I'm Not Hiding Anymore

   Time flew by at the academy and soon I was packing my things to head back to the castle for summer break.

   I studied hard in my lecture classes, sword skills being much easier for me than the other first-years in my classes. No one found out I was a half-wolf yet, the only person being Nic who didn’t bring it up or discriminate me for it. Professor Alder and Professor Shurman were very nice people, getting to know the students on a personal level.

   Slowly, but surely, Nic and I became close during our first year. Nic wasn’t as egotistical and narcissistic as the rumors portrayed him to be, and little by little he showed me his vulnerable sides. He hated his past choices and how the rumors about him and his family evolved. He never tried to steal anything, nor did his parents disown him. He was always a bit egotistical and narcissistic, but was trying to work on becoming a better person like his brother.

   I met Erland Crawford in the winter, halfway through our first year. He was cool and composed, self-conscious of how he was shorter and smaller than Nic. Like Nic, he ignored the rumors and murmurs from other students, refusing to answer questions if they asked him. The brothers were very similar in their goal of becoming Royal Knights and their importance of putting family first.

   As Nic and I sat at a table during breakfast before the closing ceremony, I glanced around the crowded dining hall, slowly bringing my hands to my hood. Nic, noticing what I was doing, immediately stood and grabbed my hands from over the table.

   “What are you doing?!” he hissed. “Did you forget where we are?”

   “I’m tired of wearing this during training sessions,” I responded. “Just learning the basics in this made me sweat. Studying here is pointless if I can’t use my sword. You’ve seen the looks others give me when I train with my hood on.”

   “You’re already the top of our class,” Nic said, sitting back down and stirring his oatmeal. “You don’t have to prove anything.”

   “It’s because I’m at the top of our class,” I responded, sipping my juice. “I want to be able to show my true self without having to hide. If others have a problem with me, we’ll be old enough to accept duels from others.”

   “I don’t get you,” Nic sighed. “If you’re going to do it, do it on the stage during your closing speech.” He grinned mischievously at me. “Just for today I’ll let you have the spotlight.”

   I rolled my eyes as we finished our breakfast.

   The closing ceremony was for first-years through fourth-years. The graduation ceremony for fifth-years was held the day after. Nic was both nervous and excited to be seen around the academy with his parents.

   “What are your plans this summer?” I asked, eating a piece of melon.

   “I’m going home for a bit,” Nic explained, rubbing his finger on the side of his juice glass. “Father has some meetings to attend in the capital, so I might be coming back for them. There’s a small school back home, and the owner asked me to help teach some little kids.”

   “You? Teach?” I scoffed. “Did they ask the right Crawford?”

   Nic frowned at me. “I can do stuff other than keep my stunningly good looks.”

   “Good luck with that.”

   “Well, what about you? Are you going back to the castle? Gonna spend some time with your precious princess?”

   I glared at him. “How many times do I have to tell you she’s just a friend?”

   “She’s the only human you ever talk about,” Nic said. “Are you sure you only think of her as a friend?”

   “Yes!” I exclaimed, standing. “Now if you’re done eating, we should head to the main arena.”

   “Wait!” Nic called, drinking the rest of his orange juice as I started walking towards the doors of the dining hall.

   We walked through the halls together for the last time before we would be leaving for the summer. Many other students were heading in the same direction, chatting and laughing about their plans for the summer and following year.

   “Are you ready?” Nic asked when we walked into the main arena and headed towards our seats.

   I just nodded, taking a deep breath while the rest of the students found their seat and got settled.

   “Good morning, students!” Headmaster Hakon shouted, raising his arms and making the chatter stop. “We’ve come to the end of another wonderful year of learning and training. Thank you all for being hard working and loyal to the academy and I look forward to seeing you again next year. Now, I invite fourth-year top student to please come to the stage.”

   “Yes, sir!” a girl in the fourth-year section said, standing and walking up to the stage.

   The top fourth-year, third-year, and second-year students all made their speeches fairly quick, and finally it was my turn. Headmaster Hakon called me up, and I stood from my seat. Nic gave me a reassuring smiled and thumbs up, making my nerves die down.

   As I walked up the steps to the stage, I saw all the professors looking at me. Headmaster Hakon gestured to the podium, and I stood in front of it, my hands gripping the sides.

   “As we’ve completed this final day in the school year, I am pleased to be awarded this responsibility,” I started. “As the top ranked first-year, I studied and trained hard, proving my abilities as a student here at the academy. Now unlike most of you, I didn’t take the entrance exam.” Some students started to murmur quietly. “My name is Rico, but I am not a commoner.” More people started to whisper. I took a deep breath, slowly reaching up to my hood before flinging it back off my head. Gasps and voices filled the arena as my ears popped out.

   “Silence!” Headmaster Hakon exclaimed, standing from his seat behind me. “A fellow student is trying to speak.”

   The arena went quiet again, and I looked out at the sea of students.

   “I know most of you won’t agree with studying with a half-beat,” I started, “but some of you won’t care. I’ve proved my abilities this year and will do it again next year. This is who I am and who I will always be. If you have any problems with that, I’ll be waiting for your challenge.”

   I walked away from the podium, down the stairs and back to my seat. Nic pat my shoulder, this biggest smile on his face.

   “I’m proud of you,” he said.

   I just shook my head. “I’m not hiding anymore. I am a half-wolf, and I don’t care who accepts me anymore. I’ll take their challenge any day.”

   Headmaster Hakon concluded the closing ceremony, and the students all filtered out of the main arena. Many students avoided me and Nic, but this time it was my fault and not his. Nic didn’t seem to care, his hands behind his head as we walked back to the dorm to collect our stuff.

   “He really is a half beast.”

   “I thought those ears were fake.”

   “It makes sense why he always kept his hood on in class.”

   “I was told half-beasts are scary creatures that eat humans.”

   “Half-beasts don’t come near humans since they don’t know how to read or write.”

   Rumors began to circulate as soon as Nic and I were spotted in the halls. I didn’t know who was saying what, but I held my head high and led the way back to my room.

   When we arrived at our dorm, some upperclassmen were standing in front of the door. They saw me and Nic approaching, and purposely stayed in front of the door.

   “Excuse me,” Nic started, “but I would like to go inside.”

   “Not on your life,” one of them said.

   “We don’t want a half-beast living with us,” another said.

   “Go find somewhere else to live,” the third said.

   I glared at them. “I’m sorry, but I only wish to collect my stuff before leaving for the summer.”

   The upperclassmen glanced at each other.

   “We don’t want to see you here next year,” the first said.

   “Get your stuff and get out,” the third said.

   As they moved aside, Nic went in first, and before I followed, I looked over my shoulder and gave them a wicked smile.

   “I will return next year, and I will accept your challenge to a duel. See you next year.”

   “You little—”

   The door shut before the upperclassmen could say anything else.