Since the defeat of the Seraph and the Queen’s departure, Zoe’s time had been very limited, many of the other students in the college all knew of Zoe’s involvement and were eager to hear about the encounter with the Seraph and the Queen’s reward. This left Izora feeling isolated and very lonely in the college, as like Zoe she was far younger than the other students and had little in common to strike up a friendship with them.

The training in the college was very thorough for young witches, with a significant interest taken in their ability to gather the raw materials that are used in much of the ritual magic and potion making they were expected to need in the years to come. The forests around the college held many rare flowers and herbs planted years ago to aid in this collection. To ensure their knowledge was as well rounded as possible the young mages were often marched through the markets in Orriver, the town the college was built next to, the students were shown the rare ingredients and taught how to buy the freshest ingredients possible.

The market was busy as it usually was, people yelling as deals were being made, others rushing about trying to get in last-minute deals before others snapped up the good stuff. She even spotted several pickpockets plying their trade with skill. As she moved from stall to stall she came across the last person she ever wanted to see, standing behind his stall trying to put the hard sell on a man not all that interested in what he was peddling was her adoptive father, Oscar Silver, the blacksmith of Orriver.

"What are you doing here girly? Did they throw you out already? "He said with a condescending laugh, "Should have known even those bookworms wouldn’t be able to get that book learning through your thick skull."

"I... I haven't been thrown out.' Was all she could answer.

"If you say so. Maybe they aren't that smart if they are still trying to teach you." He remarked slamming his shoulder into her as he barged past. Pain shooting down her shoulder, tears welling up in her eyes as her shoulder throbbed in pain. By the time she composed herself to turn around and face him, he had disappeared into the crowd and vanished from sight leaving her alone in the middle of the crowd. Her short burst of confidence, short-lived faltered when she couldn't confront him and she broke down in tears again, running back to the college.

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For two days she had been left alone, hiding in her bed periodically crying over what had happened. When Izora hadn't been in class for days, her professors sent Katherine Mercer, the college doctor to check in on her concerned she was sick and unable to come into the hospital wing.

Katherine forced her way into the pair's room only to find the young witch alone crying in the corner. She wasted no time in getting her out of the room and have her taken down to the hospital wing for assessment

"Izora. What's happened?" Zoe demanded to know bursting into her room in the hospital wing.

"Hey." She let slip, wiping her eyes, "I'm okay."

"No. What happened?" She demanded again.

"I saw my adoptive father in the market." She started, "He insulted me like he always did and when I tried to defend myself he fractured my shoulder."

"Zoe. Can I speak with you for a moment?" Katherine said walking in.

"I'll be right back," She told her friend.

"Zoe, Izora is fragile at the moment. Her adoptive father hurt her more than physically. She has suffered under him for years and will likely continue to for years. She will need your help to heal." Katherine explained, "Are you up for it?"

"She is my friend, I will always look out for her," Zoe said defiantly.

Later that night, as Izora had been released from the hospital wing after yet another warning from Katherine to treat her with kid gloves for the time being Zoe walked her back to their rooms in silence. They sat on their beds, the moon rising illuminating their room as they talked.

"You never talked about him." Zoe said, "You could have told me how bad he was."

"I, he..." she started to cry again.

"Not now, just lay down. Relax." She said trying to soothe her, "We can talk more when you are ready."

it did not take Izora long to fall asleep as she lay on her, despite having been weeping softly for hours she was ultimately exhausted by the overwhelming emotions and the painkillers that Katherine Mercer had given her to ease the fracture she had in her arm. Zoe was furious, a man who was supposed to protect Izora ended up being the one who ultimately hurt her more than anything. Trying to lie down and calm herself she closed her eyes but as what felt like hours passed, she tossed and turned unable to stop thinking about the evil man who had hurt her friend.

"Nope!" she said, "Can't do it." Jumping up and leaving the room in a hurry, leaving Izora snoring away in her bed.