บท 24: Unlucky

As I sit on the cold, hard floor of the training room, exhausted and barely able to move, I can't help but think that those bald twins are truly sadistic. I glance around at my fellow classmates, most of whom are in a similar state—half-dead and barely hanging on.

My gaze falls on the girl Selene introduced me to earlier. Apparently, she just followed Selene for some reason, and I can't help but snicker to myself at the thought. I hadn't expected her to be skilled in handling weapons, but she's surprisingly adept with her twin daggers for a mage. It's an unexpected but impressive sight to see.

In Tavill, I've noticed that very few mages, healers, or non-combat professions choose to take weapon classes. However, someone like Elizabeth, for example, can hold her own in close combat even when her mana runs low. It's an intriguing aspect of this world—combat prowess seems to be a necessity for survival, regardless of one's primary skills or profession.

As I sit there, exhausted and about to bug Selene for some entertainment, something peculiar catches my eye. It's something I've learned in those seemingly endless theory classes on elemental magic—every element has its own associated emotion. While most people are familiar with the emotions tied to the four basic elemental types—water, air, fire, and earth—I've discovered something interesting about shadows.

Most people's shadows are there, even during the night when they can't be seen. They typically have normal-looking, tame shadows that might change shape slightly in response to strong negative emotions like greed, jealousy, or anger. However, they usually return to their regular form, whatever that might be for that particular person.

But Selene and I? Our shadows are something else entirely. They're grotesque, terrifying beings that seem to reflect our darker sides. The first time I noticed this, I was taken aback. It made me wonder—are we truly such bad people? I know the answer to that.

The person who's stolen my attention now has a shadow that, while not as terrifying as ours, is still quite unsettling. It's not going back to its normal form, which is unusual. For comparison, Selene's shadow is usually moderate in appearance. When she's angry at me, her shadow starts to writhe and twist in a disturbing manner. I haven't mentioned this ability to her yet; I'm saving it as a kind of cheat code to avoid arguments. After all, we won't talk about the fact that the love of my life sometimes emanates genuine murderous intent towards me...

The guy with the unsettling shadow, it's just staying in that disturbing form, not reverting to any semblance of normality. I can't help but wonder what kind of dark thoughts are permanently swirling within him. My curiosity piqued, I glance towards the source.

There sits a skinny teen, with deep, dark circles under his eyes, almost as if he hasn't slept in days. His large circular glasses magnify his haunting look, making him appear even more otherworldly. What catches my attention the most is his choice of weapon—a massive circular spiked mace that looks far too heavy for his slight frame to wield effectively.

He sits there, panting and seemingly weak from his exertions. Intrigued, I decide to stand up and follow him, because he's so curious.

I notice Selene's subtle amusement in her eyes. She seems to be watching Nathaniel's movements with a certain level of fascination, almost as if she's enjoying the show.

Nathaniel moves through the students, weaving through the crowd with a fluidity that reminds me of a snake on the hunt. It's both mesmerizing and slightly unsettling.

Eventually, Nathaniel zeroes in on an unassuming boy, seizing him effortlessly as if he were a bag of potatoes. In one swift motion, he grabs the boy's weapon and drags him back towards us. The boy initially struggles but quickly gives up, his expression a mix of confusion and fear.

Once back at our spot, Nathaniel plops the boy and his weapon next to us as if claiming his prize. "I found you, you're mine now," he declares, sitting down on the floor as if this is a perfectly normal occurrence.

The boy looks utterly terrified, and I can't help but feel a mixture of amusement and concern for him. Selene, however, is not amused. "You can't pick up humans like they're pets. How many times will we have this conversation?" she hisses at Nathaniel.

Nathaniel pouts slightly, trying to defend himself. "But you have her. Why can't I do the same?" he gestures towards me, and I can't help but feel a little awkward under his gaze. What do I have to do with this?

"It's different. She followed me here. He looks terrified," Selene argues reasonably.

"Selene, please," Nathaniel whines, clearly not wanting to let this go.

As the instructors dismiss the class and students begin to filter out of the arena, I sense the tension between Selene and Nathaniel. I decide to sit down and wait, sensing that this argument might take a while to resolve.

Meanwhile, the boy, perhaps not the brightest, tries to make a run for it. Selene, with impressive speed, whips out her whip and wraps it around the boy's leg, dragging him back with surprising strength. Or maybe the boy is just that light?

"You. Stay," Selene warns him firmly.

The boy wisely decides to comply, settling down next to us with a nervous look on his face.

How unlucky, or lucky I wouldn't know.

Something tells me I wouldn't be able to leave either, not that I would want to. Maybe.