The following day, Anna stood in the school gym with twelve other girls and their activators. Her hair was up in a bum, as was every other girl if they didn't have it cut or put in a ponytail. They couldn't risk being burned when they worked with the fire burning in their chests. Each girl stood in front of the target, across the room giving enough space between themselves to move freely. The first student to go was a brunette who wasn't taller than a middle schooler.

Her activator was a large ring that sat on her finger, with a block that resembled a diamond on it. She put her arm outward and wrapped her hand around her wrist. Anna watched with interest as a ball of fire came out of that diamond block and formed a large ball. The ball floated in the air before rerouting itself and shot right at the target, narrowly missing the red mark in the middle. The girl looked with anxious eyes and had sweat dripping down her face as everyone broke out into applause.

Their teacher, a wrinkly faced priestess with snake-like eyes, clapped her hands and cupped them around her mouth. “Good job, Clarissa!” She sat across the room on a foldout chair with her legs crossed and a small smile. “Go sit. Next is Lizbeth!”

Anna watched the girl happily grab hold of her pendant and stare straight ahead at the target. Her freckled face was scrunched up as she focused her attention on her task at hand. The pendant glowed, and she moved her hand back. Like Anna's staff, a large barrage of arrow-shaped fireballs flew forward. The air began to sizzle as this happened; the heat becoming almost unbearable to everyone else in the room. But Anna could see that her friend was in the zone, not even flinching when an arrow nearly burned her chest as it flopped about.

The two had talked one day about how hard it was to control the fire. Anna pitied her, as her pendant didn't mesh well with her intentions. Almost every arrow missed, and those that didn't barely made it without dissolving into thin air. Her face crumbled, and she looked down at the pendant with a look of betrayal as the room became tense. Since they were standing side by side, Anna could grab and squeeze her hand.

“You did good.” The dark-haired teenager whispered just as their teacher loudly cleared her throat and got up from her seat. The footsteps echoed in her head.

The woman walked over with her nose turned up at the pair. “Lizbeth, this is the fifteenth time your flames have fallen apart without hitting your target. I thought you and Eliana told me that you would practice.” The priestess looked at them both with disappointment, which made Anna's chest tighten up.

What the priestess was saying was true, but Anna still felt like shit. Honestly, she'd been feeling in the dumps since her encounter with Edwin. She couldn't believe that someone would think of her so lowly. Even before she joined the academy, the girl worked herself to the bone in school and with the public. Anna didn't want this life to be another that she would regret. She wanted it to be one where she could live a life in peace while being academically fulfilled. So, to have someone that she would be working with because of these accomplishments talk down to her burned.

It hurt her deeply that people were also spreading rumors about her. She started to ask Lizbeth about it but the girl quickly shut her mouth. Lizbeth didn't know that she had been chosen as a Koinonos and would immediately blabber about it. The teenager was a sweetheart, but she also loved to talk her head to anyone willing to listen. This was something she didn't want to get out of yet. Especially if people saw her negatively.

It was better for everyone that she kept her questions to herself. “I apologize for our carelessness, Priestess Simone. Lizbeth and I will work harder on our technique.” She looked at her friend, whose lip was wobbling, her chest heaving as she got scared.

“Eliana, you are an excellent student. You use your staff like a natural, your balance is just off. It's Lizbeth that I am directly this criticism to solely.” Her eyes were like daggers, making even Anna gulp. “Young lady, grades from tests aren't the only thing that matters here. You need to take this seriously.”

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Anna swore by how sweaty her friend's palm was that she was about to faint. The girl opened her mouth before closing it and breaking down into tears. The other students reacted by quietly whispering under their breath. This wasn't the first time Lizbeth had started crying because of the criticism given to her by their teachers. The girl was soft-hearted. She wore her heart on her sleeve and was open about all of her emotions. She wasn't the type to lie or gossip about others. Anna found herself being shocked more than once about her clear naivete.

This was seen as a weakness by the majority of their classmates, and Anna hated it. They spoke as if Lizbeth was going to drop out when the teenager never would. She was dedicated to the Goddess and was an ace at their textbook based testing. If physical examinations weren't a thing, along with teacher recommendations, Lizbeth would be ranked number one. Anna was sure of it. She saw firsthand that the sensitive girl wanted this badly.

