10 Lunch and The Transfer Students (1/2)

One of the cafeterias on campus was attached to the dorms. The cafeteria and dorm had recently been renovated. The cafeteria was a large two-story building with a skylight depicting the school crest, a multi-colored equilateral triangle inscribed in a circle. The skylight was placed so it shines from the roof down to the first floor.

There are two spiral staircases at each side of the balcony like second floor. The first floor had long rectangular tables that can fold up and be stored for special occasions.

This cafeteria is only available to the LegendSlayer majors and the students who live in the dorms. The current group of students had arrived late to lunch.

Inside the cafeteria, Jasper had just sat down with his lunch of lyson soup and an ambrosia roll. Lyson soup has ingredients that vary based on the time of year and the chef's recipe. In each bowl of soup is a large lyson flower. Its blue in the center and faded to pink at the edges.

Not long after Jasper sat down Caleb showed up. ”Kissing up to the strongest guy in school isn't going to do shit for you, Broken,” Caleb said as he slammed his tray on the end of the table next to Jasper.

Jasper glared at Caleb and said, ”L-l-leave me a-alone.”

Caleb sneered, ”Never gonna happen, Broken.”

”You're a pathetic little wimp.”

”You should just give up on being a LegendSlayer.”

”And take some speech classes. I mean what kinda magician can't even talk right.”

”Are you guys seriously doing this again?” Kyrie asked as he took the seat across from Jasper. Why couldn't these asses leave others alone?

Both Caleb's group and Jasper glared at Kyrie as he sat down. Caleb was practically growling in irritation as he gestured for his boys to follow him to a nearby table. He wouldn't risk sitting near a hero. Who knows when he'd turn on them? On the other hand, he'd be able to keep Caleb safe, if he hasn't pissed Kyrie off to much.

♢ ♢ ♢

The other two transfer students were also in the cafeteria. One of these girls was 5-foot-4 in her tan platform heels. These heels attached to her feet by green ribbons that wound their way up her legs and stopped just below her knees. She was wearing a gorgeous green and hot pink skirt with more ribbons wrapped around her hips. On top, she was wearing a green corset with a tight-fitting top that was supported by her ample cleavage and two more ribbons that tied into a bow behind her neck. Her top appeared to have more ribbons tightly winding around her waist. Another set of green ribbons wound so thoroughly around her lower arms to her palms that not a sliver of her tan skin could be seen.

This girl had bright pink almond-shaped eyes and long black hair tied up in a high ponytail by another long green ribbon. Some of the ribbons on the girl's clothes helped support and attach a claymore to the girl's back. The claymore also had a green ribbon warped around the hilt and ricasso of her weapon in place of a leather grip.

The new girl, Ren, was currently having a conversation with another girl, Casey.

”You do realize as a LegendSlayer student you're supposed to be dressed for combat, not a party,” Casey said as she scornfully gazed at Ren's outfit.

”Well then, it's a good thing I am,” Ren replied with the hint of a smirk.

”You call those heels COMBAT equipment. If you tried to do anything in those, you'd just twist an ankle and cause problems for the rest of us!”

”She probably plans to have others fight for her,” Ana said with a scowl.

”Ah, thanks,” Ren said cutely as Amity, her childhood friend who had also transferred in, groaned. Here we go again.

”Fine. If that's your plan then, we'll leave you alone. If you can get Caleb to kiss you by the end of lunch,” Casey said as she crossed her arms and gave Ren a smirk. Bet you can't do that.

”Only, if you also agree that if he doesn't kiss me and I win a fight against one or both of you, you'll leave me and my friend alone,” Ren said. The bet seemed interesting, but a fight would actually solve this problem… Oh well.

The two girls looked at each other and smiled. ”Sure,” they said in unison.

”Deal.”

♢ ♢ ♢

When Ren arrived at Caleb's table, she breathed, ”Hi boys, can I join you?”

”No.” ”Yes”

Caleb glanced at his friends who were watching the new girl very intently. He sighed and rolled his eyes. ”Fine.”

After a brief round of introductions, Ren placed her tray on the table and moved Caleb's over some as she sat down next to him. Caleb glared at her and said, ”Rick, scoot over.”

”So, what's fun to do around here?” Ren asked as she leaned forward, her leg touching Caleb's.

”We usually go to Club 58.” Del said with a straight face. He was a part of Caleb's… family.

”It's Caleb's dad's place. And his dad lets us in for free.” Joe said as he put down his spoon.

Caleb shifted so his leg wasn't touching Ren's.

