Headstrong

Apollo Keating

I wasn’t sure why I wanted to go against the teacher on the first day. Maybe because it was to prove myself as a Vice President, no that wasn’t it. I think it has to do with him bragging about his experience.

The fight started pretty generic as far as swordplay goes in this world. Closing the gap, trying to get the first strike. Unlike most, he didn’t close as much space as the average person would. I realized this as he swung his massive sword. His sword was around six feet long and very wide. I misjudged it and had to step out of the way to avoid being hit. He then tried to swing low which I retaliated by jumping. In this error, he kicked me square in the chest, sending me a few yards back.

A few of the Steele pions laughed at this. “Come on kid you wanted to face me, are you just going to run away?” He laughed and raised his arm to press them on.

I flipped my daggers in my hands a few times before throwing their blade down into the ground. This came as a shock to everyone as they began to question it, or question if I had given up.

“Aye, boy don’t tell me you’re done after one hit.”

I stepped forward and held up my fists towards him and got into my stance, of course not. I just don’t want to use them right now, for all your experience this should be easy right?”

This clearly got under his skin a bit as he gripped the weapon tighter. Again he swung up at me, then low, then went for a kick to my chest. This time I was able to counter with my hand gripping his shoe. I threw him back and went on the offensive; however, he was ready for it. He dug the massive sword into the ground in front of me slowing me down. Under normal circumstances, I would have used aether to break through the sword. This was a test on simply physical combat though.

I could see him waiting for me to go around the blade at him, so I gripped the handle and went over. I swung my foot down as fast as I could, slamming it into his temple. In my old world, it would have been enough to knock someone out, maybe even kill them. But this was not the same world as before, as fast as I had dazed him he had recovered and grabbed my foot. He swung me in the air a few times before flinging me back toward my daggers.

“I must say boy, you have a very strong build under those clothes. But this is where your luck runs out alright.” He grabbed his sword, went into his stance, and began approaching me. I stayed kneeling and watching the brute approach me.

He lunged towards me lifting his sword into the air like every other time. I had gotten used to his style, swing from the top, then at my feet, followed by a kick.

Before he even realized I stood up, I kicked a dagger straight at him. He had no time to react due to how large the weapon he held in the air. It cut through his cheek and continued on until it hit a tree. Blood not only started coming out of the wound, it practically shot out. He didn’t budge a muscle. He stood there wide-eyed in shock.

Everyone around us seemed just as surprised. I wasn’t going to let this opportunity go to waste. I grabbed my second weapon and closed the gap as quickly as I could. By this point, he had finally come back to reality just in time to stop my knife from going into his neck. He gritted his teeth as I pressed on. He finally forced me off due to the size difference. This time, he swung low on me first.

“You shouldn’t deviate from what you’re good at, Mr. Experience.” I jumped onto his blade and put my dagger to his neck again. The reason his first attack normally works is because it puts you off your normal balance. Then following with his low sweep you have no choice but to go into the air, normally. I had full control of myself so once he went low, I had numerous moves I could make.

Everyone surrounding us was in utter disbelief. Everyone except Mia that was. Most people from the age of eight or nine to now have teachers specifically for sword fighting, I was Mia’s teacher. Due to my expertise in weaponry in my former life, added to the use of aether in this world. I didn’t need to be taught by anyone.

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I stepped off the blade and started walking to the tree where my first dagger had been stuck. “I won’t be attending the lessons of a man who has nothing to teach me, underst…” I spun around as fast as I could ready to defend myself. It was too late with only one dagger, there was no way I could stop Mr. Heller’s massive sword from slashing down on me. This was no longer a training exercise. He was trying to kill me.

I created a hand sign ready to defend myself with magic. All my senses were on edge. I could taste the sweat dripping from my head, I could see the rage on his face. I could hear the sound of his sword splitting the air causing a ringing. A ringing? Right as the sword was about to collide with my dagger it shattered in mid-air. Not into pieces but into small, sparkling particles.

Mr. Heller then collapsed onto his knees holding his ears which had now begun to bleed. I heard the footsteps approaching me from behind, though I dare not look. I refused to turn away from this man after what he had just tried to do. If I had been smarter and more keen on the aether around me, I would have been able to dodge or evade.

“No need to worry, he won’t be moving for a few hours.” I glanced to my right to see Mrs. Shem standing next to me with a strange incantation I had never seen used before surrounding her hand.

Fire incantations in most cases are red with my sister being the one blue example. Water was blue with ice being turquoise, air was normally green, earth was a dark gray. This incantation was different, it was a swirl of multiple colors. All of which were on the lighter side. No one color stood in one spot for too long, blue, red, pink, green, purple, it all flowed evenly around her hand.

“Ahh, so you can see my incantation, can you? It is very beautiful is it not? But, so destructive if used properly. I must admit being able to see the manipulation of aether at your age is impressive.”

I stood in awe at what I was still looking at. “What kind of magic is that?”

“Sound magic.” She then walked past me towards Mr. Heller who was still kneeling down holding his head. “Tsk Tsk professor, are you really such a tunnel-visioned sore loser? He had clearly already put you in checkmate and you wanted to kill a boy who had his back turned. As you know the rules of the academy are quite clear. Any and all attacks against students must be done in a training scenario. This is grounds for expulsion.”

As she spoke those words, a man with two knights approached through the door we had come in. It was the principal, Mr. Tuntly, followed by a knight who was a sergeant, and the other a lieutenant. I wasn’t able to recognize the insignia on their armor.

“As soon as I felt the disturbance, the knights and I came straight here. What happened here Mrs. Shem? Why is Mr. Heller in such a bent-out shape? I do believe it is your magic causing it.”

“Mr. Heller lost a duel to our Vice President here and couldn’t handle the embarrassment. So, he tried to attack the kid with full force as his back was turned. I intervened, of course.”

“I see. Sergeant, will you escort Heller to my office?” The knight nodded and then grabbed the teacher before heading back through the pathway. “Lieutenant, I hope for you to stay and watch the class, just in case any disturbance happens again.”

The knight removed their helmet revealing a human woman. To be honest, with how large she was, I expected a man. She was at least six feet tall and had the body of Mr. Olympia.

“Of course sir, I’ll make sure these troublemakers don’t do anything wrong.” Troublemakers? He’s the one who tried to kill me!

“Thank you, now then I’ll be off to find a new teacher to replace Heller as well as help him pack his things. I hope there are no more incidents with your class Mrs. Shem. We don’t need another problem like four years ago.”

“Well, this is class one. Anything is possible.” She gave a soft smile as he made his way out of the room.

“What happened four years ago?” I asked even though I already knew the answer to that question.

“Your sister was in a sparring match and almost melted another student's arm off. I believe that little shit deserved it.” She doesn't seem like a normal teacher. She turned back to everyone who all seemed still too stunned to move. “Alright students, I think that is enough class today. Mrs. Minir and Mr. Cooper will both take all the first years around campus and show them what they need to know. As for the rest of the second years, we will go over some things you need to know going into this year.

“Hey, are you alright?” Mia and Kira were next to me with concerned looks on their faces. I decided it was best if I acted normal so I wouldn’t worry them or anyone else. I put my hands into my pockets and gave a grin.

“Of course I am. Who do you think you’re talking to?”

A relieved look came over Kira’s face, but so much on Mia’s. She has been my best friend since we were babies, inseparable on all of our family's excursions. She could always tell when something was wrong with me. She decided it was best to let it go and more than likely ask me about it later.

“Alright then if that’s settled.” Kira walked back towards the group, “All first years follow me and Brokk (Brock). We will be showing you everything you need to know about the academy.