Chapter 21

Getting out of the cafeteria under so many curious eyes was a little hard. But what I hated was those gazes filled with disgust. At that moment I didn't notice, but even their smell stood out in the middle of the room full of food and people. It smelled wrong and filled with hatred. I don't know what kind of hatred. Or against what. Incest? Or the fact that two girls kiss each other?

Our sperm donor's face flashed for a second in my mind, my fist clench so hard my nails dig into my palms and draw a few drop of blood. I actually didn't notice this, not even the pain, until Anna and Eliza took my hands and pried my fingers open one by one.

Even my tail is lashing angrily behind me, my ears flat against my head.

"Don't pay attention to them Jane. It's still not worth it." Eliza's voice was calm and unbothered.

I simply hummed with a nod. Yeah, she's right. I will still beat them up if they do anything they shouldn't though. But it'll be for another time I guess. Of course our way to the next classroom is filled with whispers. I think they don't understand how sharp a Foxkin's earing is. Even any other beastkin could hear it...

Anyway. Dungeon types. I'm quite curious about that. It could have been useful for the one we did more than a week ago.

For some reason I don't understand Anna and Eliza drap themselves around my arms as we sit down. It makes for a weird picture: me with my elbows on the desk in front of us and them clinging on my arms.

"Girls. I feel like a Demon Queen attending a meeting with her generals. Could you let go please?" I say, my voice tinged with fond exasperation.

A few people snicker around us. One, someone I beat up at the exam I assume, whisper a 'that's not far from it'. One ear angle toward his direction, he notices and stop talking immediately.

Not my fault you were weak. Well, I didn't hold back. 'A lion uses all its strength to hunt a rabbit'

Of course I don't consider myself stronger than them. I'm not that stupid. But holding back is kind of dumb. Just avoid trying to kill people if it's a friendly spar, that's all. Otherwise? Use full force, anything can happen in a fight. And I'm not going to hold back for anyone's dignity. Blood? Yeah. Get used to that. Injuries? Same.

I'm actually surprised. I never thought of myself as violent or as someone that like drawing out blood. But I was pretty unconcerned about dealing that much damage. Of course the first time I killed in the train did shake me. But that was a case of self-defence. I won't start killing anyone I find slightly annoying, even if some of them could deserve it.

They finally let go of me when the teacher enter the classroom. It's an old man that look like a classic scholar, his beard is so long I have the feeling he could strangle himself with it. I tense a little inwardly. I really hope it won't be boring. It shouldn't with the subject, maybe I'm a bit biased against those type of people. Most likely.

"I'm Professor Velpi. That's all you need to know about me. Today I'll try to start your education on Dungeon types. I hope you little things will at least understand what I'm saying." He start, stroking his beard slightly. His tone is so arrogant my ears flatten on my head. "There's multiple type of Dungeons. Of course or this class wouldn't exist. Anyway. Dungeons, like you heard earlier this morning, are formed with mana. They usually appear as a stone arc with a weird blue swirly in the middle. You could think it's just a regular one. But! It could be anything."

He stops for a few seconds to look at the class. When he sees we are all listening properly he nod, satisfied. I have to bite my tongue to stop me from snorting. He seems way too arrogant. I don't like him. Unfortunately we need that knowledge. So we have to deal with that old man.

"One of the most common Dungeons is the Time Dungeon. When you enter one you never know how time will act. Sometimes you spend a week in it but only one day passes in the real world. Sometimes it's the contrary. One week outside equals one day inside. When you exit this kind of Dungeons it's quite hard to readjust to a 'normal' time."

Come to think of it, the Dungeon we did had its time different than outside. Well, we didn't stay in enough to really know the difference. A few hours changed nothing much.

"The most hated of all Dungeons are the manaless. Most hated and most dangerous. Inside those there's absolutely no mana. At least no useful mana. Meaning even monsters in it can't regenerate any. The biggest problem? Monsters feed on mana. Without it most of them would just cease to function. While it could be useful... It makes them seek to leave the Dungeon as fast as they can. It's the only type that will spit out monsters almost immediately."

"Another very annoying thing in those. I hope you guessed it with your limited brains. Is that you can't regenerate mana. So it's mostly blitzkrieg tactics."

It makes sense. No mana=no regeneration=no sustained combat. Clearing monsters fast then getting out seems like a logical decision.

Professor Velpi presented multiple other Dungeons, not going into details yet. It's, after all, our first class about that. It was quite interesting, if you ignore the multiple insults toward all of us he slipped in.

We were in the corridor leading to our next class when a group of noble-looking people blocked our path. Five pair of eyes washed over our group of three and all of them lit up, disgusting grin appearing on their lips. The boy in front, their leader I presume, took a step forward while looking at me. No. While letting his gaze wander over my body and my face, as if he was evaluating something to buy or not. My brows knitted in a frow instantly as my tail start to lash behind me. The sharp air cutting sound it produced seemed to break him of his revelry.

