That scream just now was oddly familiar but I couldn't exactly guess why?
I was startled at the fact that this person expressed such fear towards me when majority of the students in his place simply expressed disgust and hatred.
It almost felt like this person experienced something first-hand with Elric but I simply took a step aside trying to process what just happened for a moment, since at this very moment I forgot that I'm Elric von Eisenwald but rather the knight of the empire.
But that reminded me of similar screams but they were different, they were more of a warcry, a declaration of duel and mostly a desire to win.
But alas, I was snapped back to reality as I got tackled down on the ground by a familiar brute.
"You f**king pervert!" That voice, it was Elias.
I can almost see his veins popping out as he threw a heavy punch at me.
[Defensive Stance Lv.1]
— Skill Progression: 349/500
"I knew the moment you cane back here you'll only do the same thing!"
Another punch landed on my face as I tried to cover it up with my hands and explain myself but he simply swayed it away, delivering blow after blow.
[Defensive Stance Lv.1]
— Skill Progression: 351/500
[Defensive Stance Lv.1]
— Skill Progression: 356/500
"Over! and f**king over!"
My vision blurred since Elric's body couldn't handle such physical abuse, as punch after punch kept landing.
"Why don't you just f**king go away!? You pervert piece of sh—"
I can faintly hear the crowds forming and garbled voices telling Elias to stop, sounds of heels running towards him as it took multiple men just to stop him from throwing another punch that would break a tooth away from me.
"...! ..ey! ...ight?! ...grip... self!" A voice called before my gaze darted towards that person I sinply bumped into that resulted into this unjustified beating.
She looked familiar to me— or rather to Elric?
Man, I'll make it my goal to kick this brat's arse nice and good when I gain some of the system skills by then but being extremely weak like this is absurd.
I tried moving but before I knew it, my consciousness faded already.
...
"Ever knew what's it like to live a normal life?" A voice called out to me.
I opened my eyes to see my calloused hands while watching the bonefire dance in the middle of the night, accepting it's warmth.
Right, it was ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇'s 2nd War.
"Hello? Ya dozing off again?" This time the voice was clear, it was from someone I know, a lady? Yeah. Definitely.
But I don't remember her name although I subconsciously shook my head since I felt like it'd be rude to just ask questions.
No way in hell an orphan drafted into war can ever experience what it's like to have the luxury of a good life.
"Just wondering why do we kept doing this." The lady asked.
Now looking at her completely... gold eyes and short platinum hair, wolf cut and the usual empire armor but a bit worn out— a steel chestplate inscribed with the wings of a crow? Yeah. Along with those bulky shoulder pads and a crimson cape? Who the hell designed these?
"You're seriously not staring a helpless woman like me with those lecherous are you? Kyaa!" She added in a mock tone paired with the act of covering herself even though she's built like a tank.
"Don't be weird, I'd rather harass a bear than you... actually it'd be bet—" I said subconsciously but it didn't feel strange and it felt more like me?
Although that line resulted to a knuckle on the top of my head but it's hardly anything.
"That tongue of yours is still foul as ever. Don't you know how to respect a lady?" She exclaimed with an ominous auta surrounding her as she began cracking her knuckles for a second strike.
I raised my hands in cartoonish protest with a grin. "My bad, my bad, you're not a bear." I replied shaking my head.
Her nose grew in response before laughing in a manner befitting that of a noble lady, flicking a stray lock on her hair. "Ohohohoho! So you do under—" although before she could finish her sentence, I became the jaws that snatched her smug expression.
"You're a gorilla. Worse, a barbaric gorilla."
That line was all worth the punches, the bumps and the knuckle sandwiches I received from her.
"You still don't change, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ do you?" She remarked kneeling beside my probably beaten up face with her palm on her cheeks.
Her gold eyes staring at me, albeit different.
It almost felt like she was pitying me, paired with a worried smile even.
"What'll you do without me, dumbass." She added brushing off a stray hair on my face while I simply stared back.
"Probably live a more peaceful life, haha." I responded quite cleverly this time, waiting for this very moment to receive another beating because something deep inside me is sad.
As if I didn't want to let this moment go.
That line didn't receive the expression I wanted it too, her gaze towards me still looked melancholic.
"The road ahead might not be the smoothest for you, it might be worse or life keeps piling you up with these burdens, but don't you ever give up." I don't like the sound of that.
I wanted to say something but a strange force stopped me from doing so.
"I enjoyed the small talk, we'll meet more often when you're ready. So don't forget me, ▇▇▇▇▇▇!" She added.
I tried to reach for her, trying to grab on her somehow or take her hand atleast.
But soon, everything is being eaten away by black as she whispered one more thing but I wasn't able to hear.
...
