Chapter Text
Being strong never was the goal, not in the way it was or had been for so many others, he didn't need to be strong even if he trained to be.
He didn't need to be anything but good. He did however, want to be strong. So he trained, he ran, and he studied so that he could prove himself to be strong.
It wasn't hard with his complexion and biology. It was something he was made for in a way. Strength.
It wasn't until Night Raven College that he really saw the need for it.
The students weren't like the ones back home. They were stronger, smarter, and had the drive to be better. Or worse, depending on how you viewed it.
More than that, though, strength was expected, especially in the dorm he was in. Being strong was required, if you weren't than you were nothing more than a piece of meat for everyone else to eat.
A tool for people to use to their advantage, and if you couldn't even be that then you were better off dead.
"Pick on someone your own size," he gritted out, completely aware of his strength and standing in the pack order. "Not the Heartsabul deck."
Morality was considered a weakness here, and Jack realized early on that he was one of the weakest of the bunch.
"You have a problem with this Jack?" Leona wasn't like him; he was strong and powerful, and he knew how to use it. Ruggie, although weaker, was smart enough to know when to pick his battles, much unlike Jack.
He had also left his morals behind a long time ago.
"No."
Jack was weak. Leona was strong.
"I'm sorry, Yuu." He didn't know which one he was addressing; he had failed both. Next to him, Ruggie pulled back his lips, in a mockery of a grin. Letting loose incredulous and humorless laughter that had him wincing.
"No, you don't, Jacky boy," he snapped, moving in front of Jack and taking the full brunt of Leona's unique magic. Jack's eyes widened, watery from the sand as it was he could easily see as bits of flesh tore- becoming sand.
Ruggie screamed, and Jack- he wished he had been stronger.