“You know,” Zoya said with fervor. “My aunt also struggled for a long time. She was never chosen as a participant for the Undertaking, but she said that she would inflict pain unto herself, and that brought it out. Like her body subconsciously knew that pain meant danger, and danger meant needing to protect herself.”
“That sounds uncomfortable.” Kamine tightened her lips. “Plus that was exactly what happened this afternoon in magic class. The pain didn’t do anything.”
Zoya thought about it for a second, then responded. “Perhaps because it wasn’t danger that you felt, but embarrassment. Your life wasn’t being threatened, just your pride.”
“It felt like I might die.”
Janina laughed. “But deep down you knew you wouldn’t, because Professor Grimot would have gotten in big trouble.”
Kamine didn’t know if she believed that. He seemed to be the person to take things too far, his emotions uncontrolled. But…he had won his Undertaking for a reason, so he clearly had a lot to teach that could be beneficial to her. First though, she would need to get her powers to wake up.
“So we test this theory then.” Kamine said, finally. She would do anything to prepare herself for the Undertaking—anything to keep her villagers alive. “But what, exactly?”
“Maybe we drown you?” Janina offered.
“What?” She couldn’t be serious.
“We can turn one of the baths into an ice bath, and force you to stay under.”
Zoya nodded. “That might work.”
“That sounds dangerous.”
Janina smiled, her teeth still stained with blood from earlier. “Perfect.”
Grimot leaned back on the creaky chair in the empty office. Headmaster Dritoria had one of her lackeys deliver a note to his private room less than hour ago, demanding his presence immediately. Before trekking his way over, he decided to finish off the chapter of his book. He walked slowly to delay his arrival time and was unsurprised to find the Headmaster was not there.
He would give her an extra minute before leaving. Inspecting the clock on the wooden desk, he willed the second hand to move faster. He had a nice drink of alcohol waiting for him back in his room. The first day of class, and already he wanted this to end. The entire cohort was useless. Only Roz and Franciz had shown some promise. Franciz’s small stature and strong powers would benefit him greatly, while Roz’s determination would get her far.
He uncrossed his legs and stood. As soon as he turned to face the door, though, it opened and the Headmaster stepped in. Her dark skin was illuminated by the warm lights surrounding them.
“Please sit,” she said simply, but there was an underlying authority to it that made him slouch back into the uncomfortable chair.
Headmaster Dritoria had hated Grimot since the day he had walked into this school as a cohort member, ready to face his Undertaking. She took one look at him during that first day, sighed exasperatedly, and had been up his ass ever since. It might have had to do with the fact that he used his powers to block various hallways with large rocks throughout the school, creating mass confusion when no other students could find their rooms. Could one really blame him? The school encouraged competition, and he liked winning. That was the reason he had done everything to win his Undertaking, and why he needed his students to succeed. Not only would failing cause the destruction in a village, but it would harm his chances of breaking the curse now bestowed upon him from the Gods. No one could fall behind—which made Kamine a huge problem.
Headmaster Dritoria relaxed in her chair and steepled her hands together. He could hear her tapping her feet.
“I know you know why you’re here,” she said.
Grimot tried not to roll his eyes. “Does it have to do with a student who can’t even defend themselves against a pebble?”
“No, it has to do withyouphysically assaulting a student,” she said angrily, not taking his shit.
He huffed a laugh. Unbelievable that such an accusation was being thrown at him. “That’s a stretch. It’s class. A demonstration.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t hear about any teaching happening.”
“And who exactly did you hear this from?” He would make sure they suffered.
The Headmaster cocked her head to the right. “I have ears all over this school, don’t try to test me.”
Grimot narrowed his eyes, but said, “My methods are harsh, but effective. A necessity to get them into shape by the Undertaking.”
“What you need is a full cohort to participate. If one of them is killed on your watch, then you’ll be the one a village comes after when there is no one there defending them. And I won’t help bail you out.”
She had a point. As much as he wanted to destroy these students’ spirits, the court needed them alive for the Undertaking.
“I’ll be gentler,” he promised.
