Feltaria

Chapter 2

It's day two of the pre-entrance exam study sessions, and instead of the writing portion, this day is focused on the divine energy segment of the exam. The same classroom was once again filled with students, more than yesterday, but some from before didn't show. The seats were assigned this time, and students clambered to their chairs. Today a scraggly-looking teenage boy named Aaron found his way into the classroom. His clothes were too baggy for his figure, his skin pale and a little emaciated. He looked up at the board with crystal blue eyes and blew some of his messy black hair out of his face. "I will earn my place in this school." He whispered to himself, determined. "I will prove I do belong here."

"Talking to yourself already?" The boy next to him chirped.

Aaron turned his head to the stranger confused. "You say 'already' like you were expecting me to talk to myself?" He tilted his head.

The white-haired boy shrugged. "I've heard some people can't handle the pressure of this school. You look like you just walked out of Hell, so I figured you'd cracked already."

Aaron's eyes widened with shock and irritation. "Excuse me?" He asked in a voice that bordered on a snarl.

"You're excused." He said smugly.

"I don't know what is wrong with your attitude, but I have done nothing to warrant it." He stated, trying to ignore the power burning in his chest, wanting to escape.

"You've done nothing to earn my good side, you come in here looking crazy, and you get treated like you're crazy."

"How do I look crazy?" Aaron asked bewildered.

"Tousled hair, talking to yourself, ragged clothes. You're not exactly in your Sunday finest."

Aaron scoffed and tried to defend himself. "I overslept this morning and didn't have much time to do my hair! And- these are hand-me-downs."

The boy chuckled. "I like you, I'm Cass, nice to meet you."

Aaron stared, uncertain if 'Cass' was being sarcastic or serious. "Aaron Emery." He says gesturing to himself skeptically.

"So formal. Well if we're using full names, it's Cassian Gray, yes those Grays, yes I'm that one." he says with a twinge of shame.

When he said that a girl near him eyed him with a little shock, almost looking like she was going to say something, but she was cut off by the professor entering the room.

"ALRIGHT CLAss- sit down and shut up." The professor is a man different from yesterday, this one had a paper bag with a drink in it, the man was definitely tipsy. "Today we're doing mock duels to help with your divine energy exam."

"Are professors allowed to be drunk here?" Aaron whispered to Cassian.

"Probably not, but I'm entertained so I'm not complaining."

The teacher threw a piece of chalk over at the boys. "Don't talk over me, I heard about you from the other guy, I won't have any of that." He gestures to Cass.

Aaron flinches at the chalk and hushed in his seat.

The professor cleared his throat. "So, we've already assessed your techniques, your strengths, and weaknesses, and your best match for sparring. You can certainly guess who, it's your tablemate. So grab your stuff and meet me outside."

Aaron, scrawny and an astonishing... 5'4 had nothing but his spellbook on him. He turned to look at Cassian.

Cassian stood up, only 5'5 "Hiding strength somewhere in there?" He chuckled to himself. "Come on Tiny."