The week hadn't been particularly normal for Mahirah Corvane.
And since she was so used to normality, anomalies never sat well with her.
The hearing had taken place on Monday morning. And the outco was still unsettling to most.
An executive eting had been held that sa afternoon. And soone—Elsie surely— had suggested hosting a fun activity to lighten the mood in the academy.
Then Garrett, who was always looking for an excuse to party, brought up the Light festival.
It hadn't been held the year before so students would naturally be excited. It would be perfect.
Mahirah had disagreed.
"I don't think this is the right ti to hold a festival. Mid-sester trials are around the corner. It could cause a distraction."
Garrett groaned.
"Of course I'm aware it would cause a distraction. The Transfer case has been permanently closed, students aren't too pleased about it. We can't risk a riot."
"Garrett has a point." Bryant, Treasurer, leaned forward. "After the tension of last week and this morning, I think we all need a break."
Mahirah folded her arms.
"Still, I don't think the Transfer issue is worth stressing about. It's over now. We should press forward. And trials are next."
Garrett let out a breath. "There she goes again, like a broken record."
Mahirah's gaze sharpened.
"What did—"
"Mahirah." Gwen, Events Chair, cut in quickly with a nervous smile. "I think what he's trying to say is, a little fun wouldn't hurt."
"Fun?" Mahirah almost scoffed. "Do you think we're here to have fun?"
"This isn't APG Prep."
Ackerman, who had been watching the ensuing argunt in silence, finally spoke.
"I can imagine all the rigorous activities you've subjected yourself to have erased all feelings of joy," he continued. "But not everyone is lucky enough to be considered an elite weapon of destruction."
Mahirah had already turned red.
Ackerman went on in complete disregard.
"Must be quite a load to carry. Why don't you stick to your preparation and we handle regular affairs?"
It had taken everything in Mahirah to stop herself from charging at him.
She had simply stood and left with her fists clenched so hard her palms bled.
That evening, her trainer had refused to let her practice boxing because of her palm, claiming her hands would hurt.
And then she was sent to the academy clinic.
Mahirah had never missed a day of training in her life.
***
On Tuesday, test scores had been distributed and Mahirah had gotten one question wrong.
She couldn't believe it.
Then, during fencing, she was paired with Kristen, an annoying classmate who could never seem to leave her alone.
"Really, sir?" Kristen had asked the Instructor when he paired them. "Corvane?"
Mahirah scoffed.
"Is she the best you could offer, Instructor?" She asked, inspecting her manicured nails. "You can't expect to fence a low-grade student."
Kristen's eyes narrowed. "I'll show you who's low grade."
She put on her helt and flexed her foil.
Mahirah smirked and did the sa.
Kristen turned out to be a better opponent than expected.
Not better than Mahirah. But good enough to keep up. Their foils clashed repeatedly.
Back and forth. Point for point.
Neither gaining a clear advantage.
The Instructor watched with approval.
Several students had stopped their own matches to observe. Kristen smirked behind her helt.
"You know, I finally figured out why you're popular."
Mahirah parried smoothly.
"Do tell."
"It's your face." Mahirah rolled her eyes.
Their foils t again.
"And here I was hoping for an original thought."
A few students laughed. Kristen's smile widened.
"I'm serious. People overlook a lot when soone's pretty."
Mahirah attacked. Kristen matched her.
Then ca the next one.
"And your hair."
Mahirah's grip tightened. "What about it?"
"It's strange."
Another clash.
"It looks silky straight from a distance, but I can definitely see those curls underneath."
Mahirah's expression cooled.
Kristen shrugged.
"Kind of ugly if you think about it. I wonder how many hours you spend hiding that thing."
Mahirah didn't answer.
She attacked harder.
Kristen retreated a step.
Then smiled.
"Oh. That one landed."
The match continued.
Foils flashed.
Footwork echoed across the training floor.
Then Kristen spoke again.
"Student Council Secretary."
Mahirah's eyes narrowed.
"What about it?" She spoke through gritted teeth.
Kristen laughed.
"You only got the position because you're friends with a Viremont."
Several students looked away imdiately.
Mahirah's jaw tightened.
Kristen kept going.
"Let's be honest. Without Apollo nobody would've cared."
The next exchange ca harder.
Much harder.
Kristen was forced back.
Yet she continued.
Because she couldn't help herself.
Then ca the final mistake.
"Prep probably happened the sa way."
Everything slowed.
Mahirah stopped moving.
Kristen laughed.
"Your father sits in the Assembly." Silence.
"You were probably handed your place before the entrance exam even started."
Sothing inside Mahirah snapped.
The next attack drove Kristen backward.
Then another. And another.
Gone was the controlled rhythm of fencing.
Gone were the rules. Mahirah advanced relentlessly.
Kristen barely managed to block. The force behind each strike increased. Students scattered.
The Instructor imdiately stepped forward.
"Corvane!"
Mahirah didn't stop. Kristen backed away desperately.
Another strike.
Another.
Another.
"Corvane!"
No response.
Kristen stumbled into a group of students.
Nowhere left to retreat.
The Instructor's voice rang out again.
"Corvane! Halt!"
Mahirah seethed.
"Ti out my foot."
She lunged at Kristen.
Then—
Sothing poked her buttocks. Mahirah froze.
For exactly one second.
Then spun around.
And there she was. The Prep Zero. Proof of Echelon's disgrace.
Holding a foil awkwardly. No helt. No awareness.
Only a nervous laugh.
"I'm sorry." Yesu smiled weakly.
Mahirah stared. Yesu imdiately took a step back.
"It was an accident."
"Corvane!" The Instructor was already advancing.
Mahirah marched toward Yesu.
Yesu backed away again.
"It was an accident."
Mahirah raised her foil. Then brought it down.
The blade sliced through the sleeve of Yesu's fencing suit.
The cloth tore cleanly. Yesu didn't flinch.
Mahirah's voice was ice cold.
"I'm sorry." A pause.
"It was an accident."
"Corvane, that is enough."
The Instructor finally reached them.
"Get out of my class. You're done for the day."
Mahirah's chest rose and fell rapidly. Like soone who had been running.
She lowered the foil, turned. And walked away.
Then, Kristen's laughter rang out from a corner.
Mahirah stopped. Slowly removed her helt.
And threw it directly at her.
It was the first ti she had been kicked out of a lesson. Later that day, Mahirah got summoned to guidance and counseling.
She ignored it.
***
On Wednesday morning, Apollo had shown up at Prep with a walking boot and crutch.
That was the most irregular thing Mahirah had seen all week.
As far as she could rember, Apollo had never gotten a scratch in his life.
She hadn't been surprised when he had refused to speak about it.
But she had been surprised when he had lied.
And then spoke to her so rudely afterwards.
The world seed to have turned upside-down.
***
Now it was Thursday. The festival was tomorrow.
And while her fellow students excitedly made preparations for it, Mahirah was running laps.
Fighting punching bags.
Reading on system classification, different ability types and techniques.
Mid-sester trials would begin next week.
She absolutely could not fail.
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