25 25 Cliques
Wolfe had carefully picked products with a mild scent, except a cologne in a dropper bottle that reminded him of the smell of the forest they drove through. It seemed to be natural and didn’t bother his sensitive nose, so it should be fine for the Witches.
The Academy might have banned personal items from outside, but they weren’t stingy with the supplies that they provided. That was going to kill Wolfe’s plan to woo the ladies with his domestic skills, though.
He still picked out some violet ribbon and blue nail polish, just in case.
It was getting close to lunch, so Wolfe rushed off to his room with the large sack of items as soon as he had them all picked and was certain that he didn’t miss anything.
While checking them out of storage, he learned that they weren’t just generous with the items available. They were also giving the students and employees both a generous monthly allowance that their purchases were subtracted from.
For Wolfe, it was on top of a pitiful salary, but that was still better than nothing. His purchases were relatively inexpensive, but many of the ladies’ products were not, and certain items, like weapons and perfume, were horrifically expensive.
Very sneaky. You could buy anything you wanted, but the items everyone wanted would leave you penniless in a hurry. The variety of deadly weapons told him that there would be practical work involved in this Witch training as well. If there weren’t, the school wouldn’t need to sell so many blades, sharpeners and equipment care kits.
What Wolfe did notice was a conspicuous lack of armour. There was a selection for the staff, assigned if their duties were likely to require it, but it looked like the students would be expected to protect themselves with magic.
The pair of batons they gave him for Hall Monitor duty were very sturdy alloy, both light and slightly flexible to avoid cracking with repeated use, so he wouldn’t need another weapon for a while unless he wanted a good knife. Not that he could see himself using a baton, much less a combat knife, against any of the Girls in the Academy anytime soon. Hall Monitor duty couldn’t be that dangerous.
There were only a few people in the Class A cafeteria when he arrived, all from the senior classes, but his appearance and choice of fighting style, indicated by the batons on his hip, seemed to gain him some approval.
Wolfe chose a lunch set and a pack of gum, then took the same seat as he found Ella and Cassie at yesterday.
“I told you he was a gentleman of culture.” Wolfe heard one of the Witches laugh.
“Wait, there’s a chance he didn’t know he picked a seat in their section yet. Wait until the rest of the returning Witches get here.” Another one insisted.
So it was a trial, what group the new arrivals would pick and where they would fit in during their time at the academy. For now, this area was mostly empty, but a lot more students were coming in. Wolfe realized that it would have been easier on him if he had picked the staff cafeteria today, but he hadn’t thought of that and had just returned by instinct to the last place he had eaten.
There was some unspoken rule that today, the wall seats were for selected Second Year Witches and Freshmen students. Almost every wall seat was empty, but at least one seat at every other table was taken.
Ella and Cassie came in with a group of four other girls, one of which was wearing a long coat with runes on it and carrying a bat on her shoulder while the others walked behind her.
A Female Gang leader and a Witch rolled into one person? Wolfe’s little brother approved.
They got their food, and the High Nobles at the far side of the room stared at them in disgust while they walked straight to the table Wolfe was at.
“Move. There’s no room for you.” The leader insisted.
“You can sit in my lap if you like,” Wolfe told her with a wink, and the girl stopped whatever she was going to say next to gape at him in shock.
Ella was trying really hard not to laugh as her new friend tested him, and Wolfe noticed a bookish freshman girl panicking at the way being blocked by the confrontation.
Nobody seemed to notice her, though, so she was stuck with a loaded tray, clearly meant for multiple people.
“Can we let the traffic through? You can tell me all about your favourite bat, how potions class is going and why you wear shorts under your skirt, but she looks like she’s going to collapse if we don’t let her by.” Wolfe said, standing up and putting his hand under the loaded tray.
“He’s not bad, Ella. Better than usual, and he even smells decent.” The leader finally relented, then motioned to a girl who was standing by the door and moved to an interior table while the others joined Wolfe in the corner.
“She’s going to make you pay for the joke about having shorts on under her skirt later. You know that, right?” Ella laughed.
“I am Kandi, this is Asia, and finally, we have Jodi. The one with the borrowed bat from the sports room is Risa, a fourth-year senior we can go to for advice.
“So, what can you tell me about the cafeteria? It looks like the cliques are easy to guess, but how is the food?” Wolfe asked.
“Usually good, but sometimes it gets ruined.” The one called Risa answered from her seat across the aisle while glaring with deep hatred at a group of girls that had come over.
“Now, now. Is that any way to be looking at your dear classmates? I just wanted to say hello to our new pet. Is that so wrong? I’m Rachelle. If you need anything at all, I am always available.” Even the densest of young men couldn’t miss those implications.
“Well, that’s one way to get stronger genes in your family. But if you prefer a Witch who can actually read, you are also welcome to join us. The Book Club meets every Tuesday.” A taller blonde Witch cut in.
Wolfe didn’t get a chance to catch her name since her words immediately started an argument with Rachelle that turned from words to hexes in only seconds before Wolfe had to get up and help the other staff in the room break up the fight.
“This school is wild. I totally didn’t see that coming from the book club.” Wolfe laughed as the two were dragged away by the security officers that were assigned lunch duty for the Class A mess hall.
ƥαṇdαηθνε|
The rest of the Freshmen were beginning to come in now, and the real show was about to start.
For most first-year students, picking a group to become friendly with on your very first lunch break would be a challenge. Impressing the second-year Witches enough to be welcomed to a table, so they didn’t have to eat at the filthy table of shame in the corner until someone gave them a chance. For others, it was easy. The High Noble daughters among the first years were practically drowning in offers.
When your family can ruin theirs with little more than a wave of their hand, everyone wants to be your friend, at least to your face.