Rewriting His Past

Lunch

The leadership class is straight-forward. Everyone was given a summary of the year's lesson plans. Mr. Rock directed anyone whose eyes lingered toward their books with a stern cough and glare. The overview was strange; to say the least, there are seven stages for first years. The first one is the art of praise. Dusk had not expected to see that one. Responsibility, setting an example, and discipline all made sense. Knowing your business, he could start working on that right away. Although surprised that Micah had not yet arrived, Dusk left the class with a sense of optimism.

Pyrite took him to his home studies class without mentioning Mr. Summerset in any way. In actuality, it seemed as though nothing at all had happened. Dusk should not be, but he was surprised by Pyrite's ability to conceal so much feeling. It was evident that Dusk had only been acquainted with him for a short period of time beneath that cheerful face and swaying tail. Dusk, however, discovered that his heart was irritated. Dusk arrived at Home Studies with a foggy head.

He was fortunate that Lace, Iris, and Moss, his teammates, wanted to avoid talking about the gray beast in the room. The sourer atmosphere that Dusk created in his head and the rapid interest of the others in the room kept each other apart. Thankfully, today's homework load was light. They were breaking down their responsibilities and examining their assigned family. In noble families, various heads collaborated to administer the household. Even though his circumstances were unusual, Dusk never realized it; maybe he should have.

The male employees, including the butlers and menservants, would be under Dusk's supervision. Moss the females, including the maids and waiting ladies. Iris was in charge of the garden, and Lace was in charge of the finances. After the initial couple weeks, they would alternate until everyone had a turn. Mrs. Quartz distributed the hypothetical problems that we would be in charge of resolving. At the end of the week, we would turn them in, and she would give us a fresh one. Alterations would be made in accordance with their responses.

They decided to put off finishing their assignments so they could meet together the following class to chat and offer support. The lesson went by so quickly. Being a part of the three girls made Dusk feel better. Iris was a vivacious bundle of energy who instantly fell in love with Word, and the emotion was highly reciprocal.

Iris gushed about Word throughout the majority of the lesson. Lace talked about her summer training sessions with her mom. Moss was happy to forget about her papers and join in on their conversation. It was a casual, light-hearted discussion. Due to the chaotic nature of emotions, Dusk needed that distraction from his own thoughts. Lunch followed, but Micah was still missing. Bringing back his worried thoughts.

Should you go see how Micah is doing? At the end of class, as students were filing out, Dusk questioned Pyrite. It was also Dusk's lunchtime. After a few hours, Micah had still not returned. He was beginning to worry. Pyrite cocked his ears and cast a downward glance at him.

"He is taking a long time." Pyrite's mouth twisted, and he continued to stare Dusk in the face. He didn't want to leave him alone.

Dusk began, "Take me to the cafeteria," not knowing where it was. "I will wait there for you guys."

"I am not sure if I should leave ya alone." Pyrite said his tail lay flat against his legs.

"You cannot be with me all the time." At this point, he felt as though he had some idea of how protective he was. He had to be delicate because he did not want to offend Pyrite. "I survived this long without you."

"At what cost?" Pyrite scowled, crossing his arms and glaring down at him with his fire-filled blue eyes. They could have easily turned red. Word screeched at him; Dusk could have easily forgotten that he was perched on his shoulder due to how light he was. "Ya know what I mean, Word." Pyrite snipped at Word. He inflated himself and pouted on his shoulder, turning his head away from Pyrite.

"It is the cafeteria at the school; what could go wrong?" Dusk pointed this out. "Who would risk it with Word?" Word turned around and raised his head so high that the feathers on his neck fluttered. He cocked his head, exuding a confidence Dusk wished he had even a quarter of. "I do not feel the connection, but Micah's prolonged absence seems wrong." Dusk deepened his voice into a low whisper. Not wanting the onlookers to hear what was going on.

"I don't feel distress, but..." Pyrite rubbed his head with both hands and let out a harsh sound. The couple of other beast folk scattered as a result, and Dusk and Word leaped. "Word, I'm counting on ya." Pyrite looked in front of him, grabbing his small talons in his hands. From his shoulder, it was an odd scenario and a little bit funny. Should he feel insulted? He trusted Word over him; had he shown himself to be that unreliable? Thinking back, he had a bit.

