Cracking like a Walnut. Several of Them

I looked around behind me, the crowd of students staring in utter silence, disgust and fear written across their face clear as day.

'Well, that's expected. Nothing I wasn't prepared for.'

I glanced towards the heirs, their reactions quite similar, yet some different. Drakhar looked like he wanted to kill me, Lyra still looked like she cared more about a rat's ass then me, and Sparky…

'Sparky? Why in the fuck does it look like he wants to expirement with me?'

Sparky's eyes were practically glowing, filled with excitement and anticipation, causing me to shudder involuntarily.

'He… he doesn't swing THAT way… does he?'

"Ahem– well, we'll continue to the potential t-test…" Althea didn't even bother announcing my affinities, causing me to chuckle dryly. After a moment, the crystal turned an inky pure black, causing her eyes to furrow in confusion.

"Er, I haven't seen this before. For now, we'll just list you as unconfirmed." Blinking once blankly, I laughed, startling Althea and most of the heirs behind me.

'The change in treatment is so vastly different its honestly amusing. Clearly Black is a new potential as well yet they just brush it off due to my affinity, where as when Lyra was up, it was all kissing ass and fucking rainbows.'

Honestly, I was bitter. I was expecting this yet that didn't stop it from stinging. Pulling out a meat bun, I walked back to where I was standing earlier. Now, not only Lily, but the other heirs also maintained a distance from me, although Drakhar still looked like he wanted to kill me.

'Someone with my affinity must have done something to him or someone close to him in the past. Well, that or he just really hates the Erosion affinity. At least no one is bothering me about my meat bun now…'

Glare

'Well, almost no one.' 

After a moment of awkward silence due to my laugh, Althea resumed her talk, motioning towards certain areas of the academy for the other students to head to. As she blabbed away I looked around lazily, still munching on a meat bun.

'What the…?' I stared in confusion towards a certain dragon girl.

'Why is she staring at me so suddenly?'

***

"Come again?"

I stared at Althea blankly as she spoke. It was kind of funny because she was standing about thirty feet away from me as she spoke.

"Well… since we can't confirm whether or not your potential reaches the criteria of Crimson or higher, you'll be required to take the rest of the exam as normal…"

'Ah… the world is so cruel. Only meat buns can keep me sane.'

I pulled another meat bun out, munching while continuing to stare at Althea blankly. Lily and the other heirs, along with Alya and Lyra's escort, were automatically passed and admitted into the academy due their potential being Crimson or higher. So they got to watch the rest of the exam in luxury.

'Only meat buns are equal.'

As much as I wanted to point out how Lyra also had an unconfirmed potential, I just sighed in defeat, nodding once. Althea signed in relief.

'Let's be honest here, a bright flashy Crimson-Gold looks so much better than some shady ass black color.'

"Please head towards the west side of the academy. The training grounds are where the next part of your exam will be held." I nodded, still munching on my meat bun.

The walk towards the training grounds was relatively boring, causing my thoughts to wander.

'Elise my goddess… how could you look at me with such fear? Well, I guess that's pretty obvious.' I sighed in despair. 'At least I don't seem to be completely feared. Just wanted dead by one, probably wanted as an experiment by another, and lastly…' I thought about Lyra, who stared at me the rest of the first phase of the exam. 'She probably wants to eat me? Do dragons eat humans? Maybe she wanted my meat bun? She was very cute though… hmm. 11/10. Modest chest and oh so round ass–'

"Examinee Tryston?" I blinked my thoughts away, looking up.

Then I continued to look up even more.

"Woah. You're tall." A giant orc stood in front of me, his muscles rippling from every breath he took. He wielded a giant war hammer, currently resting on his shoulder as if it were a simple sack of rice.

"I get that a lot. Are you ready for the next part of the exam? You're the first one here." I nodded once, finishing my meat bun quickly. Wait…

"I thought I was supposed to spar with other students? Why am I sparring with a professor?" The tall orc flinched slightly, before scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

"Well… because of your affinity…"

"Ah, say no more my friend." I nodded in understanding before pulling out my staff. The orc smiled gratefully before hoisting his war hammer off his shoulder.

"This is based on pure technique so no Kinesa usage will be allowed. The spar will last for three minutes. Are you ready to begin?" I nodded once.

'Well, at least it doesn't seem like he wants to kill me.'

"Then lets begin!"

