I woke up in an unfamiliar bed, one too plush and comfortable to be mine. The blankets were thick.The pillows were fluffy and cradled my head. I was never a morning person; however, years of needing to wake up at four in the morning has just made it into a habit; but here in this unfamiliar bed I found myself groggily struggling. I didn't need to get up right now so I could fall back asleep if I wanted to. Against my better judgement I opened my interface and looked at the time with bleary-eyes.

  [6:00 AM]

  My eyes shot open any remnants of sleep gone as I jumped out of the bed sheets and pillows flying everywhere. I hit my feet running. Shit six in the fucking morning i thought i woke up early shit. My first class was in an hour. Did I have time for the three s’s. I ran my hand across my chin and nodded. Toilet first then shower I can shave while I clean my body. Lucky for me I was prepared for this event. I had practiced fast showering and shave protocol when I first started living on my own. Water was expensive after all.

  It only took me five minutes to finish getting ready for class. All hygiene related activities were completed to satisfaction. The interface was convenient with the equipment tab. I could set up a loadout or use the recommended loadouts, after a quick look at the recommended section it was obvious the interface had a good sense of fashion. The uniform consisted of blue khaki pants with a white dress shirt. I could choose between a blue suit jacket with the Hunst Academy emblem sewn onto it. The suit jacket looked thin enough for summer wear but would most likely get uncomfortable. The Hunst Academy emblem was a small patch over the right breast. The other option was a blue vest with sharp line the Hunst Academy emblem was located just left of where the belly button would be. I selected a loadout with the vest and a red tie. I grabbed my work boots and put them into my inventory, equipping them to myself. I was going to have to buy new shoes. The brown leather of my work boots clashed with the uniform. I stopped at the door with my hand on the handle and took a deep breath steeling my own resolve.

  There was a man right outside my door. He wore the uniform suit jacket instead of the vest, he was currently turned toward his door fumbling with his key I presumed..

  “Hay, good morning. My name is Rin. I guess we are neighbors starting today” I said with a light jovial tone.

  “Huh?” The man turned his head back and forth to try and see me. I stepped to the side so he wouldn't need to crane his neck so much.

  “ I just got accepted to the academy and moved in yesterday. The name is Rin” I held my hand out for him to shake.

  “Ooh!” The man exclaimed and then smiled, pocketing his dorm key once he locked the door he took my hand giving it a good shake. “ My name is Kenji. I was about to go get breakfast. Would you like to join me?” The man. Kenji was clearly of asian descent; his silky black hair reflected the light from the hallway lamps. His features were sharp but had a kind feel to them.

  “ Definitely. I'm glad to meet someone so friendly so soon. I was wondering?” I said as we both started walking down the hall. I kept pace, keeping myself behind him so he could lead us.

  “ Wondering what? “ Kenji said

  “ After we eat, could you show me to my class? I had planned on waking up early and wandering around a bit but I woke up late.” Kenji pointed down a hall and we turned, stopping at a pair of elevator doors.

  “ Yeah I don't mind helping you out Rin. What's your class schedule look like.” I pulled up my interface and grabbed the schedule from my tablet. I moved the window to the right of my vision so I could still see while we walked

  “ Looks like I am in Mr.Dunth’s general studies from seven to ten.” I said

  “ What about your electives?” Kenji asked

  “ From ten to twelve I'm in technomagical studies and then after that from one p.m to three pm I'm in some kind of shop class?”

  “ With Mr.Woodicker?” I nodded to him stepping inside the elevator. We were the only ones I saw this whole morning so far it felt weird not having seen anyone else.

  “ Yeah. You know the class?”

  “Mhmm. sure do. If you don't mind me asking, are you trying to be a craftsman? I only ask because I'm trying to become one myself. It looks like the both of us are in the same classes. ”Kenji said. I'm starting to feel like my dorm assignment wasn't so random; it couldn't be a coincidence that Kenji and I share all the same classes.

  “Those classes were recommended to me by my councilor, altho it's pretty uncommon for a new student to be in technomagical studies. You normally need to take prerequisite classes that are only available in the high school course.”

  “I don't know, Valder said he would take care of it so….Here i am. Are you also in Advance combat techniques from three pm to five pm.” Kenji slowly turned his head towards me. He was wide eyed and his mouth was agape.

  “What's wrong?”

  “What's wrong!? You just casually drop the founder's name like you know him telling me that he picked your classes for you.” We left the elevator. Kenji was covering his face with his hand, smiling and laughing.

  “Founder? I figured he was important but wasn't this academy founded something like two hundred years ago? Valder is old but not that old.”

