55 CHPT 55: Reunited

Training ended abruptly with tensions high as the class witnessed the intense standoff between Claude and the twins.

Most students found themselves in support of Samuel and Tai despite how uncomfortable the pair made them feel, simply because the students that were in the Deviant with Claude were riddled with fear because of his promise he made to them and guilt at being cowardly followers and leaving him and Ursula. This guilt they felt quickly turned into anger and self hatred that they all slowly began to project onto Claude.

But, a few of the new fair minded students found themselves beginning to become attracted to the new mysterious underdog who threatened the unspoken hierarchy that functioned with the twins comfortably residing at the top.

Claude stood near the door to the University quickly and aggressively packing his backpack, he officially had enough of the training class and the people within it. His mind was filled with two opposing forces at war over an issue that had yet to be resolved. His only friend...ex-friend?

"[I personally think you should stop being a twat and go talk to her.]" Arne interrupted in his English accent.

"A wha- nvm, I can't. I screwed up big time alright, I can't even look at her without feeling like trash." Claude responded.

"[Hmmm. I went through a couple of your most important memories and one of them was of her scolding you...more so voicing her insecurities and worry. Claude how do you think she felt in that moment?]"

Claude immediately remembered Ursula in the Infirmary at the C.S Academy, crying and yelling at him because of how bad she felt that he risked his life to save her. At first the idea of being mad that you were saved was a foreign concept to him, but he soon understood her feelings and they even came to an agreement to save each other equally.

"How she felt...sad...maybe a little weak. What are you getting at, Arne?" Claude responded.

"[Your sharing some of the same feelings that she had back then...maybe even now, and still, she fought to show you she was worried and felt terrible— in her own weird and tough mannered way....and here you are, the last of the mighty Lupines of Romulus, RUNNING LIKE A B—]"

"ALRIGHT!" Claude interrupted. "I'll talk to her during dinner."

He stood up and swung his backpack onto his back. The clang of weights remaining constant in his ears as Samuel, Tai and their buddies worked out like meatheads behind him. The rest of the students were spread out across the field in their respective cliques and groups, talking until the Professors dismissed everyone.

Claude raised his head and surveyed the beautiful blue and orange hurd evening sky and took in a deep breath through his nose. He recoiled and scrunched up his nose— forgetting that the scent of sweaty Lupines of Remus hung on the air like animalistic bile. He quickly sniffed the air again finding himself detecting a hint of something else, something pleasant beneath all the hideous smells around him.

"[So much for talking to her at dinner.]" Arne said with a hint of humor and excitment in his voice.

Claude could now only smell honey, honey and flowers. He felt his palms collect moisture and his face heat up like a wildfire instantly.

"C-Claude?" Her voice rang out from close behind him.

"Fuck." He thought in response.

***

Ursula said his name but didn't feel like that's who she was talking to at all. She watched him slowly sniff the air and turn to face Warren and herself. He loomed over them like a silent battle hardened warrior. He stood at least four inches taller than her now— a big difference from when she was quite a bit taller than him a few weeks ago. His deep black hair hung low and moved with the wind, covering and re-revealing the signature scar under his eye. His eyes, they no longer looked enraged and full of disdain— instead they just held sadness...intense sadness.

"Claude...is that you?" Ursula said with a stern expression on her face.

Claude half smiled nervously and swept his hair behind his ears before answering, "hehe. Yes, last time I checked."

Ursula and Warren froze for a moment and just looked at his damaged ear. The ear further solidified the fact that it was him, which was becoming hard to believe— he even sounded different.

She looked at him a little longer, noticing his angered face didnt match his shy and nervous mannerisms— same as always. She was snapped out of it by him beginning to speak.

***

"[Now or never.]" Arne said as Claude, Warren and Ursula stood in awkward silence.

"Erhm....uuhhhhm....U-Ursula."

"Yes?"

"I just.... I want you to know how incredibly sorry I am that you got involved in my problems and almost die— Ugh!" He was cut off by the weight of a densely muscled body colliding with him.

Claude looked down and saw Ursula's brown haired head against his neck and chest, he could feel her strong arms wrapped around his back threatening to squeeze out his insides. She lightly quivered against him and tightened her grip.

He soon realized she was crying and felt tears of his own welling up in his eyes. He had to fight like hell to keep himself from crying in front of everyone.

"[What in the bloody hell are you doing!? Hug her back, you muppet!]" Arne yelled in Claudes mind.

Claude realized he was still standing awkwardly while she hugged him like he'd been gone for a decade. Hesitantly, he brought his arms up until they wrapped around her large defined shoulders and hugged her back, he felt a small but vital bit of relief wash over him. Warren stood behind Ursula with a smile on his face looking a bit more like his old self.

Claude dropped his arms after she stopped shaking and she slowly let go in return.

"God dammit. I hate *sniff* crying." She said while wiping her eyes.

"Same." Claude replied shyly.

He noticed it was oddly silent and quickly looked around the field. All the students looked at Claude, Ursula and Warren— most held disgusted faces similar to Samuel and Tai.

"You must be wondering why there so many new faces." Ursula said.

"Partly." He replied.

"A lot of students dropped out due to..well you know. So, they grabbed some new students to fill up the missing spots from various areas. I heard one is from a super powerful guild where his family homeschooled him....and I'm talkin powerful— like Samuel and Tai's family."

"That many huh. So why are they looking at us like that if they're new?"

"Oh yea...everyone hates us." Ursula said flatly.

"Even you guys?" Claude asked Ursula and Warren.

"Yep. Warren tried to help and got forced out and I was already with you so they associated us with you more or less." She said in reference to the Deviant while Warren nodded in agreement next to her.

"Associated?" Claude said angrily.

"When Samuel accused you of being a werewolf it stuck, and then you survived...the rumor was more or less solidified and spread like wildfire among the new students. It's safe to say almost everyone on this field thinks you turn into a giant wolf and howl at the full moon once a month." Warren said.

"Will that actually happ-" Claude caught himself before he finished the question.

"What?" Warren said while Ursula side eyed him.

"What? Nothing. I'm sorry your all being judged for being friendly with me." Claude replied.

"Wouldn't have it any other way. I've never had many friends anyway." Ursula said comically as she put her fists on her waist and pointed her chin to the sky.

Warren nodded saying, "Yea me neither. If I wasn't such a pussy I'd be so popular it wouldn't even make sense."

Ursula let out a powerful airy laugh that caused Warren to laugh as well.

Claude looked at them both, finding himself having a new experience. He'd never shared a laugh between people his age before, it felt nice even if he wasn't laughing with them— being involved seemed to be enough.

He noticed once Warren's laugh faded he was left looking in pain.

"Well, I don't think you'd be very popular....considering the fact that you've shown everyone how brave you are and they still don't have half the sense to accept their own cowardice." Claude said to try and comfort him.

Warren dramatically closed his eyes and tapped his chest while smiling. "Thanks man, I needed that."

"Just telling you how I see it." He replied with a light smirk.

"Alright students, classes are over. Go shower and prepare for dinner!" Prof. Brennan yelled to everyone.

The students rushed into the giant castle-like building on empty stomachs and troubled minds. Samuel and his cronies pushed and shoved there way to the front yelling and snapping at people while Warren, Ursula and Claude fell in at the back of the line.

"So, do I get to hug you too or is that option only available for buff women?" Warren asked jokingly.

"Piss off." Claude said with a smile on his face for the first time in a long time as they headed in for dinner.