They look like triplets with their brawny coats and bronze skin. The only difference is their eyes and hair color. The middle one has short spiky silver hair with ice blue eyes that seem to see right through me even from across the room. The one on the right has long black hair down to his shoulders, with golden eyes and a mace strapped to his back. The other one, on the left, has a mixture of silver and black hair pulled up in a man bun and is sporting one golden eye and one blue. Well shit!
“Line up,” the middle one yells and we all scramble to get in formation. What formation is that? Who the fuck knows, but these guys don’t seem like the type to ask questions to. We end up making three lines and at the end of mine stands the one with the long black hair. I wish they would have introduced themselves, like proper people.What do they live in, a barn?I snort, making myself laugh, and those golden eyes zero in on me for a moment. I swing my eyes to the front and stare at the back of someone’s head as our next instructions are relayed.
“We are Atlas, Ares, and Janus but you can call us Mr. Kentauroi or Mr. Kent for short.” If that isn’t convenient, I don’t know what is. “When we approach, you will show us your bracelet so we can assess your magic skill and pair you up accordingly,” he instructs and my stomach twists.
Oh shit!
I look down at my naked wrist and panic. I had taken it off the night of the party because I didn’t think I would need it. There’s nothing in the handbook saying I have to wear it all the time, just in classes…yep, I’ve fucked up.
Fuck a duck!
I don’t know what the scary centaur is gonna do or say about this, but he doesn’t look like he’s the type to just give me a pat on the back and say do better tomorrow.
Moni gives me a strange look while Mr. Kent is a couple of students down the line and I show her both of my wrists. Her eyes get as big as saucers when it clicks as to the shit I’m about to be in. She starts shifting colors and my first thought is I hope she doesn’t pass out. Apparently, I have nothing to worry about because the cure all to stop Moni from passing out is having a Mr. Kent, the size of a Clydesdale, stroll up on you and demand to see your wrist.
Moni throws out her wrist and blanches as he nods and moves to the front of me. “Wrist,” he demands, not looking at me. He almost seems bored, like this job is below him. Well, I’m about to ruin his day. My first day back and I’m already on the shit list. Way to go, me!
Fuck.
“I forgot it,” I say, keeping my voice steady even though my heart is trying to crawl out of my throat.
His head snaps down to me, not even looking at the wrists that I have up to show him. Like he needs proof. “Why?”
Does he only speak in one word sentences? Damn, and I thought Knox had a thing for not talking. He should take lessons from this guy.
“Do you really want to know? I mean I can give you a bunch of excuses, but you don’t look like the type that wants to waste his time.”
Holy shit, did I just say that?
He looks at me for a little longer, like he’s accessing me, grunts and moves on. My knees just about collapse, and I think I’m saved until the spiky-haired Mr. Kent starts to pair us up.
“You in the back with no bracelet,” he calls out.
Yep, that’s the name I shall now go by. Thanks, Mr. Kent.
“You and Gertrude, pair off.”
Who the fuck is Gertrude? I step off to the side and visibly jump when I see something that resembles a walking fish that fucked a baby swamp monster in a batch of acid walking my way.
What the fuck is that?
The only thing that’s distinguishable about this creature is the eyes, and I think that’s her breasts that are covered in slime? Oh God. It’s a good thing I have easy access to getting new clothes because once I’m done with mine, I’m burning them.
“So you’re Nerezza Taylor, the human,” she sneers.
“And you’re Oscar the grouch’s regurgitated trash. Congrats!” I say, pinching my nose. “Did you forget to shower?” She really does kinda smell like my grandmother’s swamp in the summer.
“You little—” She steps closer to me where I start to gag, but Mr. Kent with blue eyes steps closer.
“Listen up. We’ve been asked to come and train you all in basic combat skills in light of the new situation. So, pay attention as we run through some moves,” he barks.
The first hour isn’t so bad. We watched the Mr. Kents run through offensive and defensive moves as we practiced along. The last two hours the fuckers turn us loose, allowing us to wail on each other. I want to say that I beat the shit out of the monster of the blue lagoon, but in reality she handed my ass back to me on a silver platter. I’m lucky I don’t have a concussion. I can scrap and play dirty better than most people, but I can’t fight against tentacles.
Who the fuck said we could use tentacles? Where the fuck did they even come from?
Every time one of the Kents came around, one of the tentacles will wave in the air like it was taking a fucking bow while I’m on my ass. The one with the blue eyes is constantly congratulating Fish Face, while the one that barely spoke just grunts, and the one with the heterochromia eyes only looks at me and turns away. Talk about a confidence booster. I personally think they suck at being instructors.
“That’s a good place for you.” Gertrude snickers as she turns her head to check out one of her friends.
