Yeah, I'm the newbie smelly kid. Got a problem with that?

LANCE

Magnus looked at me as if I'm saying alienated things he'd never heard before.

"Prejudice." I said, trying to recover.  "Are they the kind of men who belittle girls? Saying they're too weak, too incapable to do men's work?"

He stops pacing, hands busy undoing the knot on his hips. There's a small black bag hanging on his side that only a stone could fit.

"That too. But mostly girls can't handle the Mark's burden. I haven't seen one fight so my view might be biased. Anyway, I better check out the place you see that Auf from. See if I could dig around some clues. There might be more of his kind in here."

"About that, can I -"

I was interrupted by the school bell above us. Indicating the first class is done. And I still haven't taken my class schedule from the Counselor Staff.

"Oh shocks, Magnus can you meet me in the wooden house around 4? Let me know what you find. I still need to attend class and - "

"Got ya." 

With a promise to meet later, we parted ways. I sprint across the corridors as fast as I could. This time asking for direction from the right person, a woman with pink headdress and flaunting Sunday dress. Overflowing with pinkish flowers on white background. She turns out to be Dorris, the one I should take my class schedule from.

She's on her way to find me too. 

"What have you been up to young man? I waited almost an hour in my office for you." 

"So sorry Maam, I was - uhh, I met an accident outside and got lost."

"Lost? You know there's only three building in this school right? Few enrolled students, few used rooms with corresponding signs. You won't get lost with that if you're smart enough to read." 

Ouch.

"Sorry Maam, it won't happen again." I apologized again. She exhaled disapprovingly.

"It's fine.. just don't do it again. Run along now, you already missed the first subject didn't you?" She said, handing me a piece of paper printed with schedules for my new subjects. 

"Thank you." I bowed in courtesy and sprint back to wherever I came from. This time determined to be a good student and attend class. If luck is on my side, I might meet her.

Moon rose I mean, I fondled for my backpack and sigh in relief when the rose is still there. I tucked it earlier when I head inside the gate, where I apparently met Magnus.

The second row on the table of my schedule indicates room B21. This is where me and Magnus loitered earlier. Looks like I'm going back to where I came from huh.    

When I arrived at last and turned the knob, someone opens the door from the inside. 

"Oh, are you Mr. Augustus perhaps?" A slender woman with another pink headdress, pink long sleeves, and white pencil skirt asked. Rounding and blinking her eyes when she looks at me.

"Yes. I'm sorry if I'm late -" she gave a dismissive wave of her hand.

"Please, you're not. We're just getting started. I understand you're late because of your... complications right?" 

Her voice raise a little when she said complications. Inviting snickers from the students inside. 

"Huh?"

"Your father inform us beforehand. He said you have a tendency to collapse often. Especially in... crowds. I understand dear. I really do." I couldn't mistake the snide her mouth did when she said crowds. 

I shifted uncomfortably. For some reason, I don't like the look on her eyes. Nor the kind smile she's giving me. Instead of feeling comfortable, I feel like she's planning to do something that will embarrass me later.

"All right, come on in." She opened the door and I walk inside. The classroom is small. There's a lot of decorations like quotes in cursive letters, charts, and a learning board with lessons pasted at the back. 

There are twenty people inside, sitting on rectangular desks, fitting two people each. I counted eleven boys and nine girls. All eyes mocking at me. They must have known about my two 'fainting incidents' huh.

"So," she started, after dragging me to the center by her arm at my shoulder. 

"What is your name?" She asked, her tone somewhat unsettles me.

"I'm Lance. Lance Augustus." 

"Where are you from?" 

There's a lot of places where I'm from. Counting small states, countryside, sometimes remote cities. But I have no reason to say that.  

"From Austin City, Texas." 

Loud ooohs filtered throughout the room. Which I don't get why. I'm betting 10 bucks they've never been there before and are super jealous if it weren't for the next question this teacher has for me. 

"What does your parents do?" 

I chewed on my cheek. Unable to respond. 

"Come on honey, go on, don't be shy." She insisted. Jerking her head to the class, she smirked at them. As if saying 'Look at this scaredy idiot.' 

"My Mom died when I was a baby." 

"Oh, poor for you." I frowned at her. Was it just my ears playing or she really said 'oh, good for you.' 

"My dad raised me. Alone. We tend to travel. So I go to different school. Got a lot of stuff to get used to."  

The boy in front, with blond spiky hair whistled on his seat. 

"That explains the constant fainting. Well, are you gonna faint today? Just give us a signal so we can call the garbage janitor for you." He said and everybody laughed. 

"Garbage janitor? What do you mean Alestor?" The teacher beside me asked. 

"This morning Ma'am, our celebrity here fainted after the janitor threw the garbage bag accidentally on his face." The girl who sat next to the spiky blond kid said, sizing me up with her eyes and smirked.

"Well, that explains the smell." The teacher stepped back and pinched her nose. The whole class burst out laughing after.

I huffed. Well, this is news breaking record. Most of the time the bullying happens after classes. Not in the middle of introduction. 

I cast my eyes around the boys and girls of my age, sitting with their ugly laughing faces on their desks. Searching for a seat. One caught my eye. At the farthest right, just beside the window there's a girl sitting alone, nimbling on her short black hair. 

She did not laugh with the rest. Her eyes are hidden by her hair but I could feel her stare. 

I stride towards her, determine to take the seat next to her and get this 'be the laughingstock for the whole class' business done. 

The boy in the third row sticks out his leg to trip me. I intentionally jumped and kicked his leg off. I would have taken the trap if I'm in the mood to be their 'newbie bully' victim but they already laughed at me so…

No more freebies.

They got their chance already. 

"Can I sit here?" I asked, pointing to the empty seat. She curtly nods. 

I put down my bag and sat. Searching for this subject book. I'm aware of everybody's stare. 

But the stare that struck me really hard, the one that chilled my bones, is the crow like stare I received in the yard yesterday. When Ms. Greythorn drag me to the principal's office.

The owner is here, in this very classroom. And after I thought he/she is the responsible for the cornfield...