"Well..." Zandre spoke cautiously.
"That was something."
The students had dispersed, following Fintam's declaration that he would take on the responsibility to inform the teachers.
But all the student's saw his state after Place had spoken with him, and with Fintam's reputation of being an imitation of a wall of steel, that scared all the present upperclassmen, and they had taken care of the rest.
Place took his seat, carrying over a new tray of food, and another carrying bowls of dessert.
"You didn't say what he did." He remarked as he sat down.
"He tried to flirt with me."
Malia clicked her tongue.
"And that was enough for you to break his face?"
Raise asked with a tone of wonder.
"Eh, He would have bothered me later if I didn't punish him then and there."
"He would have, continuously and arrogantly, until you stopped him forcefully." Place remarked in agreement.
"Which reminds me," He tapped the table. "I need your help in training."
"Hmm?"
"I got a few new toys to play with, and you're the best one for that."
"Oh? Sure, when and where?"
"We can discuss that later, Miss Prismella has graciously offered to help me with my studies, and I do not want to delay her."
"It's fine."
The girl in question just waved a hand to show that she didn't mind.
"That is not how gratitude works." Place remarked, then fell silent and concentrated on his food.
Zandre wanted to say something, but Place's words made him realize that Prismella had indeed offered help, and that wasting time on un-important talk was very rude.
The table fell silent, and all of them concentrated on their food.
The meal was over quite quickly with all of them focusing on it, and so, a few minutes later, they were walking towards their lecture hall.
"Something's changed." Malia suddenly remarked as they walked.
"Hm?"
Place side-eyed her and let out a questioning hum.
"Something is different in you." She clarified.
"There have been a few recent developments." Place answered noncommittally.
"Does it have to do with the new 'toys' you want to try out?"
The other three walking with them were listening in, but not saying anything.
"They're related to an extent." Place admitted.
Raise chose that moment in speak up.
"Are you talking about the things you showed me?" He asked, with a bit of shock on her face.
"Yes."
"Really?"
Raise glanced at Malia, then back at Place.
"Are you sure? Those are some nasty things."
"Oh?"
Before Place could respond, Malia let out a sound of curiosity.
"That sounds interesting. I'm looking forward to this now." She grinned.
Raise seemed taken back by Malia's sudden increase in battle-lust.
"She will be fine, I do not believe that much can bring her down for long, and not nothing I currently have."
Place reassured Raise, then thought for a bit.
"Unless I attack her when she's not expecting, like an assassination or surprise attack, that might actually manage to do so, as long as she doesn't have protection artifacts on her."
Zandre and Raise stared at Place with disturbed expressions, while Malia looked even more eager and Prismella had her eyebrows raised.
"You're an interesting person." Prismella stated. "I don't know anybody who thinks like you."
"Why did you think about that?" Zandre looked uncomfortable as he looked between Place, who had just talked about 'killing' Malia, and Malia, who looked excited by what she had just heard.
"And why do seem fine with it?" He turned his question to Malia.
"Hmm?" She stopped grinning and looked at Zandre. "Something wrong with what he said?"
"He just talked about how he could kill you!"
"And?"
Zandre was shocked at her nonchalance.
Then Place spoke.
"I talked about what I 'could' do with my current tools, it was an analysis of what my current capabilities could do against her, nothing more then a thought."
"But-"
"It is important to know what I am and am not capable of." Place continued clarifying his point. "I have informed that I 'could' kill her, that means that she will be on greater guard during our training, making her even less likely to get hurt."
Zander had his head lowered, thinking about something. Raise gave a hesitant nod, while Prismella vocalized her feelings.
"Interesting..." She looked into the distance, making Place wonder what she was thinking about.
"But still... You shouldn't talk about killing someone like that!"
Place snapped his eyes back at Zandre, he could see Raise giving him the same look.
"Did you listen to what I just said?" He asked, he had just explained about why he said that.
"I did! But that-"
"Repeat it." Place cut off his words for the second time.
"Huh?"
"Tell me what I just explained to you."
"I-You said that you talked about killing her was just a thought about what you could do about her."
"And?" Place felt a now-familiar sense of anger rising inside him.
"Huh?"
"The second part of my explanation."
"Huh?"
"The part that explained that me saying that I 'could' kill her, would make her more careful, making it even less likely that she would get injured?"
"You didn't say that."
A moment of silence as they came to a stop.
Zandre looked around to see all four of them staring at him, unblinking.
"Yes, he did." Prismella spoke first.
Zandre frowned at her words and made to speak.
"N-" "You weren't paying attention."
The gazes turned to Place.
"You were looking down, you weren't listening to me, you were thinking about something, that's why you didn't hear that part."
Place rubbed his right cheek.
"That's not a good habit, let me know if you want help overcoming it."
With that said, Place started walking again, and Malia moved with him.
Prismella glanced at Zandre, then strolled forwards.
Raise gave a concerned look to him.
"He did say all that."
He patted Zandre's shoulder.
"Come on, let's keep going."
Zandre remained standing.
'Did he?'
Then his thoughts changed.
'No matter, talking about killing someone like that is still wrong.'
He strode forward to catch up with them.
'No matter what it is for.'