[center][h1][b][color=mediumpurple]M A L L O R Y[/color][/b][/h1][hr][hr][/center]
Mallory almost chocked on her drink when the outburst of a certain student shook the entire cafeteria. She snapped her head around towards the source of the shouting, only to see a chimera of sorts confronting a poor student by yelling directly at them. Whatever the boy was upset about, Mallory was too confused to react to the ordeal in any other way but to simply raise her eyebrow.

Then a student, small in stature and frail in physique, passed by the dog-like chimera with a retort that would raise Mallory's suspicions. Surely this boy, having horns protruding from his own head, was a chimera too? Was he indeed insulting someone like himself?

With a more gentle turn of her head, she faced away from the boisterous dog chimera and towards the boy who had decided to tag along by her during the opening ceremony. Mallory would have started a conversation right then — the boy didn't seem to be in the highest of spirits — but the horned boy suddenly took a seat opposite her before she could. And the boy, whose name Mallory realised she didn't know the name of yet, spoke up.

[b]"They don't tell you about what happens when you go home, they don't tell you about the nightmares and the panic attacks. They don't tell you how much a thing like Vivat can damage somebody, how war breaks people."[/b]

It seemed more like he was trying to keep those words to himself, Mallory noting the quietness of his voice. He seemed serious, somewhat distraught even. And in all honesty, oddly enough, Mallory wasn't sure how to respond to it. Mallory almost grimaced at the awkward atmosphere she suddenly found herself in.

Before she could say a word, everything seemed to flash before her eyes.

Someone decided to intervene by grabbing the horned boy in one hand and smacking him with the other, and soon the boy who previously had a solemn look on his face stood up to shield the chimera. Then [i]another[/i] person would intervene, their eyes glaring with the intent of tearing the little horned boy apart. From the sheer intensity those three people visually expressed, Mallory could already tell this wasn't just going to end up as any other foolish cafeteria brawl.

Then the girl who had attacked the chimera - and who now seemed to have been affected by [i]something[/i] - turned away from the scene, and the grey-haired boy pursued. That left Mallory with the scrawny chimera and the other student that looked like he was out for the horned boy's blood. She looked up at the both of them for a second, still seated. Mallory certainly had her fair share of school conflicts in the past, but this one was one of the more difficult ones to act upon. Although she had heard the horned chimera saying very questionable things, even Mallory could tell this was getting out of hand.

She rarely found herself in the position of peacemaker, but it would have to do in order for this fight to not escalate any further. Were something more violent to break out, it would likely mean a lot of trouble for the surrounding onlookers; Mallory included, who had the fortune of having a special front seat to watch all the current action unfold.

[b]“[color=mediumpurple]Ah yes, I think it's about time we settle down, boys,[/color]”[/b] Mallory interjected, donning a small smile. Like the horned boy she raised a pale finger, gesturing towards the approaching staff member.

[b]“[color=mediumpurple]Now certainly isn't the time to be stirring up a conflict in the cafeteria on our first day here, hm? Not exactly the best way to build up one's reputation, I'd assume.[/color]”[/b]

Soon the female staff member closed in, asking for the names of the two boys. Deciding to keep quiet for the time being, Mallory flattened her smile, taking a hefty sip of water from her cup.

[@ghastlyInc] [@pkken]