“They placed the school's store at the back with a separate entrance.” Micah explained while they walked. “The store can get busy.”

“We lost a few slow ones our first year.” Pyrite nodded, not a bit sympathetic, judging by the smirk across his lips.

“I see,” Dusk said, nodding along with the flow of conversation.

“The store is only open the first two days of school. If ya miss out, ya miss out.” Pyrite yawned, revealing a full set of fangs inside his mouth. Whoa. Dusk noticed the sharp edge the pointed teeth revealed. Much like a domesticated cat. It was easy to forget that beast-folk had sharp teeth until you saw them.

“I noticed your accent is a bit different from the others, Pyrite.” Dusk kept the conversation light.

“Curious about me?” Pyrite gave him a confident smile that was full of joy, if his tail was any indication. In response, Dusk gave a noncommittal nose. He could not possibly respond to that without Pyrite misinterpreting it or coming off as rude. “I spent a lot of time with my grandma growing up.”

“His grandma lives out in the backwoods, very secluded.” Micah explained, “They tend to use ya instead of you, among other word changes.”

“It was the one word that stuck with me.” Pyrite said, looking off into the distance. “Gets me in trouble with the in-laws.”

“And Mr. Cooper.” Micah said, placing his hand on his cheek with a smile. “That's the Battle Tactics class teacher.”

“I'm at the top of the class, in case you're curious.” Pyrite puffed out his chest in pride. Dusk nodded. “Surprised ya, right? I have brains plus brawn.” Pyrite flexed his arm at Dusk.

“I'm not surprised.” Dusk said to ignore the bulging bicep in front of him.

“Your not?” Micah asked, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

“In Redneval, battle tactics are common, almost a necessity.” It was Dusk's turn to stare off into the distance. “Most wouldn't survive otherwise.” Even selecting the ideal companion requires strategy. Not just women, as most outsiders tended to believe. Dusk had once considered it a possibility, and if he had not been admitted, he might have taken it up.

“Right, most are martial artists over there.” Micah nodded. “Do you know any martial arts?”

“It's a waste not to join one of the battle classes if ya do! Easy pass.” Pyrite said, and his eyes got a wicked gleam in them when he continued. “Ya can spare with me if ya like.”

“I have no talent in martial arts.” Dusk turned down the offer. A shaking smile on his lips as the memory of his brother overlapped with Pyrite. “I'm a blood mage, after all.”

“Aw, no problem, Sunshine; I'll get to mess, I mean train, with the newbies tomorrow.” Pyrite said, interlacing his fingers around the back of his head. Dusk didn't miss the quick transfer from the mess to the train. He's that kind of senior; Dusk wasn't sure what that meant for him, but he made a mental note of it.

“Here's the school store.” Micah pointed at a simple door at the back of the school building. There was nothing to indicate that it was a school store, not even a sign. “They do not have a sign because they only operate two days a year.”

“Anything else, you can get in town. We'll show you those after we leave here.” Pyrite stepped out in front, opening the door for Micah.

“We should hurry; the other students won't be far behind.” Micah stepped inside, and Dusk held the door open. He couldn't say what possessed him at that moment. Only that he wanted to hold the door open for Pyrite, who, by the way, acted. Always had the doors opened for him.

“Go ahead,” Dusk said, looking up at Pyrite. Those blue eyes stared at him with a blank look on his face. It looks like Pyrite didn't know what possessed him either. In an effort to get him to move, Dusk waved him forward. Pyrite gave him a slow smile; it lit up his eyes in an uncomfortable glow. Despite the fact that it is fascinating to watch, Dusk pretended to be looking inside the shop in order to break eye contact. He was not sure why, but his heart was pounding.

“Okay, Sunshine, but I'll get the door next time.” Ruffling his hair as he went by, Dusk entered behind him. He wondered for the thousandth time. What was wrong with him today?

How quickly the shopping went by surprised Dusk. The shop at the school ran on magic. If you attempted to leave without placing money in the box on the counter, you would be magically transported straight to the school's dungeon, which was still in operation. Micah, at the very least, claims so. Pyrite explained how the dungeons were originally used. They were supposed to control any rogue mage or beast-folk. Dusk's mouth still tasted bitter from the idea.

The store itself was a library to buy books from. Dusk bought all the books he required for the year with their assistance in a matter of minutes. Thinking about the summer, he had wanted to buy the following year as well, but that was against the rules. Dusk hadn't done a great job hiding his dissatisfaction because the pair had laughed at him. They were not bad people, but he would have had more fun if he could have cleared his mind of the mate issue.

The three of them quickly left for town with the snap of a token, but not quickly enough. Dusk observed that he was not the only person being pulled around. Unlike Micah, who was having fun, he tugged him along by his elbow. He noticed a poor bird-folk, judging by the wings on the student's back. Being dragged by the wrist, and the pair of purple eyes staring a fiery path before them. Dusk could not shake the feeling that he was the focus of her anger. After all, he had plenty of experience when it came to hatred.

“The first couple weeks of school are mad; ya should pick up some tokens while you still can.” Pyrite said, looking down at him. “If ya need a nap, my arms are always free.” Pyrite made the offer smoother than silk, and Dusk rejected it with the same ease.

“I'll be fine, thank you.” Dusk looked to Micah, who was watching them talk with a smile and some very thoughtful eyes. There were too many thoughts to read what was going on behind the pretty face. Dusk thought, not bothered by it. Pretty faces and amazing skills go hand in hand more often than not in the martial arts world. “I stocked up before school.”

“Notebooks, ink, toiletries?” Micah asked him, and Dusk nodded at each one. He was good on most things.

“I need to stock up on food,” Dusk said; his kitchen was pretty bare after a few attempts at cooking.

“Food is a must,” Pyrite said, crossing his arms. He nodded with a solemn look on his face. Dusk imagined that Pyrite ate more than his fair share.

“It's decided then,” Micah smiled, and Dusk didn't see a need for them all to go together.

“I know the market; I can go alone.” Dusk offered, more like he silently begged. He could use some alone time after the morning he had.

“Nonsense, we need to stay by your side today,” Micah said, cutting him off with a wave of his hand. Micah walked onward. What bothered him more was how he naturally followed.

“Otherwise we would be poor guides, and we have many reasons for that not to become an issue.”

“Third-year classes don't start until next week. It's because we're expected to be by your side for the majority of the week.” Pyrite backed up Micah.

“Is that so?” Dusk said, swallowing a heavy sigh.

“We should talk about how things started this morning.” Micah said, looking around. “I know a small garden where we can talk.”

“What do ya say?” Pyrite said his hand was coming to a natural rest on Dusk's shoulder. Looking at the hand, layered with scars and calluses, Dusk saw the hand of a hard worker and looked up. He saw the narrow gaze of a stubborn man.

“It would be for the best to have an open discussion about it.” Dusk agreed, even though he didn't want to, but he acknowledged the need to do so.