  “You're pulling my leg man, you have to be. He is a quad element user and they age differently than everyone else. I thought everyone knew that. Have you been living under a rock or something?” I suddenly felt my face flush with embarrassment. It's not a common thing or maybe that was just because I lived so far down in the city. Paul never said anything about that whenever he would talk about his adventures.

  “Not a rock but I lived my whole life till now between levels two-fifty and two-twenty-five aside from work I wouldn't really leave that block. If somebody even shows a small amount of promise they leave.”

  “Oh I just assumed you were from the surface of the city like myself. I'm sorry I didn't mean to be rude. Once we are done with classes let me take you out on the town to grab some dinner to say sorry.“

  “You don't need to do that Kenji. I admit it's embarrassing but I should have expected there were things that I didn't know that would be considered common sense high up in the city.” Kenji and I approached the cafeteria as we walked more and more students started appearing. The sound of everyone talking melded together into a sound not too dissimilar to the low thrum of a centrifugal end pump. We both got into line grabbing metal trays to place our food on.

  “ It will only be my family's restaurant man, so don't worry.” A trio of large men came up to the two of us. They were all as wide as they were tall, their shoulders looked like they couldn't even fit through a regular door and all three of them would have been handsome men if it wasn't for the pocked surface’s of their face as well as the patchy unkempt bread’s. Their fat jowls wiggled as he stepped up to us.

  “Well well well Kenji are you setting up a date for yourself. I thought you would never make a friend.” His voice sounded deep but nasally. He had a slight lisp or slur to all his words. I couldn't really tell. It was weird the man in the front and the two men behind him, almost seemed like carbon copies of each other.

  “Hi Douges, do you need something?”

  “Where's our homework from general studies? We told you to get it done by Monday and unless everyone in the school is wrong today is Monday.” Prime Douge said

  “Yeah if we don't turn in a passable assignment we're gonna be held out of our electives.” both sub Douges said.

  “I told you I can't do your assignments. We are in two different classes your teacher will notice.” Kenji's happy demeanor from just moments ago was gone. I knew what was coming and got ready. Men like this always acted the same way. It always got violent when they didn't get what they wanted. Plain and simple they were bullies and I couldn't stand bullies. Words of my father echoed throughout my memories.

  “Remember son.” He had told me once I turned fourteen and was getting into my first year of high school. “There are gonna be people out in the world who look down on us and others. Don't let them get to you. Now I know you have been working on your anger issues and I'm proud of you. I know better than anyone else how hard it can be to control that anger. I am sorry that you seem to have inherited it but when faced with people who look down on you and your friends if the situation is right use that anger. Don't let it control you because it will only make you weaker. You have to control it and turn it into a sharp sword.”

  “So you didn't do our work? You know what happens to people who don't help us.” Prime Douge said. The attack came fast. Prime Douge threw a right hook right at Kenji's face, my body reacted before my brain could even register what it was doing. Grabbing his wrist I twisted my body so that my back was against his chest and his arm was over my shoulder with a quick jerking motion Prime Douge went flying over my shoulder slamming onto his back. The sub Douges were stunned. Prime Douge was the first Douge to react, shouting at his clones.

  “ Don't just stand there. Kill him.” The sub Douges sprang into action, sub one tried to tackle me to the ground. I easily side stepped him but was smacked with a serving tray by sub two in the head. My vision went black for only a moment, but it was a precious moment as Prime Douge used the time to cast a spell. When my vision came back I was greeted with a rock the size and shape of a bowling ball . The rock hit dead center of my chest knocking me backward on top of a table and food went flying. That fucking hurt . A window popped up.

  If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  [Magic attack damage was reduced.]

  Groaning, I dismissed the window and sat up.

  “ Could you get off my spoon? I would like to eat my oat meal.” The voice came from a woman. She was holding a bowl of oatmeal close to her chest. Her hair was so blond it looked like an off shade of white. It flowed over her shoulder and disappeared below the table. She was cute with a refined sense to her. She wore a simple blouse in the school uniform colors.

  “Sorry, don't mind me. Names Rin by the way.”

  “Well. Rin can I have my spoon?” I stood up still standing on the table kneeling down. I grabbed her a spoon and a food tray. I kept the tray but gave the spoon to her. Prime Douge looked pissed.

  “Okay! Prime Douge, sub Douges” people around the cafeteria snickered at my naming of the Douges. “ Here's what's gonna happen. “

  “ What's gonna happen, new kid!” Prime Douge shouted back.

