Infamy

After walking for about ten minutes, we had finally arrived. The academy was at least as big as a small city, and with the students going from one class to another, it was easy to miss someone. However, Lukas seemed to know perfectly Aoban's schedule as he knew exactly where to find him at this moment.

By the time we arrived, classes were already over. The corridors were now full of students and I could feel curious gazes directed on us.

"Wait here," Lukas said. "I'm going to check, and then I'll ask him to come out."

"Check what?" I asked, furrowing my forehead.

"If everything is fine. Sometimes, there can be some troubles."

"Troubles? What kind of troubles?"

Lukas didn't get to answer my question as we were interrupted by a loud clattering noise. The door we were facing suddenly opened and slammed violently against the wall, as a figure appeared. It was a young boy, barely older than me.

Seeing how he so brutally opened the door, he was desperate to get out of the room. However, he had not expected Lukas to be on his way. He avoided him just in time, but he hadn't seen that I was right behind him as he bumped into me instead. Instinctively, I tried to reduce the impact of the fall by landing on my hands, but I soon regretted my decision. The unknown boy fell on me, crushing my fragile bones with all his weight. For a spilt of a second, I could have sworn that I heard my elbows cracking.

Being pampered my whole life didn't do me any good. I have zero tolerance to pain. On the impact, I forgot to open my mouth and a cry of pain got stuck in my throat. It is during moments like these that I suddenly remember that being almost completely immune to magic is useless when I get hurt from stupid accidents like this. However, the pain didn't last long as my elbows healed almost immediately.

"This kind of troubles," Lukas said with a sardonic smile.

I looked up at the boy who bumped into me. It was a demi-human. Two horns sprouted out of his forehead and instead of having human ears, he had long flurry ears, similar to the ones of a rabbit, but slightly shorter.

Hmm… Is that a goat? A goat-boy? Well, that's a first.

As he tried to get up, the demi-human boy sent me a deadly glare, clearly blaming me for what happened. Obviously, I wasn't the one in the wrong but he didn't seem willing to apologize, even though he was the one who didn't watch where he was going.

His nose was bleeding. I think it was already like this since he didn't bump into me hard enough to break his nose, but even if he did… I'm not at fault, right? I mean, he dislocated my elbows. I'm much more to be pitied than him. Unfortunately, I don't think anyone had the time to notice this.

"Don't let him go! Catch him!"

As he heard a loud voice coming out from the room he just exited –or should I say escaped?- the demi-human boy started to panic, forgetting about me. He quickly got up on his feet and tried to run away. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't fast enough as two older boys caught him before he had a chance to do so.

"Got you! Where did you think you were going?" One of them asked as a mischievous smirk appeared on his face.

The two boys each firmly grabbed the demi-human boy's arms, making sure he wouldn't escape.

This situation… Two older students surrounding a junior and keeping him against his will… No matter how I see it, it's bullying, isn't it? Thinking about it, it does make sense. In such a huge school where nobles, commoners, humans and demi-humans come into regular contact with each others, I guess bullying was to be expected. No wonder this poor boy was so desperate to run away. But where are the teachers?

"Guys, guys!" Lukas called out, raising his hands in front of his chest in a gesture indicating to stop. "Not now, we have a guest."

He didn't look surprised to witness such a sight. I felt disappointment slowly growing within me as I started to consider the possibility that he might be acquainted with the two bullies. It was unexpected. As far as I can tell, Lukas didn't seem like such a person. However, it didn't look like a racial issue, considering the fact that he didn't mind me being a half.

The two bullies definitely heard Lukas but ignored him, focusing on keeping the demi-human boy immobile.

Seeing this, I couldn't help but pity him a little. I did resent him for hurting me, but it's not like he did it on purpose. I definitely didn't want to get involved with this and risk becoming a target instead of the demi-human boy, especially since it's not my problem. However, I was raised with morals.

Surveying my surrounding, I noticed that no one was willing to interfere. Most students chose to ignore the scene, resuming whatever they were doing, while others simply watched, with a small hint of a smile on their face. Damn snobs…

Unable to watch the poor boy struggling any longer, I decided to step in. However, before I could do anything, I felt Lukas' hand on my shoulder, stopping me. As I looked at him, he simply smiled at me without saying anything.

"Alright, hold him tight!" A voice suddenly ordered, coming out from the same room the two boys just left.

A third boy appeared, seemingly siding with the bullies as he rushed to their side to grab the demi-human boy by his collar. He raised his fist, ready to hit him, while his friends made sure that their victim would not be able to dodge.

I know I should have done something, but my brain ceased working as I immediately recognize the newcomer.

"B-Brother…?"

His punch stopped halfway as he heard my voice and looked at me. When his gaze met mine, he completely froze, his eyes wide open.

"Lyni?"

Ah… It's him. It's definitely Aoban. What the hell is he doing? I tried to interpret the situation the best as I can, but none of the conclusions I came up with were good. I was in denial. He couldn't be my brother. Aoban would never gang up with bullies against a single boy, weaker than him. I tried to convince myself that it was just a misunderstanding.

Unsure of what was going on, the demi-human boy took advantage of the confusion to free himself from the loosened grasp of his captors and wiggled his way out, pushing the bullies.

"Shit, he's getting away!"

As one of the boy was about to run after him, he was stopped by the other.

"Give it up. It's a demi-human. You won't match his speed," he said, shaking his head.

The boy clicked his tongue as he watched his victim slowly disappear from afar, before venturing his frustration on my brother.

"What the hell, Aoban?!"

Brother did not answer but somehow managed to pull himself together.

"You!" He exclaimed, pointing at me. "What the hell are you doing here?! Don't tell me you ran away from home?"

His sudden fuss attracted attention as his friends exchanged an inquiring glare and a few students started to gather around us, curious to see what was going on.

Without giving me a chance to respond, Aoban immediately shifted his attention to Lukas as he noticed him.

"Lukas!"

"'Sup?" Lukas simply answered with a nonchalant smile.

"What are you two doing together?! And how in the world did she end up here?!"

Lukas shrugged. "Don't know. I found her wandering here. She said Aunt Nora kicked her out."

"WHAT?!"

"Haha, just kidding."

Aoban did not find this really amusing. I could tell that he was still confused and was not in the mood to joke around. He really had no idea I was coming, huh?

"Hey, Aoban, what's going on?" An unknown boy approached, trying to calm him down. When his eyes fell upon me, he blinked several times. "A chosen one? I've never seen her before. You know her?"

A smirk slowly stretched on the face of one of his friends as he studied me.

"Is it her? Your secret lover, that is." He asked with a teasing tone.

"Lover my ass, she's my sister!" Aoban immediately corrected him, clearly annoyed by this last remark.

At his revelation, the boy widened his eyes. He looked at brother, his eyes full of suspicion, before turning his attention on me, and then to brother again. "Seriously? But… She's also a chosen one."

As curious students kept gathering around us, I felt the need to clear this awkward misunderstanding. I didn't want people to mistake me for my own brother's lover. That would be just… wrong.

"Uhm… Hello. My name is Lynett Maedis Whiteheart, I'm Aoban's sister. Nice to meet you all," I introduced myself.

For a few moments, everyone became completely silent. It was so sudden that I even thought that I had become deaf for a second. However, this hypothesis was soon refuted as a notification sound rang in my ears.

Infamy +10

Wh… WHAT?! WHY?! What have I done?! How in the world introducing myself made me infamous?! I demand an explanation!