Chapter Eighty Six - We are confronted at breakfast

The Food Hall at the outer martial arts school was filled with the chatter of excitable first years, who took to singing the praises of several who had performed well in the first day of the Standings. Those who they surrounded were insufferably smug for the most part, only a few of more experienced martial artists did not allow this to go to their heads. After all, there were still two days to go.

Leon would have felt more comfortable eating congee in a corner with Sun and Jin Li, but the three, while not arriving late to breakfast, did not arrive early. Sun was someone who liked to sleep in and Leon was someone who would have felt bad abandoning him, unlike Jin Li. So the three had found seats in the middle of the thrall, but were ignored by everyone surrounding them, as if they were an island in a ocean marred with jagged rocks, sharks and stormy waters.

This did not bother Jin Li, who was too busy consuming his savoury congee topped with chunks of salted meat and onions. Leon had opted for a more sweet breakfast, with honey, nuts and dried fruits. Sun looked as if he would prefer a sweeter breakfast as well, but in the end opted for the same as Jin Li, but also he had an egg a top of his.

The berserker, Bullen, entered the Food Hall at this time. Upon his nose was a sticky bandage, for battle scars were a berserker's pride... even though this scar was definitely not one earned honourably nor was worthy of a tale. Behind him, was a behemoth of a man, his face seven points similar to Bullen's. Bullen was a large youth, width, height and breadth he was an imposing individual for many, yet the man with him was taller by half a head and wider in the shoulder and biceps by a hand span. He quickly attracted the attention of several first years, who began to praise him for his scores the day before. This man had reached the top five of the outer school the day before and he was prideful of this.

Bullen muttered something to the larger man, his eyes settling upon the table where Leon's small island quietly lay. The man grunted then pushed past the first years and others he considered ants, not even being respectful to those who should be his peers. He came to a halt in front of the three youths and crossed his arms about his chest, letting loose his spiritual and natural aura's that could usually bring to heel even the most vicious mutts.

Many backed away and Leon's island suddenly grew. He glanced upward and noticed the man hovering across the table from them, his eyes grew wide from behind his glasses. Leon noted that Bullen was standing smugly at the large man's side and so was quick to deduce what was about to occur. This was Bullen's way of paying them back and this thick thigh he held certainly appeared capable. Leon hoped he carried enough improved blood pills, because this surely was going to hurt.

Sun was not far behind Leon in figuring out what was happening, but the boy trusted his own speed and felt that he should be able to escape injury... if not for the thick throng of people around them. Where were the Teachers when they were needed the most?

Jin Li either did not notice the man's presence or thought that his breakfast was more important, because he ignored him completely.

"My brother Bullen claims that you are responsible for his being punished by Teacher Vane," the large man, slapped his fist down upon the table, hard enough to rattle any bowls and cups upon it, but not enough to break it, though he was quite capable of doing so.

Jin Li placed his spoon beside his empty bowl and looked at Leon's unfinished meal thoughtfully. "It is no wonder you are so skinny," he complained, "unable to complete such a small meal. This Lord does not mind helping you out." Leon snapped out of his panic to clutch his bowl to him before Jin Li could snatch it. He was still hungry after all.

"Jin Li," Sun whispered to him, still keeping his attention upon Bullen and his brother.

"Ah, so you wish to share your meal with this Lord," Jin Li was not about to look a gift horse in the mouth, but could not pry Sun's bowl from his grip. The smaller boy had learned a while ago to keep hold of his bowl and plate less it disappear before his chopsticks.

"J-Jin Li," Leon murmured and indicated the large brothers, who were now glowing red with visible pulses within their thick necks. Leon shrank beneath their intense stares, although did not forget to continue clutching his half-eaten breakfast to his chest.

"Tch," Jin Li complained and stood up to meet the gaze of the man some half-head taller than himself. "You are disturbing my breakfast," he told him. "Leave."

"Not before this score is settled!" The large man growled, slapping his hand down upon the table once more.

"What score?" Jin Li sneered. "You wish to fight as your brother was foolish enough to trip over my s.. alchemist's ankle and knock himself unconscious?"

The large man's eyes narrowed and he turned to look at the sheepish expression upon his brother's face. "They turned their backs upon me, too cowardly to face me," the boy issued his own version of the truth. "I wished to teach them a lesson, but I did not expect them to use such low and dirty tricks!"

Jin Li rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes," he shook his head and crossed his own arms. "My alchemist purposely had the muscular you trip over his flimsy ankle and used the floor to knock you out." Several within the gathering crowd chuckled behind their hands at his words. He then looked up and down the larger brother and a wicked smile appeared upon his handsome face. "You wish to fight? Then you can entertain me this evening in the arena after the day's battles are done." By this he meant the outer school arena as clearly the other could not enter the inner school without invite or enrolment.

The large man nodded his agreement, then turned to his little brother and followers. "Let's go."