005: His Hatred Runs Too Deep

The voice of her companion was that of the softer side despite being a man.

Saphira laughed, "It is fine though. They can only push me or bump into me. They weren't doing anything excessive."

The man sighed, "It is because you don't fight back that they take it upon themselves to bully you every single time they get the chance."

"Now, now, don't worry too much Garret. I am not hurt in any way, shall we go now? Lunch is almost over and we haven't even eaten our lunch yet."

She placed her arm around his shoulder as she led him away from that place.

"What did we just see?" Stormie asked the others in disbelief.

"You don't seem shocked," Willow followed looking at Hunter.

He thought for a bit before telling them of what had happened in the forest.

They did hear him ask Saphira about why she wasn't allowed to fight by her teammates.

But they didn't know that they left her despite not knowing the identity of the person who approached her.

"Shall we teach them a lesson?" Nixon asked as he cracked his knuckles looking at the path those men took.

"Let her be, she will be leaving this place anyway," Hunter shook his head.

She had decided to leave it alone, so they don't have to step in.

"I'm just saying, I know that when she had decided to fight back. Those men won't be able to get away unscathed," Nixon shrugged.

He just felt like saying those words, it was fun acting like the protective friend every once in a while.

She was in a hurry for lunch so they didn't want to bother her because she still had afternoon classes.

Saphira may be a lazy person but when she knew she had responsibilities. She won't just ditch it halfway through.

And for her, studying here until she is officially allowed to leave is her current responsibility she needs to see through till the end.

"I can never be like her," Stormie commented as they talked about this trait of Saphira.

"Not every person is the same. So you don't have to think about being like her," Nixon answered causing him to receive a smack on the back.

"Hey!!" he instantly glared at Stormie.

Stormie just stuck out her tongue.

"Calm down, people are already looking at you. Please don't cause more embarrassment," Willow pointed at those watching them closely.

The two calmed down after that because they too didn't want to become a laughingstock in another Empire.

"Let's just wait for her outside the academy," Hunter suggested after all of them were done eating.

They agreed having no more place to go to after touring the academy for the rest of the day.

Ridge was the only one who truly enjoyed it because the poisons around here were different than their place. He bought quite a lot of different varieties.

But he knew the strongest that they have wouldn't be available to others.

So he was still a bit disappointed at what he had.

Saphira's face lit up when she saw them near the academy.

It was still an unfamiliar feeling for her to see them after so long.

She was so used to being alone that missing them was something she always did.

She ran up to them and they welcomed her with smiling faces.

"How was your day?" Hunter asked when she got to where they stood.

Saphira giggled.

"What is it?" Stormie asked.

"It is just, the way he asked it was the same as a parent asking their children when they return from school," she replied with a laugh this time.

Hunter frowned when he heard what she had just said.

"Okay, calm down, I didn't say you are my parent. You just sounded like one," she laughed patting him on the shoulder.

Hunter did the same but what he patted was the side of her skirt.

The uniform was that of a skirt and blouse. Other than when they are out fighting demonic monsters, they are to use this uniform.

When Saphira looked down, she saw that there was dirt on it.

It must have been caused by those bullies and she didn't notice it.

"You've seen it?" she asked when there was no questioning look on them.

The dirt was a foot mark.

"Let's go?" Hunter said before walking ahead.

Saphira looked at the rest, they smiled at her and then followed Hunter.

She shrugged before following them.

*****

"So what did you see today?" she asked.

They returned to the place the six were currently staying in.

It is not that they are not fond of the food here but Saphira asked Nixon for the food from their Empire.

He was the best cook in their group after all.

She had missed it for so long but she was not a good cook at all so she had no chance of cooking one.

After they had their fill, she asked the question.

"We saw you being bullied," Hunter replied.

"Oh was it the part where I was pushed down?" she asked with a shrug.

Her nonchalant attitude shows just how much she was not affected by their petty tricks.

"Though I guess it was because of my background that they were like that towards me," she then added playing with the spoon in her mug.

"What is your background here for you to be treated as such?" Stormie asked.

"Well, I was an orphan living in the forest and only got into the academy because of my brains. I answered too vaguely back then that it was deemed that way."

She picked up her mug and drank from it.

"You being sent to the wrong place and being bullied because of this mistake, doesn't that show that karma truly knows how to return?"

All of them looked towards Drake who was at the end of the table.

He had been quiet all this time but when he opened his mouth it was nothing but such a remark and his eyes even showed contempt towards her.

"Dra-"

"I guess? But it wasn't too severe so I can still take it," Saphira interrupted Nixon who wanted to stop Drake from what he was saying.

Drake scoffed before leaving, he became more irritated when she answered in such a nonchalant way.

"His hatred runs too deep, he needs to recheck that," Saphira commented with a sigh.

"You do understand the reason behind that right?" Willow said to her.

Saphira looked at Willow.

Her deep orange eyes stared straight at Willow's green ones.

She was silent for a good few seconds before she smiled again and drank from her cup.

"Of course, I know. I know it very well."

The table turned silent and the atmosphere turned awkward.

"It was never like this right?" Saphira speak up.

"Never what?" Ridge asked her.

"Never an awkward one, never a table with anger and hatred," she slowly said.

"When it was only you guys who have joined together. When you haven't found me yet. I bet it was filled with laughter and happiness," she sighed.

"Saphira," Hunter called.

"Don't worry I had already expected this, he had shown so much hostility before we departed back then. I know his hatred will not subside with just a few years of being apart," she replied with a shake of her head and a smile.

"Well, he has no other choice as well. We need to regroup now and a fact is placed right in front of us. The world has turned for the worst," she then added looking outside the window.

"Are you prepared?"

She looked back at them, this time her face had turned serious.

They knew what she was referring to, the battle they were about to face was something unlike those simply fighting with the demonic beasts in the forest.

The beasts they will face might be stronger than most of what they have faced already.

"Isn't that why we had trained?" Nixon replied with a grin.

She nodded her head and smiled, "That's right, that is why we had trained."

"I guess it is time for me to go back to the dormitory. I'll see you on another day I guess? The letter might arrive in another day or so right?" she looked at Hunter and said.

"Yes," he replied before standing up.

She knew he planned on walking her back, she didn't decline and she bid the rest goodbye.

After arriving close to the dormitory she looked up at the moon before looking back at Hunter.

"You need to keep his hatred in check," she reminded him.

Repeating what she had said a while ago.

Hunter looked at her with wonder.

"I do plan on keeping it in check, we won't be able to work properly together if he keeps letting his hatred overcome his judgment," he told her.

Saphira shakes her head, "Do it for himself. Too much of that is not good for his well-being."

Though feeling like she meant something even deeper, he could only nod his head.