  “I'm gonna use this lunch tray to beat your ass then I'm gonna use the mangled remains of the try to beat the shit out of sub Douges.” Prime Douge didn't get a chance to respond because I was already jumping off the table and swung the tray hitting him across the face; blood spit out of his mouth. Stepping back I nearly dodge a rocky spike that shot from the floor. The spikes tip cut my cheek open. Prime Douge had his hand to the floor mana flowing into it. I quickly stomped on the side of his arm, bending it backwards. The crunch of bones breaking filled the now silent cafeteria. Sub one shouted something incoherent as his fist became covered in flames. He started to punch at me. I used the tray to block each punch. The metal tray bent around sub one's hand giving me an opening. I punched him in the face, blood squirted from his nose as I broke it. Sub two finished casting his spell near invisible blades of wind shot out towards me. Using sub one as a shield I pushed towards sub two the onslaught of wind blades didn't end the amount of punishment sub one was taken caused him to pass out.

  “Pretty dumb of you sub two you're hurting your. Ummm? Triplet?”

  “SHUT THE FUCK UP!” sub two yelled ending the spell. Tossing sub one aside I casually walked towards sub two he fell to his knees a shocked look on his face as he looked over Prime Douge and sub one.

  “I give. Let me carry my brothers to a nurse. Please” Sub two begged his voice was trembling. My face was void of expression. This man does not deserve my mercy. I could feel my anger flaring up again. It felt like a flame inside my chest burning hotter and hotter until it consumes me.

  “No. I may have won this fight but. Men like you three never learn. I need to make sure you learn your lesson.” I threw a kick at him, angling my steel toe right at his temple. Iron chains shot out of the ground around me. Wrapping me up and pulling me to a knee I struggled against the chains.

  [Debuff : chained has not been resisted.]

  I continued to struggle against the chains. The same window kept appearing in front of me.

  “ That's enough You're taking it too far “ A tall man in a vibrant teal suit walked up his ruby red tie accent his ruby red eyes.

  “Mr.Dunths take it easy please Rin was just trying to defend me.” Kenji ran up to my side and he seemed genuinely worried for me.

  “I know the situation I've been watching since the beginning.” He was watching? Prime Douge spoke out my own thoughts.

  “ If you were watching, why didn't you stop him from breaking my arm!”

  “You are all adults, it is not our responsibility to stop a petty squabble. I have only stepped to prevent Wezts here from doing unrepairable damage.”

  [Debuff: chains has been resisted skill Magically inept gained the property debuff resistance.] The chains dissolved around me turning to dust and settling to the floor. Mr.Dunths looked at me quizzically. I smiled at him my anger gone just as fast as it showed up

  “ Thank you sir. I let my anger take over. I would have killed him if it wasn't for you.”

  “Rin?” Kenji seemed almost scared of how fast my attitude had changed but he also seemed intrigued.

  “ I'm glad you understand that Wezts, Dougeles take Dougelee and Dougens to the infirmary. Wezts follow me and Kenji I will see you in class.” Mr.Dunths turned around without another word and walked away. The Douges collected each other and slinked off without another word. Prime Douge or I guess Dougelee glared back at me as he cradled his shattered arm.

  “Dude what the hell was that?” Kenji asked, looking around the cafeteria and becoming shy once he realized everyone was looking at us.

  “ Sorry Kenji. I just hate when people bully others and I have a bit of an anger issue.”

  “No, I'm not talking about the brutality of what you did. I would hate to say it but that's almost normal here, the meat shield was pretty nasty . What I mean is you just fought and won against three men who are objectively some of the strongest combat students at this school without using any magic. You broke Dougelee’s arm like it was nothing and he's a tank using his earth elemental to strengthen his constitution.” I simply shrugged it did feel a little too easy but my best guess was my strength being one of my highest stats was the reason for that. Mr.Dunths had stopped at the cafeteria entrance, his arms crossed as he watched me.

  “I better go. I'll see you in class hopefully.”

  An hour has passed since Mr.Dunths led me to Valder dean's office. The office was located in a suite at the top of the castle despite its outward appearance. It was a fairly simple workplace with rows of bookshelves filled with books on either side of the walls, his desk sat near the back close to the large window that looked over the city. The space elevator was dead center as if he had lined up everything with that singular object. In front of the desk was a simple coffee table surrounded by a nice leather couch and two leather armchairs. It was clearly a matching set to the couch. His desk was scarce. Hardly anything on top of it. A simple motion machine in the center. Click, clack, click, clack. The five balls on the motion machine moved in sync with each other. As three of the balls swung backwards two stayed in place waiting for the other three to return with a clack. The two stationary balls swung out for it; the center ball didn't stop its motion like the last two and continued on with the original stationary balls. The machine would periodically stop working and I'd stand back up. Grab one, two , maybe three of the balls at a time pulling them back and letting them drop, setting the machine back into motion. I spent most of the time playing with my interface. I had actually gone up a level because of that fight gaining myself four stat points and quickly distributed them.