"Then, can you take me to the cafeteria?" Dusk said, dropping the subject when he had no argument against it.

"It's in the center hall; everything fans out from it." Pyrite said there was a light sway in his tail, and in a light bend at his waist, he held out his arm for him to take. Dusk took it, feeling a bit awkward about it without being too exhausted to think about it. Dusk glanced away from Pyrite, feeling flustered.

"This school is elegantly constructed." Dusk commented, while Pyrite led the way to the cafeteria as Dusk fell alongside Pyrite. He questioned why his heart was pounding. His hand, which was resting on Pyrite's arm, felt warmer than normal. Was it at this time? The turn that his thoughts had taken astounded Dusk. Could Pyrite be influencing him because it didn't feel like him? The innocent-appearing Pyrite caught the sidelong glance Dusk gave him with a wink. Dusk gave him a narrow look. "Pyrite?" Dusk received a chuckle in return.

"What do ya expect from Micah's ancestors?" Pyrite's voice grew low and thrummed. Ngh, Dusk didn't like not being able to control the warmth of his body, which spread and dipped at random. Glancing at Pyrite, he saw a smug smile hanging from one of his fangs on his lip. Thinking about it earlier, he realized that Pyrite could smell, so he changed its mood. Think of classes. Think of the classes. Dusk rolled his thoughts into a loop. Pyrite's chuckle left a trail of Dusk's embarrassment behind them.

"If you need me, ya need to use your heart to call for me. I'll hear ya." When Pyrite kissed his check, his face became hot. Pyrite turned on his heel and sprinted off as Dusk touched his face and felt the residual heat. So he felt worried too. Shaking his head, Dusk entered the cafeteria. He had never before eaten in such a manner. Tables filled the room in large, even rows. The tables' dark wood was supported by benches on either side that matched. The walls are lined with wood in an intricate pattern that makes Dusk think of a palace. The room was filled with an antique class that you expected from a school that stepped into history.

"Would you have any ideas how this works?" Dusk turned and rubbed Word under the chin.

"Dusk!" The animated voice of Iris caused him to turn around. Her blue hair was flowing behind her in a tangle.

"Where's the wolf folk?" Iris said, looking around. Lace's pale hand with slender fingers held her fan and came down with a hard thud on her sister's head. Bowing her soft pink head, she raised her pastel eyes to Dusk.

"Sorry about that, Dusk, if we may still call you that." Lace, Dusk thought back, had been reframed from calling him by name in class. This was why.

"Iris, it's bad to refer to the Prince's Consort by his race. Dusk's feelings will be harmed," Moss said softly. "Insulting his mate in such manner." Iris's bubbly personality burst into a tear-stained face. They had called Pyrite his mate. It was too distracting for Dusk. Had word spread about that already, and had Micah been the one to do it? He would have to wait until Pyrite brought Micah back before he asked.

"Do you hate me?" Iris's wings appeared to be dragging on the ground because of how low they were lowered. Tears glistened on the edges of her eyes in large globes as her voice trembled.

"Please continue to call me Dusk." Dusk spoke to Lace first, giving Iris some additional time to consider her course of action. "You understand, Iris, that you should not refer to Pyrite's race once more?" Iris began to hiccup and nod wildly as her tears fell like a river. Before giving her a handkerchief to wipe her eyes, Dusk maintained a firm tone and maintained eye contact with her.

"People are staring." Moss spoke in a low tone that almost blended into the background noise of other people. She did herself no favor by hiding behind Lace.

"All right, let us go get our food." In front of her face, Lace waved a fan. Word went over and rubbed Iris's face. Making cooing noises while doing so, her face became radiant, as if she had never cried. "This way, Dusk." Lace's eyes flickered with the smile he couldn't see on her lips. There was a sliding station in front of their lunch plates, and a buffet of meals led him to the side of the room. The square shape caught his attention for a moment, but he kept following the girls alone, holding his plate.

"He should have enough food; you do not need to feed him." Dusk informed Iris, who had a substantial amount of dessert on her plate. Word had more than his fair share of cakes and strawberries between him and Iris.

