22 The Cafeteria Is The Place To Be
The butler raised an eyebrow at Wolfe, silently asking if he was finished with his off-topic questions and ready to meet with the staff that wanted him as their teacher's assistant. "Alright, would you be so kind as to lead the way to the cafeteria? I should meet everyone and get something to eat now that I'm in uniform."
The cafeteria, he learned, was not one single place. It was split into four different locations, divided by class but not by year so that the Witches with similar potential could mingle. Class A had a much smaller room than the others they passed, as they had the smallest numbers, but it had the same diner-style bench seating as the other cafeterias.
That was where the Student Council President led him.
"You can eat anywhere you are welcome, or the staff room is next door. Go there if they start getting pretentious. You work for the Headmistress, not them. We will introduce you to the teachers later, but do keep in mind that they will be watching your interactions at all times through the cameras." The large man accompanying the Student Council President informed him.
That was a relief. Being subordinate to an entire school full of snobby rich girls his own age would be too much, and he just might risk the consequences of heading into the woods to try his luck at freedom.
"President came through for us. Thank you, President Kara. Did you ask him? I've got to know." One of the Witches wearing a Second Year badge asked.
Wolfe and the President's personal butler, who also seemed to be her Guardian and assistant, stood back as the President was swarmed by eager Witches, wanting to know if they had a chance at regaining their domestic help.
"Have you ever been in a Mercies Store for the eighty percent off, one-day-only sale on Halloween?" The big man asked.
"I feel a bit like the last handbag on the top shelf," Wolfe replied, referring to the designer magical storage bags and purses that the store was famous for.
"The students aren't allowed to actually sign an employment contract with the staff members anymore due to the school rules, but in the past, the administration would respect a claim and transfer the employee once both parties agreed. I am not sure that's going to be an option for you, though, given your circumstance.
The ones that offer sex in exchange for your assistance are going to be tempting, but they will almost always be the ones that fail out and remain as Commoners. The course load is incredibly heavy for Second years, even without unneeded distractions.
If the Witch is demoted, the Academy will break the contract, and the servant can go home or look for another Witch next year since most Commoners can't afford domestic help."
The butler subtly gestured to a representative of the various groups he was speaking of while he elaborated on the various groups of students from the viewpoint of a staff member.
"Then there is the Sapphic group. They are cute, but they're mostly into each other. Don't bother with them. They go for the submissive sort to pamper themselves and their lover like a slave. No dignity at all in that option if you ask me.
The Tomboy faction is where it's at. Lots of talent in that group, and they can handle a little rough play. What's not to like about that?
Last up are the bookworms. If you like those, you might have to ask them, but they usually graduate into decent positions and don't go for power. That might be the sort of life you are after if they let you leave here when the investigation is done."
His explanation covered almost all the groups of Witches in Class A, and Wolfe wondered how exactly they could still be planning to get a servant since they couldn't bring any in.
"Let's eat. They will be discussing the order that they make their try for the new staff for a while. We only work eight hours a day, so unless you work evenings, that leaves eight hours for them to make their play.
Or so they think. The Headmistress will set them straight tomorrow, but they might still want a piece of you. I'm Murk, by the way. I forget that not everyone knows."
"Wolfe Noxus. But you already knew that."
With everyone talking, there was no line for food, and they soon had plates of some sort of casserole and salad that Wolfe couldn't identify, along with a couple of sandwiches each, packaged to go. A trick Murk said prevented midnight hunger.
"Grab a table along the edge. It is quieter, and that's where the good choices are. See, the blue-haired Tomboy and a freshmen hottie together." Murk suggested.
Clearly, dating wasn't prohibited, at least not in Murk's mind.
"Do you think they are from the same House?" Wolfe asked, not seeing who Murk meant through the crowd.
"Probably not. The Witches get roommates in the first and second years, so the newbies learn the ropes and get their work done. It's part of their class work to do group projects with their roommate." Murk explained.
A few seconds later, Wolfe spotted them. A Tomboy with a powder blue Pixie cut, wearing a gray tunic-style shirt from the staff uniform instead of the Witches blouse or cardigan with her skirt, was sitting next to Cassie.
"Come on, Murk. Let's make friends." Wolfe winked.
Cassie was sitting in the corner by the wall with her new friend across from her. Wolfe led the way and sat down next to Cassie, moving his salad to her tray, which only had a partially eaten sandwich on it.
"What would grandma Maria think if she saw you starving yourself? Relax and eat." Wolfe told her before turning to her friend.
"I'm Wolfe Noxus. Pleased to meet you."
"She's not... wait, do you know him, Cassie?" The small, blue-haired Witch asked. The excitement was making her eyes flow and flicker with a light that matched her hair.
Wolfe hadn't seen that sort of eyes until the last few days, but the jewel-coloured shining eyes that identified a powerful, or at least capable, Witch were truly mesmerizing.
"We met before I came to the academy. He is the one who helped me make my wand." Cassie explained.
"Hey Murk, good to see you again. This little cutie is Cassie Noxus, and she's already stabilized her aura before she even made it to a single class. Have your girlfriend look out for her, would you?" The other girl asked.
"Wolfe Noxus, meet Ella Mariel. The exceedingly violent daughter of a mechanic in the middle floors and my childhood friend." Murk introduced them.
"This is Wolfe? Oh, girl, you've got it bad. He's built like a bike courier. I'll bet he can go all night long." Ella whispered to Cassie, not realizing Wolfe could hear her.
The blush on Cassie's face when she realized that Ella's whisper had been loud enough for not only Wolfe but Murk and the witches a the table behind her to hear was so deep that her face almost matched the violet of her eyes.
"You get used to her. She never did have a filter." Murk assured the blushing Witch, but she was too mortified to notice anything that was happening around her at the moment.