Dysphoria

"Why the long face Gavin? You've stood there frowning for the last three hours. I'm afraid your ugly face would prompt the gods to punish us with a colder winter."

The voice snapped me out of my reverie. Looking around, I found a boy, a head taller than me, donning noble clothes. His grin grew wider as he came closer. I told him to stop but my words fell on deaf ears. He then took a seat on the chair near to the door.

"Shut Elric. As if you do not know already. Please leave me be. I wish to be alone for a while longer."

I lashed but he continued to stare at me with a look of indifference. After a few seconds, he finally spoke.

"Gavin. I read emotions not minds. You, of all people, should know better.

"And what of your schemes and trickery? You have a sharp mind. I'm sure you can figure it out."

"What of it? Isn't the mere fact that I am here, "nobly" asking you, enough to suggest otherwise?"

"Sorry my friend... for my actions. I am just a bit worried and afraid."

"And that my friend is the reason I am here. Do not worry. You can tell me."

He said as he took out a piece of paper and plastered it to the wall.

"A silence charm. You best not move away farther than where you stand. The area of effect cuts off from there."

"Thank you Elric. Again, sorry for before. I'm just pressured by the Coming of Age Ritual. What if I don't pass the test? What if I don't awaken my gift? Even if I do awaken some gift, what if it's useless? My family would be disappointed. My people would be disappointed. As you know, I am to be sent to the Kingdom's Royal School of Knighthood after the ritual, with or without a gift. What great is a knight without any ability? I can't just poison every foe I meet with my terrible cooking!"

"First of all, Chef Markov, one of the best Chefs in the kingdom, praises you as his protegé. If that's terrible cooking, then I don't know what isn't. Second of all, I don't think you know what really happens in the ritual. Right?"

"Nobody really tells me anything."

Just then a shadowy figure moved behind me so fast that I couldn't react in time. He restrained me. I glanced a pleading look towards my friend for help but he just sat there looking amused. That scoundrel! He planned this or at the very least in cahoots with the he intruder. I lay face up on the floor with the intruder's knee on my abdomen.

His fingers contorted to unimaginable shapes ready to strike me at my weakest.

I could not stop laughing.

"HAHAHHAHAHAHA! STOP! HAHHAHAHA!"

"But we do, little brother. You just never try to listen. It's not nice to tell lies so here's more punishment! Hahahaha!"

"HAHAHHHA! BROTHER STOPPP! I GIVE-- HAHAHHHA!"

"Lord James, I think he learned his lesson." Elric said with muffled laughter.

"Oh really?"

"YES! YES! I LEARNED MY LESSON HAHHAHAHA! I GIVE--. I GIVE UP!" I screamed

"Okay then." He told me as he let go.

That was my chance. I tried to get out of his hold fast and then circle him to his back while he maintains the kneeling position. But sadly, I think brother already expected my revenge. He moved to the side and tripped my legs. I fell face first to the floor. Well the good thing is a pillow broke the impact of the fall to my face while the bad thing is that I am in a worse position now than I was a minute ago.

Wait, was there a pillow here before?