Whoopsie-daisy! That was close. My first afternoon class is potionology. I nearly went my whole lunch break without remembering to pick the herbs I'll need today! I had just a wee bit too much fun messing with Silver and Sebek. Heh. Let's see. I need duskweed, if I recall. It should grow right around here...
That poor kid, getting entangled with delinquents. I'm no stranger to it myself. Maybe it's just the fate of the cute and petite. And those sophomores—they're having the time of their lives bullying an underclassman. How despicable.
Oho, the ol' smokescreen into a sweep! The boy's got some moves. Snap judgment is what decides a soldier's fate on the battlefield. The fleet of foot make fine warriors indeed. But...
Savanaclaw Student B
Ooh, the pretty-boy thinks he's special! Go back to your hoity-toity Pomefiore Dorm and do some embroidery or somethin'!
Goodness. That blow certainly sent him flying. Hmm. It's all well and good to stand your ground, but three against one doesn't make for good odds. And it would sour my mood to ignore a promising little fledgling in his moment of need. I think I'll step in. That will be quite enough of that!
Would you mind sharing those flowers you're holding with me? I could use them for my class. From what I can see, you're sophomores... and I'm a junior. What was that you were saying about a "hierarchy of respect" again?
Khee hee. You're no fun. It's okay to bring in a pinch hitter sometimes, you know. Don't worry—just sit back and watch.
Savanaclaw Student B
Hmph. Fine, you're on! If you want the flowers, come and take 'em from us!
Savanaclaw Student C
Since you're an upperclassman an' all, surely you know ALL about the rule against using magic in fights. Without your magic, you're just a little pipsqueak riding Malleus's coattails.
Savanaclaw Student B
You couldn't beat us in a million years! Hya ha ha ha!
Hm, yes, I see... And I must say, I'm rather insulted. I don't need magic to make you bunch of whippersnappers eat dirt. It's been a long time since I've schooled ardent young men like yourselves. Let's dance, shall we, boys?
Hmm? ...Hm-hm-HMMM? Oh, DEAR. Silly me! I thought I'd need these for my next potionology class, but these are the wrong kind! Goodness gracious, what a mistake. Here, Epel. I don't need them, so they're all yours.
At any rate, I rather appreciated the pluck you showed when you refused to back down against a group of upperclassmen. Especially your opener. That was quite something! With a little polish, you'll really shine.
All right, then! Tiny Tactic 1: Always keep your distance! It's never a good idea to engage larger opponents head-on. You'll get overpowered every time. So create space between you and them. Keep dodging their attacks and wait for the right moment to pounce.
Now, now. Hear me out. Most big fellows get worked up and angry when a smaller opponent keeps weaving about. That's what you want—for them to lose their cool and come in swinging hard! Then you can slip past their guard and seal the deal. All you have to do is hit 'em where it hurts!
Precisely! Next is Tiny Tactic 2: When fighting multiple foes, hide in their shadows. As an example, you could run behind Opponent A, use them as a shield, then hit Opponent B from a blind spot. It's a trick that really only works for the more petite pugilists among us!
Of course it isn't! Appearance has no bearing on strength. What matters isn't how strong you are; it's about how you fight. The other keys are an absolute refusal to lose...and a willingness to play a little dirty!
Khee hee. Ahhh, to be young! Feels like I'm back in my heyday again. That put a nice little spring in my step. I think I'm going to enjoy the rest of this afternoon. Wait... Why do I feel like I'm forgetting something?
