Magic classes. Perhaps the only time or place where I still feel comfortable without my board and marker. I know it's my insecurities talking, but at least in magic classes I can fully express myself, and not have to worry about the trivial, main form of communication which I so clearly lack. There's also the fact that I share this class with Ezra, who already makes me feel much safer. The two of us are seen as the power duo in Fairy Tail, believe it or not. Between my brain and her brawn, we could rule the school. Not to mention how our unfortunate flaws inexplicably link together. We were naturally drawn to each other. So when Ezra searches me out first thing during our Sparring class I immediately feel safer.

I run up to the redhead and a perimeter of space appears around us almost instantaneously, few people daring to stand too close. I sigh and roll my eyes.

"Are you ready for this period? I can't wait to show off my new skills I developed overseas. Also, did you hear? Lucy is in our class this period, which is weird considering she doesn't have any magic of her own, so I don't know what she could possibly do or learn in this class. I mean, what good is it for her and the other people in the class to have her sitting around here? Don't you think she should just take more academic courses? Where is she anyways?" Erza finishes and whips her head back and forth, intense eyes scanning around the gymnasium sized room.

I've known Ezra so long that her monologues and strings of thought are nothing to me, and I've learned to decipher when she's saying what she means versus when she loses control. Having placed my board safely in my locker, I just shrug. Something in Ezra's face changes- maybe she sees Lucy?

"I just remembered... I overheard some other students talking earlier, I think we have a new professor for this class. Disappointing, since I really liked our old teacher. Immense respect for that woman. I think it's a guild master, too. We might have a guild master for Sparring!" Ezra's astonishment must have stopped her brain from saying anything else, so I try to take a glance around the room. By chance I spy a familiar blonde through the crowd. Grabbing Ezra's hand, I drag her over to who I correctly assumed was Lucy.

She spots us with wide eyes and breathes a sigh of relief, "thank heavens you two are here, I don't know what I'm supposed to do! I don't know why I was enrolled in these courses. See? I have three magic-using classes! I don't see how that's relevant to why I'm here!"

I place a hand on Lucy's shoulder and try to give her support.

"Three magic classes is an average amount, maybe the master made a mistake on your transcript. Maybe you have someone else's schedule. For your sake I'd hope so, Sparring can get pretty brutal, and we have a new teacher." Just as the words escape Ezra's mouth, the new teacher steps onto a platform in front of the entire class. About thirty pairs of eyes stare up at the familiar silhouette.

"Jose Porla!?" Exclaims the class, the majority with excitement and support. Ezra gives me a side glance, which I meet, my mouth still hanging wide open. Jose Porla is the guild master of Phantom Lord, which is ranked second overall at Fiore Preparatory for Mages. They are a very inspiring and ambitious guild, but share a very... rocky relationship with the Fairy Tail guild. I immediately look down at my empty hands and wish I had the magic to will my board to myself. There's no doubt in my mind that our new teacher will pick on the Fairy Tail members in this class...

"Yes hello, and welcome to my class! I'm sure you all know my name, but please, call me Jose." The way he sings "my class" makes me feel like we're gerbils in a cage that he will pluck out one by one to perform experiments on. He continues, "your old teacher gracefully handed to me her lovely class once she realized she could no longer teach. Of course this class will remain a fan favorite, although I have a few of my own rules to lay down..."

I hold my breath when Jose mentions our previous teacher. Grandine as a teacher proved to be a very caring soul, compassionate and understanding... who also believes in pushing students to their limit in order to achieve our maximum potential. Sparring class was often a fun time which led to extreme exhaustion and often trips to the medic ward. Grandine also happens to be a mage with what's known as a "possessive flaw." Every mages' flaw possesses them in a sense, but those with possessive flaws are viewed and respected with fear, as their flaws take over a crucial function of the host's body or affect their life directly. A fatal flaw... also seen as proof of immensely strong magic...

I shake my head to clear my thoughts. I always hate dwelling on mages with possessive flaws, as it always leads to the concept of the "great three flaws." As if any flaw could be considered great.

Possessive, incessant, ardent... But those are ridiculous! I mean, if anyone really believes "greater" flaws are a meter for magic strength, they aren't looking at the whole picture. All "greater flaws" means is "more dangerous and deadly flaws." There's no winning, and there's certainly no jealousy over someone who has a more difficult flaw than you!

"Porla!" A student calling from the back of the room jolts me from my thoughts. I feel the room spin before I find my bearings again. "These new rules are great and all, but wouldn't you like to meet the new student?" My body braces on instinct, eyes casually traveling over to where Lucy is standing.

"I told you to just call me Jose, even if you are in my own guild," he boasts, not even trying to hide the vanity. "New student you say? Where is this creature?" His eyes scan left and right, undoubtedly trying to pick out the powerful elephant in the room he just happened to look over. When he sees nothing the attention is turned back to the Phantom Lord kid who spoke out.

"Come on out, Fairy!" The Phantom kid drawls as their friends snicker around them. Even Jose cannot suppress the immediate disdain that runs across his face after hearing "fairy." Lucy reluctantly is pushed forward until she stands, exposed, in front of Jose.

"What a... tiny thing you are," he mutters, stroking his mustache. The sneer is no longer visible, but there is no mistaking that hateful tone. Lucy must have heard it as well, as she starts to shrink backwards. "And what is your name?"

"L- Lucy Heartfilia, of Fairy Tail." Her voice rings with surprising clarity from a stance that seems so shaky. Lucy tops it off with a small bow of her head, whether it is sarcastic or not is beyond me.

Jose's eyebrows shoot to the ceiling. "H-H-Heartfilia??? There is a Heartfilia in our midsts?" The stroking of his mustache had paused in shock, but is quickly picked up again in earnest.

The Phantom Lord kid who spoke out at first audibly sighs. "I don't see what the big deal is. She's just a puny, powerless Fairy." Stress placed on the word powerless was clearly meant to draw Jose's attention, and thus decrease his interest in the new student, but Jose looks unaffected; the student might have said nothing at all.

Mustache stroking intensifies, then stops suddenly as Jose slowly opens his mouth. "Ahh well, I suppose if the child is a Fairy they are of little interest after all. This has been a very... extensive introduction to class. We shall proceed..."

I squeeze my eyes shut and try to focus all my senses on what I hear. Sometimes I do this when things are overwhelming, hoping that if I concentrate everything I have on hearing everything, I'll eventually hear nothing and the world will fade away. An unrealistic practice for someone embedded in textbooks like me, but on rare occasions I find it helps. Just as I am hoping Lucy feels relief right now. Maybe being ignored for now is better than shot into the spotlight.

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