The Hunter Mage

CHAPTER TWENTY

"I hope so too," he finally replied.

He was grateful she didn't ask him any of the usual questions everyone couldn't stop asking him as if, of course, if he had the answer, he would have done something about it but here he was as clueless as the rest of them.

He sighed and she heard because she looked in his direction again and smiled softly before returning her attention to the group. They were obviously having fun and Vernon found himself being thrown back to the question of how can they have fun? Are they fine with being here?

However, he knew now was not the time to think about that. He couldn't change his situation, at least not yet, and obviously brooding over it wouldn't change it, his father taught him that. The best he could do right now was learn magic and see what happens after, hopefully, something good.

The bell suddenly rang, jolting Vernon from his thoughts and Cavin clapped to attract the group's attention as she stood to her feet. "That would be all for now," she announced. "Time to go eat dinner!"

"Dinner?" The girls cried, giggling hard. "It's lunch!"

"Oh!" Cavin muttered, covering her mouth. "My bad. Run along now."

Vernon was among the last to go, he wasn't in a hurry and obviously, neither was his magic. It was hard not to feel dejected but he was trying not to concentrate on that. Lunch was some kind of wheat and bacon. He couldn't tell which but one was sure, it was delicious.

He was out of the cafeteria as soon as the bell rang again, he had sat with the boys but had kept mostly to himself and even when they spoke to him, he responded in a way that ended that conversation. They soon got the hint and stopped throwing conversations his way. He was grateful for that.

After lunch was over and they were back to the courtyard, Vernon asked Cavin if he could sit on the bench and watch. "Oh, you would rather do that?"

"Yeah, I thought what to get in anybody's way," he paused before quickly adding, "Also I would probably get a better view of everyone from that angle."

"Oh," Cavin repeated but didn't try to discourage him. "If that's how you feel then I guess you can use the bench."

"Thank you," he said and didn't wait for a reply before heading for the bench.

He sat with a quiet plop, felt his shoulders fall with him. He kept his eyes on the group and tried to concentrate on watching them even as his thoughts churned. He sat there watching everything pass by in a blur.

Cavin made them do another routine, this time, it was to shoot water balls at an object. It was horrible to watch how bad they were and Vernon figured this was a new routine or they were all just very bad at it.

It was hilarious to watch and found himself laughing despite how awful he felt. After about two hours of horrible aims and a couple of people getting water splash, Cabin called it and they took a break.

It was a very giggly one and the girls couldn't stop talking about how bad everyone was. None of them really spoke to him but he couldn't blame them, his aura said he didn't want to be spoken to and he was grateful they didn't bother him.

"Hey, you!" One of the girls finally broke the silence.

He looked up to find the girl called May sitting next to him. "I have a name you know."

"Ah! You can talk. I actually thought you were mute."

"My bad, I actually am." He muttered and looked away from her, he had seen the girls giggle and stare. He didn't need anyone to tell him she was the bravest of the crew. Either she had volunteered or she had been chosen to come to him, none of the options made him happier.

"I am May," she replied as if realizing that being cold and brutish won't work with him.

"I know." He muttered, still looking away.

"Um, this is the part where you tell me your name.

He shrugged, "Vernon but I'm sure you already knew that."

"Well, nice to meet you, Vernon." She said and tapped him with her hand.

He looked at her and saw her outstretched hand, he frowned. "Same here," he said with a tight smile and took her hand.

And just like she had come, she left, skipping as she walked. Vernon released the breath he had not been aware of holding. He had been bracing himself for a lot of weird questions and worst the rest of the girls would come over.

Thankfully, none of that happened, and almost as soon as she left Cabin called that the break was over and they started another round of training.

Vernon tried to pay attention but it was nothing new and he could tell this wasn't helping him, there was also the fact that he was tired and just wanted to go to sleep. However, he still had to report to Captain Robbin and he couldn't help but feel edgy that she wouldn't like his report.

This wasn't going as smoothly as he thought he would go and despite his trying to feel like it could get better and hoping it would, he could help the feeling that this was it. That it wasn't going to get better than this and he was stuck being the magicless kid with glowing eyes.

He was taken away from his parents, he at least deserved a little compensation for that and maybe it was too early for him to judge but nobody else seemed to have that problem. However, he didn't feel any different or special than he did, so nothing was working or it was?

What would become of him if he turned out to be magicless? Captain Robbin already said there was no way he would go back home. Would he still be able to here or what?