Rueln Layheart

“Rueln, would you mind seeing me in my office?”

I turned to find the Director standing next to the door, having just passed him on my way in to class. I glanced at my friends, only to find them all sharing the same expression, as if I were marching to my funeral. Thanks, guys.

Only after I followed the Director out of the main hall did I realize they all might be right. I forgot to see the director yesterday as I had promised. Dread quickly filled me as I wondered what the punishment would be. Would he make me sit in the hall? Beat me with his cane? Spell me to recite the temple scripture? Or worst of all, make me go to a meeting with Jaques to repent for my sins. These and more danced inside my skull even as I sat down in the chair provided for me and waited for him to begin.

“It disappointed me when you didn’t stop by as I expected,” he began, settling into his own seat.

“Am I in trouble, Director?” I mumbled, already well aware I was in the wrong here. I was too distracted yesterday and forgot. Master Esra wouldn’t excuse me for my forgetfulness, and I doubted this noble certainly would.

He seemed surprised by my question and shook his head. “Of course not, Rueln,” he assured me, a fake smile spreading over his face, though it certainly didn’t reach his eyes. Now I was sure he wanted to scold me but couldn’t, just because of who my sponsor was. “I will just ask that you be more mindful in the future.”

I wanted to be relieved, but until this conversation was over, I wouldn’t trust a thing.

Opening his drawer, Director Calagrin pulled out an envelope and offered it to me. “Please take this and deliver it to your sponsor.”

I took it, wondering why he felt the need to recruit me for being his courier, when I realized that the director probably thought I lived with Lord Balec. Considering the trouble it might cause if I corrected them, I nodded and stuffed it into my bag between my slate and notebook. “Yes, Sir,” I answered, then hesitated. “Is that all?”

“Yes. Now be quick, we don’t want you to be late for the morning bell.”

I nodded and hurried out. “If I’m late, it’s your fault,” I grumbled. Forgetting that I was supposed to walk in the halls, I slipped into a run, knowing the bell would ring at any moment. Just as I turned the corner, my class coming into sight at the end of the hall, something tripped me and I went sprawling onto the marble floor.

I cursed, thinking for just a second that I must have just accidentally run into someone until I felt something wet poured over my head. They would have had the benefit of the doubt until then. I would have let it go, thinking it was my fault. I wouldn’t have even cared all that much about the hall bursting into laughter at my expense. It would have been funny, embarrassing maybe, but there was no harm.

As the laughter of the other students filled my ears, I reached up and touched the wet soaking into my hair and came away with black ink staining my fingers. A bitter anger settled over me before I looked up to see a boy that I had only ever seen in passing smirking down at me, holding the now empty bottle. When our eyes met, he dropped it, so the glass shattered right beside me, shards scattering in every direction. I flinched when one flew across my cheek, cutting my skin.

“Sorry,” he said, his purple eyes alight with amusement. “You should be more careful. I didn’t see you coming around the corner.”

Of course, he would put the blame on me and no one here would refute his claim. As I pushed myself off the ground to sit up, I quickly glanced down the hall at the other students. Most of the other kids were still laughing, glancing back at me while a few, including Bria Gracy near the classroom door, had the decency to cover their smiles behind their hands. Some were already turning their backs to us, continuing on their way to class, their brief interest lost.

Turning my furious eyes back to the other boy, I tried to remember his name. He was in two of my classes, both in my recall studies and my magic class. Since neither he nor I had ever spoken with one another, though, I couldn’t see why he started something with me.

I hate bullies.

It had been true with Pip back in Nole, and it was true now. When I ran into a bully, it never failed to spark my temper. I did nothing to them, and I didn’t think I deserved to be treated poorly. Unfortunately for them, I wouldn’t roll over for them and just let them have their way with me or with anyone else.

Marqus Ghasen. That was it.

Pip was an arrogant brat who used his family’s position to bully everyone into getting what he wanted. He wasn’t particularly intelligent, nor did he plan ahead. He was impulsive and bullied other kids discriminately just because someone wasn’t a reincarnation. Pip was a coward who liked to use numbers to his advantage. Annoying as he was, he was relatively easy to deal with. All you had to do was fight back, not back down, and hit harder.

