"What was that?!"

"Eh?" Mitch turned his head in the general direction where the shout came from, his interest in the flock of people inside immediately forgotten.

From his point, he could see a small girl, with wild, but soft looking blue hair, trembling and holding onto the pant leg of a Bacca dressed in an expensively looking suit, who, to be honest, didn't look very pleased. The two of them were surrounded by a large group of both meisters and weapons, all of them sporting looks of disgust.

"You heard me, filth," one of the meisters sneered, gripping his weapon tightly. It was a very impressive spear, with a shiny tip that looked very painful. Even from afar, Mitch could tell how deadly one strike from it would be, yet the Bacca didn't look intimidated in the slightest – in fact, he only looked angrier. "Get your disgusting animal selves away from here!" the – in Mitch's eyes – stupid leader of the pack shouted, getting the attention of many more students. No one seemed to want to get involved, though.

"I'll make you regret saying that!" The Bacca's right arm transformed into a shiny axe blade in a blinding flash of bluish light.

Mitch had to shield his eyes, and when he looked again, the Bacca's arm was normal again, the pack leader laying on the hard stone ground, wheezing in pain as the gash on his arm bled profusely. The others immediately started treating him, picking him up and carried him to the nurse.

The Bacca kneeled, gently brushing tears from the little girl's eyes. He pulled something out from his pocket and affixed it into the girl's fluffy hair. Only when he pulled away, Mitch could see that it was actually a big hairpin in a shape of axe blade. He ruffled the girl's hair as she beamed at him, tears long forgotten.

Only then did Mitch realise that he was actually hiding behind a pillar so that he wouldn't be seen. He cautiously stepped to the Bacca, fiddling with his thumbs.

"Uh… I was wondering…" he started awkwardly.

The Bacca turned to him, looking wary of him, like he would start another argument.

"I-I'm Mitch, I'm a meister. I was wondering if you'd maybe want to be my weapon if you don't have anyone yet…" he felt like an idiot. Such a great weapon as the Bacca would already have a partner, what was he thinking?!

The Bacca's eyes widened as he looked down at Mitch. This boy wanted him as his weapon? He had heard about him before. This was Mitch Hughes, one of the new students. He excelled with battle axes, and his skills had caught Jerome's interest. Of course, he never imagined how such a great meister would want him, a Bacca, for a weapon. Most humans couldn't even stand being in the same room with him!

"Sure…" he mumbled, still in shock. "I'm Jerome."

"That was impressive! I didn't even see how you got him!" Mitch cheered with a smile, exceeding his hand to a handshake.

"Thanks…" Jerome was sure he was blushing, and was thankful for his fur to cover it.

"Thank you, Jerbro!" the little girl shouted unexpectedly, flinging herself at the Bacca. She gave him a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek before dropping down and running off to find her own meister, who had gone to get lunch.

"Is that your sister?" Mitch asked, watching as the girl ran excitedly through the crowd.

"Yeah. At least she doesn't get as much shit as I do…" Jerome mumbled.

"Why do you get shit?" Mitch asked, pointing to the inside, "Do you wanna get lunch?"

"Yeah, sure," Jerome agreed and they both went to the cafeteria, Jerome explaining as they walked. "We get shit for being Baccas," he mumbled.

"Bullshit," Mitch said openly.

Jerome felt his heart leap.

Maybe… maybe all technicians weren't assholes, as he thought.