Chapter 18: Breaking point.
"You know, you didn't have to get involved, right? There's no need for you to stick your neck out for me," Arbus said as he took another hesitant bite of his food.
The base's cafeteria was not just simplistic, it was also designed to be as practical as possible. Which is why the only thing accessible for the trainees was Ren paste, a tasteless substitute for food that still provided the same amount of nutrients. And buns, a slightly more edible substitute for a normal meal.
This was meant to prepare them for the harsh conditions they might face during extended missions as Knights.
"I know. I did it because I wanted to. As I said before, I want to be your friend," Alexander answered from across the table, already finished with his meal.
"Oi, are you that unused to rejection?" Arbus asked, annoyed. "What's so special about me that you refuse to leave me alone? Are you obsessed with Reincarnators or something?"
"No, that's not it," Alexander said with a sigh. "Truthfully, it's a bit similar to what that annoying guy Jet said. We're both outcasts, especially in a place like this, so I thought it would be best for us to stick together." He leaned forward slightly. "Also, I despise people who judge others for things out of their control. Like their family, species, or whatever else."
"You can't control the fact that you're half-human, just like I can't control the fact that I was abandoned."
"I don't associate with people I despise, so I suppose that left only you from the trainees," Alexander said with a smile.
Arbus stared at Alexander for a bit before chuckling "you're a pretty convincing guy, seriously. Honestly your words alone might have been enough to convince me... If I couldn't see that instinctual disdain for me in your eyes. Despite how much you try to hide it."
Alexander's smile faded for a second. Then he simply shrugged "Yeah I know, I'm not perfect. As you said it's instinctual. We're raised to despise Reincarnators, and fear them, even in the orphanage."
"Still, I'm trying to be better than that, since I've gone through a similar experience with my people," Alexander added, his smile returning. "That should count for something, right?"
Arbus continued staring at Alexander, his gaze still suspicious.
Just as he was about to respond, a shadow fell across their table. Arbus sensed an incoming attack and jerked his head to the side, just as a boot swept through the space where it had been a moment ago.
The attacker was a bit surprised that he reacted to that, but recovered quickly as she pivoted smoothly from the missed kick and delivered a devastating roundhouse kick that caught Arbus in the ribs, sending him flying across the cafeteria. He crashed into the wall at the far side of the room with enough force to shatter a normal wall.
The cafeteria fell silent.
The attacker, Rin, straightened up as her gaze fixed on Arbus with contempt. As a white Mornan, her normal physical strength was three times that of a blue Mornan, which was why she had launched Arbus across the room so effortlessly. Unlike full blooded Tarokians, Arbus lacked the physical advantages that would have allowed him to block the attack.
"Know your place, abomination," she spat, walking toward him as he pulled himself up. "You think you can sit here with actual Renegades? Acting like you belong?"
"It's been two weeks and yet you still don't get the hint that you're not welcome here."
"How many more beatings must you endure? how many more humiliations do we have to put you through."
Arbus didn't respond. This was unfortunately his normal routine with Rin and her group. In his opinion, she was far more troublesome than Jet, mostly because she seemed to lack any sense of self-control. Given her upbringing, it wasn't all that surprising.
Still, he was surprised that she openly attacked him in a common area like the cafeteria. Even the lenient instructors wouldn't be able to simply look past that.
He decided to simply wait for her to finish her rant and leave so he could go back to eating before the lunch period ended.
"Tsk, as quiet as always I see. I suppose you should be used to all this by now. Such a sad life," Rin said, annoyed by his calmness.
"I truly wonder what your mother was thinking when she decided to give birth to you."
Alexander was still recovering from the suddenness of Rin's attack on Arbus when he heard that, which caused his shock to fade. "Hey Rin, that's enough. You're going too far"
Arbus's expression darkened at the mention of his mother. "If you want to insult me, that's fine. But don't mention my mother again."
Rin was surprised by his reaction for a moment before smiling.
"Oh, did I finally hit a nerve? Who would have guessed that an abomination like you would still have such loyalty towards your mom, a citizen of this universe."
Her smile shifted into a scowl. "Don't you dare talk to me like that again. I'm simply saying the truth."
"Your mother was trash for siring someone like you, instead of doing the universe a favor by killing you at birth."
Rin expected Arbus to fire back at her again. Instead though, his expression became oddly calm. "Tsk, I suppose you're nothing but a coward as well." She said, turning her back to him as she walked away.
A moment later, she sensed something flying toward her. She turned just in time to see a fork Arbus had thrown straight at her head. It was moments away from piercing her eye, which forced her to block it with her hand. The fork managed to puncture her skin a bit before losing it's momentum. When she lowered her hand, Arbus was already there, having closed the distance in a heartbeat. His kick connected with her face with devastating precision, the impact launching her across the cafeteria like a ragdoll.
The female Mornans who typically flanked Rin stood frozen, stunned by Arbus's sudden attack. They were used to him silently taking a beating. They wordlessly parted as he strode past them toward Rin's crumpled form.
Arbus approached Rin, His eyes filled with the same hatred he normally reserved exclusively for Reincarnators. Blood trickled from Rin's nose as she struggled to regain her bearings.
"I don't care how much you bully me. I don't care how much you beat me. I don't care if you destroy my belongings or go out of your way to make things harder for me." he said, his voice filled with a dangerous edge. "I'm used to that. I understand why you do it. I have no right to be angry at you for any of it."
"But if you ever mention my mother again..." He crouched beside her, his eyes cold and unforgiving. "I'll make you wish you were dead. No matter what it takes."
Rin glared up at him defiantly as she tried her best to hide her fear.
"I don't know what Reincarnators did to you," Arbus continued, "and frankly, I don't care. Just stop making it my problem."
With that, he rose up and walked toward the exit, leaving behind the stunned cafeteria.
Rin pushed herself up on one elbow, her eyes burning with rage as she watched him go.