Chapter 255: CHAPTER 255

"Is it too late to punish Florian for sleeping with this bitch?" I whispered to Akua as we watched her lecture everyone in that harsh, haughty tone.

Even if she were a pleasant person, I would have still been upset about being in her class but she literally made my blood boil.

"Except he can go back in time to erase the memories," Erin answered, "there's no point. She's always going to dislike you."

"Well, we dislike her right back," Mira hissed, "she's supposed to be the adult here, isn't she?"

"You girls are not understanding Alira," Akua cut in. "I mean, I hate the bitch on my own and she didn't fuck my man and gloat about it to me. If I were the one, I'd feel like strangling her too."

"Thank you for understanding –"

"Alira Zharion!" I looked up to see her staring at me with a suspicious smile. "You're paired with.." She looked around but didn't find what she was looking for. "Give me a minute class."

She walked away and we all stared at the door, wondering what was happening.

"Is she going to manufacture an opponent for you from the twin suns?" Mira wondered.

"She's capable of anything at this point," I sighed, trying to free my mind from this rage.

I'm supposed to be the bigger person, after all, Florian is mine and no matter what, he'll always be.

Even the book says he'll survive the battle, so nothing can separate us.

But fuck if I don't feel murderous still.

When she got back, there were three men with her.

Men, yes, because these third years probably got into the Academy after they had spent a long time running from conscription or something.

And I could feel their chi, their strength was undeniable.

Maybe she wants to use them to show us something.

"I'd let that one split me in two," Akua pointed to the biggest of them, licking her lips.

Who would believe she was so heartbroken a few days ago?

"You always have poor taste in men," Mira shook her head, "the smaller one will give you everything you need and still be nice about it."

The male she was calling nice was the height of Master Varrak, and he might have a pleasant smile but he was definitely worked out after training.

"You girls are crazy."

Typical, repressed Erin right there, folks.

I don't know if this new boyfriend of hers is helping matters or making things worse.

"Miss Zhar, step into the circle," Mistress Kira called and I frowned.

"Me?"

"Did I stutter?"

I looked at my friends and they were as confused as I was but I headed forward still.

I stepped into the circle and she pointed to the one Akua was fantasising about.

"Choose your weapon of choice, Mason. She'll have to follow your lead."

"His lead to where? What is happening?" Akua snapped from behind.

Mistress Kira ignored her.

I watched the guy walk to the weapons rack and picked an axe; for his body size, it was befitting.

But for me?

I'm small for a dragonkin, blame suppressed growth from a planet that wasn't designed for me, so I definitely can't fight with that.

"Are we supposed to chop each other into bits? What's the purpose of this?" I asked, looking between two of them.

"You're right," she smiled harder, "you can use the sword, Mason. But take two."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"You didn't train us to fight with two swords, Mistress Kira," Mira said, her voice closer than I thought she was.

I turned and she and Akua were standing just beside the circle.

"You both, get back! And you!" She pointed at me, "You have five seconds to pick a sword before I call the start of this duel! If you don't move in the next two seconds, I'll force you to use one sword instead of two!"

I gritted my teeth and stood my ground.

"Move!"

I stared back at her stubbornly, my hands fisted at my hands.

"What is the problem, Troublemaker?" Zorath asked, my eyes blazing with his presence.

I opened my mind to him.

"Ouch. You'll have to fight him, but make sure you win."

"Win? He's fighting with two swords! I don't know how to do that!"

"It's just an intimidation tactic. You'll be better off with one sword. She wants to disgrace you, show her that she can't win in any way. She lost Florian and now, she has to lose her mind as you show her the skills Florian thought you."

Mason ran at me with the sword, and I moved out of the road immediately.

"Take a deep breath giant," I grumbled and moved to the sword table.

I picked a sturdy, long one and turned back to face him.

"If you lose," Kira barked, "you'll be cleaning my room for a week!"

"No thank you, I don't want to drown in a sperm dump," I hissed crudely, giving her one of those evil smiles she's been brandishing at me all morning.

A few people laughed but Mistress Kira's smile tightened.

Mason didn’t wait for her to call the start again, he charged at me almost immediately he saw the sword in my tight clutch.

Getting into the mindset Florian taught me, I moved fast, rolling under his first swing. The second sword came down right after and I barely got my blade up in time.

The impact rattled my arms, but I pushed back and slashed low across his thigh. He grunted and stepped away.

My Tie's words came back to me, 'Don't focus on what you missed, focus on the next step. Always on the next.'

He came at me again, both swords moving in wide, heavy arcs. I stayed light on my feet, dodging and blocking where I could. I was using my smaller form against his own gigantic one.

One blade caught my shoulder and tore through my leather training gear.

"Fuck," I cursed under my breath and I heard Erin's gasp.

Blood welled up, hot and stinging, but I didn’t stop.

I feinted left, then spun in close and sliced across his shoulder. The cut was clean. Blood soaked through his shirt immediately.

Mason hissed and stumbled back a step.

This is getting better now.

Before he could recover, I slammed the flat of my sword against his wrist. His grip slipped on the first blade and I kicked it hard. The sword flew out of his hand and skidded across the dirt.

"That's what I'm talking about," Orealeus chuckled in my head.

The fight turned nasty after that.

Mason was angry now, his pride wounded. He swung his remaining sword with more force, trying to overpower me. But he seems to not know who trained me. It's not Master Varrak, or Mistress Kira.

It's the halfling who almost flies.

Speed was my friend.

So I blocked, parried, and kept moving, kept frustrating him.

Every time he overcommitted, I punished him — a shallow cut on his arm, a kick to the side of his knee, another slice across his chest. Blood was starting to show through his clothes in several places.

He tried to rush me again. I dropped low, rolled past him, and came up swinging. My sword caught the back of his knee and he went down hard on one leg. Before he could push himself up, I kicked his remaining sword out of his hand. It spun away across the ground.

Mason was on his knees now, breathing hard, blood running down his arm and side. I stepped in and pressed the tip of my sword right under his chin, forcing his head back.

He glared up at me, chest heaving.

"Yes! Who's next?!"

"Shh!" Erin shushed Akua, whose excitement would put me in trouble if care isn't taken.

"You three can go," Mistress Kira grunted, her voice tight. "Everyone else, start running. Twenty laps."

I groaned alongside everyone else and was about to go meet my friends when her hand clamped on my shoulder.

"Not you. Show me those skills of yours, Princess," she said the last word like it was a dirty word.

My heart fell into my stomach.