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The big boys pushed her aside,
"Stay in line, whelp." Though bitten by the snake of anger, Argali managed a smile to the trio, offering a slight if cordial bow of submission.
The biggest of the boys made a noise of contempt before they moved up in line for chow.
"Crazy.." They didn't like smiles or things they didn't understand, like how some quiet, lanky elven girl could beat them so handily in any assessment duel in the Academy.
Alone, that is. It was no secret Argali was something of a prodigy when it came to killing. How could it be any other way with such illustrious upbringing?
It also bears to mention she was older than anyone else attending the notorious and clandestine
Shadow Academy. The first of her kind in its storied history, no less; an elf!
Her instructors favored her, her classmates envied her, she kept to herself. It did little for her popularity.
Finding her enriched gruel she thanked the server as she always did, raising the tray and bowing her head, eliciting a snort in return. Manners cost nothing and can save you from a pretty scar, she had learned, long ago. She always sat alone, back to the wall, minding her meal but keeping everything in front of her for observation with those strangely mismatched eyes. One a pale green, which tended to twitch when she was caught in some emotion or another. The other, a dark and ruddy color, comparative to the unruly curls which cascaded just over her eyes. Those eyes watched the boy approaching her table now. Argali's most recent duel.
"Hello." He smiled. Argali's eye twitched the tiniest bit, scrutinizing the young man. She could still recall those lips gurgling blood, those eyes staring at her wide and- he took a seat apart from her, startling her from her recollection.
She instinctively scanned the hall for observers, everyone pretended to mind their business. The boy came back into focus, he was studying her, curious.
"Boy yer strange," he remarked at length.
The elf watched him a moment longer before he continued.
"Are all elfs so strange? I heard so, but different kinda strange. Like, they like the smell of their own farts kinda strange." He gestured with a hand like he were smelling wine.
He quirked his lips a bit, his brow following suit as Argali simply watched him.
He exhaled in some humor as he rose, a hand slapping the table.
"caught ya at a bad time, sorry ta-" "Wait." She said, maybe a little too loud.
Maybe it was the way she moved.
They were watching now, everyone quiet. She stared at them. Slowly, they resumed their business. Looking back, he sat again.
"Its 'elves', not 'elfs'," her lips quirked in amusement,
"And we don't smell our farts out of wine glasses- whatever that means." His brow arched,
"You sure?" Argali stared at him, then smiled.
"Can I help you?"He grinned, taking a bite out of his bread, watching her. Argali settled back into her own meal, her eyes never leaving the boy's.
At length,
"I like you." Her eye twitched,
"I thought I was strange." "I like your strange." "What about it?" "Everything up to and including the mystery." "Mystery?""What are you doing here?" Argali studied him,
"Bringing honor to my house."He smirked,
"Here?"Quiet, humorless,
"Everywhere."Scratching some stubble,
"Well if you wanna do that then you got some things ta learn."Argali turned her head, regarding him sidelong,
"I'm top of the class.""And bottom of the barrel." She set her jaw at those words.
He propped his elbows on the table, folding his hands,
"The way I see it, I'm your best friend."Argali was dubious. He put on his most winning smile. The elf took her time, an uncomfortable amount, human standard.
"I don't need your help." She decided, continuing to spoon gruel and finally breaking her fixation.
The boy hesitated, his tone softening,
"I wasn't offering help. Just wanted to talk is all." She looked up again, her expression unchanged.
"Don't elfs have friends?" His tone taking a petulant edge,
"Or they all annoying fart sniffers like you?" He rose, seating himself elsewhere in the hall.
"Elves." She corrected, but no one was there to hear. Her eye twitched, but no one was there to see.
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