Elena woke up with a shock as she was soaking wet. The water was so cold that she couldn't even let out a scream. It just sucked the air right out of her lungs. Her body was instantly so awake that she didn't think it would even let her sleep a week from now. She shot up and looked around for whatever had caused it, only to see Marcus at the end of the bed, a small, empty bucket in his hands.
She sucked in a breath and yelled out, "MARCUS! WHAT THE FUCK!"
"You were asleep," Marcus calmly responded. He flipped on a light switch in the room, and the crystals glowed. He saw that she was sitting up wet and naked in bed. He immediately turned beet red and turned away. Elena pulled the covers up to her neck.
She felt her anger rise up, and the heat of it started to combat the coldness of the water. "Marcus, I swear to fuck if you do this again... you're... you... you're going to see me sleeping fully naked on the bed next time you walk in here." From down the hall, Elena heard Thomas make a disgusted sound. "Don't blind the poor guy!"
"SHUT UP THOMAS!" Elena shouted.
Marcus, while not looking, just said, "That's fine. Next time I'll send Lehara in here. Now get up. Training starts now." He left, and Elena slammed the door behind him.
It was brutal.
They started with simple stretches, but even these proved challenging for Elena in her new body. She bent over to touch her toes, surprised at the flexibility she now possessed. The splits, which she had never been able to do before, came easier than expected, though not without a twinge of discomfort. Elena marveled at how different her body felt, simultaneously more limber and yet unfamiliar.
After the stretches, which seemed to last forever, came an eon of lifting weights. Unfortunately, the weights were in kilos, a system she wasn't used to. Marcus started her off with what he called "light" - 160 kilos. Elena looked at Marcus as he kept putting weights on the bar. "How much is this in pounds?" she inquired.
Marcus looked at her and shrugged. "I don't know what a pound is. I only know this is 160 kilos."
Lily looked over at Elena as Marcus finished setting up the bar and stood ready to spot her. "I believe I've heard of that unit of measurement before. I think it's roughly half a kilo?"
Elena's arms shook as she struggled to lift the bar, her muscles screaming in protest. She was quite proud of how much she was lifting. It was after the 20th set that she really started to slow down. Sweat poured down her face, her body responding to the exertion in ways she wasn't accustomed to. Her tail twitched uncomfortably on the bench under her, and her breasts became slightly sore.
Elena glanced around, noticing the others had triple to sextuple what she had, and they were going strong into the 50th set. What's more, they weren't even breaking a sweat. She felt a mix of frustration and determination, pushing herself to keep up despite the burning in her muscles.
The weight training seemed endless. Just when she thought she couldn't do another rep, Marcus would shout encouragement - or was it a threat? - spurring her on to complete just one more set. Her arms felt like jelly, her legs like lead, but still, the training continued.
As Elena pushed through the grueling workout, she couldn't help but reflect on the stark differences in her current physique. The strength disparity was jarring, and she found herself merely struggling with weights she probably would have once considered nearly impossible. Yet, there was also a newfound grace and flexibility that she had never experienced before.
As the training session dragged on, Elena's mind raced with questions. 'How long will I continue living as a tiefling? Am I ever going to leave this planet? And most pressingly, how the hell does Marcus think I'm going to survive this training regimen when every muscle in my body is screaming for mercy?'. She vaguely heard Marcus egg her on for just five more, and a scream left her throat. Marcus got his five and called for a fifteen-minute break.
Despite the physical and mental challenges, a part of Elena was curious about what her body was capable of, driving her to push through the pain and exhaustion.
"Come on, Elena!" Marcus shouted, unaware of her internal struggle. "You can do better than that! Push harder!"
Elena gritted her teeth, determined to prove herself despite the limitations of her new form. She was going to be an adventurer, and she was going to make the most of it, no matter how difficult the journey might be.
After weights came yoga, lasting until just after sunrise. This part, surprisingly, was actually kind of nice. The gentle stretches and poses helped ease some of the tension from the weight training. Elena found herself enjoying the flow of movements, the way her new body could bend and twist in ways she hadn't thought possible. The sun rising over the horizon as they finished their last poses gave her a sense of accomplishment, despite her exhaustion.
