Later the same day, Ramza decided to take a walk and find Delita at the same time as he had not returned yet. He walked by the cafeteria and peered inside. No Delita. Ramza sighed in frustration. Maybe he had already gotten into a fight? He certainly hoped not.
Ramza walked into an open field that was paved with cement and had several targets all lined up next to each other. It was most likely an area to practice archery and swordplay.
Ramza noticed to the far left of the area, a young man with stringy short blonde hair was practicing using a sword already. He noticed the guy was real good at it as he was hitting all the targets perfectly in the middle.
Suddenly, another guy walked up to the other blonde guy.
Guy: Hey man, you're pretty tough, aren't you?
Blonde: (not even turning to look at the guy) Yeah....I know.
Then there was a silence between the two. It seems like the blonde didn't want to carry out a conversation or even thank the guy for the compliment. Instead, the guy just continued to practice his sword skills. Ramza immediatley took a disliking to the blonde. He seemed very snobby and quite a show-off.
The guy who had asked questions apparently didn't want to give up. He cleared his throat and continued to try and make friendly conversation.
Guy: Hey, you come from a very rich family, don't you?
Blonde guy: (turns angrily)Why the hell is it any of your importance? I am rich, okay? Why don't you go and do something worthwhile instead of snooping around other people's lives?
The other guy was completely speechless. He was totally stunned. Ramza on the other hand felt a total dislike to the blonde. Damn, he was just trying to be friendly! I'll bet this guy ain't got no friends right now. At least we know why! Ramza thought.
Guy: Hey, man I was just asking!
Blonde: Well, don't ask next time! This academy could do very well without the likes of you nosy people!
Guy: (now angry) Well, @#$% you then, you @#$# in asshole! You rich kids really do think you're all that!
Blonde: Yeah , I know.
The other guy walked off angrily as the blonde guy proceeded to continue to practice. Ramza walked away in disgust. Gawd, what a complete jerk! thought Ramza, as he walked off. While he walked, he turned to notice a young man with a rather large group following him. They all roughly walked up to the blonde guy. Ramza stopped. He couldn't make out what the hell they were saying, but somehow he sensed trouble.
Indeed it was trouble alright. Ramza gasped as he realized that the young man who led the group was Andy Zuckerman, the same Andy who once asked him to join the popular gang and ditch Delita back in elementry. Ramza could never ditch Delita so he declined and ever since then, Andy had become a rival to them both.
Andy just simply walked up to the blonde and punched him in the stomach. The blonde didn't punch Andy back however. In fact, he tried to walk away, but was surrounded by the gang. Ramza edged closer to hear them all. But secretly inside, he was thinking smuggly. That damn jerk is getting his just deserts!
Andy: So you think you're the hotshot of this academy just because you're rich? Think you're the best in this school?
Blonde: If you practice enough instead of leading around a pack of rats, maybe you'd be as good as I am.
Andy: Smart-ass, eh? I don't really like smart-asses one bit!
Blonde: Why not? Cause they're "smarter" than you and your pack rats?
Andy: You're dead! (With that, Andy pounces on the blonde guy.) I'll shut that @#$% 'in mouth of yours, jack-ass!!!
He is about to punch the living shit out of the blonde when Ramza grabs his arm. Andy suprisingly turns and sees him, and then smiles evilly.
Andy: Well, well, well.....if it isn't my best bud, Ramza Beoulve...what would bring a loser like you to this academy?
Ramza: Save it! Just back off from the guy!
Andy gets off the guy and walks up to Ramza.
Andy: Love to stay and chat with you, but I've got other plans for you and your friend DUH-lita for this year!
With that, Andy threw the bad finger at Ramza while the rest of the group snickered and all left with him.
Ramza turned his attention to the blonde guy. He really felt that the blonde guy deserved a good ass whipping but somehow, he just couldn't let him get the shit beatin' out of him.
Ramza: You okay, man?
The blonde guy turned to stare at Ramza. Up close, Ramza noticed the guy's features. He was taller than Ramza, that was for sure! He also had pale skin and cold blue eyes. With his hair slick back, it was clearly obvious that the guy was very handsome indeed. Handsome enough to where Ramza felt a little jealous of him. The guy could probably have any girl in the academy if he wanted to. No, he probably has tons of girls and slept with half of them already.
Blonde: I didn't ask you for any help! Challenging him was a really stupid thing to do, you know!
Ramza: WHAT! Hey, now-----
Blonde: If you want to be a knight or decent warrior, you gotta learn that sometimes, it's best to walk away from fights!
The blonde guy turned and just casually walked off. Ramza was stunned for a moment, then got angry.
Ramza: Oh yeah? Well I didn't ask for your stupid advice!!
The blonde guy stopped short and for a moment, Ramza thought the guy was going to beat the shit out of him. But he didn't.
Blonde guy: Oh, by the way.....
Ramza: --huh?
Blonde guy: (cracks a smile) Thanks.
Then, he just walks off. Ramza stares for a long while, then he shrugs.
Ramza: Oh boy...oh well, better find Delita before dinner
He turns and heads back to his room.
When Ramza arrived in his dorm, he found Delita in the bathroom, washing up for dinner. Delita grabbed the towel, dried his face and then looked at Ramza.
Delita: Hey, man, where were you?
Ramza: I was out looking for you, Delita!
Delita: Really? Sorry, man, I just wanted to tour the place while you napped.
Ramza: Oh. By the way, you'll never guess who I ran into a while ago.
Delita: Who?
Ramza: Andy. Andy Zuckerman. The asshole Andy we knew and detested long ago.
Delita: Huh? You mean you too?
Ramza: What do you mean? You ran into him too?
Delita: Yeah. And he has a brand new group of jerks. They were at the gym earlier picking on a guy doing chores. But God knows why that kid was there.
Ramza: Seriously? When I encountered him, he was picking on a rich guy. The rich guy was a real asshole, but still, I couldn't let him get creamed.
Delita: Good, Ramza. You have a good heart. So what happened?
Ramza: I confronted Andy, but the strange thing is that he didn't want to fight me! Instead, he claimed that he had plans for me and you this year. How odd.
Delita: And the rich kid? Was he alright?
Ramza:(snorting) Ha! The snot said that he didn't need my help and walked away. Then he turned for a moment to thank me. How repulsive.
Delita: The guy I rescued was so scared that he just ran off! And the funny thing was that Andy didn't want to fight me either! I tell you, Ram-chan, that boy is up to something and it looks like trouble...
Ramza: (nodding)Mm-hmm. And I have a feeling that whatever that bastard has planned for us, it's not gonna be easy to avoid.
Delita: Yeah....Oh man oh man, this looks like the beginning of very interesting year, don't you think Ram-chan?
Author's Notes: As promised, here's more of the series I'm working on. As Delita said, 'it's gonna be an interesting year' and I promise, it will be very interesting. Keep looking out for Episode 3: RAD-icle.