Ropes

When he woke up, Angelo was sitting at the desk. His eyes darted across the room, trying to remember the events that took place. What was it… Oh yeah, they fought and he got knocked out. Anticlimactic, to say the least. He began to make some turmoil, moving around a little. His hands were tied behind his back, so he couldn't attack again. That's when Angelo turned around and grinned at Jamono: 

"Well if it isn't our little child that has awakened. Did the blow knock you out that much?"

Jamono just glared him in the eyes, non-verbally demanding to be taken out of his shackles. But Angelo didn't seem to get it, so he sighed and spoke:

"Could you untie me now? It's annoying."

Angelo smirked and leaned forward:

"Do I have some guarantee that I won't get attacked again right away?"

"Why would I do so?"

"To be frank, you just lunged at me the last time out of the blue. Shouldn't I be worried that it'll happen again?"

"Oh you should, if you talk about food in such a manner. Don't you value such comfort or are you just a snob?"

"The value of food? It's a commodity, it doesn't possess any means of value."

Jamono couldn't take this. The same food that he talks about as a commodity he struggled to even see, before being able to cure his hunger. And this guy, he holds no value in it? What was his life up until now to him, if he insulted a necessity like bread as a commodity. That's a sign of no respect. His inner anger boiled out:

"You filthy spoiled brat! Talking like there's food everywhere! Well guess what, there isn't! Life isn't all sunshine and butterflies! There is poverty, there is misery! If only you'd take out your head out of that deep shithole of spoiled comfort, you'd realise how much value such a commodity as food has! Heck, you cannot possibly imagine a life where you'd struggle day for day! So shut the fuck up you piece of thrash!"

Angelo stepped closer to him, making almost nose-to-nose contact, his smile faded and a face of anger spread across it. Now eye to eye, Angelo spoke:

"You have the guts to insult me like that? What confidence you have. But aren't you trembling?" He touched Jamono's hand, but that wasn't shaking, it was rather just relaxed. Jamono's eyes looked straight into his, digging deep into Angelo's soul. It was a piercing gaze, no, rather a challenging glare. This boy was ready to fight until he would be unable to ever fight again. Angelo smiled, this time more impressed than cocky:

"But that fighting spirit takes some serious balls. I'll give you that."

"Fucking come at me, let's settle it, huh? You think you're just too good for the normal world that you look down on people. Get one glance and look down on yourself, you narcissist shit!"

Angelo stopped and took a step back. With a serious face, standing there, he spoke:

"Look at myself huh? Well, that isn't completely out of place. But don't think I'm some privileged man. I'm just someone who doesn't whine about reality anymore. So if you have calmed down, I will free you from those restraints, understood?"

Jamono just sat there, but gave a small nod to him. So Angelo cut off the ropes tying the hands together. Now being able to move, Jamono just flopped onto the other bed. What an exhausting welcome. But this, this comfort was like heaven to him. There was nothing more he could wish for. Although there was one thing:

"Hey Angelo, what exactly do people do here at the academy? This hasn't been explained to me yet, so it's a bit disappointing. Do you know anything?"

Angelo looked up to the ceiling:

"Well, not really, since the academic year starts tomorrow. But, as far as I know, you will be tested to which magic element you have the most affinity to. So yeah, that much is known."

"Uhh, and how do they find out what you're capable of? Do they do like a medical scan or do we fight until someone shows promising signs of an element affiliation?"

"Somewhat, yeah. But there will be no extensive medicinal check, more or less just a fitness check. The affinity will be tested by an elemental orb, and the potential of said affinity via a mock battle."

"Isn't that dangerous though?"

Angelo laughed: 

"If you think that will be dangerous, then better wish yourself the best of luck, because you don't know what you have sold yourself for."