Fragarach

Bird with the same feather

Thomas and his group abruptly stopped at the door then stare at Raven beside Cassiopeia. Thomas’ happy face immediately switched to his foul mood as he glare at Raven.

[Oh no, this is not going to be a pleasant day for all of us. Why does he have to be in our class?] one of Thomas’ friends thought as he saw Raven standing at the back of the room with Cassiopeia.

[Well, well. What do we have here? Looks like I might really enjoy bullying this time.]

*Murmur* *Murmur*

Everyone is talking to each other after learning of what happened earlier at the entrance.

“Did that really happen?”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I am, a lot of students from others classes were there as well.”

[Are these b******s looking down on me now?] he thought as he heard the whispers inside the room.

Thomas took the murmuring of his classmates personally and made his mood even fouler.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”

*step* *step* *step* *step*

Thomas’ make a loud sound every step he make as he move towards Raven with a smug on his face.

“Look what we have here, it’s just like what they always say, and ‘birds with the same feather flock together’ I guess it’s the truth after all.” He said with a smile on his furious face.

His speech made the people around him look at him with doubt in their eyes.

[Doesn’t it also apply to (us?) you guys?]

They thought in unison after the words left Thomas’ lips.

[That i***t has the nerve to even say something like that when it’s pretty clear that it also applies to them. What a blockhead!] a demi-human whispered beside her.

Everyone in the class is holding their laughter to prevent Thomas from bursting in anger not letting a single giggle nor teeth out in the open.

“Let’s just go to our seats Kate.” Her friend said as she left the others. “Let’s just do that.” The other one added.

“Where are you girls going?” Thomas ask while standing in front of Raven.

“You had a hell of a morning Thomas, what happened earlier still not enough for you?” one of Kate’s friend said while rolling her eyes.

*sigh*

“We’ll just continue this next time.” *tak!* Thomas said as he slam Raven’s desk with his hand.

Raven remained silent as Thomas run his mouth around the room. Cassiopeia look at Raven with fear in her eyes that maybe he got him caught up in her business.

[What do I do? I might have involved him to some unpleasant people. Big brother made an unreasonable request from someone he doesn’t even know much, that guy really likes asking other people favors out of the blue.] she thought as she glance at Raven who is shaking his head in Thomas’ persistence. [Let’s just ask him instead.]

“Raven, how you are familiar with Thomas and his group?” she ask in a meek voice while sitting done beside him.

Raven move his head towards Cassiopeia after asking the question.

“That is a rather tough question to answer, but I can still answer it. Ahem *clears throat*, I have known them from the time when I was young, maybe four to five years old.” He said with a sad tone.

Cassiopeia is surprised by his sudden change in tone so she thought that maybe she asked something that should shouldn’t have.

[They know them that long? But why would he target Raven? Maybe I should not have asked something like that.] “Oh I am sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked something like that.” She said in a sad tone.

“Oh no its okay. That’s not something to be kept a secret so its fine.” He said while waving his hands at her.

“Oh okay, so what do they always do when you were young?” she continued.

Cassiopeia’s question echoed inside Raven’s mind and all of his unpleasant memories from childhood come rushing to his head that instantly made him change his expression without any delay.

The moment she finished asking the question, she felt Raven’s expression change drastically that gave her a very unpleasant feeling.

*Tud* *Tud* *Tud* *Tud*

[What is this uncomfortable feeling? It feels like I made him remember something that he should have burrowed deep in his memory for good.] she thought as her heart started to beat very fast.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it I really understand-“

“Thomas……they used to bully me every day.”

Cassiopeia’s words were put to a halt when Raven all of the sudden answered her with a soft voice.

[What? He is being bullied every day?] her eyes widen as she thought of how hard it is to tell someone about something that is a very traumatic experience from your childhood.

Her shoulders dropped after hearing such a sad experience.

[I can tell that it was not a very pleasant childhood experience since I also experience that sort of thing from my childhood. Not having any mana aura is a hot subject to us elves. Having no mana aura means no presence in the community and your future is already sealed with nothing but sadness and despair. And hearing something like this from someone with the same experience as I am make me very sad.] those were the thoughts that passed through her mind when she imagined how hard it really is from her own perspective.

Raven saw the face that she is making.

[That face, is the same face that I had before I met Aranx. A very sad and almost on the edge expression. Maybe she also experienced something similar when she was a child.] he thought as he took a glance at Cassiopeia’s face that is on the verge of tears.

“But it is all in the past now but I admit that it really hard sometimes but I can manage now.” He said with a smile.

[Let’s not make this sadder than it is now.] he thought as he face the door. [Someone strong is coming here. That aura surpasses Kai’s aura earlier, even if he is suppressing it this one is still a lot stronger. It definitely belongs to an instructor.]

Cassiopeia caught a glance at Raven staring at the door intensely.

“Is something wrong?” she ask while glancing at the door then at Raven.

“Someone with a strong mana aura is coming in this room, I think it’s our instructor coming in late.” He explained.