”Cool,” Ren said as she glanced at Caleb.

”Yeah! You know that guy DJ?” Bob said as he leaned forward.

”Not really,” Ren said as she leaned over and snagged a cherry off Caleb's plate. Ren loved cherries and had already finished hers off.

”Eat your own food,” Caleb said as he moved his tray further from Ren and closer to Rick.

Ren pouted, then leaned over to snag another cherry. As she reached past Caleb, Caleb gently shoved Ren away from himself. But he'd forgotten how close Ren was to the edge of bench.

Caleb grimaced as Ren hit the ground.

Ren noticed Caleb's grimace and said, ”It's fine,” as she stood up. ”It's my fault for not giving you the room you asked for. Sorry, I was trying to win a bet… and went too far.”

”A bet?” Caleb asked. His interest was perked. Why would someone involve him in a bet?

”Yeah, that I could get you to kiss me by the end of lunch,” said Ren with a wary smile.

Caleb repressed a shudder and said, ”That, is never gonna happen.”

”That's fine, I've always been more interested in a fight than in wooing someone. See ya boys,” Ren said as she waved to the boys and walked away. Kissing Caleb wasn't a bet she ever going to win. But that meant she'd get to have a – the fight she wanted.

When Ren arrived within speaking distance of the girls she said, ”Guess I blew it. Where should we fight?”

Casey glanced at Ana. ”The arena should be available.”

”Students can fight there as long as a class isn't being held in it,” Ana added.

”We'll need someone to ref the fight, though…”

”James should be strong enough.”

”I think it would be safer if Kyrie was our ref,” Ren said. It'd be best to prevent injuries during the fight. And James couldn't – wouldn't be strong enough to stop her.

Ana and Casey glanced at each other while Casey said, ”Sure. If you ask him.”

Ren turned and casually called out, ”Kyrie will you ref a fight for us?”

Kyrie caught Caleb's eye when Caleb glanced from Ren to him.

”I'm going. This sounds like fun,” Caleb said with a predatory grin. Ren should show those b-----– girls what involving him in harassment bets meant.

Kyrie responded, ”Sure.” He was relieved. At least Caleb would be too distracted to bully Jasper. He added his tray to the pile by the door as they headed to the arena.

♢ ♢ ♢

”Let's have a good clean match. We're going to use the standard dueling rules. No A rank or higher attacks, you're disqualified when you use up your aura. I'll disrupt the fight if I think you're breaking the rules or believe an attack will cause a severe injury. Is that clear?”

”Yes,” the girls said.

Kyrie nodded, ”Good.” He took off his hoodie and freed Taru from her case. When Kyrie removed his hoodie, he revealed a dark-colored T-shirt with teal designs and teal ribbons wrapped around his wrists. ”Shake hands and well start.”

”Aren't you forgetting to activate the arena's sensors and monitors so you can track our aura levels?” Casey said as she gave Kyrie a disdainful look. Does this guy even know what he's doing?

Kyrie looked sheepish as he said, ”We have those?”

”Yeah, all certified dueling arenas have them.” Ana frowned as she said, ”C-can you really ref a fight?”

Kyrie blushed as he said, ”Yeah.” Kyrie's refereed several fights, but they were never… entirely legal. ”How do we activate those?”

”I'm Ana,” Ana said as she shook Kyrie's hand, ”I'll teach you how.” At least he seems willing to learn.

As Ana taught Kyrie how to set things up, Ren held out her right hand. ”Hi, I'm Ren. Let's have a good fight.” This one's going down first.

”I'm Casey,” Casey said as she tries to crush Ren's hand. ”There's no way a girl stupid enough to wear heels in combat is going to put up a good fight.” This frilly girl's gonna get whooped.

”Oh yeah? Then you better beat me first,” Ren said as she tightened her grip on Casey's hand. Ren doesn't dress like she does for the fun of it. Well entirely for the fun of it.

”We're all set up. Take your positions. I want at least ten feet between each team,” Kyrie said.

”Okay…” Ana said. Ten… feet.

When Casey and Ana were far enough from Ren, Casey mumbled, ”Standard rules my ass.”

”Shh, we're about to start. Remember what we talked about on the way here.”

”Got it.” Casey's knuckles, jaw, and tailbone cracked. And her vicious claws, drooling canine mouth, and adorably fluffy tail formed. This was Casey's preferred combat form. Her ability allowed her to change fully into a wolf or a human. Her combat form was the result of her unique heritage as a distant descendant of a werewolf.