“Any accusations against another hunter must be taken up by the residing professor. Be they absent or incapable of resolving the dispute, or the professor is involved, the matter should be taken up with utmost haste and discretion with the reigning headmaster.”

- Hunter handbook (2nd edition)

I stood rooted to the spot as I felt the pressure of two powerhouses glare each other down from either side of me. On one end, Professor Brayborrow burned with icy fervor. On the other, the headmaster of our academy. She was a middle-aged woman by the name of Felwirth, apparently, stood like a statue of Minerva herself. I faintly wondered why she, and not that bastard Alaric, gave the inaugural speech for us new cadets.

“That is a strong accusation, Edgelin,” the headmaster responded with a stony expression. Her hands were hidden behind her back, and just watching her posture made me instinctively correct my own. I was suddenly quite aware of the complete lack of decorum I possessed, what with my unruly hair and tattered uniform. We were opposites, she and I. For every inch of poise and excellence she displayed, I currently appeared the part of a drunken tavern’s resident Sootsprite.

She didn’t even spare me a glance.

“Strong doesn’t begin to describe my feelings on the matter, Rayna,” Professor Brayborrow retorted with a dark scowl. I resisted the urge to back up and let these two quarrel amongst themselves. When I checked on how Prince James was taking my sudden appearance, I decided to stay put. His face said that he was surprised—relieved even. But his eyes told me the truth.

He would kill me, given the chance.

“Careful with your next words, Edgelin. We wouldn’t want a repeat of Durvist, now would we?” Felwirth inquired with a quirk of her eyebrow.

“Umm, can I go now? I really need to take care of this monster,” I asked while Edgelin hissed in a breath. He recoiled as if struck, and spared a quick glance back at Prince James.

“Your pockets betray you yet again, Rayna. I shan’t forget this,” Brayborrow threatened, turning away with a billow of his cloak. He stormed past the gathered nobility without even offering them the courtesy of a nod. Instead, his gray eyes remained fixed to the smooth stone pavers as he escaped the courtyard. The smallest pang of pity ran its way through my chest, and I wasn’t wholly sure why. The headmaster didn’t give me time to figure it out.

“Let him be, Thea dear. That old wart has more foes than friends within and without these walls. I’ve found it best to remind him of that when he decides to become judge and executioner of his own volition.” She huffed then, and I was surprised to realize it was her version of a laugh.

That’s just sad.

“Now,” she said with a political smile. “Let us chat, you and I.” She motioned for me to walk beside her. I hesitated. When she caught the awkward movement, she just sighed briefly before tapping a jewel on one of her bracelets. As if on cue, several wraiths appeared from out of the earth. They phased through the stony path like fog gathering on a riverbank. When they congealed, the three of them bowed low to Felwirth.

“Take this creature down to Bracer. Tell him to begin preparations, but wait until Thea Shade comes to retrieve it.” Her words were smooth and authoritative, further confirming my suspicion that she wished to be compared to Minerva.

“Bracer?” I inquired, striding up next to her as I rolled my right shoulder. It ached, but I wouldn’t let more of it show. I got the distinct impression that revealing too much weakness in front of this woman would be akin to exposing my inner thighs to a Zengo.

Not a good idea, if I wanted to live.

She nodded sagely. “Bracer is our best enchanter. He is just under Master Class. He will know what to do with your Shardclaw. Fear not.” She started to walk with silky motions, like she wished to float over the hard rock rather than be bothered to stroll upon it. “Now, I wish to discuss with you what exactly happened aside the high wall. I heard from Prince James’ own lips that you attacked him and his comrades. Is that correct?”

“Well,” I growled, anger simmering just beneath my skin at the lies he spun in such a short time.

Clever, talking with the headmaster, you sly görnach.

“I wouldn’t call defending against an attempt on my life ‘attacking,’ but semantics are so hard to pin down when your life's on the line. Don’t you agree?” I asked the tall woman beside me. Her boots didn’t make a sound as she strode along the cobblestone path that led around the circumference of the academy.

“Are you calling Prince James a liar?” Her words cut through the quiet and slapped me across the face. I stopped in my tracks. She did not.

“That’s what you got from my statement just now?!” I spat out, incredulous. She turned, a fire appearing in those otherwise cold eyes.

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“That’s all worth listening for, my dear,” Felwirth responded with a patient tone that only aggravated me further. “It doesn’t matter what happened. What matters is who tells the story. Some commoner without name or reputation means nothing when set against the name and reputation of a prince and potential heir to the Valorian Empire.”

I involuntarily took a step back.

“He’s—”

“Yes, Thea. Prince James is grandson to the current Valorian emperor. You would do best to ingratiate yourself with him. You are too lowly to know this, but his Majesty, Anthony Lancaster, does not care for his sons. Calls them debaucherous cowards unruly of the Red Throne. Who do you think his eyes turn to for hope in preserving his line?”

I didn’t speak. We both knew the answer.

