A part of me wanted to tell her off, but she was right. The new girl received a blow to her gut.
“What’d we miss?” Gwen asked as she and Nick joined us.
“Nothing. Just the new girl getting beat,” Ivy replied. “They ask all new students before their first match if they’re willing to fight. New girl must’ve thought she could win.”
“Selene,” I corrected, not realizing I had spoken at first.
“Yeah, sure.” Ivy waved me off and continued mocking the match.
I ignored the others as I watched the tedious fight. Though Ivy was a strong level three air mage, she annoyed me, and yet, I still managed to be in her crew. The other two weren’t as terrible.
Selene tried blasting her opponent with gravel from the worn training field, but it didn’t have enough force to stop the other mage. She wasn’t manipulating her element well and her moves were slow and robotic … as if they were almost calculated.
I observed closely, watching the next strike against her. She pivoted just enough—
“Ender?” Ivy’s voice rose. “Are you coming?” She looked over her shoulder. The others were behind her, heading in the direction of the academy.
“I’ll catch up.” I looked back at the match just as Selene was slammed to the ground and the trainer ended the match. Her opponent wasn’t a strong mage, nor was she skilled in fighting. It was standard to see where the new student tested in their first week, but I doubt the trainer had expected Selene to do so poorly.
“Well, that didn’t last long.” Ivy let out a short, derisive laugh and clapped, sending the bangs echoing across the field.
A girl that looked similar to Selene, but with contrasting hair and eyes, went to help her up, and I figured her to be the younger sister. The Thomas sisters were the talk when they had first arrived—two beautiful new girls that no student or their family had known.
The sisters started toward the dorms, the crowd dispersing as the trainers ended class.
“Hey! New girl!” Ivy said as she, Gwen, and Nick intercepted the sisters. “That was quite the show, or lack thereof. Where did you say you were from?”
I rubbed my temple, deciding if I should intervene or just walk away.
“Nowhere important.” Gwen flipped her reddish-blonde hair over her shoulder.Hair. Something she and Ivy talked about excessively when they weren’t gossiping about others.
Selene blanched so briefly that it was hard to catch. Normally, I stayed out of Ivy and Gwen’s business; nonetheless, I found myself moving toward them. But before I made it to them, David stepped in.
“Now, mates, don’t judge where someone comes from—especially if you haven’t the faintest clue.” David stood in front of the sisters. I’ve seen him sit with April’s crew but hadn’t expected him to step in for the sisters, given his supposed record. Something in me ticked. I respected him for stepping in, but an unfamiliar sensation stirred internally, hating it.
The air marginally shifted and the hair on my arm stuck up. There was static that a lower level wouldn’t pick up. I glanced at David, but I didn’t see any sign of magic. The water rippled inside my Fives Academy water bottle, the vibrations faintly palpable through the clear container. Vivian’s hands clenched into fists at her sides, and Selene whispered something in her ear as she tugged at her arm. Right before they turned, Selene’s gaze met mine and her jaw set, anger filling her eyes.
It was a look I wouldn’t be able to wash away any time soon.
Chapter Six
Selene
ImissedViveventhoughI saw her daily. Our shared room back home was a privilege I wish I had again. Tomorrow would mark two weeks at the academy. We saw each other daily, but it wasn’t the same. And now I’d upset her.
“So you’re saying I can’t have any friends?” Viv clutched an Algebra textbook to her chest, her knuckles turning white. She wasn’t the quietest person, and since Ivy and Gwen had called us out on the training field last week, she hadn’t been so subtle about her distaste for them either.
“No.” All I’d mentioned was to blend in a little and avoid large gatherings. I sighed, leaning closer to her. “Mom’s killer is still out there. We don’t want to draw attention or for anyone to figure out we are the daughters of theNo Name Elementalwho was killed by a dark mage at her vacation home.”
Gossip and drama continued outside of high school walls as well, apparently, and it had made its way here. Mom’s name hadn’t been leaked to the public, to my knowledge.
Viv sighed. “Has Headmaster John given you any updates?”
“No, but I’m supposed to meet him later this week.” I glanced past her and down the hall, which was emptying for the next period. Everyone was moving fast for a Monday.
“It’s been two weeks. Dark mages aren’t known to be patient.” Viv shrugged and closed her locker. “I think we’re fine. Go find a guy to talk to. There’s a ton here.”
“We don’t know if we’re fine.” My tone lowered, her dismissiveness agitating. She knew I wasn’t interested in a relationship. Besides, her safety was my main focus, which meant there was no time for any relationships.
