A Country Boy Can Survive

All This over some cake?

     The walk downstairs was filled with the giggles of students who floated down the middle with a levitation spell. Dante was confused but didn't ask why Louise didn't do the same as her scowl deepened each time they passed. After several minutes of this, they reached the bottom and headed off for the dining hall, which surprised Dante with how extravagant it was. Candles hovered in place, and the tables, made of solid hardwood that he didn't recognize, stretched on for hundreds of feet. Each table looked continuous, meaning something like a giant redwood had to have been cut down for just a few such tables. 

     Louise proceeded down the second from the last table on the right, out of the four in total. Dante figured that meant each table was organized by year. Louise sat down in an open seat, and Dante went to take the chair next to her when she stopped him. 

     "This table is for students only. Normally, familiars are required to sit outside, but as you have an agreement with the school, I believe they have a place for you up at the head table." Sure enough, when he looked further down into the hall, a shorter table sat at the front of all four tables. It took up the width of the hall but seated only the other teachers. He saw Professor Colbert waving him down and figured he should head over. He turned to Louise before he did so. 

     "I guess I'll meet up with you after breakfast. Sound good?" The children around them were not so subtly making fun of Louise and only quieted down when a harsh glare was sent their way. Louise was looking down at her plate, refusing to meet his gaze. Her fists were balled up in her lap. He attempted to place his hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged his hand off and replied, "That's fine, do as you please." 

     Dante gave a concerned look but nodded before giving another dirty look to the surrounding students. Standing up, he walked over to the teachers' table, where Mr. Colbert had pulled a seat out excitedly upon seeing him approach. He took the seat and nodded in appreciation before eyeing a plate of bacon. Tossing eggs, bacon, and what looked like a pastry of some kind. He began digging in and half-listening to Professor Colbert while keeping an eye on Louise.

      What he saw reinforced what he had already assumed about her. She was prideful and determined but ostracized for her lack of talent. Though she tried to mask her emotions, it was clear her classmate's lack of respect for her weighed heavily on her. He noticed someone approaching her then, the girl from yesterday, who he now noticed appeared to be far more "mature" than her classmates. The buttons on her shirt looked to be struggling to do their job and he didn't doubt that was intentional. 

     His hopes that she was a friend of Louise's were dashed when he heard her loudly shout, "Hey, zero." He already heard her nickname, and he didn't know if it referred to her ability or size, but it was a rather cruel name nonetheless. What he was happy to see, however, was that she didn't have any true hostility in her words, and she and Louise traded barbs before the taller woman stalked off back towards Tabitha, whom he had met last night. While it seemed Louise was genuinely angry at the woman, it was even clearer that her mood had improved. She was no longer drawn into herself and had actually started eating. Granted, it appeared she was stabbing her food excessively, but he'd take what he was given. 

    Mr Colbert seemed to watch this scene as well and commented on it. 

     "It's remarkable. Normally, I'd have intervened on her behalf by now, but Mrs. Kirche's actions are a well-hidden act. I believe she empathizes with Louise, as she herself is an outsider. A transfer student you see, we don't have very many who come from Germania. Most tend to avoid her... Aside from the male students. But it's not my place to comment on THAT."

     Vague references to the after-class habits of the woman aside, it sounded like she was a very smart, capable young lady. A potential friend if not for Louise's own stubborn, prideful nature. He sighed heavily before taking a bite of the pastry he had avoided the entire meal. Sweets at breakfast just didn't sit well with him, and sure enough, a rich chocolate filling met his tastebuds. He forced himself to swallow before setting the rest of it down and scanning the tables. Many were filled with pastries, sweets, cupcakes, and tarts, which concerned the man.