~Valerie's POV~

That's a school? I never signed up for this... It's such a fancy looking place. Ugh.

The school was somewhat imposing, I noted as my eyes traveled upwards along the building's walls. So dignified looking.

The first thing I'm gonna do when I go back to day is go straight to the Chief's office and tell him that there's no way I was going to study in this school. I want to change it right now. And if he doesn't listen, I can always make a run for it.

Though I doubt that I'll be able to go far enough. 

"Hey, you! Where are you going?" I looked up at the voice to see a middle grader pulling rather roughly at another kid's bag. 

Yay, typical middle school bullies.

"What's it to you?" Said kid glared back, attempting to snatch back his bag and failing so far.

"Hey Jamie," The  bully kid laughed, "Look, this wimp here is trying to take something out of my hold. MY hold. How stupid!" 

Oh, he's got lackeys too. I leant against a pillar and waited.

"Give me my bag back!"

"What if I don't?" He tossed it to his lackey (Lamie? J...amie? I think I'll go with the first one) who caught it and started taunting the kid. 

"Boss's a true Giant. No one can defeat him!" Lamie stated. Oh. A true giant. Just like that. 

"Yeah, I'm a descendant of the Cyclopes!"

Oh hell no. Anyone but them. Don't say that so loud, lest Damien hears you.

 Who's Damien? He's one of my immediate team members, who happens to be the only surviving member of the Cyclopes race (so far) and dislikes becoming a relative to random people spouting nonsense like in this case. 

Also, he's short tempered and can easily gain the upper hand in close combat.

I thought I saw the kid grimace too, but it could have been my imagination only. 

"Hey Wimp, catch it!" They threw it over his head and effectively demostrated handball. But well, that bag had books in it - and people mistreating books incur my wrath. I straightened up my posture and put my hands in my pockets, staring at the bully and his lackey's shoes.

Did I tell you that I'm an expert shoelace-tier? 

No? 

My bad.

After my artwork was done, Lamie was the first one to lose his balance and fall. His boss followed soon after. 

They whined about the shoelaces getting up and tangled on their own, but since that's not (gasp) possible, people laughed at their crestfallen expression. Also, the knot was one of my best works - the flower that formed accidentally.

Anyway, since I always use covert magic, any glamour I use can never be traced back to me.

The kid being bullied looked back at the bullies and muttered "Stultus..." under his breath. 

Oh don't worry. He didn't cast a spell or place a curse or something along those lines. 

He just called them stupid. In Latin. 

Creative.

He then stared at the knot for a while, looked around and then shook his head bemusedly as he pushed past me, his aura snatching my attention. 

Dwarf. How come I didn't notice that earlier? 

That clan rarely interacted with humans, let alone attend their institutions. But here... my eyes widened, just a fraction. 

Looking around, I noted a few elves as well - and some students seemed to belong to the Sorcery Clan. 

You know, magicians? 

You can never be certain around these glamour 'magic' users.

Well, if I can get accepted here, I'm pretty sure anyone can.

Deciding not to dwell on the vastness of the academy and the diversity of its students, I trudged on and soon found the main corridor, which had a certain never-ending feel to it. 

Paying no attention to my vicinity, I quietly walked forward with my head down, trying to remember the mind map of the academy that I had spent memorizing the day before. I was supposed to report to the Principal's Office. That's where I was headed to originally.

CRASH!

Until I found myself sprawled on the floor and my head pounding again.

OUCH.

This was to be expected, as I was paying literally no notice to anyone and anything in my way. I looked at the person unfortunate enough to have come in the path of my collision course.

To see her staring at me.

"Are you hurt, dear? I am so sorry!" She waved her hands frantically.

Teacher. Recently joined.

Stop.

Low confidence. Negligible experience. English literature. Name starts with S. Lives in the suburbs-

STOP THAT.

I closed my eyes. There was absolutely no need for me to be overly aware of my educators' personal life without any legitimate reason. Also, I don't need to treat everyone like a suspect or a potential danger to society. Which is what I do anyway.

However, the poor woman mistook my gesture as signs of serious injury. She scrambled to my side, "Oh my, how silly of me... you MUST be hurt!"

"N-no... not particularly." Her concern was making me uneasy. I have never liked being the center of attention, and wasn't planning to be otherwise.

"Of course you are," She insisted rather feverishly, "Your eyes were just closed in pain!"

"Uh, I..." I briefly wondered about whether I should tell her the real reason of my actions, but then decided not to. No need to freak her out than is truly necessary.

Also, this didn't even start to compare to the amount and intensity of pain I had faced throughout my life.

I chose not to share this tidbit as well.

She took my silence as affirmation, "I knew it!" She plucked me off the floor and started tugging me to Gods know where, "But first, we must inform your homeroom teacher. Which class are you from?"

"Don't... know." At this, she whirled around and regarded me with curious eyes.

I wondered about what I might look like to her - Black hair, deep brown eyes usually mistaken as black behind slightly large framed glasses, pale skin wherever it shows up. I was wearing blue jeans and a simple full-sleeved top, so that there was very less exposure - and I preferred it that way.

I must have looked like a nerd to the teacher.

She clicked her tongue, "Of course, you are a freshman, aren't you?"

"Yes. Um..." I hesitated, "Could you please tell where the Principal's Offi-"

"Oh, why are we still standing here? You must report to the Principal's Office, and the bell will ring in only ten minutes!"

 I was not sure whether I was supposed to laugh or cry.

"Come, let me take you there!"

Oh Gods. Finally. I simply nodded.

She smiled at me, "My name is Sarah Colton. I will teach you English Literature, that is, if you've taken it." She giggled at the last part.

Obviously. Hardly worth mentioning, much less funny.

"What's your name?" And here we go again.

"Valerie... Edrei."

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