Sebek stood in line in gym with the other freshmen, his jaw aching with a deep pain that had only been getting worse since breakfast. All he could think about now, and all he had been able to think about in the classes before this, were Lord Malleus's words.

You don't need to guard me at all hours.

I will be fine, Sebek. That firm tone. Of course Sebek would obey. Lord Malleus was his liege, the most powerful fae in the world. One of the most talented mages in the world at a young age, or at least young for a fae.

Next to him in line at gym, Deuce took to the air, a grin on his face. He zipped around the practice field in a quick lap. "Good job, Spade," Coach Vargas called.

Why had he ever thought he would be good enough to be Lord Malleus's knight? His only competition was Silver, a human who fell asleep all the time. When matched against someone like Silver, he had thought he could compare. But against a true fae knight? He had been so excited to come to Night Raven, the same college his lord attended. Leaving Briar Valley had been…

His head and jaw hurt. He hadn't wanted to leave the valley, right? He was happy to come here because Lord Malleus was here. It wasn't like he didn't belong in Briar Valley!

Someone muttered his name, a hissing whisper, and it didn't quite register.

He definitely belonged in Briar Valley. Even if he was half-fae.

Didn't he?

How strange. Isn't he human? Look at his ears.

"Zigvolt!"

He jerked his head up. Coach Vargas put his hands on his hips. "Are you going to fly today or are you going to stare at the ground?" Next to Sebek, Epel tilted his head.

"No sir! I mean, yes sir, I will fly!"

At least here he could prove he was talented. Flying had always been one of his better subjects—he put his all into everything, and flight was no different. He mounted his broom, calling up his magic to launch into the air.

The magic stuttered, his broom wobbling, and he focused harder. The other students receded below him.

Was this how Lord Malleus saw the world? Everyone mere ants beneath his majesty? Lord Malleus could fly when he was his full fae form. Sebek could never do that, not without a broom. A human crutch.

He would just have to be the best at it.

He focused, the broom moving forward, but it wasn't even half as fast as Deuce had been flying. His magic felt slippery, and he clenched his jaw, remembering too late how bad of an idea that was. He opened his mouth instead when he exhaled in pain, and the whistling cold autumn wind seemed to slice into his cracked tooth.

It was agony, like the cold had seeped into his jaw and touched a live wire. His eyes watered, and the broom began to tilt, Sebek gripping it hard.

He needed to make the turn, but instead of a smooth angle the broom began to tilt further, the world spinning in his vision in a way that threatened to make him sick. He couldn't fly like a fae, didn't have the natural understanding of wind and air that someone like Master Lilia or Lord Malleus would.

He couldn't do this. He couldn't crash! He couldn't keep disappointing Lord Malleus!

He pulled up on the broom just in time, but he was still flying sideways, and he was still far too low.

The ground rushed at his face. He usually hoped Lord Malleus would notice him when he flew, but now he hoped more than anything that Lord Malleus wasn't watching.

Then a cushion of air caught him, the rush of it slowing his momentum. It blew his hair back, made his tooth sear further with pain, and for a few moments he felt like he was still falling even as he coasted to a gentle landing in the grass.

"What happened, Zigvolt?" Coach Vargas snapped, putting his magical pen away.

Sebek's head spun. He hadn't eaten enough at breakfast. And his tooth—no, his whole jaw—ached fiercely.

"I am fine!" he snapped, but even his voice didn't sound as loud as usual.

"What was that, professor?" Deuce said. "That magic?"

"A simple air spell," Coach Vargas said. "The last thing we want is for someone to die falling from a great height. Which is why if your muscles aren't up for the challenge today, you shouldn't try, Zigvolt! Take the rest of the lesson off!"

"I am fine to try again!" Sebek shouted, but no one was listening to him. Epel was already mounting his broom, and soon he was flying his lap just as skillfully as Deuce had.

Sebek trudged to the back of the line. All he could do was wait for the lesson to finish, and try to ignore the judging stares that he swore he could feel on the back of his neck until the lesson was over.

At least lunch was next. He followed the other freshmen, taking a seat at the end of the table. He didn't usually guard Lord Malleus at lunch—freshmen and second years ate lunch at different times, so now he just had a cafeteria full of students from his own year to deal with. Normally he took the time to eat as much as he could, building strength, like Master Lilia always said.

He put some steamed rice in his mouth, and it immediately gravitated to his cracked tooth, the heat as bad as the cold wind had been. Eyes watering, he put his fork down.

Eating bacon had been a mistake. Eating anything had likely been a mistake. He was so hungry, but he couldn't eat!

"Are you okay?"

Sebek blinked. Deuce raised an eyebrow from his spot across the table.

"I've never seen you not eat like you haven't eaten in days," Deuce said.

"Yeah, or nearly fall off your broom," Ace said, moving one seat closer. "You not feeling well?"

"I am fine!" Sebek shouted, both Ace and Deuce jumping in surprise.

"Okay, jeez," Deuce said. Behind him, Jack Howl had flicked an ear in their direction.

"What are you…listening to, beastman!" Sebek snarled.

Jack's ear flicked back and then he turned, yellow eyes narrowed. "You don't need to yell all the time," he said. "Deuce was just asking if you were okay. Which you don't seem to be, after this morning and honestly I'm a bit worried too—"

"I don't need your help, or his!" Sebek shouted. Deuce and Ace exchanged glances. "You humans should mind your place!"

You should mind your place. A fae had told him that once. He had done something wrong, had asked a stupid question, but couldn't remember what.

"Hey," Jack said, his voice a low growl. "You don't get to talk to me like that."

"Then don't talk to me at all," Sebek said, baring his fangs back at the beastman. His jaw quivered with pain.

"I guess you're not worth talking to then," Jack snapped back. "That's what I get for feeling bad for you. Pitiful."

Feeling bad for you. Pitiful.

The words cut, coiling like a worm in Sebek's brain.

"Hey now," a soft voice. Epel stood up, his head not even reaching Jack's shoulder. "Let's just eat our lunch, alright?"

"Yeah, c'mon guys," Deuce said. "I didn't mean anything, Sebek. I just felt bad for you too, is all. Okay?"

Sebek didn't answer. People feeling bad for him…it meant he was weak.

It made too much sense. He reviewed it all in his mind. First meeting Master Lilia, introduced by his father. Master Lilia's kind smile. Pitying. Meeting Silver, a pathetic human who couldn't stay awake. But Master Lilia always forgave him. Pitied him. Meeting Lord Malleus, studying with Silver, given the opportunity to study under Master Lilia and get stronger and train as a knight in Briar Valley, even though he was a half-fae and Silver was human.

Not because he was strong, or special. Because they pitied him. A half fae with a father who was a laughingstock, who didn't belong in Briar Valley. Sebek didn't belong, but they had taken him in anyway. A half-fae who's magic had developed late. Because they pitied him.

Lord Malleus and Master Lilia didn't think he was weak because of the pond. They had always thought that.

Sebek's appetite vanished. He didn't need food. He needed… he needed to prove he wasn't weak. He could show Master Lilia and Lord Malleus that he was the one deserving of being a knight. That he was better than humans. That he was the strongest of their pitied students.

He put his hand on his magical pen. The gem began to dim further.

He needed to find Silver.