CRACK

I flew across the training area, crashing into the wall with a loud thud. I coughed, blood spilling out from my mouth. Standing slowly and gripping my side, I paused.

Slowly pulling my hand up, I examined what appeared to be a piece of one of my ribs.

'Huh. I stand corrected.'

FWOOSH

I dropped to the ground, wincing as my clearly destroyed ribs landed roughly against the ground. Looking up, all I saw was pure hatred in the tall orcs eyes.

'I definitely stand corrected.'

Jumping back, I braced myself against the wall, before launching myself towards the orc, avoiding his giant ass hammer in the process. Twirling my staff above my head, I whipped my staff down at an angle, aiming for the orcs throat. 

Key word being aiming.

Before my attack could land, my head was suddenly grabbed, killing all momentum I had gained from my acrobatic attempt.

"Nice try you devil."

'Ohhh, that's a new one.'

I flew across the training ground, before hitting a large pillar, cracking my shoulder in the process.

'Fuck, that one stung a little.'

I staggered to my feet, blood dripping from my side where my ribs had broken through and my mouth.

'I think I punctured one of my lungs.'

Looking up, I watch blearily as the tall orc disappeared, before reappearing in front of me. 

'This guy has got to be at least a Circle 8 warrior.'

I just barely manage to roll out of the way, the pillar behind me crumbling into dust from the orc's war hammer. Stumbling to my feet once more, I took a deep breath.

'Can't use Kinesa which means can't use Erosion. I haven't managed to develop [Sensory] into a passive skill yet so that's out of the question. What can I do…'

I glanced towards the pillar that was just destroyed, the dust from it billowing out everywhere.

'Well, that's better than nothing.'

Rushing towards the pillar, I slid into the dust cloud as a loud whistling sound went over where my head just was, the orcs hammer obliterating the archway connected to the pillar. Hiding in the dust, I waited for the orc to come at me.

"Do you think I would fall for such an obvious trick? [Gale]." In a split second, the dust was ushered away by Wind Kinesa, causing me to growl in frustration.

'Of course he's using fucking Kinesa! Fuck!'

I stumbled my feet, only to be sent flying once more, crushed by his hammer. I landed roughly on the ground before rolling to a stop, my leg dangling limply beneath me. Blood was dripping from my head and I stared blankly as the orc approached me, his eyes still filled with hatred.

'Ah… I want a meat bun right now.'

"Don't worry you devil. I won't kill you. I'm not allowed to due to your status as an escort but…" he gave me a menacing toothy grin, licking his teeth with his tongue. "I can make you suffer."

CRACK

I grit my teeth, doing my best to hold back any sound.

"Do you know?"

'Obviously not.'

CRACK

'Ope. There goes the rest of my ribs.'

"My wife."

CRACK

"My daughter."

CRACK

"Both died at the hands of your kind."

CRACK

"Do you know how much I suffered?"

I went flying across the ground as he kicked me, my now broken arms dangling along with my dead leg.

'Man, this is almost as bad as the lashings I got as a Slave. Well, not that I'm not a slave still.'

I weakly looked up at the orc, watching as a single tear dribbled down his face.

CRACK

"My wife had just given birth to my daughter… my daughter just an infant!"

CRACK CRACK

"AND YET!"

CRACK CRACK

'Fuck, this is starting to really hurt.'

"PEOPLE LIKE YOU STILL LIVE??!!! WHILE MY FAMILY CAN'T??!!"

'I think I'm fucked.'

CRACKK

I lay mangled on the ground, every breath filled with pain. The only bone not broken in my body… well, there was no such thing right now. The orc had crushed my hands and feet, stomping on my legs and arms while he was at it. A crowd had gathered around by this point, the other students finishing up their affinity and potential tests by now. 

Yet, not a single one of them helped. They just stood there silently, as if revelling in my pain.

'Well, that's to be expected I suppose. Tch.'

Shifting my eyes towards the orc, I opened my mouth, attempting to speak. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to, due to blood pooling in my throat. I was just barely managing to not drown in my own blood, using my Erosion affinity to basically disintegrate the blood in my throat just enough so I didn't drown.

'It's so hard to breathe right now… shit.'

The overwhelming urge to use my affinity suddenly rose. To blast a wave of decay and ruin and wipe those jeering faces clean. Yet…

"Remember Tryston. You must not ever harm someone else with your affinity. The instant you do, even if it's in self defense, is the instant you die."

'Tch. Fuck you old man.'

I passed out from blood loss soon after.