As they wrapped up the yoga session, Elena's stomach growled loudly, reminding her how long it had been since she'd eaten. The promise of breakfast was the only thing keeping her on her feet as they made their way back inside. She hoped the meal would be substantial enough to replenish all the energy she'd expended during this grueling training session.
Elena couldn't help but wonder if every day would be like this. As she caught her breath, she found herself marveling at the strange dichotomy of her new existence. On one hand, her body felt alien, responding to stimuli in ways she wasn't accustomed to. The way her muscles burned, the unfamiliar weight distribution, even the sensation of her tail - it all served as a constant nagging reminder of her new life. But she had to admit, there was an undeniable strength and potential in this form that both excited and terrified her. She wasn't sure if her old body could have gotten nearly as powerful as she felt right now. And this power felt good.
She flexed her fingers, watching the play of muscles under her skin. The power that coursed through her veins was palpable, a constant hum of energy that seemed to be begging for release. She couldn't help but wonder about the limits of this body. How far could she push it? What heights of strength and agility could she achieve with proper training? Was there a limit? Apparently there was for most people, but she knew that she had benefits most people didn't have. Maybe her limits had been removed too.
These thoughts led her to contemplate her situation more broadly. She was in a world of magic and monsters, thrust into a role she never asked for. The weight of her mission - to become powerful enough to find out who cheated, how they cheated and why, to find out what killed her and how to get back - settled heavily on her shoulders. Every ache in her muscles, every bead of sweat on her brow, was a step towards that goal. The training wasn't just about physical fitness; it was about survival in this harsh new reality.
As she followed the others to breakfast, a sore muscle tweaked a nerve and a thought came to her mind. She wasn't sure where she got the thought from, but it was there. "Embrace the suck". So Elena made a silent vow to herself. 'I am going to embrace the suck, push through the pain and discomfort, and become stronger than I ever thought possible. If I stagnate or don't get stronger, this world is going to chew me up and spit me out. And that will never happen. And with any luck, I'll figure out what happened to me.'
As they finished the plates of food in front of them, Lehara asked Elena if she knew where the school was. Elena made the mistake of answering honestly.
It was a trap. Since she was already ahead of the curve on knowing where to go, she was told she had a simple 5-mile walk and a luxurious 30 minutes to do so.
Elena found out three things about her new body that day. First, she was not a fan of running. Second, her new clothes treated sweat like water and blood. Between that and the self-repair function on most of her clothes, it was probably the most useful enchantment she could ever picture getting. And third? She knew there was a third thing, but she was so exhausted after a late night of studying alchemy that she completely forgot what it was. Elena arrived at school 5 minutes late. She stopped to catch her breath, and her legs, arms, and brain felt like they had been replaced with the not-quite-meat gelatin she had traded to Lily yesterday.
As Elena approached the academy, still catching her breath from the unexpected run, the first thing that caught her attention were the towering walls surrounding the entire campus. Constructed from the same dark stone as the main buildings, these walls were truly formidable, rising high into the sky and casting deep shadows over the surrounding area. They were not just barriers but masterpieces, adorned with intricate carvings depicting legendary battles, mythical creatures, and ancient symbols of protection. Each segment of the wall was punctuated by towering spires and guard towers, their sharp, gleaming points seeming to pierce the very sky. The walls exuded an aura of impenetrability, making it clear that this academy was both a sanctuary and a fortress, a place where only the worthy could enter and thrive.
As Elena stepped inside, she was struck by the grandeur of the campus itself. The sheer scale of the place was overwhelming, a testament to the power and prestige of the magical arts taught within its walls. The main buildings were arranged in a U-shape, their imposing forms dominating the landscape like silent guardians of knowledge.