I woke up from what seems to be another mattress, thinking that I was back on the same room again but this time it seems that everything is different.
Glad I didn't die but everything sure as hell is aching painfully.
Especially my cheeks— ow.
I'm seriously gonna kick that brat's arse.
Now taking my time before I felt something or rather someone holding my hand, my eyes that was staring at the ceiling for a few minutes by now looked over at the side to see—
"Tatiana...?" I groaned seeing the same rectangle shaped glass hovering above her like before, now that I thought of it, how hasn't this come up when I'm interacting with the other students?
Does this [System] thing only works on people close to you perhaps?
Clutching onto my right hand, Tatiana slightly opened her eyes before blinking a few times as she finally processed my awakening as her eyes swelled up.
"Young Master...?" She called out hoping she's not mistaken or hallucinating.
"What are you... ack... doing here?" I cannot stress enough how weak this body is. I really have to focus on getting those training sessions started as soon as possible.
"Young Master!" She finally broke into tears holding my right hand with both of hers as she presses her forehead onto it.
Please don't cry Miss! You're making my heart ache and I wanna comfort you!
Although I appreciate the fact that she came all the way here.
"I'm glad you're alright!" She added with even more worried tears cupping my cheeks even if it hurts, I endured! She's too close and I'm enjoying it!
It should be illegal but I'm enjoying it!
"Y-yeah... I'm just perfectly fine... nothing that would make me go down." I replied but it seems she was bewildered by my reaction to all of this, wondering why I'm being quite nonchalant about it as she tilted her head to the side.
She looked at me as if I'm sick. "Did the beating also caused a malfunction in your brain...?"
I'm not sure how to respond to that as I raised my eyebrow making my confusion clear.
"You're supposed to be angry!" I can see it from her insistent eyes that she's dead serious about being angry all over this ruckus but as much as I wanna kick the beat's arse, I do not have the power to do so.
"J-just... calm down alright?" I tried reassuring her as I tried to sit up and hold her hands before forcing a grin that she can obviously see through sue to how much upset she is.
"But Young Master! that kid just beat you up for no reason at all!" Good thing she didn't even notice the marks of me being choked by the same person yesterday because she might even go ballistic.
"I'll go get that kid expelled in an instant!" She kept insisting on filing a report as I do everything possible to stop her from causing any more unnecessary ruckus that will even worsen my already forsakened reputation in the academy.
Needless to say my efforts on stopping her proved more effective as she cannot seem to resist my pleading and my promise to get hurt in the foreseeable future.
Looking outside I saw that the sun is already setting soon while I pondered on how should I seek my petty revenge against the brat.
Even if I had to bust my balls, I'll do it.
All for the sake of my petty revenge, yes, a full mature adult man that is probably beyond the age of 50 is having a grudge against someone decades younger than him.
Maybe I shouldn't afterall.
Even if it hurts the pride of Elric, I do not want to taint my years of being a revered knight just because of some petty revenge.
I'll just keep training to adjust this busted body to endure more.
Tatiana decided to stay with me for a while using up her vacation just to go and tend to me. I appreciate it but I don't want to lose some personal time for herself.
I understand that she's dedicated to helping and caring for Elric for a reason I don't know and it must've been something deep—
But that's not a reason for her to lose that precious time when could've been out there taking rest instead.
Maybe I'll address it to her later.
For nowcI'm starting to remember of bits and pieces of thwt dream from earlier that even the [System] couldn't probably catch and as much as I want to know if it did, I wouldn't even date myself from saying such words to open it.
Especially infront of Tatiana.
I'm pretty sure the lady in my dream said something to me about remembering someone..? She also mentioned my name somehow but I couldn't remember it.
As if my name became someone of a complete blank slate.
I leaned on my mattress pondering about it deeply while Tatiana caressed my palm with her fingers while she seemed to reminiscent about something I couldn't tell.
"If the mistress was here, she would be deeply upset about your current state." Tatiana exclaimed.
I'm not sure if it was me or it was Elric's feelings that felt like that was a huge drop as Tatiana realized it.
"... Please forgive me, Young Master." She added looking to the side.
I could tell that this is a topic that I wouldn't wanna pru on about as this is something relating to Elric that I didn't even have knowledge on.
But somehow... somehow I felt something wrong deep in my chest, sorrow perhaps?
I tried talking to Tatiana sbout something else as she catches on and simply feigned a smile at my attempt— awkward as it may be, atleast it's not a whole can of worms to open.
Amidst the extending conversation about what I've heard and learned from earlier which some information may be incorrect, we heard a knock from outside. Could it be the nurse finally checking on me?
I'm not honestly expecting any faculty staff to assist me but once again... it's a familiar voice.
"Uhm... Hello?"