Somnium Online

First Days pt.2

Dianne struck first, channeling all of her power into a massive vortex that sucked all the oxygen from the area into a howling twister.

Eric had nothing to defend himself with because there wasn't any air left. The tornado spiraled upwards, then condensed into a thin stream of energy. It sliced downwards, and Eric only barely managed to dodge left.

For a moment time seemed to stand still. The blade slowly tore through Eric's uniform, and slashed across his chest, carving a perfect thin line.

Then, time resumed. Eric fell to the ground facedown as blood pooled around him. He felt it leeching away, just out of reach. Then the world became very cold and dark.

Dimly he could hear medical mages rushing around in a panic, and shouting from the other students.

Eric couldn't feel anything, so why wouldn't his body move? He still had a fight to win, he couldn't give up...yet.

Eric fell unconscious and slipped away.

Dianne laughed madly. "A commoner should know his place. Especially one who isn't even a real mage."

Eric woke up slowly. He was on his back looking up at a high vaulted ceiling. He couldn't quite lift his head, but he was lying in some sort of bed.

"Shh, don't move just yet." Reagan leaned over and inspected his wound. "You aren't completely healed yet so don't try and get up."

Eric sighed and closed his eyes. "It looks like you've saved me again," Eric said.

"You always were reckless," Reagan replied. "Dianne is dangerous. Last year she was expelled for accidentally killing a classmate in a duel. She doesn't hold back, and uses lethal attacks like its nothing."

Eric gulped. "Yeah, that explains a lot. But what's her deal with me being a commoner?"

Reagan took a seat beside the hospital bed. "Well... it's a bit more complicated than that. For a long time, only nobles could become mages. Any commoners with magical abilities were considered inferior and not worthy of being taught. Meanwhile, the knight's academy welcomed commoners and trained them alongside nobles."

Reagan applied more healing magic. "Eventually the king decided to allow commoners to learn magic, but there's still a lot of prejudice."

Eric closed his eyes and sighed again. Does it get any more cliche than this? He thought quietly.

"Well boss, actually-" N butted in.

"That was rhetorical." Eric cut him off.

Eric took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and sat up.

"Hey, you can't do that yet, you're not fully recovered!" Reagan yelled.

"Doesn't matter," Eric said through gritted teeth. His chest hurt like hell but he knew it was all in his head, and he didn't have time to waste in an infirmary. "Got to go." He managed.

"Oh no you don't!" Reagan yelled, dragging him by the back of his collar.

"Let me gooo!" Eric whined. "I have to go train so I can get stronger!"

"You aren't fully recovered yet. So you need to rest." Reagan hauled him back to the bed. "Come on, no more training today, doctor's orders."

Eric flailed wildly to no avail. Reagan pushed him back onto the hospital bed, but his flailing knocked her off balance.

They landed heavily, Eric pinned underneath Reagan, both breathing heavily.

Just then, Abby crashed into the room and stopped dead in her tracks. "What the hell?" She whipped out her wand. "Get your hands off my sister you filthy pervert!" She yelled and blasted Eric into the wall. "What the hell you two!" Abby roared.