We arrived in a wide conference room, looking as if we had traveled to a different world. It was an underground cavern, but the floor was covered with thick red carpets, the walls decorated with banners from different magical races. The whole area was well lit, from a combination of brightly glowing roots that penetrated the ceiling, as well as floating fairy lamps, exuding multicolored lights from the irritated flying creatures within the glass. Noah looked around with an amazed expression, while I glanced around with a tired sigh, before turning my attention to the textbook in front of me.

"The Hero, has arrived!" The wizard loudly announced our arrival, causing the crowd within to turn towards us. The room was filled with people, both human and other types of magical creatures. Centaurs, fairies, elves, talking wolves, dwarves... every type imaginable, the sheer number making the large cave seem small.

L'Thienne, the elven queen, stepped forward to welcome us. Her mouth opened to give a traditional greeting, but she froze as her eyes met mine. Seeing her about to ask questions I didn't want to answer, I shook my head with a vicious glare. Recovering her composure, she turned back towards Noah with a slightly uncertain expression.

"W-welcome, Hero. We've long been anticipating your arrival."

"Thanks! I'm Noah!" My friend extended his hand, but the elven queen didn't reciprocate. I elbowed him gently.

"Elves don't like touching each other, it's considered a very intimate action."

He dropped his hand. "Oh, thanks."

"No problem." I turned back to my textbook, trying to review the material for next week's test before things got too busy.

The wizard hadn't noticed the exchange. "Pardon us, Queen L'Thienne, the hero has just arrived, and is unaware of the different magical cultures. He will be undergoing training in the next few weeks as we prepare to confront the Dark Lord."

"Wait!" I held up my hand. "When is the battle with the Dark Lord?"

The wizard sighed. "It's in a few weeks. I've wasted too much time looking for the Prophesied One, and now we have so little time to prepare."

"Can we push it back a week?"

His brows furrowed. "No. In two weeks the Dark Lord will attack with his army."

"What about if we do it a week earlier?"

"What is wrong with you?!" The wizard threw up his hands in frustration.

"We have a science test in two weeks. I can't miss it."

Noah cleared his throat. "Maybe you didn't understand, but this is the fate of the world, we're talking about. I'm sure they'll give us an extension on the test."

"You obviously don't know Ms. Grentson. She'll definitely fail us, end of the world or no." Looking back and forth between them and seeing no response, I groaned, mourning my GPA. "Let's get this training over with."

We were taken back to a large series of rooms, where we were forced to sit in on lectures regarding magical history and foreign languages to allow us to communicate with our magical allies.

Noah sat on the edge of his seat, listening to every word, but I spent my time reading my textbook, ignoring my surroundings. Our first teacher, one of the elvish generals, didn't take too well to this.

"Disrespectful human!" He spat out in the elvish tongue. "You know nothing, and yet don't listen when others try to teach!"

I didn't look up from my notes on methyl acetate, simply responding:

"I don't remember asking one such as you to teach me." I had spoken in high elvish, known only to those of elvish royal blood. The elvish general, one of LThienne's grand nephews, should have understood. He stopped in his tracks, clearly shocked.

"What did you..."

"Also, you were wrong about the formation of the dwarvish-fairy coalition. It was in response to mining rights, not in fear of an elvish invasion like you stated." I glanced up at his pale, angry face with a grin.

"Cockleburr, the dwarf king, was still a small child around that time, but I'm sure if you ask he'll be happy to explain to you the true events."

"..." Noah and the elf stared at me in shock. Finally, Noah asked, "Since when do you speak Elvish?"

I shrugged. "I told you, I go to visit my dad every summer."

"Yeah, but..."

"I also told you my dad was a monster..."

"I thought that was just an expression!"

"Not my fault you weren't listening."

With that, I went back to my textbook, and the elvish general didn't bother me again.

And so, lessons and training continued. Noah absorbed all the new information like a sponge, quickly picking up the ins and outs of the new world we were a part of, as well as the basics of a few different languages. I, as always, spent my time studying, ignoring the lessons and being ignored in return by those teaching. In a way this was useful, I had plenty of structured time to study for our midterm exam, more than if I had been at school attending regularly.

Magic and weapons training, however, were not nearly so convenient.