The largest of these structures loomed ahead, a towering edifice of dark stone that seemed to swallow the sunlight rather than reflect it. Its walls were a canvas of intricate carvings, depicting scenes from magical lore - epic battles between mages and monsters, the discovery of ancient artifacts, and the founding of the academy itself. Some of these carvings shimmered with a faint, otherworldly light, hinting at the powerful enchantments woven into the very fabric of the building.
Tall, narrow windows stretched upwards like the watchful eyes of a vigilant guardian, their glass tinted in deep hues of blue and purple. Elena could almost feel the weight of centuries of magical knowledge pressing down upon her, as if the very stones of the building were imbued with the wisdom of countless generations of mages and adventurers.
The air itself seemed charged with energy, a subtle tingling sensation that raised the hairs on the back of Elena's neck. She could hear the faint whispers of arcane incantations carried on the breeze, punctuated by the occasional crackle of magical energy or the muffled boom of a spell gone awry. The scent of ozone and exotic herbs hung in the air, a constant reminder of the mystical nature of this place.
As Elena's gaze swept across the campus, she noticed smaller buildings scattered among the main structures, each with its own unique character. Some were dome-shaped observatories, their copper roofs gleaming in the sunlight. Others were squat, fortress-like structures with no windows, hinting at the dangerous or secretive nature of the studies conducted within. A few buildings seemed to shimmer and shift as she looked at them, their forms never quite settling into a fixed shape - a clear indication of the powerful illusion magic at work.
The pathways between buildings were lined with statues of famous alumni and legendary magical creatures. Elena could have sworn she saw one of the gargoyles perched on a nearby roof turn its head to watch her as she passed. The very ground beneath her feet seemed to pulse with a subtle rhythm, as if the entire campus was a living, breathing entity, nurturing the magical potential of its students.
To her left, Elena noticed a large courtyard filled with students, most engrossed in their own activities. Some were practicing spells, their hands glowing with arcane energy, while others sparred with wooden weapons under the watchful eyes of their instructors. The air was filled with the sounds of clashing steel, bursts of magic, and the low hum of conversation. There was a constant, almost tangible buzz of energy in the air, as if the very ground she walked on was alive with potential.
Still exhausted from the morning's grueling training and unexpected run, Elena felt a surge of energy that came from her excitement and anticipation. This magical academy, with all its wonders and mysteries, was now her world. As she made her way to her first class, still five minutes late, she couldn't help but feel both overwhelmed and exhilarated by the prospect of the magical education that awaited her. The weight of her mission - to uncover the truth about her situation and find a way back - felt more pressing than ever in this awe-inspiring environment.
As Elena continued to take in the sights of the academy, the school's insignia—a majestic phoenix rising from flames—caught her eye. It was emblazoned on banners hanging from tall lampposts lining the pathways. These banners fluttered gently in the breeze, adding a splash of color to the otherwise dark and imposing environment.
Ahead, Elena saw two primary buildings where students were entering and exiting in a steady stream. The first, a large rectangular structure, was clearly the main academic hall. Its entrance was flanked by two massive statues, each depicting a robed figure holding a staff. The figures seemed almost lifelike, their eyes carved with such detail that Elena half-expected them to move.
The second main building, slightly smaller but no less impressive, appeared to be a hub for the more advanced students. Men and women who had the look of full-fledged adventurers, clad in various armors and robes, wandered in and out, their presence commanding respect. The very sight of them made Elena feel a mixture of awe and determination; this was the level she aspired to reach. Her mind drifted, dreaming about becoming powerful like those people, so she could finally start working on the task of getting powerful and discovering why she was sent here in the first place.
As she continued walking, Elena's gaze fell on the third building, completing the U-shaped layout of the campus. This structure had a different air about it—more refined, almost serene. It was smaller than the other two, with wide steps leading up to a grand entrance flanked by columns. The building's façade was less ornate but exuded a quiet strength, its windows reflecting the sunlight in a way that softened the building's otherwise stark appearance. Elena guessed this building was reserved for administrative purposes or perhaps housed the headmaster's office, a place where crucial decisions about the academy's future—and hers—would be made.