“So, you see, you attacked the prince and his friends in a mad bid for power. His legacy items are rich indeed, and the rat you are couldn’t resist the urge. You regret your decision and will apologize. You will also return the Duke’s property as a sign of solidarity and earnestness.” She turned back down the path, leaving me speechless once again.

“No.”

That caused her to stumble, and I finally heard the barest sound of a boot scuffling against stone when she paused to address me. Fury at being denied so flatly clenched her jaw as she kneaded it tightly. Felwirth took me in then, as if for the first time. I didn’t back down. I couldn’t.

“I regret to inform you that I am seriously attached to this arm. I just can’t let go of it at this time. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.” I bowed low, making sure it was deep enough to mock her. “Nor shall I apologize to a would-be rapist and murderer.”

“There are ways to remove that bracelet without amputation,” Felwirth declared, passing by my accusations entirely. “Which would you prefer? Your pride or your life? You cannot have both.”

I stood from my bow and grinned widely.

“Thank you for this stroll, Headmaster Felwirth. It was most—illuminating.” I turned and left the way we came.

“You shall come to regret this, girl!” She yelled behind me. I grinned viciously at the ground, but didn’t rise to the bait. I returned the way I came and made for the front entrance of the academy. Prince James and his goons were waiting there expectantly. He raised his eyebrows slightly when he saw me, probably wondering why I wasn’t joined by the headmaster for my sincere apology and amputation.

“Hey, Prince James?” I called out to him as I took the first few steps toward their perch by the marble pillars outside the large front doors. They all turned to me fully this time, and I noticed, with no small amount of pride, the faint remnants of bruises across their knuckles and faces from our fight yesterday.

“What is it, rat?” He peered down at me, trying for all the world to appear bored. I knew the truth. His eyes looked the same as they did when I didn’t fall under his barrage of attacks:

Scared.

“I took down a Shardclaw last night. Wanna know the best part?” He just shrugged, but I knew I had all of their attention. I remembered the looks those two boys gave me when they had me cornered, and I steeled myself.

I will destroy them all.

The feeling was as sudden as it was intense, and I bit back a barrage of curses I wanted to spit in their faces. No. I needed my ploy to work.

“Turns out I killed the pack leader. It was bigger than the rest, but fell right into my trap. It was amazing what happened to the rest of the pack when I killed their alpha.” I pinned him with a stare that contained all of my anger—all of my grit to live. I would survive this place, even if I had to claw my way out from under this jerk’s corpse to do it. Rats were repugnant in every way but one…They were tenacious.

“They all just ran into the night. Never bothered me again. Strange, huh? Nice thing we’re all smarter than monsters, right?” I walked past them and opened the door. I could feel their eyes on me, but I didn’t shutter or quicken my pace, despite how desperately I wanted to. When the door was nearly closed, I heard Prince James scoff and converse with his friends like nothing had happened, but I could tell he was shaken. Though whether it was due to the fact I’d killed an alpha or my incredibly subtle threat, it was hard to say.

Shrugging, I went up to one of the lobby’s desks and greeted the female elf there. It was a bit of a surprise to see the same person who’d given me my dorm room and books, but I considered it a blessing from above.

“Hi! Can you point in the direction of the enchanters? Some bloke named Bracer is waiting for me.” The woman peered up over some strange glass spectacles and grinned softly at me. Her eyes widened after a moment when she recognized me.

“Of course!” She beamed at me and scribbled some quick but efficient runes onto a parchment. After a second, they glowed and a map appeared across the page. “Here you are!” I gaped again at the flagrant use of enchanted paper, but tucked the small piece away in one of my few unripped pockets.

“Thank you!” I offered and turned to where the map indicated. It led down stairs that were finely crafted but showed the signs of countless travelers along its weathered wooden form.

“Isabelle,” the elf spoke up before I left the perimeter of her desk. I turned, confused.

“No, I’m Thea. Thea Shade.” She laughed, high and light. Adjusting her spectacles, she grinned at me.

“Yes, you are. I am Isabelle. Thanks for that, by the way. Most treat me like some rune slot, to be used and ignored on their whim. It’s nice to have someone look me in the eyes once in a while.” Her smile widened as I returned it sheepishly.

“Oh! Sorry about that. I just assumed—Never mind. You’re welcome, Isabelle. Glad to show you that you matter. Keep up the amazing work I’m sure not enough people realize you do.” The young elf beamed at me like I’d just told her the stars would sing her a ballad tonight.

“Anytime you need help, just come find me!” She called out cheerily as I waved fondly and headed down the stairs. I took the flight down and down until I was sure more stone lay above me than beneath me. I found the door halted at its sign.

Enchanting Room #613

It was exactly where my magical parchment said it would be. That wasn’t the issue. My problem was that small billows of smoke seeped from the thin cracks of the door, despite the fact it was made from some sort of thick metal. Tentatively, I opened the padded entrance.

An explosion rocked me off my feet.