Chapter Three

A few days passed without much happening. Kain couldn't go anywhere around the academy without having people point and whisper at him. Even the teachers had all heard rumors about what had happened; it seemed the entire world was accusing him. The entire world, except Trice.

It was finally the weekend, and the following week would be when all graduates would set out on their final exams; a dangerous mission where people's lives could be on the line; a real test for a dragoon.

Kain and Trice walked through the halls of the castle toward the mess hall and the kitchen; neither of them had eaten anything all day.

"Ugh… so hungry… Why did we spend so long studying history?" Kain groaned as he held onto his rumbling stomach

"For our final mission." Trice Replied with a half-smile. The finals weren't her real intentions; she had just wanted an excuse to spend time alone with Kain. Although they were friends, they didn't spend much time together outside of their classes.

"But we're going on a mission," Kain objected, "how will knowing Erpalacion's relationship with Ranpere help us fight beastmen or save a damsel in distress?"

Trice let out a small sigh at Kain's clueless ness.

"Let's just get some food, okay? We're both starving."

"Finally! Let's go!"

As the two walked into the cafeteria, the low chattering of the students died down; all eyes focused on Kain and Trice. Kain didn't notice anything, he was used to this sort of thing by now; but Trice was a bit uneasy from it all, she hadn't gotten used to the awkward silence and accusing stares.

Kain smoothly walked over to the buffet table, picking out his favorite foods from the assortment and adding them to his plastic tray. Trice hesitated, and then came to join him; people were trying not to look suspicious as they whispered behind Kain's back, but Trice easily noticed them.

"Great, now rumors will spread about me too… oh well, Kain needs a friend right now." Trice thought to herself." Hey, maybe people will start to say we're going out…" she quietly giggled, but stopped when Kain turned around and gave her an odd look.

"Are you feeling okay?" Kain was puzzled; Trice hardly ever giggled, especially not at times like these.

"Oh! Yes… yes, I'm fine." Trice's cheeks turned bright red, but Kain didn't take notice.

They finished loading up their trays, Kain having to walk slowly and carefully to balance all the food he had gathered. They were walking through the cafeteria, down the center aisle when something hit the back of Kain's head, hard. Kain dropped his plate, food scattering across the floor. Kain's left hand shot to the back of his head to put pressure on the pain, and with a flash his right hand was on the hilt of his sword.

Kain whirled around, drawing his blade. And there he was; Hunt, tossing an orange up and down in his hand, grinning evilly. Kain looked down to see another orange on the ground, split into a few pieces from the impact on Kain's head.

"Grr… What do you want Hunt!" A Great fire burned in Kain's eyes; he had always hated Hunt, and had been in many fights with him before.

"What do I want? Now you care, you wretched freak!" Hunt mocked Kain. "You have always outdone me no matter how hard I try; people actually think that YOU are strong! HA! You're nothing but a pathetic weakling with some flashy lights. I should be at the top of the class, not you! The only reason you wound up in this dump is because of your grandpa. Has anyone noticed you don't even have a polearm? Has anyone noticed you have no wyvern!"

"Just ignore him and walk away, Kain!" Trice tried to make peace, it was always her who broke up their fights, and she was used to it by now.

But this was the last straw; Trice's words were lost to Kain. His fist gripped the hilt of his sword tighter, the air around him began to become wavy and distorted, as if he was on fire. Kain leaned back and lowered his sword, ready to leap and strike down Hunt at any moment. This was no longer Kain, it was a burning hate buried deep inside of him, arising from deep within Kain's soul like a phoenix from the ashes.

"What kind of pathetic excuse for a dragoon is that!" Hunt continued, pleased by the large circle of students gathered around them. "You give dragoons a bad name! You put this school to shame just by attending, and yet you're at the top of the class? All of Vana'diel must be laughing at you!"

Kain was visibly trembling with rage at this point. A young Hume boy with long brown hair noticed this and ran off to get a teacher; a fight was about to break out, and it had to be stopped before someone was killed.

"You make me sick! To see that someone like you could make it into the academy! You are a mockery! You are a cancer to our society!" Hunt stopped tossing the orange up and down; he clenched it in his fist so tightly it began to split under the pressure. "You… you are worthless scum!"

With all his might, Hunt hurled the orange at Kain. Kain gripped his sword with both hands, shifting it to his left as he leaped at Hunt with all his might. Kain sliced the orange to ribbons as he flew at hunt like an eagle toward its prey.

Hunt barely managed to get out his lance before Kain hit him like a bullet. The two flew across the room, Hunt doing his best to hold back Kain's blade. They hit the floor hard, Hunt pinned down by Kain's sword. Hunt's arms began trembling as his strength diminished, but if he didn't hold up, he knew Kain would kill him.

Kain felt Hunt's defense weakening, and began pushing down on his rival's polearm with all his might; his blade's point mere inches away from Hunt's throat. Suddenly, Kain felt two powerful hands clench his shoulders then throw him back and away from Hunt.

"What the hell are you two doing! You want to get expelled this close to graduation?" Kuraude screamed at Kain and Hunt.

Kain came back to earth; he suddenly realized what he was doing, what had happened, everything. There was a moment of silence as Hunt stood up, and Kain sheathed his sword. Kain walked quietly over to where Hunt and Kuraude stood.

"I… I'm sorry professor; I don't know what came over me." Kain apologized and bowed to the two of them respectfully.

"Don't apologize!" Kuraude said. "That boy Garaku told me exactly what happened." He glared down at Hunt, who was eyeing Kain with a dark hate in his eyes. "That is why I have decided to keep this from the headmistress."

Chibiku and a Galkan professor by the name of Gir came into the room. Gir was just as tall as Kuraude, but much more heavy-set and wide with muscle, like all Galkans. He had pale, gray skin; a short, stubby tail; and the only hair on his head was his black beard, unevenly cut and pointed in several places.

Chibiku rode on Gir's shoulder to get a better view of the situation.

"What's going on here? We heard quite the commotion." Gir's voice boomed, loud and low.

"Oh, just a bit of fun." Kuraude replied. "These two students are excellent sparring partners; they were just giving me a demonstration."

Gir uneasily stroked his beard as he contemplated Kuraude's excuse.

"Well, enough sparring, everyone get back to your meals!" Chibiku commanded.

Kain turned around and started walking away from Hunt and Kuraude.

"Yes, that's right, turn and run you cowardly scum…" Hunt mocked Kain quietly yet again.

Kain spun around and threw his fist at Hunt. Kuraude flinched slightly to halt the attack, but hesitated at the sight of the fist; it was on fire, burning with intense flames; Kuraude had never seen anything like it.

Kain's hand met Hunt's face in an explosion of fire. Flames blew out of Kain's fist, burning Hunt's face and turning his hair to ash.

Chibiku and Gir jumped over the crowd of students to tend to Hunt. Everyone gathered around them, but Kain steadily walked away; his hand pleasantly burning.