A little lesson on sword fighting, never over extend and never, ever put all your weight into one swing. Doing so shows how little discipline you have as a swordsman. Edward kept up a pretty good show, but soon got frustrated when he realized he couldn’t hit me. His swings were slow and his whole center of gravity shifted with the swing. Even without my ability to see a person’s weak and strong spots coming from my right eye, I could tell he favors his right side. After dodging his first twenty swings I could see the frustration in his eyes. Then he did it, he over extended.

I grabbed the blade of his rapier using my palm and fingers as a vice on the flat of the blade, then yanked it towards me throwing Edward off balance. This was my shot and I took it. I threw a quick right jab and hit him square in the nose, breaking it and causing it to bleed. He falls to the ground and starts to roll in pain.

“I said no violence, gentlemen, and what do I see you doing? Swordfighting.” The apathetic professor says,” I should expel you for that punch.”

I sigh,” I’m sorry I shouldn’t have done that, but I was under the assumption he would use magic until right before the duel.”

He looks me up and down and says,” I’ll let you off the hook this time since it’s only your first day, but next time I catch you beating one of my students, I’ll expel you myself.”

“Yes sir, it won’t happen again.” I bow to show sincerity, but he scoffs at the bow and walks away. I think to myself,” Okay Snape” but don’t dare say it outloud.

“You didn’t have to hit him so hard!” Claire screams at me. “You could have just disarmed him or pinned him, but no you had to show off didn’t you?”

I stare at her and then turn to Edward and say,” Word of advice, never extend like that, it’ll get you killed.” I turn and see the crowd of people staring at me in horror. This feels very familiar for me, but at least this time it isn’t because of my appearance.

I try to walk away, but Claire walks in front of me.” Apologize to him” she says.

“Why? He knew what he was getting into.” I say coldly.

“He thought you would fight with a sword, not show off for everyone how much better you are at close-combat.” She says.

“I wasn’t showing off,” I say but she doesn’t look convinced. I sigh and say,” You really chose this wimp of a man to be your betrothed?”

She gets flustered and says,” Ye-es he treats me like a real woman.”

“You mean like talking for you or cutting you off so he can talk?” I retort.” That doesn’t seem like very good treatment.”

She slaps me across the face, I could have done something about it, but thought I deserved this because of how I’m treating her. I rub the red spot on my face and turn around to leave. She cries out an apology, but I keep moving.

“Thank you” Beth says in her quiet voice.” They always do these things to people they deem below them.”

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“Not a problem” I say and then I see the apathetic professor and Arthur talking.

“Your first day and you already got into a fight, and with Claire’s betrothed? You’re supposed to protect her, not fight with her boyfriend.” Arthur says with the professor nodding. The professor leaves then leaves us to talk and then Arthur turns to me.” DId it feel good hitting him?”

I’m taken aback by his question,” Um yeah, it felt really good punching him, I thought I was in trouble.”

“In front of professor Yew and the others, yes, but really I hate Edward. The way he treats Claire just isn’t right.” He says with a depressed tone.

“Why is he her fiance than?” I ask.

“Susan said it was his family’s status and that it doesn’t matter how I feel.” He says

“I assume it doesn’t matter what Claire says either,” I say with a shake from Arthur.” I’ll make up with her and try to help her with Edward, but it’s probably best to let her cool off.”

I walk back to my room with Ryan in silence and when we enter our room a familiar face rushes to the door. Looks like Smokey was allowed to stay with me and I embraced him in a bear hug. He licks my face then whines at Ryan.

“He wants you to pet him” I say.

“Um okay, but how do you know?” He asks.

“ Magic” I say with a smile.

He gives me a confused look, then pets Smokey. I lay down on my bed and Smokey jumps on my bed. He lays next to me and I look at him.” That girl I told you about turned into the lady that kicked me out when I was thirteen.”

He turns his head and replies with a,” I don’t understand.”

I look up at Ryan who has a look of shock and say,” I can talk to animals, but I don’t suggest it, they aren’t very smart.”

“But how?” He says,” and don’t say magic.”

I point to my blue eye and say,” This one allows me to listen to animals telepathically and the violet eye lets me see a person’s weak points, like past injuries.”

“Hm, never heard of anything like that.” He says rubbing his chin in thought.” What about the colors Claire said you used to have? What did the green and red ones do?”

I change my eye colors with a blink and say,” The green iris enhances my senses and the red one lets me see thermal patterns. I can also change the colors between the four and can have them off while retaining the color.”

“I’m still confused.” He says.

“Yeah, I’m not the best at explaining, but think o the colors as spells and by changing the color, I change the spell that’s in effect.” I say.

“It makes a bit more sense, but how come I’ve never heard of any such power?” He asks.

“You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you where I got this power.” I say,” Only one person of many I’ve told seems to believe me.”

We sit in silence as he tries to take in what he’s heard. A couple hours pass and night falls. He asks one last thing,” What did you say about sweeping Claire off her feet before the fight?”

“Oh that? Before when I was living with them, we would always play knight saves the princess, even though we were thirteen at the time. Claire started developing feelings for me and told me she might love me and her mother found out that she confessed to a peasant and freaked out. She made me pack my things and leave the house, but before I left Claire told me,’Return to me when I’m older as my knight in shining armor. I don’t want to be married off.’ and that was it.”

“I wonder why she is defending her betrothed like that then.” And with that he falls asleep.

I lay there wondering the same thing, was that why I went so far? Was I mad that she was taken or did I really hate Edward being a bully? When the thought of stealing Claire away from Edward crossed my mind, the image of Jessica’s face appeared and I get a sharp feeling in my chest.