Discrimination

"Saki, are you alright?" After scaring away April, Lyra quickly ran up to make sure I was okay.

"I-I'm fine." I quickly wiped away the spit on my face and tidied up my hair before looking at Lyra.

"Did they do anything else other than pull your hair?" Saki could easily tell that I didn't want to talk about it, so she was much more specific with her question.

"No, that's all she did before you arrived." I clenched my fist, feeling frustrated, as it dawned on me that if I had attacked April, it would have turned out worse for me. Even if it were justifiable that I defended myself, I would probably ruin my life at the academy.

"..." Lyra didn't know what else to say and only hoped that I was telling the truth, which I was.

Without saying anything else, I pulled out the rest of my food, nibbling on it as I had lost a bit of my appetite.

'I initially thought this would be my new chance at life, but it seems like history will repeat itself.' If April was here, then there was no doubt that some people from the higher grades who bullied me would be here. It's only a matter of time until they seek me out just to toy with me.

*

After finishing our food in silence, Lyra suggested we head to class early, which was fine by me. At least that way we would be out of sight of anyone wanting to take their turn at making fun of the peasant.

Finding our way to the staircase that leads to the alchemy classes, we were quick to find out that our classes were different. Despite being in the same homeroom class, for all the other practical subjects, we were split up. It was easy to assume it was for meeting more people, but it spelled trouble for me.

"Please be careful, okay? If anything happens, tell me." Lyra stood with me right outside my classroom, reassuring me. It was nice to hear, but I wasn't hopeful that things would turn out okay. I was already on my way back down to the darkest part of my life, just like before.

"I understand." I tried to speak in a neutral way, but the look on Lyra's face told me that she saw right through me.

"Be strong and hold on; I won't leave your side." Lyra gripped my hand tightly, and I nodded in response, but on the inside, my head was elsewhere.

'Tch, only until they hurt you too, then you will stop helping me.' Negative thoughts filled my head, falling into a habit that I thought I had left behind.

"Stay safe." Lyra let go of my hands and walked away to her class, which, thankfully, was only a few rooms away. Waving to me as she entered, I raised my hand, giving a slight wave.

'Now let's see how long the torment will last.' I enter the empty classroom and take my seat in the back corner, hoping the stereotype of sitting in the back is true.

**

Resting my head on my hand, I dozed off while looking out the window, which was a mistake. Without even noticing, I felt a wet, cold sensation hit the top of my head. Jerking back wide awake, I found myself saturated with water at the sound of boys giggling.

I looked down at myself, I saw my clothes also getting wet, but having been a male I knew exactly what the boys were trying to do. My white shirt was progressively becoming more see-through which pissed me off and only made me hate the fact I switched genders.

Thankfully, the flames that sparked around me from my emotions generated enough heat to dry me off. I noticed this and tried to focus on the parts that were wet, stopping any chances of them getting a peak.

An audible click of the tongue could be heard by the boys, which was satisfying to hear as they couldn't get what they wanted.

Now wide awake, I see that the class is completely full, and as expected, the seat next to me is completely empty. Each table could at least fit two people, and knowing how well-organised the school is, there is no doubt that every seat is full. It was only a matter of time before all the students arrived, and the last one would have to sit next to the peasant. I don't know how that is such a bad thing, but I certainly can imagine it happening.

Fortunately, that wouldn't be the case, and nobody sat next to me, which was honestly the best outcome. The teacher finally arrived wearing a white robe resembling a scientist and began the class right away.

*

I took notes as this class was definitely something foreign to me, but surprisingly, I could make the connection to some of my random chemistry knowledge. A lot of the class was spent explaining the different kinds of ingredients and how to identify them. It was pretty standard stuff, with some of the plants even coming straight from a video game.

I didn't think I would enjoy class, but seeing some more fantasy-like things come to life made all that more interesting, especially since I had an innate intuition from all the games I've played. The students also didn't try to torment me or comment on the fact that I was poor, which was a nice change of pace.

'If I had to take another class with Caspian, I would probably attempt to murder him.'

Once again, the bell sound echoed throughout the entire classroom, indicating the next period was starting, Every student was given a telepathy message right after the bell about what their classes would be. Which for me was a practical class something that instantly interested me.

The teacher was quick to leave the room with most of the students still packing.

I didn't waste any time and tried to quickly leave, but as I walked by some students, my foot caught onto a piece of string, tripping me over.

"Ow!" My nose hit the marble floor, causing a sharp pain to shoot through my entire head. The students, of course, laughed as I pulled myself off the ground, covering my nose, which started to bleed.

'Fucking bastards.' I felt the blood flow out of my nose, and when I tried to push pressure on it, a sharp pain would sting my nose.

'They broke it.' Grabbing my bag, I tried to get up, but I almost fell over again, feeling extremely dizzy. Blood dripped down onto the floor as I stumbled to the door, but before I could even open it, Lyra slammed it open.

She instantly saw the state I was in, and I felt the room drop to almost freezing temperatures. Locking onto the string that was on the ground, she saw a student recalling it and, without any hesitation, walked up to them.

The student froze, trying to be discrete but ultimately failing.

"Wh-." Before the student could pull off the typical excuse of why do you care about a peasant? Lyra grabbed their head and smashed into the table, causing it to snap the wooden frame.

"Don't touch her!" Lyra's voice echoed in everyone's mind, which prompted them to quickly run out of the room, not wanting to be the next victim.

I couldn't care less what was happening, and the dizziness I felt only increased, so I leaned up against the wall.

'My head is so foggy.' I guessed all the blood I lost was causing me to pass out, which I felt was too quick, but when I took a look at the ground, I saw a massive pool of my own blood.

'Huh, I must have hit the ground hard.' I let out a small chuckle, but all that did was cause another wave of blood to push through my nose and now my mouth.

After Lyra dealt with the student who was knocked out on the floor, she ran over to me. I suddenly felt myself being picked up, I think? I was too dizzy to tell what was happening, but I was at least moving.

Eventually, as if no time had passed, I felt a warm green light appear on my face, and the dizziness faded almost instantly. As if I had woken up from a lucid dream, I found myself in some sort of medical ward. Lyra was at my side, looking at me, worried sick, while an elf had her hand near my face, applying what I assume was healing magic.

"How are you feeling, dear?" The elf spoke softly, which was rather soothing.

"I feel fine now, but my mind feels hazy." I grabbed my head as it was like a fog clouded my mind.

"Those darn nobles... You may have gotten a bloody nose, but from my quick analysis, they also cast a spell on you that causes your brain to lag and make you unable to think properly, which made the bleeding much worse and caused you to faint." The elf explained the situation, but my brain was unable to fully process the information. But for Lyra, her fists shook as if she were going to explode.

"Miss Lrya, please breathe. I know you must be angry, but you will only get expelled if you do anything else." The Elf easily understood Lyra's emotion and needed her to calm down before more students ended up in the ward.

"I understand." In a cold and frustrated tone, Lyra complied, understanding the consequences.

*Sigh* "It's only the first day."