Darksteel

Chapter 3; Don't feed the mermaids.

After they had hauled Adar out of the fountain--during which he had uttered the most un-princelike sort of language-- Asta asked if they could explore the campus.

Jeremiah and Nico exchanged a look. 

"We can," Jeremiah replied reluctantly, "But the campus can be... unexpected."

And though the words brought forth a sense of foreboding, Asta's curiousity was stronger than any fear he may have had. 

That being said, he was still quite nervous as he and the other boys made their way around to the back of the mansion, with Adar sulking several paces behind. 

 The campus grounds were beautifully kept, he had to admit; Stone walkways wound their way through gardens filled with pruned trees that had not yet begun to change color, and lamp posts proudly stood sentry on either side of the path to light the way when it grew dark. 

There were stone benches that had been placed beneath the shade of the trees, and already many boys sat either reading or writing in the dappled sunlight. Beyond that, smaller buildings were scattered around the campus, and Asta was curious as to what they were used for. So, as usual, when he did not know the answer to something, he asked someone else, hoping that THEY knew the answer.

Jeremiah answered him, "Oh, those buildings? That's where they keep the Monsters."

Asta stopped walking, eyes going wide, then noted the grin on the other boy's face. He forced his heart to beat at a pace below manic pounding and forced a smile. Jeremiah must have seen something, however, for his smile dimmed a bit. "I was only joking, you know. They keep the Monsters in a maze below the mansion."

 Well, THAT was most reassuring.

 "Stop scaring him," Adar snapped, "I don't want his terrified crying to keep me up at night. "

That made Asta bristle slightly, and anger flared, bright and hot in his chest. What was it that the prince disliked about him so much? Was it because Asta wasn't royalty? Because he wasn't as handsome? 

He stepped forward then, fists clenched, ready to bloody well tell the prince what he thought of him. But before he could even think of a better plan Blue had stepped in front of him, quickly signing something. 

"What did he say?" Asta demanded, "Is he mocking me too? "

Nico shook his head quickly. "No, no. He said that fighting isn't allowed on campus unless it's with live steel." he shrugged then, "Rules are rules. I could go grab a few swords if you don't mind waiting..."

"Don't bother." he growled, then glaring at Adar once more, Asta stomped off away from the group. 

It was too much; waking up in a strange school, almost being mauled at breakfast, and now grouped with Adar making fun of him. He couldn't even remember how he had gotten here or if he could ever go back. It all whirrled round and round in his brain, scaring him, making him lash out in ways he never had before. What was more, now he couldn't even argue with people unless it involved a fight to the death-- where was the fun in that? 

Thankfully, he considered himself to be a very non-confrontational person. And he only ever really got mad when someone called him a coward-- which he was, but they didn't have to point it out-- or when someone ate his food.

Especially if it was good food.

He walked all the way to where the lake began, the late-afternoon sunlight glinting on the water which looked to be sooth as glass, with not a ripple in sight. Odd, but Asta had bigger things to worry about than the state of the lake. And for a moment, he wondered if he could just run away.