Darksteel

Chapter 28; Monster fighting and other atrocities.

The day after the Masked Ball was when classes started up again, thus there was quite a lot of moaning, groaning, and complaining in the hallways.

And that was just the professors.

The class work seemed to double for whatever reason, and the teachers mercilessly worked their students— it would not be an exaggeration to say that some were brought to tears. Usually by Miss Bywater. Yet over the next few weeks, swords were forged, spells were learned, and Smithy began making them run laps before each Monster Slaying lesson.

THAT was possibly the worst thing of all.

 "Come on, boys, faster!" the professor bellowed then, "My old grandmother can run faster than you lot and she's been dead for fifteen years, gods rest her soul. Back in MY day, we could run for days, I tell you..."

 "Does it look like we care?" Asta huffed, sweat dripping down his face and into his eyes.

 His arms still burned from Weapons class that afternoon; banging away on a bit of metal wasn't an easy thing to do, after all. Yet he was not the only one who was having a rough time of it.

On his left, Nico was practically gulping down lungfulls of air, and behind her lagged Blue and Jin, looking equally miserable and red-faced. 

Adar and Jeremiah, however, were jogging at a steady pace ahead of them, not out of breath in the slightest.

It was most unfair, really. 

 Still, like all good or terrible things, the running came to an end when Smithy finally yelled, "All right then, lads! Gather 'round!" just when Asta felt that he couldn't run any farther.

Thus, 'gathering around' the boys stood, panting, while Smithy seemed to inspect them all for a moment, then tutted in disappointment, "Look at you all! Gasping like fish out of water!" He then seemed to notice that Adar and Jeremiah were NOT gasping for breath and nodded in approval before continuing,  "Right then, lads. I've got a special Monster in the mazes today, it's a real beast, that one is!"

Asta saw one boy raise his hand. "It's not Wimbbleton, is it?"

 "No, Thomas, I haven't got Wimbbleton lurking about the maze. I'd never hear the end of it. Dwarves have no sense of direction, don't you know. No, this Monster here is a serpent type creature with venom so dangerous it could knock you out for weeks or worse."

 Asta swallowed nervously; what with Adar saying that he ought to keep his power a secret, he wasn't sure how he would get through this class without dying.

 Granted, he could have asked, since it WAS Adar's idea, but the prince seemed troubled and had barely spoken all day, making Asta wonder if there was something on his mind. Something troubling.

 Smithy rambled on then,"I encourage you to take extra safety measures and all that."

 Asta raised his hand, "What sort of safety measure —"

"Figure it out, Arthur! I haven't got time for all this nonsense. Now, into the maze everyone!"

Hefting his sword in his hand, Asta thought that Smithy looked quite troubled as well, but he didn't have time to wonder about him before the rest of the boys moved forward and they were thrust into the maze...

                                   ....................................

After classes and a quick shower, Asta headed to the art building in the hopes of being alone for awhile. 

Entering the small space, he breathed in the familiar scent of bitter paint and warm pencil shavings, watching as the stained glass windows filled the empty room with a chaotic symphony of colour, leaving every surface awash in its hues. And though some might have found the colour a distraction, Asta chose a seat in front of the largest window, letting the sunlight warm him to his bones.