Cassiopeia look at Raven with high regard.

[Woah, how can he tell? Even my big brother cannot sense mana aura, how come Raven can tell just by sensing it? Having mana aura sure is very handy huh?] she thought as she herself stare at the door.

“Look at them talking to each other like they have known each other for many years.” One of Kate’s friend said while glaring at Cassiopeia.

“Sure that’s the case, they do have something in common so it’s understandable.” The other one said.

“Look at her monopolizing the new student all for herself.” Another student beside them said to her seatmate.

They heard her saying the same thing that s lingering in their minds.

[Is this b***h interested on the new student as well?] both of them thought as they glare at the student beside her.

*Tak* *Tak* *Tak* *Tak*

They a familiar footsteps walking towards their room.

“Wow I haven’t heard those footsteps in a while.” A demi-human said.

A mature man entered the room and a student followed behind him with a piercing in his lips.

[Ugh, this guy. I almost forgot about him.] Cassiopeia thought as she felt dreaded of the presence of the student who just entered.

The mature man wore a different uniform than the students which meant that he is an instructor.

[I am pretty sure that the old looking man is an instructor. He release and aura of calmness around him that’s reassuring.] Raven thought as he touch his chin.

The instructor look around the room as he stand in front of everyone.

“I see that not everyone is present today but it’s okay since as scheduled, we will be having a test to check if your physical and magical properties improved during your long break.” He said as he continued to scan around the room.

His eyes stop on Raven.

[I ought to have a new student today right? Maybe he is the one since Elder Rigor told me that he will stood out like a sore thumb with his purple hair.] he thought as he nodded his head.

“He really do stand out in the crowd.” He whispered to himself as he smiled.

“And let me introduce to you a new student that will be with us starting today. Please give Mr. Ostan a warm applause.” He said as he pointed at Raven.

Everyone just look at him with blank expression.

[Eh? Did I say something wrong?] he thought as he tries to figure out what is wrong.

[I am pretty sure with what happened earlier most of the students knows my name already.] Raven told himself.

A student went to the instructor to tell him about what happened earlier why the students reacted to him that way.

“Hmm, yes. Yes. Did that happen? Okay, now I understand.”

“Well sorry for the embarrassing and pitiful sight earlier everyone. I didn’t know such a thing happened earlier. Then I guess we don’t need an introduction right? Is that fine for you Mr. Oston?” he said with an awkward smile.

“Yes sir.” Raven replied abruptly.

“Good, good.” He said as he rub his hands.

[It’s a fairly new experience to see a student standing up to a bully in his first day of the academy. I can’t really say if it’s a good thing or a bad thing.] he said while smile with his eyes closed.

[Look at this bastard, I know that he is thinking that I deserve what happened to me earlier.] Thomas thought as he glare at the instructor.

“As scheduled, we are going to have a test of physical and magical properties to see if you students improved. Mr. Oston, the elder told me about what happened when you had the test so it is up to you if you want to join us with the test or not.” He explained.

The students does not seem to have listened to everything he said.

“Cassiopeia, why does it seem like everyone is not listening to what the instructor had to say?” Raven asked after witnessing the behavior of the students.

“I’m really sorry Raven, I don’t really know all the reasons behind that kind of behavior so I can’t really give you a reason.” She apologized with a meek tone.

“Oh, is that so.” He replied. “Yes, I am really sorry.” She apologized again.

[Hmmm, are they not that interested in the lessons? Is it attitude or lack of drive? Most of the students here in this room are demi-humans who are far stronger than a regular human with knowledge in mana manipulation so it’s safe to say that the demi-humans don’t really need these kinds of lesson. But for the humans, I can’t really think of something that is hindering them from learning here in the academy. I can’t say for sure that it applies to every human studying here in the academy but if a large number of human students are like these inside this room then it is something worthy of attention as it will greatly affect the future generations.]

“Mr. Oston. Mr. Oston?”

[I am really being ignored huh? We’ll I can’t really blame him since I am only an alchemist, and an alchemist is never seen as a figure who would show immense mana manipulation. This life is so hard.] he thought without knowing that his face is flustered.

Raven is lost in his deep thoughts that he did not even heard the instructor calling out to him. He snapped out from his deep thoughts when Cassiopeia pats his shoulders repetitively.

“Hey Raven, the instructor is calling out to you.” Cassiopeia said with her redden face.

[I don’t normally talk much to other boys since my big brother is the only who talks to me without any restraint. And I think my flustered expression is very embarrassing.] she thought as she covers her face.

“I’m really sorry, I was just lost in my thoughts. I would gladly participate in the tests if that is okay with you.” He answered.

“Are you taking in on the tests as well Cassiopeia?” he ask while smiling.

“Yes.” She answered with a smile. “Okay, that’s good to know.” He said. “Huh?” she muttered in confusion.

[If they are not interested in learning mana manipulation that hard then I am going to show them how wrong they really are.] he told himself with a smirk.