"You. The disgusting beast. I am Philips Ihn of the house of Ihn." He says, his voice somehow even more arrogant than Professor Velpi.

I decide to ignore his insult and simply turn toward Anna and Eliza.

"Hm. Do you know this guy?" My voice is tinged with confusion as my ears tilt to the side.

"Urgh, too adorable." Anna answer, a hand on her chest as I roll my eyes at her with pink cheeks. She then shrug."Yeah we know him. The arrogant noble that I trashed at the exam."

My eyes widen in realisation. I remember now. This idiot couldn't even touch the hem of Anna's clothes. I thought he would have learned his lesson. I turn back toward him.

"Oh right! You are that dumb weirdo that tried to hit on my Twin! What do you want?"

His face visibly turn red in anger. His whole body trembling in suppressed rage. Behind him his goons are also looking at me like they are ready to pounce and tear me appart.

"You! Beast! Watch your language and tone with me!" He takes a deep breath to try and control his anger. "I was about to ask you to give Anna up. But I changed my mind. I'll allow you and this beautiful white-haired girl to join my side. Even if you are just a lowly fox I'm sure I'll find a use for you. Maybe give you to my followers after I enjoyed you."

Instantly, I grab Eliza and Anna's hands to prevent them from moving. The moment his words got out of his mouth I had the feeling my two dear girlfriends would rush and beat him up. I simply raise an eyebrow, calming my own anger.

"Oh? And on what ground would I want to 'join' you? You look like I could snap you in two with a single finger. Do you even have what you need for that? I highly doubt, you don't seem to have much masculinity. I pity your parents, you won't produce a Heir at all." My voice was calm, not even trembling of the rage I was feeling. "I advise you to just scram. We have a class to attend to. I'd hate to be late because some wannabe 'man' stopped us too long."

Somehow his face got even redder. I even thought he would faint on the spot. I knew that kind of man, or boy. Prideful, arrogant, thinks everyone is beneath him. He remind me too much of that man. So I know where to hit for maximum emotional and psychological damage. After all, those only think with their lower part.

Yup. Girls are better. Glad I'm one for real this time.

My insults works pretty well. And seems to even deal collateral damage to his goon.

"Fox! Apologise to Sir Ihn right now!" "Do you even know who he is?!" "You just signed your death sentence!"

Meanwhile the boy, I don't even want to remember his name frankly, suddenly points at me with a trembling finger.

"I challenge you to a duel to the death! And all my followers will too!" He shouts loudly, making my ears flatten on my head.

"Hmpf, why would she acc-" Anna starts with a huff.

"Okay fine." I answer without particular expressions.

Anna and Eliza turn their head toward me sharply in surprise, their body tensing. Then they looked at the group before us and relaxed.

"Well. My condolences guys." Eliza shrug a little. "Hm. On another note... No, deserved."

A little giggle escape me, joined by Anna. I think Eliza just finished the humiliation. But it's strange. The boy is smiling widely suddenly. It's suspicious.

"Then this evening after the last class. In the arena. Don't be late for your death. It would be a shame." His smug expression returned and he finally turned around to his own class.

"Ugh. It's disgusting to be lusted after by that kind of guy. I declare! All men should disappear! Long life to girls!" I say, lifting a finger high in the air with a hand on my hip and my tail swishing proudly behind me.

Multiple girls in the corridor giggled a little and Eliza shook her head with fond exasperation. She put her hand on my back and pushed me toward the classroom.

"Right right, let's go Miss revolutionary. Before another noble see how cute you are and decide to put you in their harem." She says, her tone teasing.

"Hey! I'm not cute! I'm fierce!" I let myself be pushed without complain as I throw a few fake punches at the air with a 'fierce' expression.

Beside us Anna made a strangled noise. Curious, I tilt my head toward her with my ears tilting the same way. She has red cheek and her eyes are flickering between red and violet.

Uh. Each time I see that, I have a feeling I'm weirdly in danger.

I don't even have the time to ask what was wrong. She took me in her arms and gave me one of her special crushing hugs. Since she grabbed me by my shoulders I can't even return it but I still tap on her thighs as my tail flail behind me.

"Annaaa, let me gooo! You are crushing me and we need to go to the classroom!" I whine.

"Nope." She answer decisively.

She just lift me and walk to some seats as my face become noticeably warmer. At long last we took our seats. But she didn't let me go, nuzzling my cheek without stopping. I just give up I guess, after a last hopeful glance at Eliza. She seems to think for a second, then take my hand and put it on her head as she looks at me with sparkling eyes. I'm speechless for a second, finally sighing and slowly start to stroke her hair.

Well. At least she looks pleased.

