her attention away from the professor. "It wasn't much, on my part... All I could do was defend you and myself. I can take you to where you want to go, if you're more comfortable that way." She looked away for a split-second.

          "You'd really do that? I... thank you."

          Casey led the boy away, not looking back at the professor. And Govelli didn't ask her. It was probably best that someone with her talent for magic had a different professor, anyway. He wouldn't let her be weighed down by the accusations.

          No. That wasn't the real reason. But that wasn't something he wanted to focus on right now.

* * *

          Destor returned home. He met with his caretaker, Jordan.

          "Hey, kiddo. How was school?"

          "There was a guy who walked in. He was kind of weird. But, uh, he said something about a camp. Like, for the military?"

          "A-a military... You're only thirteen. H- didn't we just celebrate in September...?"

          "Well, the other three were excited. They said we'd finally get to use real weapons. Like that academy, but sooner. Pretty cool, right?"

          Jordan closed his eyes for a few seconds. "You're excited about it..." He changed the subject. "Hey, so your parents called, too. They should be back from their trip... I forgot the exact date. I'll call them up, soon."

          "Really? That's good news!"

          Jordan looked down, his expression unreadable.

          "Jordan?" Destor began.

          He looked up. "Yes?"

          "Is it alright if I start packing now? I want to be ready. It's gonna start in just a few days."

          "Why don't you wait until your parents are home, Destor? They... They'll help you pack faster. You won't have to worry."

          "Yeah, you're right. Why worry when I could, I dunno, sleep."

          Jordan chuckled weakly. "That's the spirit, boy... That's..."

          He couldn't bring himself to finish after Destor had left the room.

* * *

          Professor Govelli walked up to the castle's gate. The castle was at the north side of the city, positioned so that those from the living area could easily get to it just by taking the main path. He checked in with the guard, exchanged greetings, and went inside. The castle's interior was refurbished from over a century's use. There were three main segments to the bottom floor- the hall, the city's library, and the dining room.

          Terry always said that a community should always have access to knowledge and their leader. The head librarian, a capable mage even since before the war's end, was now busy making sure that a statue of a book wouldn't fall from its place.

          "Alright, but from this side-"

          He poked the statue, and it began to tip. The librarian barely caught it in his arms before it hit the ground.

          "Ah, that's heavier than it looks... Oh, Mr. Govelli. Could you help me with this, please? I'm starting to hurt my arms..."

          The professor walked forward, and together they placed the statue back upright on its pedestal.

          "Thank you so much... The people who placed it, they thought that it wouldn't tip if it was placed correctly, but..."

          "Seems like it needs a few supports, or something."

          "Yeah, well, that's my problem. I don't want to change the statue, because the man who made it took so much time." He pointed at the back. "Look here, even has bindings and a cover graphic. In stone! I don't really want to put anything that would cover it."

          "I guess it's not like you could put a paperweight on it."

          "Hah, exactly..." The librarian smiled. "You're here to see the king, right?"

          Govelli looked at him quizzically. "What, does Terry force you to call him that?"

          "No, in fact he's told me to stop calling him "My liege" more times than he can count. I counted them fine, though. Fifty-four."

          "And not a single one stuck?"

          "None." He gave a small laugh, and then cleared his throat. "Well, Terry's upstairs, in the room."

          They said their goodbyes, and Destor went back into the hall. It was a beautiful thing, with silver arches lining the ceiling and walls draped with a soft blue. At the end was a strikingly unrenovated set of stone stairs, with some bits crumbling away. The stairway itself was safe, but in a few years, or maybe even a few months, it might crumble.

          The stairs led down to the cells and up to Terry's study. Govelli went up, and entered for his audience with the king. As always, Terry opened the door knowingly, despite the professor's silent footsteps.

          "You're here. It's been a while since we talked, you know? How's my old friend doing?"

          "I'm well enough." He examined the surroundings. A small table with an embroidered cloth on top held a candle and a small journal. Terry's bed had red blankets and white pillows, and his room led out to a balcony view which overlooked the city. Despite this, Terry didn't have very many luxury items. In fact, the most costly thing in the room was his keepsake box, specially fitted for keeping prized possessions safe. Overall, the room was about an 8/10.

          Terry gestured the man in. "You still do that?"

          "Do what?" The professor paused in thought.

          "Never mind. So, what can I- There's been an incident at the academy? What's going on?"

          "How did you know?"

          "You told me."

          "Right, you can... Well, you probably don't know about who it involved. Mason Fritz and two other extended coursers were ganging up on one of the lizardfolk students. Casey got involved, Mason tried to fight, and then I stepped in. I had to knock Mason around a bit to get him to stop."

          Terry paced. "Mason Fritz... Well, he did show troubling signs. But Casey used magic first, didn't she?"

          "I saw him going for Malachi's arm. The way he grabbed it was like he was going to pull him back and force him to the ground."

          "So it was in defense of the student... Should we move to expel Mason and the others from the academy?

          "Maybe. But, something troubled me. See, when I looked at him, it didn't seem like him at all. He looked more like some wild animal. The other ones seemed aware of what they were doing, so maybe them, but..."

          Terry stood still. "Okay... Let's talk about his status, first. I got a report, a few hours ago, that a student from the academy was brought in. He barely avoided frostbite, but his right arm is expected to recover well enough. He's also being monitored for any signs of internal damage from the blows he received, but so far he's green across the board. They figure if all goes smoothly, he'll be out in three days.

"And second, his behavior... Apparently, he doesn't know why he felt the need to do that to Malachi. His friends also said that he's never acted so hostile before. Any ideas?"

          "Well, I saw what I saw, and I can't really speculate much more than that. I figure I'll get the details tomorrow"

          "You'll visit him, then. Are you sure?"

          "Well, if he really wasn't at fault, then he's got no reason to fear me. Wasn't him, after all."

          "If you think it'll be alright. By the way, two days left to pick your student."

          "Right, that. Well-"

          Terry cut in. "You've exhausted Michael and Casey... Alright, I'll see if I can find Loyal for you. Seems like he missed orientation, from the attendance record..."

          "Thank you."

          "There are many others. You might have to settle for a less than perfect score, you know."

          "The advice is usually not to settle for less than the best, right?"

          Terry chuckled. "Well, that was never my advice." His smile fell. "If Loyal doesn't work out, just interview all of the rest. I can't justify keeping a professor with no students... I don't wanna let you go."

          "Don't worry. I'm not planning on going anywhere."

          Govelli waved Terry goodbye, and walked back down the stairs. He looked again at the blue walls. The silver arches...

          He doesn't really rate rooms that much, does he?