  [ Name:Rin Wezts]

  [ Race: Human ]

  [Level 2]

  [ Stats: Strength 12, Constitution 8, Dexterity 8, Intelligences 9, Wisdom 10, Spirit 4]

  Placing two points into strength I could physically feel myself growing. It was a strange feeling but a decent one. My last two points went into intelligence. I had expected to feel smarter like I had felt stronger when I assigned the points to strength but to my disappointment nothing changed.

  “Wonder if mental enhancement requires more stat points to feel a difference or maybe I need to go solve a few math problems. Honestly I would love to see someone else's stats so I could get a base line. For all I know, an Intelligence of nine is still dumb as a rock.” I was speaking to myself again. It felt like I was doing that more and more. It was another hour before Valder showed up. I had found out I could add an effect to my outfit changes. I had settled on a blinding white light effect that covered my naked body and was playing around with it as Valder stepped inside. I was mid transformation and Valder needed to cover his eyes as he shut the door behind him.

  “ I found out I can hide my naked body while my interface changes my clothes.”

  “ I can see perhaps you could turn the brightness down though that light was rather blinding.” Valder moved to sit in the plush leather couch waving his hand to the arm chairs promoting me to sit down.

  “Didn't even make it to your first class before getting into a fight. I gotta say I think that's a new record.” I sat down, closing my interface beside the time and date window.

  “ I don't regret it, people who have strength should protect those weaker than them and not hurt them.”

  “ I agree that's why I founded this school. However if you don't give someone the chance to defend themselves will they ever grow? Today you protected Mr. Iwatani but what are you going to do if the Douges came back to hurt him and your not around.”

  “ I suppose I would do nothing assuming I don't know what's happening but if I did know I would rush to help.”

  “And rob him of the valuable experience you would need to deal with that situation in the future. What's going to happen when you have more than one person to save and they can't help themselves because you can't stop yourself from saving them at every step. I know you've been alone for a while, that's why I'm trying to give you this advice: You can't help somebody that can't help themselves. Yes you can save them but what does saving them do in the long run we as adventurers work to save everybody we can but we also work to educate them and help them improve themselves. So when the situation comes and we can't be there they can make it out alive or at least survive long enough for us to rescue.” I frowned and his words made sense. If Kenji wants to be an adventurer himself, he needs the strength to stand up to people himself.

  “I….I understand what you're getting at.”

  “ In this school we pride ourselves on individuality. A simple fight here. A skirmish there isn't against the school rules and I'm not telling you not to help those who can't stand up for themselves, just simply take a moment to consider your actions in the long term. Think of the consequences of you caving the head of a student in just to prevent further conflicts.” I had let my anger control me if Mr.Dunths didn't stop me. I would have tried to cave douge’s head in and where would that have gotten me. It could have been possibly villainized and ostracized by the other students. What would Kenji have thought? He seemed like a great resource for me to have. I cringed at my own thoughts and felt disgusted with myself for thinking of him as just a resource in my time working for the city of Xulun. I had to fight for promotions and had to become an excellent worker just to survive. In that time I had come to view all my co-workers as a resource. A wealth of knowledge from people who have more experience than I do. I had justified it in my own head as none of them were friends. They were just adults whose lives couldn't really be impacted by me. Kenji Even though I've only known him for a few hours, seems like a genuine guy maybe because it's been so long since I've interacted with somebody my age but I found myself wanting him as a friend and the fact that I thought of him is just another resource for me to use. “I'm disgusted with myself.” Valder didn't respond and just waited.

  “ I think I understand what you're getting at.”

  “You do? Good You're not going to receive any punishment. As I said earlier, the school allows fighting. However, any injuries on a student that could seriously debilitate them and prevent them from successfully completing their school year is an expellable offense. There are exceptions to this rule, but most of them pertain to tournaments between students and those are closely regulated by the teachers and staff.” Valder stood up walking back to the door of his office, opening it. Kenji was sitting in the waiting room with his tablet. He startled at the door suddenly opening and he scrambled to put his tablet away.

  “Mr. Iwatani, could you please help Mr.Wezts to his first elective class, seeing as how he's already missed general studies today.” Kenji stood and saluted for some reason

  “Ye..ye..yes sir right away sir.” He stuttered as he spoke.