Of course they let me go when the teacher entered the room, looked at us a bit weirdly then cleared her throat. My cheek became even more red as I settled properly in front of my desk and send a withering glare at the two girls. They promptly ignored it of course. I rolled my eyes and finally looked at the teacher that walked in, it's an Owlkin with feathery white wings tucked behind her back. They span almost her entire back frame and I find myself staring. Yes, it's a bit of an overreaction. I already saw some Owlkin, but it was from afar. Now? I can see it closer.

She smiled a bit under my stare.

"Hello. I'm Mrs. Zandra and I teach Dungeon preparation." Her voice is gentle, soothing. I almost feel like I could fall asleep like that. "Being well prepared is mandatory before a Dungeon dive. If you aren't... Dire consequences can happen. Of course it's not one hundred percent sure. You may have a safe dive even if you go in like that. Still, nobody would recommend doing that."

Well, when it's the Dungeon itself that draw you in... How are you supposed to prepare? Actually. That may be a good question to ask. But I'm not sure if this was a normal occurrence. No scratch that. It was definitely not normal.

"Professor Velpi must have told you that 'normal' Dungeons are the most basic. But Time Dungeons are actually more numerous. Therefore you need some mandatory tools."

She paused briefly to point at something on her desk. There was two watch. One pretty standard, just a bit bulky. The second is as big as my palm.

Who the heck could put that on their wrist?! Bearkin?

Mrs Zandra took the two watches in hand so everyone could properly see it.

"This is what you absolutely need. Those watches serves, of course, to tell you the time. The first is for the time outside the Dungeon when you are inside. And the second is for the time in the Dungeon. With those you can properly keep track of the difference between outside and inside. There's only one problem, pretty sizable, you need a specialized watch for inside. It must be calibrated for a specific Dungeon."

In other word: can't have an universal watch. Indeed that's a problem. Especially if we encounter another Dungeon like we did. I glance at the two girls besides me and our gaze cross. Seems like we thought the same thing. They both look at me a bit more intensely.

Hey that's not my fault.

The rest of class passed by pretty fast. Mrs Zandra's calm helped a lot with that. And it was pretty interesting too. I guess today only one class was boring. And I think tomorrow first class will be too...

I stretch toward the sky, making my bones pop from sitting too long today. Well, it's time for that dumb duel I guess. Or multiple? He did say 'and my followers'. I just shrug and continue on our way to the arena. Suspiciously, there's a lot of students going in the same direction. Once in a while some point at us while whispering. Sadly I can't hear them much with everyone around us.

After arriving at the arena I'm once again surprised by the number of people present. Almost all the seats are occupied. In the center of the field are almost twenty people, with Phillip Ihn at the forefront. I have a sudden bad feeling.

When he sees me his smile grow radiant but wicked.

"Ah! The lowly beast is finally here. I'll add 'making a noble wait' on the list of your crimes. Come down here now."

I lift an eyebrow. This guy is really full of himself. Anna's lesson wasn't enough at all. I stay where I am, arm crossed.

"First explain why there's twenty of you on the field. Don't tell me they will simply go back to wait when we start? I don't believe that."

"Hahaha! No. You will fight us all at the same time!" He laugh triumphally, arms spread on either side of him.

"I'm sorry what? A duel is one versus one. That's the rules." I shot back, my eyes narrowing.

"I have my ways. You accepted, the rules aren't broken. You can ask the our referee over there." He points at an old man in an Academy uniform.

I turn my head and examine the man. He indeed look like a professor. But there's something wrong with the emblem on his uniform. As I squint my eyes, I see the problem. Under the Academy's emblem is another, smaller. And it's the same as the one under Philip's uniform.

Oh. So it's someone from his own country or whatever. No wonder.

I nod with a little smile before turning my head toward my opponents. The group is actually quite well composed. Philip is a mage, that I know. Then I see ten melee fighter. Half are using swords, the other have big double bladed axes. There's also five archers with various lengths of bows. I'm pretty sure two of the others are healers. I mean, there's a distinct 'aura' of light around them. They are also clutching some sort of books. And then there's two mages, one with a wand and the other with a staff.

I think one of them use fire while the second use ice.

Could be a dangerous combinaison.

Being frozen then suddenly heated wouldn't be very comfortable.

Well. I guess now I don't really have a choice. I have actually, I could report him to Virina. I'm sure she would intervene. But where's the fun?

I feel a sudden tug on my arms. When I turn around I see Anna and Eliza looking at me with a serious expression.

"Are you sure? They are a lot of them." Eliza ask, her voice tinged with worry.

I simply smile and squeeze their hands.

"Of course it's fine. I intend to finish this fast. With you know what." I wink slightly at them.

Understanding lights-up their face and they smile too. Then Anna suddenly pull me closer and kiss me briefly on the lips. When she let me go it's Eliza's turn to kiss me. I'm slightly dazed but still turn around, cheeks burning. That's when I see Philip as red as me, but with anger.

Eh. Jealous.

Then I jump down on the field, summoning my dagger and Katana as I fall.