Hearing their whispers made her scowl, and she hurried to shield her friend. She hugged her close, allowing her to hide her face in her neck away from the others. While this happened, she pleaded with their teacher. “Can I take Lizbeth to the dormitory, Priestess Simone? She had an upset stomach before coming to class.”

This was a lie but nobody else knew that. Lizbeth played along, making a few retching noises that sounded gross. Priestess Simone hummed and rubbed the bottom of her chin as she thought the request over. “Well, I'd rather she lay down in the infirmary in case she throws up.” Her voice dripped with obvious disdain.

The retching noises became more guttural, making the woman sigh and throw up her hands. “But if you two feel its best, you can go to your dorm and rest until your cleaning period.” She looked like she wanted to swat at them like they were bugs.

Seeing that the woman was on the cusp of really going in on them, Anna hurried. She helped Lizbeth out of the classroom with the other girl genuinely looking ill of a sudden. The dark-haired girl couldn't blame her friend. This wasn't the first time a teacher had yelled at the girls so publicly. But this time it was clear that Lizbeth wasn't in the right mental space for this today. She closed the door quickly with her heel as her hands were full at the moment, chatter beginning as soon as they left.

The hallways were empty, thankfully, as everyone else was in the cafeteria or in their dormitory. It was getting closer to the winter semester, meaning that everyone was on their last leg. Nerves were showing as their exams came to an end and talks for the future began. Some of the older students had already gotten their field work assignments. While others were going to more advanced academies to get further education. There was a lot going on, which led to cracks showing.

Anna could only hope her own didn't. The situation with Edwin knew thrown her off her game. She was sure that if she had stayed in class it would become noticeable. The priestess in training knew it was childish to be so riled up but she couldn't help it. She had extended a hand to the boy by taking him to her secret training spot. Her tears had been fake, but every word she said that night had been what she was really feeling. Anna saw no need for their relationship to be full of such animosity.

But Edwin felt like her past actions were too grave to look past. He acted like she was spiteful and focused on only herself. When in actuality she planned to do her hardest to make sure he was safe. Becoming a Koinonos was no joke, and she was honestly scared about everything it entailed. Her life could be at risk if they ever entered combat, as she had to put it second. Edwin knew this, as he also used to train in the combat course. Which made her anger even greater.

He had in her shoes years prior and now he acted obtuse. Even though they went to different parts of the academy, they had the same circumstances. The same texts, expectations and grading styles were used in both their cases. They both had the same chances when being admitted into the school their freshman years. So, for the pompous healer to act like he had no idea about how she was feeling, made her want to scream. Anna’s cheeks heated up as she continued to help her friend while mulling over the conversation in her head.

She had acted so unlike herself that night she had walked home feeling incredibly embarrassed. But who could blame her when Edwin was pushing at her buttons purposely? The girl felt a migraine start to form, and she groaned. She had been thinking about the boy and his disrespect for far too long. The only way she'd get over him is if they spoke again on her terms. But that would be risky, as he could easily just refuse to listen like before.

Her self pity session was ended by her friend looking at her. Her face was pale and Anna could see that her shirt top was drenched in sweat. “Are we almost there yet?”

“We're about to reach the courtyard.” She muttered as both their feet hit the paved path that led to the academy’s other side. “Lizzie, do you want me to stop by the cafeteria and get you something to eat? Or maybe some water to drink?”

She got no answer and looked at her friend. Her eyes widened when she saw Lizbeth looked genuinely ill with sweat covering her shaking body. This wasn't a ruse anymore. The freckled redhead was heaving, but nothing was coming up. Part of Anna wanted to push her away, so when she did eventually puke, it didn't splash all over her. But the rational part of her won the debate, and she began to pat her friend’s back like you would a baby. Like a bag of potatoes, Lizzie started to fall and Anna yelped.

She caught the girl almost immediately with the two of them hitting the ground as Lizbeth was decently four sizes bigger than her. Anna’s knees hit the grass, and she cursed. She couldn't take Lizzie to the infirmary all alone. But Lizzie couldn't just stay here. Her body was shaking, and she was unresponsive. She slapped her face and yelled at her to talk, but the redhead just heaved and tried to speak. But all that came out was a croak. Was she having a panic attack?

The teenager looked around and saw someone a suitable distance away. They were just about to enter the courtyard, but were distracted by their phone. A hood from their large jacket covered their face, but Anna screamed at them, anyway. “Help!”