Iris handed Word a large strawberry and said, "He is so cute, I have to feed him," before taking her plate. "Does it not bother you?" Iris raised an innocent, childlike gaze toward him as she looked up. That Dusk believed is what drew Word to her.

"I don't mind, but be sure to feed yourself." Dusk said, picking up his own plate.

"Eat some greens, Iris." Iris grimaced as Moss placed some long beans on her plate and said, Word was given one by Moss as she held it out with trembling fingers. Word was a real gentleman, and he used all the tact his beak could conjure to take the bean. Moss' gentle grin emphasized how lovely she was. Like the timid little woodland birds, Moss might go unnoticed by people. She simply wasn't as outspoken as her sisters.

"You should smile more often, Moss; it suits you." Dusk said, bringing out a hot pink in Moss's pale skin. Dusk could see the error in his words displayed before his eyes as her eyes opened wide. She and her plate hid behind Lace with the sound of a startled sparrow's small peep. He could see that she was shaking so hard, which explained the rattling noise. That was her fork resting on her plate.

What was he thinking? Due to his behavior toward Moss, Dusk felt bad. He would never have considered, much less crossed, that particular line. "My apologies; being around Pyrite is making me forget my own manners." Dusk ducked his head and gave Moss a short bow. "Once more, I apologize for going too far." He was making excuses, but why? Despite being able to hear Pyrite's voice, Dusk denigrated himself. He did not have to behave that way toward everyone just because someone asked him to be less formal.

"Moss is inexperienced when it comes to receiving compliments, much less ones from men." Before picking up her plate, Lace rubbed Moss's head. "Even if they do receive their pleasure from the same sex," Lace remarked while smiling softly. Her eyes lit up with uncontrollable laughter as a result.

"It's... fine Dusk." Despite the fact that Moss's words ceased and faded, she continued to pause to look at her sister. Dusk could make out a subtle blush even on her fingers.

"Moss blushes over everything, anyway." Iris dismissed her sister's action and pointed out towards the cafeteria room. "There's a free spot over there by the window."

"It's where we sat yesterday." Lace nodded, taking her sister Moss along like a train in her dress. When Word landed back on Dusk's shoulder, Iris sighed and turned to face Word. With eyes on them. Thoughts were racing beneath Dusk's composed exterior as he moved calmly, like a duck swimming in water.

He avoided giving them a glance but noticed that they were looking up from their meals at him and the three sisters. Whispers blended but never reached his ears. Part of him wished he could hear them and learn what they were saying. The other part of him. He didn't want to hear. Dusk didn't want to learn. He didn't want to know. It was the part of him that flinched when a woman came too close, that shuddered when darkness crept in on them. Taking in a deep and even breath. Dusk shook the cloak of fear before it covered him with its shroud.

"People are really eager to make contact with you," Lace said with the same grace she sat with. "If Prince Perfect hadn't spoken up, they would surround this table now." Prince Perfect, the young dwarf, called him that. He had almost forgotten about it. Dusk shook his head and placed his plate on the table before sitting down himself.

"Yeah, word spread like a phoenix's flame that if anyone harassed you. The wolf," Iris corrected herself before she finished her word. "Prince Consort would challenge them to a sword duel."

"His sword skills are well known, even outside of school. It is unfortunate that he has not yet signed a magic sword contract." A handkerchief was removed and set on Lace's lap. Her sisters, at her, glance. Iris quickly did the same.

"He is kind of scary... I wouldn't make him angry." Moss shook her like a frightened animal as she spoke while trembling.

"Pyrite is gentler than a bugbear." Picking the green off his strawberry for Word to eat, Dusk said. Iris laughed while flaunting her partially consumed meal in front of Lace, much to Dusk's displeasure. Lace gave him a wide-eyed stare. Moss grew a little paler.

"That's the best reference, Dusk." Compared to her sisters, Lace recovered more quickly.

"Bugbears are gentle. They take care of kids with an enthusiasm that makes them in-demand nannies." Dusk recalled the light-brown bugbear who oversaw the children's section of the Redneval library. Had Sage not stopped her, she would have attempted to tear his parents in two. He hadn't spoken to her in years.

