The Hunter Mage

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

"I need to hear you say you won't f**k this up!"

"Captain Robbin!" Bart called. Vernon realized this was the first time he was hearing Bart speak.

"Sorry, um say you won't ruin it." She waved her hand at Bart as she spoke and he ran off.

"I won't ruin it!" Vernon muttered.

"Good, good. Yeah, since we already decided which group you'll be training with today, you best be on your way."

Bart chose this moment to return with a gourd. Vernon already noticed there was a gourd lying flat on the group a few feet from where Captain Robbin's seat was placed. It looked like it had been kicked away. Bart offered it to her and she immediately took a gulp, spilling some out the sides of her lips.

"Thank you," Vernon called out and rushed away.

She didn't even acknowledge his words but that was not surprising because even if she had wanted to, she probably would be able to answer as she still had the gourd stuck to her lips. He sighed as he walked away without a backward glance.

The nature magic group was further up the courtyard just past the Water Magic group. Vernon tried not to look in the direction of the other magic groups as he made his way to his new group.

He was probably already known by all the students but he made sure to keep to himself mostly and he avoided groups. However, he would be lying and blind if he said he didn't notice they stared and pointed at him whenever he was in the room or happened to pass around them.

He sighed, this was the least of his worry, Nevil topped the list. Try as he could, he couldn't stop thinking of the reason his former best friend didn't want to associate with him. This was supposed to be his reaction after what Nevil's mother Maggie did.

He did try to not be in the same room as he was to avoid embarrassing situations, well more like awkward ones but he was afraid this training might be a little different and they would have to have a conversation.

From the corner of his eyes, he could see May vigorously waving to him but he didn't turn in her direction as he passed the water group. Not because he didn't want to but it meant turning around to see the people who were staring at him, he couldn't handle that.

The Nature Magic Group teacher was a chubby lady. Vernon could see her even before he was close enough. He had never really paid any attention to her before now but she wasn't exactly unnoticeable. He had seen her several times before now but he couldn't exactly say what her face looked like.

He stopped feet away from the group and they all turned their attention to him. Actually, that was wrong. They had been staring at him from the moment he started towards them, the chubby lady was the one who turned her attention to him.

"Vernon," she called. Her voice had a weird ting to it.

"Yes," he replied. Her face was round as the rest of her. Her hair fell down the sides of her face but was held together with a little string. A few strands had escaped showing that this was a haphazardly done job.

For some reason, Vernon felt a little better just looking at her face. It was like staring at the face of a child except for the fact that is bigger and rounder. The words adorable was the only adjective Vernon could use to describe what she looked like.

"Captain Robbin had already informed me you would be joining us at some point. I didn't think it would be so soon, actually, I thought it would never happen. No worries though, I already gave a briefing in case you did so step right into the group."

Vernon nodded and made his way to the cluster of students. He could feel everybody's eyes on him as he approached them just as he could feel the chubby lady's hit gaze on his back. He couldn't tell if he liked him or not. However, he didn't care and wished this would be over soon.

He soon got to the group where he stood by the edge but there was an obvious space between him and the rest of the students. One could figure out in one glance that he wasn't part of them. He grabbed his right elbow with his left and as he stood, feeling the wave of nervousness wash over him.

"I don't know what your trigger is and frankly I don't even understand what this is but Captain Robbin said to carry on as usual so that is exactly what I am going to do. However, she also added that you should be given the stage sometime for you to show if you have learned something. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask." She said, staring at his face as she spoke.

Vernon nodded and bit the insides of his cheeks. How long was this going to last? He wondered. She gave him a final once-over before she finally turned her attention to the group. Suddenly, Vernon raised his hand as realization dawned on him. It was instinctive he had not given his reaction much thought.

She frowned as she dragged her eyes back to him and Vernon began to think that maybe this was a bad idea and he should drop his raised hand but it was already too late, she had seen him. "Yes?" She dragged. "What is this question of yours even though I wasn't expecting any so soon?"

"Um," Vernon started to say, twirling his hand around each other. For the others, he didn't have to ask because by some magic he would hear it but he didn't want to refer to her as the chubby lady so, he had no option but to ask. "What is your… What do I call you?"

He immediately kept his head down expecting some kind of scolding. He didn't know why he felt he would get one but the students were looking at him like he had gone crazy so there was a high chance he would get one.