Vincent did as promised, what he had to do.

  He helped Paul up and carried him towards the infirmary. He wasn't intimately familiar with the school yet, but he did know where the infirmary was. It had been part of the school tour the professors had given. He had missed it, of course, but they had given him a private one later. Given him things, too. Of course, that was just theory. He might get lost. He hoped not. It would be embarrassing to wander around lost, forced to ask questions.

  Fortunately, that didn't happen. He managed to get him to the infirmary and left him on the first empty bed he saw. That is, the closest one, because the infirmary was empty. There were no patients, nor the nurse. She must be having coffee or something.

  Well, he had fulfilled his promise. Vincent turned to leave.

  "Hey, don't ignore me."

  A voice. Paul, of course, who else. Eyes narrowed, he still managed to give him a rather impressive hateful glare.

  "You're no better than me at anything. You just took me by surprise. Used a dirty trick. Don't think you've beaten me."

  Vincent stared at him, thoughtful. Wondering if he should say what was crossing his mind. If it was worth it. In the end, he concluded that maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. But he had no reason to keep quiet, and plenty of reasons to speak up. To kick him in the mouth, metaphorically speaking.

  "If you think clean fights exist, you'd better drop out of the academy. Because otherwise, you'll die as soon as you leave these four walls. On your first mission, some monster will bite your fucking head off. What kind of knight doesn't care about honor? The smart ones, the survivors. Winning is what matters."

  "Paolo!" he snapped. Paul spat. He looked away.

  "And don't think you'll get away with it. Everything you said about vampires, about Ayame... you're going to pay for it."

  "What are you going to do? Cry to the professors?"

  "Of course," Vincent replied without blinking. "Didn't I just tell you? Winning is what matters. And I doubt they can tolerate your prejudice." Vincent looked the guy up and down, who still couldn't even open his eyes properly. "And if that fails, I might have to finish what I started."

  "You're bluffing."

  "Oh yeah? Don't test me. I'm a dog without honor, right?"

  Vincent spread his arms to his sides, laughing slightly, as if to encompass the absurd situation they were in. Then he dropped his arms, turned his back, and walked out of the infirmary. Paul said nothing more. Not a single word. Maybe he didn't have the last word, maybe he didn't have enough courage.

  Vincent met the nurse on his way back and explained that she had a patient eager to see her, smiling from ear to ear. Combat class hadn't been so bad, after all.

  Mid-morning, there was, of course, a break between classes for a snack, or whatever. They, at least, went straight to the dining hall. His first impression, honestly, was that he didn't like it. He doubted that would change, since practically everything else about Runehaven had, at the very least, charmed him at first glance.

  Anyone could see at a glance that there was something wrong, different from all the other rooms. He was sure, even if they didn't know that, seen from above, the dining hall was shaped like a badly drawn fish. Well, it was a rune with supposed symbolism of this and that. A great work, the professor who gave them the tour had said. But to him, it simply looked like a fish.

  They picked up their food on trays and looked for a seat. And even this dining hall, right now, contained more people than he had ever seen together in his life. Talking... well, more like whispering. The noise was very annoying and constant. How could they talk so calmly like this if you couldn't even hear your own thoughts?

  But at least the food is good, he thought. And the company.

  "Vincent," Ayame said suddenly.

  "What's up?"

  "Why did you insist on taking that guy, whose name I don't remember, to the infirmary?"

  "I did that to him. Does there have to be a special reason for wanting to help him?"

  Ayame rested her fists under her chin, leaning forward.

  "Well, no. Not necessarily. But I get the feeling there is. You looked at him strangely. Are you going to deny it?"

  No. Why would he?

  "Well, he said some things that bothered me."

  Ayame nodded.

  "Don't let people like that get to you. You did great. Now no one can doubt that you're strong and deserve the credit."

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  "Not about me. About you."

  "Ah."

  "Just 'ah'?"

  Ayame shrugged.

  "It's not pleasant. But what can I say? Many people despise vampires."

  "Humans and vampires made peace a long time ago," Vincent replied. "There's no reason."

  "There isn't." Ayame picked up one of the fries with her fork, dipping it first in ketchup, then in mustard, and brought it to her mouth. "But there are many things that aren't as they should be. That's the world."

  "You say it like you have a lot of life experience. More than me."

  "I don't. But... it doesn't matter."

  Wow. Now curiosity would eat him up inside. Vincent crossed his arms and leaned forward, imitating his teammate. How he liked those words, by the way. Teammate. Partner. That was the most important part.

  "What were you going to say?" he asked.

  "It doesn't matter. Before coming here, I had a lot of free time. I've read a lot. I know it's not the same as living it, but it's something."

  Was that really all it was?

  "Okay."

  But she said nothing more. If she didn't want to talk about whatever it was, he could and should respect that. He wasn't the only one entitled to secrets.

  They devoured their food and drinks. They went to return their trays and soon decided to go out for some fresh air, because they still had some time to kill before going back to class.

