Alienation

Day 60, Year 3000.

'Reflexive action and power.'

Gawain raised an eyebrow.

"This is different."

Alone at the table, Gawain was busy rummaging through the guide that Joan had handed him 5 days ago. The dark circles below his eyes had become a prominent feature of his face, and his unperturbed focus was making him ignore the fact that most of the people inside the cafeteria were periodically sneaking glances in his direction.

"Andria."

At some distance from his table, one of the girls from his class called out to the one person that he could be on good terms with.

"Y-yes, Lucia?"

Andria was taken by surprise. She could never get used to the feeling of a stranger calling her name out so casually.

"Did you hear what the seniors were talking about yesterday?"

The girl named Lucia made a serious expression.

"W-What were they saying?"

She brought her face closer and whispered,

"Gawain is being targeted."

Andria's eyes widened.

"Targeted?"

She raised her voice slightly.

"Shush!"

Lucia placed her hand on her mouth.

"No one else can know that I told you this."

This was serious. As newcomers, they could not afford to become targets.

Andria closed her mouth and nodded.

When someone was marked to be a target by the senior knights, they would be subjected to endless mental harassment and torture in the form of constant work and punishments for the simplest of mistakes. Along with this, there was also the fact that alienation was included, because anyone that tried to associate themselves with the target was subjected to the same harassment.

'Should I do something?'

After she stood for Gawain in front of a red knight, it didn't take long for her to make a few friends inside the academy. Most of her classmates were still wary of her, but her life was a lot easier than she was expecting it to be.

"Don't you dare?"

Lucia whispered once again.

"I know that you love to be righteous, but I revealed that information to warn you. Don't get close to him."

After spending a few days with her, Lucia got used to acting like a big sister. Andria was ignorant of such matters.

"I can't-"

"I won't take no for an answer. Becoming a target is no less than being in hell."

There was a rumor that one of the students had overworked himself to death after being targeted. As a lazy person by nature, it was Lucia's worst nightmare.

Andria looked at Gawain. He was busy reading his book with a half-eaten apple in his hand.

After a long look, she let out an exhausted breath.

"Fine. I won't do it."

Despite her courage, they both accepted their roles and made it a point to stay out of each other's lives.

"Look."

Lost in her thoughts, she was unable to notice someone else who had arrived at his table.

"An upperclassmen?"

The Perseus emblem. She was from his house.

"Gawain."

Her voice seemed to pull him out of his trance.

"Celia?"

She raised her hand to hit him at the back of his head. Andria couldn't track the speed of her attack with her eyes.

'Thwack'

Gawain was holding her forearm. His grip was firm.

The girl named Celia smirked.

"7 out of 10."

He let go of her hand.

"Well done."

She took a seat in front of him. The entire cafeteria was silent.

Sensing the tension, she looked around and said,

"Mind your own business."

Her tone was bone-chilling. Everyone simultaneously averted their eyes, except for Andria.

Celia stared right into her eyes. The glint was enough to make Andria follow suit and change her line of sight.

After confirming that no one was looking, she turned back towards Gawain. He was back to reading his book.

"You were asked to take adequate rest. Don't overwork yourself."

"7 assignments in 5 days, along with a physical examination and master's fitness regime. Overworking is the only option."

She placed a red box on the table. He looked at it and asked,

"What is it?"

"Food. Joan made it for you."

His face turned purple.

"Anything but that."

Celia broke into a nefarious smile.

"You know what to do. It is for your betterment"

The fear in his eyes was begging for an out.

"I can build up my body without it."

He whispered.

"Will you dare to reject your master's offering, though?"

'Gulp.'

He closed his eyes. The first image that came to his mind was of his mom.

'If I ever did anything to hurt you mother, I am sorry.'

She was an angel. Even tasteless gruel seemed like a delicacy in comparison.

"Fine. If death wants to embrace me in my youth, then who am I to reject it?"

He opened his eyes.

"I'll take it to my dorm."

She slowly whispered,

"If you throw it away, she will know."

A cruel reminder. Tears washed through the dark area beneath his eye as he said,

"I know."

He picked up the box and left like a girl that was rejected by her first love. Openly weeping at the prospect of consuming something that, by all means, should not be considered edible solely based on its taste.

The atmosphere between them took everyone off-guard. Even Andria was forced to close her mouth to prevent a chuckle.

Celia stood up from her seat. Without sparing another glance for anyone else, she left the cafeteria in silence.