Reynold lay flat on his back, staring up at the small wall clock in his dorm room.
The little hand was on 6, the big hand on 11. He was counting down the last minute.
Rumble.
His stomach grumbled again, reminding him he had not eaten all day.
The Academy gave food to students who could not afford to buy their own food, but only twice a day: at 12 PM and 6 PM.
Reynold had missed the lunch meal because he was too busy unpacking and rearranging his room.
He could not miss dinner too.
Tick. Tick. BING!
The big hand hit 12.
"Finally!" Reynold let out a long breath and jumped off the bed. He grabbed the Academy map the cadet had given him and hurried out.
The common area was empty.
His three strange roommates were already gone. It was probably better that way.
Following the map out of the dorm, he stopped looking for the road that lead to the cafeteria when his eyes landed on someone.
Leaning against a sunlit stone pillar, was Laena. Her hair was set in her signature and familiar braid style. She was speaking with a bulky, anxious-looking boy. It was Landon.
Four years ago, Reynold thought she was everything he had ever wanted.
Now, seeing her, he just felt a strange emptiness when he looked at her.
He wanted to go over, a small, part of him wanting to tell her that, "Igotin".
But his stomach rumbled again.
Food first. If he missed this, he was starving until tomorrow noon.
Reynold quickly turned away, following the map to the cafeteria.
The Academy's eating hall was a huge, simple annex. It was functional and not fancy. It more like a long wooden tables and benches, and a serving counter.
The hall was noisy. It was clearly the place for students who had no money.
He saw students in the black uniforms of the Dragon Rider cadets, but also many in the blue robes of the Magic users.
Reynold got in line. The meal was a bowl of thick, gray stew over lumpy rice and a slice of hard bread. He took his tray and found an empty table near the wall.
Just as he dipped the bread into the soup, a voice sounded across the hall.
"Well, look who's all alone! Surprise! Guess your big, protective cousin isn't here to hold your hand now, Gwyn?"
Reynold looked up.
A tall, thin boy with red hair, wearing a Mage's robe, was trying to grab a pale, brown-haired girl.
The girl, who is also a Mage, tried to fight him off.
"Leave me alone, Silas," she said.
"Not a chance," Silas sneered, shoving her.
She stumbled backward making her to lose her footing, and she crashed into Reynold's table, making his tray flipped.
Hot, brown soup splashed landed all over his black uniform and splashed onto his face. His only meal for the day was ruined.
The Silas didn't care. He walked toward the girl, his face twisted in anger.
"Did you really think your high-and-mighty cousin was going to protect you all the time?" He grabbed her wrist and squeezed it hard.
Reynold was starving, and this idiot had just made his food to splash all over the place. His temper exploded as his face turn into a frown.
"Let her go!" Reynold yelled.
Silas held onto the girl, barely turning his head to Reynold. He just gave a loud, rude laugh.
Reynold stood up. "I said, let the girl go."
Silas head snapped over, his expression one of annoyed surprise.. "What did you say, rider boy? You want to be a hero?"
"I won't say it a third time," Reynold warned, his eyes locked on Silas.
Silas laughed. "Or else what? You'll try to punch me? You have no magic and you're just a future meat-shield for a dragon."
Silas finally let go of Gwyn, then threw his head back and laughed loudly. He lifted his hands and they burst into orange flames.
"Come closer, hero boy," Silas challenged, his voice cold and lace with pleasure. "And I'll melt the stupid right off your face."
Reynold frown deepened. He grabbed the heavy wooden bowl, the one that had held his soup and fling it.
It moved too fast before Silas knew, the bowl hit him hard on his right hand. The remaining soup splashed into his left hand.
CRACK!
Silas yelled in surprise, staring at his hand. "You! You little...."
Before he could finish, Reynold closed the gap in an instant. His left hand grabbed Silas robe, and his right clamped down on the his throat.
He slammed Silas back against the edge of an empty wooden table.
BAM!
The table groaned, and Silas wheezed. The hall was completely silent now, all eyes were on them.
Before Silas could recover, Reynold grabbed him up again, slamming him down onto the table again.
Silas eyes were wide with panic. He clenched his jaw and muttered a spell.
A blast of force hit Reynold in the chest, sending him flying backward and crashed onto a bench.
Silas scrambled away, his eyes falling on a small knife on the bench. He muttered another quick, strained spell, and the knife flew at Reynold, spinning fast.
Reynold tried to duck, but it was too late. The knife scraped across his left cheekbone, giving him a a thin cut that immediately started to bleed.
Silas quickly backed away, then turned and ran out of the cafeteria, leaving everyone in silence.
Reynold pushed himself up, breathing hard, his hand going to his bleeding cheek.
The girl, Gwyn, rushed over, her face pale with worry.
"He cut you! That was a slicing spell, he wanted to hurt you! That idiot,"
Reynold just shook his head, a blank look in his eyes. He felt the small pain from the cut, but mostly, he was so hungry.
Gwyn bit her lip, seeing his injury. She slowly raised her hands. "Can I help? With the cut?"
Reynold didn't answer or stop her.
Gwyn nodded, closing her eyes. She murmured a low, spell and a soft, icy blue light flickered over her fingertips, then she touched Reynold's cheek.
The cut closed instantly.
Reynold touched the spot, the cut was gone.
"Thanks," he said..He looked at the ruined soup on the floor.
Gwyn shoulders slumped. "Thank you. You risked getting expelled for me." She looked at the ruined food on the floor, then back at Reynold.
"Wait here," she said quickly.
Before he could ask anything, she ran off.
Reynold sat down already exhausted.
Gwyn returned moments later with a full, fresh tray of soup, bread, and water. She set it in front of him.
"Here. You can have it. I haven't touched it," she insisted, pushing the tray closer.
Reynold didn't refuse because he was so hungry. He picked up the bread and began eating, fast, taking large bites.
Gwyn sat opposite him. She watched him eat, and a small, soft smile appeared on her face as she saw the speed he was eating.
Reynold looked up, his mouth full, pausing his rush.
"What?" he asked.
"Nothing," she chuckled lightly. "It's just… you look like you haven't eaten in a week, and you're afraid the bowl is going to sprout legs and run away."
Reynold finally slowed down, swallowing his food. He gave a tiny, dry smile.
"Maybe I am," he admitted. "First day. Only meal left until tomorrow." He picked up a spoonful of soup. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, Reynold Starweaver," She paused, looking at him.
Reynold raised an eyebrow, "You know my name?"
"Everyone knows your name now. The mysterious kid with the impossible scores. And now, the Rider who just body slammed a fire magic user."