10 Lunch and The Transfer Students

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.

Ana stood with her shield in her left hand and a bastard sword in her right.

Ren grasped her claymore as she took a solid two-handed stance.

"Ready?"

"Get on with it!" Caleb shouted from the stands. He wanted the fight to start. He wanted a distraction.

The girls, each gave a nod to say they were ready.

"Start!"

Casey was past ready. She charged at Ren.

Ren sidestepped Casey's charge and swung at her side.

Casey's aura flashed then cracked. Ren's blade had slipped through. And sliced into Casey's side like butter as she pulled her blow.

Casey ground her teeth. How could this ridiculous pretty girl be strong enough to break through her aura? No that's something to worry about later.

"Shit!"

Ren turned carrying the momentum of her first swing into Ana's shield. Crash!

Casey rolled to her feet and caught Ana's eye. It was time to strike together.

"Stop!"

Ana lunged at Ren as she recovered from her swing. While Casey started for Ren's legs. On heels like those, she'd be easy to topple.

"Dude! Why aren't you stopping this fight?!"

As Ren stepped back and to the side. She realized they'd gotten to close. She needed to shorten her reach.

Ren shifted her right hand to the ricasso of her claymore. She blocked Ana's swing. And Casey slammed into Ren's knees.

Ren started to topple. But turned her fall into a roll. Casey grasped at Ren's legs with her claws. But she couldn't get purchase through the glistening green ribbons.

Casey felt as though she was trying to grab water. How the hell did she do that? At least one claw should've been able to get purchase on her clothes. Aura didn't protect clothing unless – unless the wearer knew how to channel aura through cloth.

"They're fine," Kyrie said.

Ren swung at Casey's unprotected back.

Casey's aura flared to life again, but this time her aura held. Just moments ago, Casey had increased the quantity of aura protecting her back.

While Ren attacked, Ana struck Ren's side with her shield. Just as she and Casey had planned.

Crash! Ana's shield hit nothing but the pommel of Ren's sword.

"Yes!" Caleb shouted from the stands. He'd root for Ren any day. Shit what was he doing? Ah fuck it Ren seemed cool.

Ana swung at Ren's unprotected side.

Ren pivoted and stabbed Casey. Her back was to Ana's shield.

"Casey, out!" Kyrie said.

Casey growled in anger. She hadn't done anything to that frilly girl. Even so Casey left. Her side was throbbing and needed medical attention.

Ana slammed her shield at Ren's back. But Ren was already turning to face Ana. She tried to get the hilt of her weapon between her and Ana's shield.

But Ren's aura flared. Ana's shield had grazed her knuckles.

Ren grinned. This girl isn't could handle herself.

Ana stabbed at Ren. And Ren's aura flared to life.

Ren swiped at Ana's legs and Ana dodged.

Ren shifted her grip to the hilt off her blade and swung at Ana's right side. Ana blocked that strike as well.

But Ren's momentum carried her blade into Ana's shoulder. This time Ana's aura flared to life.

Ana lunged with her shield. And Ren stepped back.

They paused for a moment. Each girl studying the other for openings in the early afternoon sun. The arena previously filled with noise was now deathly silent. The only thing between these girls was the salty sea breeze from the east.

Ren broke the still silence with a swing exactly like the one she just did. Ana blocked it with her shield.

And Ren's sword cleaved through Ana's shield.

Ana grimaced. Ren was really chipping away at her defenses. She dropped her useless shield.

Then Ana stepped closer and swung at Ren.

But Ren blocked Ana's swing and kicked her in the side. The edge of Ren's heel bit into Ana's aura and quickly drained a large portion.

Ana watched Ren warily. Did Ren just… no, she couldn't have.

Both girls took a moment to recover.

But Ren recovered first. She swung again.

Ana took the hit to get closer. She swung.

Ren dodged. And Ren swung a finial cleaving blow.

Clang! Her sword struck a blade. How? Who?

"Ana can't take another strike like that."

Kyrie stood at Ana's side. He'd blocked Ren's strike. "You need to pull your strikes better when you dual. Look at Casey."

Casey was in the arena stands, her face twisted with pain as Syra healed her side.

Ren shrugged, going easy on a stranger had never worked out well for her and Amity in the past.

"That was a fine dual girls. And Kyrie you may want to look up the rules for a legal duel before you ref another fight," Headmaster Raven Clof said as he stood from his seat in the arena stands.

Kyrie looked at Casey as he said, "… I will." He put his hoodie on and Taru back in her case before he vacated the arena floor. He hadn't realized an injury like Casey's was a big deal in a city.

The girls caught their breath as they headed into the arena stands.

Ana sat near Ren and Amity. "Did I catch it right? You can pull on someone's aura through those heels of yours."

Ren smiled. "Yeah, that's why I wear them. They have a great edge and they have aura consumption runes."

"But what do you do with the aura they consume?"

"I refine it to match mine and absorb it. I'm not very good at the refining process so I lose a lot of the energy."

"That's pretty handy."

"Yeah. I'm surprised your aura could completely block my strikes."

Ana smiled, "Ah, yeah. It's a perk of my ability Guardian. It runs in my family. The only skill I have down is extreme hardening of my aura."

"Oh, are you from a LegendSlayer clan?" asked Amity.

Ana's smile fell and she stared at her clenched hands. "I'd rather not talk about it."

"Ah, sorry," Amity said.

Most of the children from a LegendSlayer clan, that attended Kondaira Academy, had a falling out with their clan. For some, it was for being considered too weak. While those, like James, were here because they had a disagreement over something their clan was doing.

James didn't agree with his clan's views on certain things. But they were still his, mostly kind, family and as such he loved them – missed them.

As the third-years completed their ID updates, Kyrie sat in the stands on his holo-watch. He was studying the rules for an official dual. The main difference being, an official dual must be stopped the moment someone gets hurt. If the parties involved in causing the injury are found to be at fault. then the win goes to the injured party. Another difference is each group must start at opposite sides of the arena.

As Kyrie studied up on the standard – legal dueling rules, Caleb watched Ren with concerned interest. And James watched Kyrie with worry. James knew where Kyrie had learned those dueling rules, and he didn't like what that meant about the things his cousin had been through while on missions.

DJ and Centra where chatting with their friends near James. Liza was once again hiding amongst her peers.

But Jasper, he didn't return to the arena until just before the third-years finished updating their IDs.