Wearing Power Armor to a Magic School (9/?) WiP 1 (Patreon)

Hello everyone so because everyone is just so excited for the next chapter, I couldn't help but to get this work in progress out quickly as well! :D Please enjoy, and please note this is just a work in progress so there will be more of this chapter to come! :D 

“What the fuck was that?” I asked, not even attempting to bottle up my utter contempt at the spoiled Vunerian.

“What? The aura-less? It’s one of the dorm-porters. What? You don’t have that back in Earthrealm?” Ilunor snapped back lazily, still lounging on the couch like an oversized cat.

“What the fuck do you mean serve, you were treating him like a fucking slave.” I spat back. I knew the implications of the smaller elf’s status fully. Part of me however was too shocked to really believe it. Part of me wanted to believe that it was maybe some sort of cultural misunderstanding. The modern, contemporary human in me simply coudn’t believe that slavery could still exist.

“Erm. Yeah? Because that’s what it is?” The lizard responded with barely a hint of hesitation in his voice. “Earthrealmer, I don’t see what the issue here is. I understand that you come from a very underdeveloped realm, but do be sensible now. Even the most uncivilized backwater realms have some concept of hierarchy and class. You, being sent here, a squire or what have you, you of all people should know a thing or two about class do you not? You’ve quite literally recounted your name and title within the academic rites. You gave a speech about loyalty and submissiveness to the betters in your realm. You respect hierarchy, so what do you not understand about ours?”

“Hierarchy does not preclude rampant racism, classism, and fuckin slavery, you fucking lizard.” I practically snarled out, as my hands began curling up into fists.

The lizard, to his credit, seemed entirely unphased by my verbal confrontation as he only looked at me through my opaque lenses. “What a bizarre concept… maybe we should talk about this in the morning, hmm? I’m tired. We all are. And we should really get our affairs in order before-”

I cut the lizard off, reaching my hand over to grab him by the collar of his silken tunic. “We’re not leaving this topic high and dry before we address it. You’ve off handedly mentioned slaves throughout the entire night and I assumed it was just a dirty jab or some racist remark. Are you telling me that slavery is still alive and well in the Academy, the beating heart of whatever you call a fucking civilization?!” I finally snapped, the pressure from the entire day bearing down on the lizard.

It didn’t take long however before Thalmin once more acted as the level headed of the group, alongside Thacea, as the wolf placed a single hand on my own gloved ones, and gripped it tightly. Tight enough that the haptic feedback sensors on my gloves refused to translate the sensations as they reached and exceeded the minimum pain threshold.

Warning: Minimum pain threshold on [RIGHT HAND] and [LEFT HAND] exceeded, auto-disconnect of haptic feedback engaged.

This… clearly shocked the lupine as his eyes grew wide at how ineffective that move was. I got the message though, so I let go.

But not before making sure I drew a line in the sand with the Vunerian.

“Let me tell you a little something. You might think that you’re hot shit, you might think that your little world and all of its little party tricks is somehow great, grand and mighty. But I’ll tell you right now that you don’t have anything on us. You’re like a fucking hermit living out oblivious in the woods, you don’t see the bigger picture. All you see is your castle, your guards, your little petty kingdoms and fiefdoms or whatever pathetic excuse you have for a proper civilization. My people have long since abandoned your backwards ideologies where it belongs: the dustbin of history. And I can tell you right now that no matter how much of a big shot you think you are, that even the smallest of UN states can march across your lands and right up to your castles and there’s nothing you can do about it. Just like there’s nothing you can do to make me let go of you. So don’t get smart with me, because I’ve had it up to here with you.” I seethed, glared, and snarled out through my suit’s vocoders, my grip tightening so much that I began tearing at the seams of the poor lizard’s shirt collar.

I made sure my point was made as I held him as he kicked, thrashed and lashed out ineffectually, before I finally let him down. Or rather, I haphazardly let him go from about 3 feet off the ground.

I still had the decency to do so above the plush cushions of the couch however, so he was unharmed.

“Emma, Ilunor, let’s take a step back to talk about all of this.” Thacea interjected, now firmly putting herself between the both of us as she outstretched both hands between us.

“What is there to talk about, Princess? The Earthrealmer’s a fucking savage!” Ilunor shouted out, his panicked state from just seconds prior melting back into the shriveled, easily intimidated one that I’d expected from him.

“Ilunor, you have been nothing if not combative and provocative towards the newrealmer for the entire night. You have nothing if not more than a good portion of the blame for this confrontation. I suggest you hold your piece.” The avinor finally put her foot down, something that Thalmin grinned and nodded in approval at, before turning to face me.

“Emma, I understand how stressful all of this may be for you. You are in a completely foreign land, meeting foreign beings for the first time in your life. You are far from home, scared, and potentially afraid. Your reactions are understandable, but please, could we agree to disagree for now? Can we please try our best to act like civilized, decent beings? There are far greater matters to worry about than our petty interpersonal conflicts. To survive the academy we must work together as a peer group. To ensure our year goes smoothly, we must come together, not tear each other apart at the seams.” The avinor spoke promptly, her voice and facade faltering but refusing to break throughout the entirety of it. Before finally it cracked, just a little bit. “Please. All we have here are each other.”