Realizing she was still lost and running late, Elena spotted a woman talking with her friends nearby. She held her head high, exuding confidence. Deciding to ask for directions, Elena wandered over and tapped her on the shoulder. "Excuse me Miss, could you point me in the right direction?" she asked.
The young woman Elena approached appeared to be of a similar stature to her current form, with long blonde hair cascading down her back. Her attire seemed to be a more embellished version of Elena's own. Her companions seemed oblivious to Elena's presence until she gently tapped the woman's shoulder, causing a moment of astonishment.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Elena felt a sudden sense of déjà vu as she approached the woman, who looked strangely familiar. As the woman turned, her initial smile quickly transformed into shock upon seeing Elena. 'Yeah yeah,' Elena thought, 'I've been down this road before.'
She couldn't quite place where she'd seen this woman before. 'Had she been someone who came into the tavern?' Elena wondered, trying to recall. 'No, I think she looks a bit too high brow for that. But where?' They stood there under the sun's gaze, confusion and curiosity crossing the woman's face. Elena sensed the weight of onlookers' stares upon them. Even the companions of the girls looked vaguely familiar, which bothered her that she couldn't remember them.
"Sorry to bug you, but I'm looking for the registrar's office. Could you point me in that direction?" Elena asked.
The girl seemed too shocked to speak until one of her friends gently kicked her in the leg. "Uh, yeah. It's that way." She pointed at the administrative building. "Before you go, I have a question for you."
Elena looked at her and nodded. "Yeah, shoot." She got a look that was all too familiar when she spoke. Even though she gave her permission, the girl’s statement felt more like she was telling Elena what was about to happen.
"Actually, two questions. First off, what's your name?" the woman asked.
"J-" Elena shook her head. "Elena," she corrected, catching herself before saying 'John'.
"Ok Elena." The woman got a bit more serious. "Why are you here?" Elena felt like she had just started an interrogation.
"To... go to... school?" Elena responded and looked around as if it should have been obvious. She was honestly super confused. Why else would a person go to an academy?
The woman's look turned sour as if Elena was beneath her. "Then go that way."
Elena started to walk away when suddenly she felt a foot in front of her hoof, someone yanking her tail upward hard and a hand on the back of her head pushing her to the ground. Her nose impacted the pavement before she even knew what happened. "Still no squeal. I think you were wrong about the Gunterroot," Elena heard someone say.
She felt her anger rising as she stood up. Elena’s eyes squinted dangerously as she looked forward, and took a deep breath. Now she realized why she felt the odd sense of déjà vu. Last time she met this bitch, she had walked off and flicked her the “One Finger Salute.”
“Oh yeah, You’re the bitch from the street.” Elena half muttered to herself. Memories of the young girl from the street came back in a flood. Elena went to brush the dirt off her blouse and skirt but there was no need. The enchantments of the dress once again proved their worth.
As Elena stood there, a mix of emotions coursed through her. Despite her anger, she decided to try and defuse the situation first. ‘Can’t help but try to make amends, right? It’s not like I can hit a girl but….’ Elena paused for a second and she looked down, her view stopped by the realization that she was now a girl herself. ‘Oh yeah, not a guy anymore.’ She mentally chided herself, but still decided to try and make amends.
Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile. "Hey, look, I know we got off on the wrong foot the other day in the street, and again just now. I get that this is probably just a misunderstanding. I'm new here, and I'm just trying to find my way around. Can we start over and maybe clear the air?"
The woman sneered, her eyes narrowing. "Start over? With a freak like you? I don't think so. Why don't you crawl back to whatever hole you came from?"
Elena felt the sting of her words but decided to make one more attempt at reconciliation. She took a deep breath and held up her hands in a placating gesture. "Come on, there's no need for that. We're all here to learn, right? Maybe we could even help each other out. What do you say?"
The woman laughed, a harsh, mocking sound that made Elena's ears flatten against her head. "Help each other? Please. I wouldn't be caught dead associating with something like you. You're a disgrace to this academy."