  They found a quiet corner out there. You could still hear the voices coming from the dining hall, but far away. They were in the perfect spot. It wasn't very sunny, but it wasn't cold either. It was simply pleasant and quiet. Vincent tilted his head back, breathing, smiling, as he leaned his back against the wall, next to Ayame.

  "It's a good spot. Nice view. Hey, I don't want to spoil the mood, but do you think telling the professors about Paul would do any good?"

  "No."

  Ayame didn't think too hard about it.

  "Because of prejudice?"

  "Sure, some are racist. But what I mean is, right now, it's just your word against his. Nobody heard him. There's no proof."

  "Uh-huh. So I just have to stand by and do nothing?"

  "I didn't say that."

  "Ayame... if you want me to back down, I will. It's just that I don't want anyone talking about you like that."

  Ayame shrugged.

  "I appreciate your intentions. But if you pick a fight with everyone who doesn't like vampires, you'll be fighting half the school. You won't get anywhere like that."

  "Are things really that bad?"

  "I think so," she replied simply.

  Vincent bit his lower lip.

  "If you want, we can think of something. After all, we're a team. I won't leave you alone. Though I must admit I don't even know where to start. The only way to make sure someone doesn't say things you don't want them to say is to cut off their head."

  For a moment, Vincent thought it was a serious suggestion, but then she let out a small laugh, ironic and beautiful.

  "I don't know where to start either. But you have to start somewhere."

  "I won't argue with that."

  Maybe Paul wouldn't cause trouble again. But Vincent wouldn't feel comfortable if someone who talked about vampires, or anyone really, like that, got away scot-free. Ayame could handle herself, defend herself if necessary, but she shouldn't have to. Vincent wanted to teach him a good lesson. Transform his anger, his thirst for revenge, into simply fear. He couldn't think of ways to silence him, sure, apart from cutting off his head, as Ayame had so elegantly suggested. But he didn't want to end up arrested and with his career ruined before it really began. So he would have to look elsewhere.

  They would, because they were in this together, as Ayame reminded him. A team. He was just doing his part, after all.

  Do you think you have the right to wish for that? A real team, close as family, when you discarded your real family without a second thought? An inner voice cut him precisely. Vincent frowned.

  That... wasn't true. Not entirely.

  ***

  Vincent was on his way to his room.

  Well, their room.

  After classes, they had been encouraged to explore, to get well acquainted with the place. Ayame had accompanied him, but she had returned to the room earlier. If she hadn't insisted otherwise, he would have thought something was wrong and followed her eventually.

  Maybe he should have anyway. He couldn't help noticing that if there were other vampires, he hadn't seen them. Maybe Ayame felt lonely and vulnerable, no matter how much she said Paul's prejudice and others like him didn't bother her. No matter how much she shrugged on the outside, Vincent had no way of knowing how she felt on the inside.

  Yes, he regretted not following her. He supposed if something had happened, she would have calmed down by now. He supposed she wouldn't want to talk about it, but at least she would know he was there, on her side. He had to do this team thing right, he couldn't mess up like that again.

  About to reach the room he shared with Ayame, his path was interrupted. Hands grabbed him by the shoulders, dragging him back and to the side. He spun as they pushed him.

  It wasn't a student he knew, but the important thing was that he wasn't alone. There were four others around him, watching, waiting.

  Vincent gritted his teeth, drew his sword.

  "Paul's friends, I suppose." They didn't answer, but he didn't need an answer. "I'll take that as a yes," he continued as he finished drawing his blade.

  Okay, he had grown up in a remote and very small village, but it didn't take a genius to figure out what would happen when five strangers cornered you. They had a huge numerical advantage, but at least he wouldn't be an easy victim.

  "You and your vampire slut need to learn your place," one said. Suddenly, he manifested a crimson spear and spun it. A useless gesture that only served to impress, not to defeat an enemy. But of course, he was just a third-rate school bully. You couldn't expect more.

  "Sure, sure," Vincent said, backing away as the circle closed around him. "And you decided to start with me because you're very brave and not at all afraid to face Ayame."

  "You son of a bitch," one growled, but it wasn't the one with the spear. That one just pressed his lips together, raised the spear above his head with one hand, preparing to strike.

  And he threw it.

  But pure white energy stopped it in mid-air, releasing it a few seconds later, letting it fall to the ground with a metallic clang.

  Vincent turned to look at Ayame, only, of course, it wasn't her. The energy that stopped the spear should have been clue enough, but her appearance caught him by surprise anyway.

  She was a rather pretty girl, tall, red-haired. And a mage. Vincent wasn't an expert in anything unrelated to blacksmithing, but the thin, elegant green staff she carried couldn't be overlooked.

  "President," one of the assholes muttered, clearly terrified.

  Vincent raised an eyebrow. President, of what the hell?

  "I don't want to hear excuses." The girl took a few more steps forward, her heels clicking on the floor. That white energy vibrated in one hand and also at the tip of the staff, as if waiting for an excuse to erupt. "You don't fight other students, except under exceptions, none of which apply in this case. Get out of my sight, unless you want the full weight of the student council brought down upon you."

  They needed no further explanation. The five brave thugs left the way they had come.