He slept like a baby. There was loud noise coming from downstairs. He went into the bathroom to shower. His body was screaming. His arms were heavy. His legs felt he was 500-pound weights. Honestly, he wants to go back to bed. Even though the bed was calling name all he could hear was his mother's.
"Boy get your behind out that bed. You better not waste your time sleeping went there is so much life to live." His mother would say.
Memories of his mother always brought a smile his face. No matter how bad her cancer got she was so positive. She never let anyone feel sorry her. She fought cancer twice and won. When it came back a third time it was more aggressive. Unfortunately, the third she didn't make it.
His mother was so strong. She always pushed him to take every opportunity. She supported him no matter what. She was the one cheering the loudest at his football games. When Desmond graduated from high school and college, he could hear her all the on stage. She was small but her voice was huge. She never let him doubt himself ever.
"If my baby can't do it isn't meant to be done." She would say with the biggest grin. Then she would tell him to give it his all.
He misses her so much. She made everything seem so easy.
After his shower he headed downstairs. There were conversations going in every part of the guild hall. Some conversations were for enjoyment. Others were guild members planning out their next assignment. There were people at the reception window getting paid or accepting jobs. Then in the room adjacent to the main hall there was tavern.
"Order up!" Some shouted from the tavern.
Crossing over all his sensing were bombarded. His nose was taking the heavenly smells coming from the kitchen. His ear locked in on the many different conversations going on. His eyes scanned the environment taking in all the different races.
Elves, dwarves, humans, and so many more. He found a table in the corner. It didn't take long for a server to approach his table.
The elven woman was fairly tall. She is a few inches shorter than Desmond. She probably 5'10. Her chest is barely being contained by her shirt. Her skirt is just above her knee.
"She's fucking gorgeous." Desmond thought to himself.
[Hey Desmond, you're drooling]
He ran his hand across his face.
"Shut up no I'm not" Desmond replied.
The server looked confused. Desmond ordered a steak and a beer.
[Oh yeah, if you're not then why then you wipe your face.]
"Shut up. You remind me of a girl I went to college with. I should call you Veronica."
[System Notice]
Name registered
System name: Veronica
At the table next to him there was two creatures. They had horns that came to a point. They are short may be 5'4 at best. They are wearing vest but no shirt and shorts. On each of their waist two daggers. He did his best not to stare.
While he was focused on the people at the next table. He hadn't noticed the woman that had joined him. The woman snapped her fingers bringing Desmond back to reality.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Desmond asked.
His eye wide with surprise. This is the woman that had just tried to kill him the day before.
"Why is this bitch sitting at my table" Desmond thought to himself.
The server came back carrying his food and drink. He could hear the sizzling from the pan. The server had brought him an order of fries on the house.
He wants to slit her throat. The woman grabbed one his fries.
"So why does your stepmom want you dead?" The woman asked sticking the fry into her mouth.
"I don't know you tell me. I didn't even know she wants me dead until the day before yesterday." Desmond replied cutting a piece from his steak.
The steak was perfect. The favors danced on his tongue.
"Are you just going to stare at me eat?" Desmond questioned his irritation is on full display.
The woman smirked.
"I came to introduce myself. I'm Omega. I'm going to be attending the academy with you."
His heart sank. There is a knot in his stomach. A person that tried to end his is going to the same school as him. Nervous doesn't even begin to describe how he feels.
Omega's eyes are locked on Desmond. Her eyes scanning his features.
"Look I promise I won't try anything on campus" Omega said with a wink.
"So off campus you'll try and kill me again?" Desmond questioned with a false look of confidence.
"Well, you'll have to wait to and see." Omega replied with a smirk.
She stood up from the table. She winked at Desmond before she walked out of the tavern.
After his encounter with Omega, he returned to his room. The encounter with Omega made him uneasy. She was definitely threatening him. He knows that he needs to get stronger to protect himself. He just barely made when Omega and her friends came after him.
[Hey Desmond, she won't try anything at the academy. It is against the law. The academy is sacred ground. Violence between student is strictly forbidden. Students who attack others on campus are charged with a crime. Their families are also punished. So as long as you stay on campus or in a guild building you should be safe.]
He hates his weakness.
He knows that Omega was trying to scare him. He had seen that tactic before. When he was younger in his childhood neighborhood.
There was a kid in the neighborhood that threaten other kids. He wouldn't fight in school. Fighting in school meant suspension. But a fight in the neighborhood was different. The school can't enforce punishment off school grounds.
So, what the bully would do is threaten kids in school. Then when they were scared, he would attack them in the neighborhood. Desmond hated that kid. He also got in more than a few fights with him. Desmond would stick for himself and the other kids. There was one time Felix attacked Desmond outside of a store.
Desmond was walking with a friend. Felix had walked through automatic doors of the store. Desmond and Felix locked eyes. Felix threw his drink on Desmond. That's when the fight started. Desmond headbutted Felix in the mouth. Felix punched Desmond in the face. Desmond scooped Felix off his feet. It was a near perfect double leg take down. Felix did his best to cover up. Desmond rained down punches eventually Felix's arms gave out. Desmond continued to ram his fists into Felix's face until the store came out and broke it up.
Felix just happened to stay three doors down from Desmond. It was a race to see who could tell their mom first. Felix went in his house. He made some story about Desmond attacking him for no reason. Desmond's mom Shaundra immediately called bullshit. Desmond wasn't an overly aggressive kid. He didn't go out of his way to start fights.
Both boys were sticking to their stories. Eventually Shaundra went up to the store. She asked the owner who was a good friend if she could see the footage. Plain as day she saw Felix throw a drink on her son. Shaundra called Felix's mom Melissa. Melissa arrived at the store not long after the call. The store owner played the video. Melissa apologized to Shaundra and Desmond before grabbing Felix by the ear. Melissa led him out of the store the whole time cursing at him. She told Felix that she was going to tell his father.
"Damn I haven't thought that fight in years" Desmond said under his breath.
He isn't going let this world get the best of him. He is going to survive. He is going to make sure his family regrets how they treated. When he finishes his time at the academy, he will make them pay.