"All heroes must learn to use a sword." The human captain sneered as I struggled to find a sword I could lift. Noah, easily wielding a large broadsword, looked every inch the hero he had been prophesied to be.

"I'm not a hero!" I responded with a disgruntled expression.

"You're the hero's companion, do you want to be a liability on the battlefield?"

I snorted at that, finally finding a slim sword, little more than a long knife, that I could lift without feeling like my wrists were breaking.

The captain shook his head, but didn't comment further. We then spent the next hour sparring in turns. Noah did wonderfully, picking up the movements as if born to them.

I... was not nearly as impressive.

"Weakling!" The captain was barely suppressing his rage as he knocked the weapon out of my hand over and over again. "I cannot imagine how the great hero chose such a worthless companion like you!"

"Good point." I rolled my eyes, calling out to my friend who was watching from the sidelines. "Noah, Can I go home?"

"No."

"Asshole."

"That's 'mighty hero' to you, sidekick."

"Might Hero Asshole."

"... better."

Confused by our banter, the captain pushed harder, knocking the sword from my hand and drawing blood from shoulder with a backswing.

Uh oh.

As the blood dripped from my arm, I felt a rage start taking over my body, I clenched my fists, the bones cracking from the strength of my grasp, The weapons on the rack that lined the walls on either side started shaking, as if an earthquake had started.

Kill him. A small part of me whispered in my head, the part I always pushed to the side, ignored. I shook my head, but the anger was harder to move beyond.

"Hey... Let's take a break!" Noah stepped in between us, his eyes concerned.

The captain sheathed his word with a mocking expression. "If that's what you wish, hero." He then turned around and left.

Never knowing how close he was to death.

"Are you okay?" Noah asked me, pressing a towel to my shoulder to stop the bleeding.

My breath hissed out in a stifled gasp at the pain, but I felt my head clearing. "I'm fine. Thanks."

"What are friends for?" He grinned at me. "I'm just happy to have you here to experience this with."

"Noah..." I hesitated, but pushed forward anyways. "How important is it to you to be a part of this. To save the world?"

His face serious, he considered my question a few moments before answering. "I mean, this is the most exciting thing I've ever been a part of. I'm having the time of my life." He paused, chuckling. "I know you're worried about the midterm exam, so I'll work hard so that we can confront the Dark Lord the day before, and make it back in time."

"Really?" I was touched.

"Of course. I've already talked it over with Darius."

"... Don't... trust that guy too much, okay?"

At my hesitant warning, Noah grew confused. "The wizard? Why?"

"Just... be careful." I didn't really want to say more.

"Sure, if you say so." With a smile, he eagerly continued practicing his swordplay.

Magic classes were even worse than fighting lessons.

"Just visualize the spark within, and pull that energy to cause a spark without." The wizard instructed both of us with a smile, making me want to roll my eyes at his unhelpful words.

The wizard had examined both of us at the beginning of training, and to his surprise declared that both of us were suited to learn magic. I had groaned while Noah cheered.

If only I knew how to suppress magical aura. I grumbled silently. I could have had an extra period every day to study during, instead of this worthless class.

The wizard droned on about "feeling the magic" and "searching within," all vague useless nonsense that seemed to confuse Noah more than help him.

When he had finished, telling us to meditate, I leaned forward. "Did you understand any of that?"

He groaned. "No! It didn't make any sense at all!"

I felt a flash of sympathy at his defeated expression. "Here." I laid a hand on his back. "Close your eyes."

"Umm... okay?"

I let my magic course through his body. "Your magic is stored at the center of your chest, right where your heart is. It courses along pathways that mimic your veins and arteries. My magic is moving through these pathways now, helping them to open up. Feel your heart beating, and imagine the energy surrounding your heart moving along with your blood."

Slowly, his body relaxed, and I felt a sliver of magic join my own as it coursed through his body's pathways.

"Good job. Now let it leave your body, and use that energy to start the flame on the target before you." I used my own magic to guide his out through his hand, and towards the target, which burst into flames.

"It worked!" Noah jumped up and down with excitement, giving me a high five. "Thanks!"

I grinned. "No problem."

The wizard returned, and seeing the burning target, was delighted. "I knew you were talented, hero! Combined with my expert teaching, you will be ready to fight the Dark Lord in no time!"

Noah and I shared a silent smile, and didn't answer.