I had a feeling Marqus was going to be very different. He was alone, which meant he didn’t feel the least bit intimidated by me and thought that I was someone he could crush without aid. He wasn’t showing off to his friends. I saw no one who seemed associated with him anywhere close to us. The smile he offered me instead of a hand held a cruel nature, but this wasn’t to increase his standing among the other kids. It was personal, whatever it was. I saw no other motivation.

Until I figured out more, I wasn’t sure where the most efficient strike should be in retaliation. With staff coming out to check what the noise had been, now wasn’t the time, anyway. Marqus knew it too. He seemed far too pleased when a teacher stepped out of the nearest classroom and saw me on the floor.

“Are you alright? My goodness, what happened?!” she asked, hurrying over.

Still furious at the situation I was in, I clenched my hands into fists and stood before she could offer to help. “I’m fine,” I said, my tone empty and cold, sounding more like Vhal’s than my own. It was only then that I realized I had unconsciously activated my soulforce, her cool reasoning turning my usual hot anger to ice. “I was in a hurry and bumped into Marqus,” I said, before the other boy could spout the lie I knew he had ready.

“Goodness, you must be more careful. If you’re alright, Marqus, go on to class.” He smirked and turned, strolling down the hall to where Bria stood and saying something to her before disappearing inside. I watched him go, ink still dripping from my hair. Bria looked back at me, pursing her lips, then followed him. “How about you come with me? My staff member can help you clean up,” she said, and tried to take my hand to pull me along after her.

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“I can do it myself,” I said, quickly picking up my scattered belongings that fell from my bag and strolling past her without letting her touch me.

“Well, alright,” she said, thrown off by my attitude. “I’ll inform your teacher that you’ll be late then.”

I didn’t answer her. My fists clenched at my side, I hardly knew where I was going. I was so angry my vision blurred. Why now? Why bully me now? Beyond a few things, I had thought school wasn’t that bad. I made friends. I was learning new things, but then I had to get on the wrong side of a brat. Why?

I did my best to clean myself up in the washroom, dunking my head under the water of the sinks. The magic that kept the water going would turn off every few seconds, so I stubbornly kept one palm pressed to the symbol as I used the other to scrub myself. It did little good. The black wouldn’t come out. I had little doubt Marqus had added something extra to make sure it would.

Drying myself off the best I could, I debated on just staying in there for the entire period, but knew that if I did, then it would be practically admitting to Marqus that he had gotten to me. I didn’t want that. Pulling myself out of my coat, now just as ruined as my hair, I stuffed it into my bag and looked up into the mirror.

The black was uneven and splotchy, stark against the auburn of the rest of my hair. I looked more like a calico cat now. I was just missing the ears. Glaring at myself, I reached up and tried to at least straighten the mess I made when I attempted to clean myself. The jacket had saved my shirt from the worst of it, and it had come off my skin with a good scrub. The cut along my cheek had finally stopped bleeding, too.

I wonder how I would explain that to Master Esra.

I poked at the cut, wincing at the sting, but didn’t feel the need to bandage it. I’ve had worse in scuffles with Finnley in our practice fights. There was a bruise on my arm visible without my coat, though it looked nearly healed now.

Deciding that I would have to leave things as they were for now, I picked my bag up from the floor and started back down the hall. I wish I had a hat or something to hide my hair, but with nothing I just self consciously touched it with my hand. It was embarrassing.

Entering the classroom, I apologized to the teacher, who assured me everything was alright and encouraged me to take my seat. I didn’t miss Marqus’s snicker in the back of the class with his class partner. I’m sure he either saw it or Marqus spent the time I was in the washroom telling him about it. It would be all over the school before the noon meal.

Flustered and red faced, I sat down in my chair and leaned on the table, trying to keep my back to Bria. Her laughing or chittering at me about the incident would only make this worse than it already was.

“Rueln,” she said, and I resisted the urge to sigh. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” I mumbled, pressing a hand over my hair, trying to keep the worst of it covered.

“You don’t look fine.”

