Thomas opened his door and stepped in. Lala turned around when she saw him and gasped. “What ever happened to your face?”

“Officially? I ran into a wall. Unofficially, I got into a fight.” He said with a grin. His already tender lip split, and blood flowed out.

Lala handed him a cloth to hold to his lip. “Why would you ever do that?” She asked.

“Hey!” He said indignantly. “Believe more in me, would you? They started it. I just finished it.”

“They!” She almost shrieked. “You got into a fight with more than one of them?! What is wrong with you?”

“Lala.” He said grabbing her shaking shoulders. “I’m fine. You’re acting like my mother. I’m going to be a knight one day, expect me to have bumps and bruises. Okay?” She nodded in response.

“Knock, Knock.” Said a voice as a literal knock came through the door.

Thomas walked over to the door with the cloth still up against his lip. He opened the door. Someone gasped and stumbled backwards. It was James. “What did you do?!” His reaction was quite similar to Lala’s.

“I ran into a wall.” He said grinning, which worsened the pain in his lip. “Are we going to lunch or not? I’m starving.” He started walking in what he hoped was the right direction.

James fell in beside him. He was blubbering as if he couldn’t believe his mind. For about a minute, James tried to say something, but then he just stopped and led them to the mess hall.

When they got there, only about half the pages were there already. James and Thomas sat down beside Namuel, Terrance, and, Hanley. When they saw Thomas’s face, they looked baffled.

“You look terrible.” Hanley finally said.

“You should see the other guys.” Said Thomas picking through his food.

“You told me you ran into a wall!” Said James.

“I told Winthor that too.”

“Then why were there other guys?” Asked James angrily.

“I might’ve also helped some boys find their way into a wall.”

Hanley said spitting up some food. “What? Who were they?”

“I don’t know their names, but they should have similar makeup.” Replied Thomas.

At that time, the doors opened, and in walked several boys that were sporting many bruises all over their faces. The white-blonde haired guy looked like he had a broken nose.

“You did that?” Asked Namuel unbelieving.

“It’s nice that you can notice my artwork.”

Prince Terrance finally spoke by saying. “You probably did us a favor by fighting those boys. I know those boys, and they’re sorry excuses for pages.” Everyone was surprised by what he had said. Apparently, he didn’t usually speak like this. “The leader of the group,” He said motioning to the brown-haired boy. “Is Patrick of Starcove, the white hair is Hanson of Landersburg, and the tan guy is Albert of Armeristice.”

“They’re a nasty group.” Added Hanley. “For a kid your size, I can’t believe you did that much damage.”

“A group of soldiers taught me how to fight.” Thomas said.

“No wonder Winthor invited you here early.” Said Namuel, shaking his head.

“Who started the fight?” Asked Terrance.

“We ran into walls, thank you very much. But as far as we’re concerned, it was little Patty.” Thomas said making a nickname for Patrick.

James and Hanley snorted while Terrance and Namuel just looked slightly amused. Must be there upbringing. Thought Thomas.

“Patty?” Asked James.

“If he’s going to fight like a girl, then he might as well have a name like one too.” This time cracked Terrance and Namuel’s façade. They both laughed along with the rest of them.