Elena's patience was wearing thin, but she gritted her teeth and tried one last time. "Look, I don't want any trouble. Can't we just agree to leave each other alone and go our separate ways? We don't have to be friends, but we don't have to be enemies either."
The woman's lips curled into a sickly sweet smile, her eyes glinting with malice. "Oh, separate ways? Actually, that rather sounds like an excellent idea," she cooed, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "I'll stay here and learn to exterminate vermin like yourself, and you can go back to whatever filthy, depraved hellhole spawned you. I'm sure there's a back-alley somewhere that's missing its favorite piece of used trash. And if the Hobo’s aren’t kept entertained, they could cause problems for decent people."
Elena felt as if she'd been slapped, the woman's vicious words cutting deep. The sheer hatred and disgust in her voice made her stomach churn. She could hardly believe the level of vitriol being directed at her, especially after her attempts to make peace.
Elena got right into the woman's face, and she looked at her, anger filling her eyes. The tension between them was palpable, like a tightly coiled spring ready to snap at any moment. Elena could feel her heart pounding in her chest, the rush of blood in her ears nearly drowning out the sounds of the bustling campus around them. Her new body, still unfamiliar in many ways, seemed to vibrate with a mixture of rage and nervous energy.
As she stared into her eyes, Elena saw not just anger, but a deep-seated disgust and fear. It was a look she had become all too familiar with since arriving on this world - the look of someone who saw her as less than human. As a freak of nature to be reviled and shunned. Part of her wanted to shrink away from that gaze, to hide herself from the world that seemed so ready to reject her. But another part, a stronger part, refused to back down and grew angry that it happened.
Elena's mind raced. She couldn't remember much of her life before this planet, but what she did remember told her she had never been one to back down from a fight. Even now when the stakes seemed so much higher, she was more pissed than anything else. Here she was going around putting her life on the line and yet this woman thought she was better than her? That was unacceptable.
Her tail lashed behind her, a physical manifestation of her agitation. She could feel her new magical abilities stirring within her, responding to her emotional state. It would be so easy to lash out, to show this arrogant girl exactly what she was capable of. But Elena knew that would only prove this woman right, confirming every prejudice and fear. No, she had to be better than that, had to prove that she belonged here not through force, but through her actions and character.
As she prepared to speak, Elena took a deep breath, trying to center herself. She was walking a fine line between standing up for herself and escalating the situation beyond the point of no return. In that moment, she realized that this confrontation was about more than just her and this girl - it was about setting the tone for her entire time at the academy. How she handled this would define her in the eyes of her peers and teachers.
With all of this swirling through her mind, Elena spoke, her voice low and intense, carrying the weight of her newfound resolve.
"Look here. I'm not certain if the school has a policy on violence, but I'm not going to tempt fate. That being said, you've grabbed my tail twice when I don't want you touching me at all." She poked the woman's chest. "Normally I don't hit girls. But due to some recent changes in my life I have no qualms about it anymore. So keep pushing, princess. Touch me again and I'll do to you what I did to the... whatever the fuck it's called."
The woman's anger deepened with every word, her eyes narrowing as she jabbed Elena's chest with a sharp, accusatory finger. "No, YOU listen, you abomination of nature. This academy is for the elite, not some demon-spawned reject like you," she hissed, her voice dripping with venom. "You think you belong here? You're a disgrace to this place—nothing but a freak of nature that shouldn't exist."
The woman's voice grew colder, more menacing, as she leaned in closer. "You'll never be one of us. No matter how hard you try, you'll always be on the outside looking in. Your kind should be locked away, not walking these halls with the rest of us." Her words were a blade, cutting deep into Elena's resolve. Every word whittled away her previous sentiment of setting a good tone for her future at the academy.
Elena stood there, frozen in disbelief, as the acidic words and the spit landed on her face. Her fists clenched and unclenched at her sides, the surge of rage boiling up inside her like a storm ready to break. Every muscle in her body tensed as the urge to retaliate surged through her, a primal instinct demanding that she teach this girl a lesson she would never forget. The memory of being humiliated on the street, of the woman's smug face and cruel words, flashed through her mind. This girl had pushed her too far—twice now—and Elena could feel the darkness within her, the power that coursed through her veins, begging to be unleashed.