“Thanks for the observation,” I grumbled, still refusing to move and look at her.

“It’s nice of you for forgiving Marqus. You should really be careful not to run in the halls,” she said, whispering to me as Professor Galahan droned on about yesterday’s work and what we needed to focus on for today.

“Do you enjoy mocking me?” I demanded, sitting up and turning to look at her, offended.

She looked taken aback. “No. Why ever would you assume that? I was being genuine.”

“Then how about you speak to-,” A wadded up piece of parchment struck me in the back of the head, cutting off what I was saying. I turned, looking toward Marqus’s table, which sat in the direction it had flown from, then down at the wad of parchment. Plucking it off the floor, I glanced up at the teacher before opening it.

‘You have something in your hair.’

I glared back at them, then turned and faced the professor again as he explained the expectations of our next assignment. I only got that we would go into the courtyard with items the school would provide us base don our past life’s experiences when another piece of paper hit the back of my head. They made a loud fake cough just to be sure to get my attention.

Clenching my teeth, I grabbed it. I just opened it when a larger hand than my own plucked it from my fingers. “We are in class, Rueln. If you can’t wait until the noon meal, then it must be important enough to share with the rest of the class.”

The blood drained from my face. “Professor-” I started and reached to take it back, but before I could, he read it out loud.

“Professor’s teeth are so big, give him a nut and you’ll confuse him with a tree chittering squirrel.” Professor Galahan’s expression stiffened, and he turned offended eyes down on me. “Rue-“

I stood, furious, knowing he was about to accuse me. “I didn’t write that!”

All the friendly nature had gone from the man and he stared at me with embarrassment mixed with disappointment that I didn’t deserve. “This is extremely disrespectful and I will have to write you up for this behavior.” Folding the note in half and stowing it in the pocket of his robes as evidence, he turned his back to me. “See me after class.”

“I didn’t write it,” I repeated. Insisting on it wouldn’t make him believe me, but I didn’t want to be punished for something I didn’t do. Behind me, I could hear a few people snickering, and knew who it must be, but I didn’t have proof that it was them. It would be useless to point fingers.

“Professor, he really didn’t,” Bria said, speaking up for me. It was the least thing I expected and had both me and the professor turning to look at her.

“Did you see who did?” the professor asked as if he were praying for patience, but didn’t quite believe her.

“Um,” the confidence slipped away and so did the small ray of hope I had that I was going to get out of punishment. “No, Sir.”

“Then please return to your seat, Miss Gracy.”

“Professor,” I said, not ready to just let this go, but he shook his head.

“You will see me after class,” Professor Galahan interrupted. “Unless you would like to stay after the last bell as well.”

Face flushed, I slowly lowered myself back down to my chair. Bria kept glancing toward me, concern etched all over her face before she leaned over and whispered, “I’m sorry, Rueln.”

I ignored her.

For the rest of the class, I couldn’t concentrate. Even when Professor Galahan chose me to answer his quiz aloud, although I didn’t raise my hand. I gave the incorrect answer, and I knew from the look he gave me it was just one more thing to discuss at the end of class.

When the enchanted bell finally rang, the sound filling the room; I remained in my seat while everyone else picked up their things and left. Only when we were alone, did I stand and walk up to Professor Galahan’s desk. The note was open on top, as if to remind me why I was here.

Professor Galahan reached down and opened his drawer, pulling out a piece of parchment with a paragraph written out on it. “Rueln,” he said, “I want you to write this 50 times and hand it in to me by the end of the week.”

I didn’t bother trying to read it, and nodded, refusing to look at him or speak. “I would also like an apology from you.”

“I won’t apologize for something I didn’t do,” I said.

“Very well.” He wouldn’t argue with me. The distinct sound of a quill on parchment touched my ears, and I glanced over and saw him writing out a note. “I want you to take this to your sponsor. I want him to sign this and you return it to me.”

Great. Another note for my sponsor, I thought, snatching it after he folded it and offered it to me along with my lines assignment. What am I? A courier? I don’t even see him that often! I stuffed them in with the other note, only to freeze in shock.

Lord Balec’s note from the Director was gone.