Arwen
Aloud shrieking noise wakes me from my sleep. I’m under attack. My legs are bound. My heart is racing. It’s dark, and all I can see is a blinking light and a loud, repeating screeching noise coming from my left.
I reach for the light, and my hand clutches around…a cell phone?
Rolling my eyes at the new piece of technology I prized yesterday, I look down to see my legs aren’t bound; I fell asleep in the stupid tight skirt from Pride.
Groaning, I turn off the alarm, and roll out of bed. To be honest, I could use another twelve hours of sleep. After the excitement of the last couple of days, everything feels blurred, but my life depends on this next school year at the academy, so I can’t start it off by pissing off the only person in my corner by missing our meeting.
My chest is aching in a strange way, like my heart is being stretched in different directions. Stress really is a silent killer.
I groan again as I reach my armoire and realize I’m going to have to change into yet another skirt. I grab the academy uniform and my key and slip out the front door. The hallway is quiet as I patter towards the bathroom barefoot.
I’m relieved when I realize I’m the only one up at this hour to use the showers. Thankfully, the academy provides soap and other bathroom essentials, or I would be one smelly student.
I showered in record time despite wanting to soak my bones in the warm water for hours. After toweling off, I notice there are several accessories available over the countertops for styling hair. One accessory is a thick rod that looks like it could be used as a torture device, while the other looks like a pair of blacksmith tongs.
I guess I need to learn a lot about appearance and upkeep that we didn’t learn in Wrath… but I have no time to experiment today. If I don’t get a move on, I’ll be late.
Stepping out of my towel, I slip into my new undergarments and uniform. I rub some lotion on my face and brush my teeth, but since I couldn’t bring any belongings with me, I’ll have to make do with no makeup.
I never wear a lot anyway, but it would come in handy to cover these dark circles under my eyes for the first day of the academy.
Oh, well…my goal is to fly under the radar. The fewer people who notice me, the fewer people to ask about my sin power.
I head back to my room, slip in quietly, and grab my messenger bag, shoes, and some supplies. Walking back out into the corridor, I make my way to the dean’s office. I notice more and more students out and about. I keep my head down and walk to the first floor.
By the time I reach Dean Bellow’s office, my heart feels like it could pound right out of my chest. This lady is intimidating, and I’m not sure why she wants to meet with me again. Will I get to ask questions this time?
I have no problem speaking my mind, but this woman makes me take pause.
Before I can knock, the door opens. “Come in, Miss Davies.” Dean Bellows is at her desk, taking notes on the files in front of her. She’s wearing glasses today.
“Take a seat,” she commands.
I move in front of her desk and sit down in the chair quietly. I’m still unsure if I’m allowed to speak. She puts down her pen and looks at me. I spot some empathy in her eyes as she assesses me before she puts her cold, unattached façade back on.
“We’re here to discuss the plans I have put in place for your stay at the academy. Because of the unusual situation, we cannot just assign you an itinerary like any student, as you have not developed a sin skill to master. I am hopeful that your time here at the academy will prompt your sin power to appear. I’ve done some brainstorming on ways we can make that happen and have decided it would be beneficial for you to be in all seven basic, first-year sin training classes. It could very well be that your sin lies outside of Wrath and that proximity to those using that sin power could make your own feel more comfortable to appear.”
“All seven sin classes?” I gape at the dean.
That is unheard of. Factions don’t enjoy sharing any information about powers outside of their own sin class. We didn’t have many citizens from other factions visiting back home, but school taught us not to ask for detailed information about someone’s sin power if they were outside our faction.
Asking would be rude and could be seen as a threat.
“You will spend your mornings in the general Academy courses all students must take, and after lunch, you will attend two sin training classes, alternating the sins each day. This means you will miss out onthe combat training course. Since you are from Wrath, you should not fall behind as Wraths typically excel in those courses compared to the other factions.”
“For now, you are to observe only, and we will reassess in the coming weeks. Of course, if your sin manifests, you need to let me know right away so we can alter your curriculum.”
I nod my understanding, taking the sheet from the dean with my class schedule and packing it away in my messenger bag.
“I’ve thought of one other way your sin could manifest,” Dean Bellows continues. “It’s possible your power could present itself if you meet and complete your bond.”
I look down at my hands, so she can’t read my face. I’ve had a lot of feelings about finding my bond. On the one hand, of course I want to find my bond. Who wouldn’t want an immediate and unbreakable connection to someone who will love and support you through the end of time?
Rumor has it, the sex is unbelievable as well.
On the other hand, I could doom someone to a life of heartbreak…