Thump-Thump
They could see it so clearly in her mind: the woman on the ground, bloodied and broken, the same smug smile wiped clean off her face. Visions of the thug whose face she contorted came to mind, this time with this girl's facial features instead. The idea of putting this girl in the ground, of showing her just how wrong she was to provoke a person who would fight back. It felt almost too good to resist. Even though they wasn't a demon spawn, it would be for this bitch’s benefit to show her why pissing off someone who might be less kind than they were trying to be. In fact breaking her perfect nose was really doing her a kindness.
Thump-Thump
Elena’s breath quickened, her heart pounded in her ears, drowning out every rational thought. The world narrowed to just the two of them, and all they could think about was how satisfying it would be to break the woman's nose, to watch the fear replace the contempt in her eyes. She didn’t hit girls, but this wasn’t a girl. This was an evil bitch that deserved to be put in her place.
Thump-Thump Thump-Thump
She felt her heartbeat quicken as she felt the power of her magic flood her body. Warmth spread from her heart as it flowed into her limbs. It yearned to be let out. To be free. To show the world why she was a blood mage. Her vision blurred with red as she slowly raised her hand, fingers curling into a tight fist, ready to drive it through the woman's nose and silence her cruel words. She'd learn to never talk to Elena again, and-
Elena felt a hand as strong as a pneumatic press, grab hold of her arm and simultaneously press down on every square inch of her body with some invisible force. The three girls with the woman all pointed at Elena while looking at someone behind her. They looked afraid and pale as a sheet. Elena looked down at her arm to see a man's hand on her forearm, and as much as she wanted to move forward or away, his vice-like grip kept her there. She turned around and looked up to see an older gentleman, maybe in his 60s, staring at her.
"Let. Go," Elena said as she tried to intimidate him into doing so. He didn't. If anything, he seemed to grow more resolute in keeping her there.
The girls' fingers pointed accusingly at Elena, their voices rising in a chorus of exaggerated panic as they tried to sway the older gentleman. "She tried to threaten Veronica!" one of them cried out, her voice trembling with feigned fear. "She attacked Veronica out of nowhere! We were just talking, and she went crazy!" another added, widening her eyes as if reliving the supposed horror.
"She said she was going to kill us all!" a third girl chimed in, her tone urgent and terrified. "She's a soulless—who knows what she's planning next?" The accusations kept coming, each one more damning than the last. "She nearly broke Veronica's arm the last time we saw her. We're all afraid to even be near her!" The final girl's voice quivered, as if Elena's very presence was enough to send her into a panic.
"She's been using her powers to intimidate us," one of them finished, crossing her arms as if that sealed Elena's fate. "We're scared to think about what she might do next! It’s your job as Dean to keep us safe so we can learn."
Elena looked at the man who just stared at her and tried to explain herself. "Now hold on a second. Look, I know that this looks bad, but I promise it's not what it looks like. Unless she touches my tail again," she looked back at the blonde girl named Veronica and squinted, "Then it'll be much worse."
The next thing Elena knew, she was being dragged across the lawn with the girls' laughter growing quieter as she moved away from them. The elderly gentleman eventually brought her into a room and sat her down. "Miss. Elena..." Elena cringed slightly and gave him a pleading look. She saw a placard on his desk that called him Dean Eamon. "Dean Eamon, just call me Elena please. Don’t call me Miss. I’m not a lady."
"Miss Elena," he continued ignoring her request. "You came highly recommended to us by Lehara Moonshadow. As such, we expected you would be an exemplary student. One who would pass your classes with honors. Would you please explain why you felt the need to pick a fight with Miss Veronica Thornfelder?"
Elena crossed her arms as she grew more and more frustrated. "All I did was ask that bitch for directions. I didn't know she was the one that pulled my tail that first day..."