Lace remarked, reaching for her fan at her waist, "Bugbears do have a certain amount of enthusiasm; that much is true." Iris caught on and immediately stopped laughing. Word gently removed the strawberry from his grasp and placed it in his talons with his beak. He raised his head to pass him one of his finger sandwiches after picking it up.

"My thanks," Dusk said, placing a hand on his chest and bowing to Word. Falling back into his better habits while in public, at least.

"In this country, they are violent adventures." Lace said, smiling down at Word, who was eating with a more delicate touch than he did with Pyrite and Micah around. "No one will team up with them, and they're avoided. Their lust for blood is barely controlled."

"Mother used to threaten us with them when we were kids." Moss's soft voice spoke of an unforgotten fear. To think they would act so differently between one country and another.

"I see." Dusk bit into his sandwich. Enjoying the sweet, tangy flavor. Whatever jelly was sitting in between his slices of bread. "I didn't know." That could have ended badly for him if he had encountered them on the street. He's been a bit too busy for any real tourist activities.

"You are new here; how would you know?" Lace said. Nodding her head and picking up her own sandwich. "I'm sure many things are different in your old country."

"I would leave my country too if my family hated me because I had magic!" Iris quickly put an entire strawberry in her mouth. "That is like my mother disliking me because I can't fly." Talking around the berry in her mouth earned her a fan to the head from Lace. Rubbing her head, she smiled sheepishly at Dusk.

"She can't," Moss said, hiding behind her sandwich the best she could. "We still love her."

"It is a shame your personal information spreads like that." Lace frowned. "But no one of any worth would hate you here—the opposite, in fact."

"You're a blood mage! You have a legendary beast as your familiar. You can't be any cooler! Not even if you were an ice bird!" Iris said, then turned her attention to Word. "Who knew a legendary beast could be so cute?"

"The way the two of you interact is different from other familiars." Lace said, looking down at Word, who was passing him another sandwich. "The bonds between others seem more like master and servant, but with you two, I can almost feel the love you two share."

"And you bonded so fast, our cousin's snake took a year before it stopped biting her!" Iris said her eyes were centered on Word. "I wish bird folk could have familiars." Iris sighed, looking like a fairy tale maiden in love.

"Rumors are spreading that you're going to be the most powerful blood mage in history." Moss said her water eyes looked to him. "Be careful, okay?"

"Her words are correct." Turning to face Dusk, Lace gently rubbed Moss's head. "People are going to want you by their side or not around at all." Lace looked into his eyes and glanced over at the cafeteria's other guests. "We have little power or clout to help you, but if you need a friend, we'll be here."

"People can be dic-" Iris's words were cut off with a raised fan. "I mean, they can suck." Iris said, looking at Word. "Can I feed you?" Word turned around and opened his beak. "Yay!" She took one of her small berries and popped it into his open beak.

"I'll bring trouble to your door." Dusk issued his own cautionary tale. The idea of having friends made his heart warm. Many of his self-introduced illusions about himself were that he was fine by himself after meeting Micah and Pyrite. It seemed like these three would get along well. He enjoyed them as well, as evidenced by Word's berry-filled beak. They couldn't get a higher rating than that.

"Trouble we can take." With a low chuckle emanating from her mouth, Lace grinned while her eyes grew more narrow. "We small birds are no pushovers."

"Given our small size, we can only do so little on our own. We can accomplish so much when we work together; such is the nature of our hearts." Iris said Moss's voice was a small echo of hers. Moss's voice was the firmest Dusk had ever heard it.

"It is the creed of our flock." Lace said, beaming with the pride of a proud mother at her sisters.

"I like that motto," Dusk said, having such a close-knit family. It must be nice.

"Look at us, we have been talking all the time!" Before things got uncomfortable, Lace made a statement. Let us finish our meal before the time runs out. Lace talked about their flock back home while they discussed their class assignment. Letting Dusk know that only other bird people were allowed to use the word flock. If not, it was offensive. Word had tucked himself inside the curve of his collarbone by the end of lunch. Recovering from a cake and berry-filled meal by sleeping. Since their next class was on the other side of the school, the sisters left him to get to it. Pyrite and Micah were not to be found when he looked around. Not wanting to linger with eyes on him. Dusk headed to the east field. Alone.