The man looked at Elena blankly. She sighed and elaborated, "I haven't been in town for very long, so I'm staying at a local inn. I was walking back to the inn alone the other day and she ran up to me and yanked hard on my tail. Called me something called a Gunterroot, then told me I was overreacting. Oh and then she threatened me and when I said I would defend myself she threatened me some more. So I walked away. And then when I came in today I was looking for the registrar and she was facing away from me. I didn't know where to go so I asked the first person I saw, which was her. And then after she grabbed my tail again and then pushed me down and I got... well... mad."
He still didn't say anything, so Elena continued, her words tumbling out in a rush of frustration and defensiveness. "And I know it's probably not good for me but honestly when she spit in my face I swear I was just gonna deck her in the nose. But then you came along, and saw the end when her friends started blaming me..."
She let the words hang in the air and he still didn't say anything. “But I swear, I’m normally a cool and collected guy. I promise I would’ve felt really bad after the fact. Actually that might be a lie, but I would’ve been willing to say I’m sorry. If she promised to leave me alone.”
Elena just hoped she hadn't screwed herself before even starting.
"Do you realize that you could have killed her?" he finally asked.
"What do you mean? All I'd have done was punch her in the nose," Elena said, confusion evident in her voice. "As long as her friends didn't try to hurt me, I'd have left them alone."
The elderly gentleman basically repeated himself. "Yes, and unless her powers came in last night she's not a full initiate quite yet. So I'll ask again. Do you realize you could have killed her?"
“From a punch to the nose? I don’t think I know enough about fighting to accurately push someone’s nose into their brain.”
The Dean clasped his hand. “Miss Elena,” Elena felt a twang of irritation again. “I am not sure why this managed to escape your mind, but if what Lehara said is true, you’re an initiate and she is not. Your punch may have shattered her face. Especially when you were channeling your powers into the punch. There would have been no need to push Miss Thornfelder’s nose into her brain when your fist would have accomplished the same thing.” His voice was calm and collected, but hard and left no room for interpretation or quarter to hide from. “So I’ll ask again. Do. You. Realize. You. Could. Have. Killed. Her?”
When he repeated himself and Elena realized what he meant, she felt like she had just been run over by a car. She stared at the man, her breath catching in her throat. The words felt like a sledgehammer to her chest, each syllable driving home the weight of what she had nearly done. She hadn't meant to kill Veronica—just to defend herself. But now, the realization that she had come so close to crossing an irreversible line left her shaken to her core.
"...no." was all Elena meekly said. A flood of emotions surged through her—guilt, fear, anger at herself, and a deep-seated doubt about whether she truly belonged here. The thought of having almost killed someone, even someone as vile as Veronica, made her stomach churn. She wasn't a killer, not of people at least. Monsters, sure. But people? The person would have to be a special kind of evil to drive her to that point. And honestly, if she was going to ignore that much of her personal beliefs for a person, she was going to do it for someone that was worth the price. Not Veronica Thornfelder.
The Dean continued explaining to Elena what price she almost paid. "She is both promising and popular. She comes from money, she's got the best teachers, and she's training to be a powerful adventurer. She's also got the best tutors, and her parents have so many artifacts around her every day I'll be surprised if her friends aren't going to be made of the same cloth. But she's not an initiate yet. And supposedly you are."
Elena looked a bit sickly from the thought of it. "I just wanted to punch her in the nose so she’d shut up." she said.
The Dean continued, "Putting aside the fact that it's an unsanctioned assault. Or that it would have happened on school grounds. You would have likely been jailed for it. Her family is the Thornfelder family. They are wealthy and powerful. As such you would have likely disappeared one day and nobody would have known where you went. Another lost soul that went back home." Elena felt a little sick to her stomach.
"Miss Elena, you will be working closely with her for at least 2 hours daily. You are going to be occasionally teaming up with her through much of your classes together. If you cannot learn to work with her, there are many who doubt you will work on a team with them too. Do you understand me?" Elena nodded without saying anything.
"Now go report to Mr. Alderidge."