The Twilight Children//The School for Good and Evil

18 ~ Help

. : Sebastian of Neverland : .

Sebastian swung his wooden sword towards Tedros. The room was hot and stunk, as it normally did during the swordplay and weapons training class. Sweat dripped down Sebastian's face and the clash of metal was deafening throughout the room. It reverberated through his bones and set his soul on edge.

Physical exertion and noise. The only two things that could get the damned magic to quiet. Sebastian found that if he was exhausted, the magic would calm enough to let him sleep, only to return with a vengeance the next morning.

So he pushed himself more. Spent more time training. Spent more time running. He worked his body until he could barely stand and was dozing off in class.

His grades were slipping, but at least he could sleep.

It had been nearly two weeks since he had spoken to Laura outside the dining hall. The trial by tale was in a few days' time, and he knew he would be competing. His family had competed in the trial by tale for as far back as the school went.

Sebastian was worried. The magic he now apparently permanently contained was scratching at his insides. The exercise was working for now, but still, the magic seemed to riot.

He slammed his sword into Tedros, pushing the blond boy toward the edge of the ring that was painted on the floor. Next to him, Nikolas of Gillikin and Chaddick of Foxwood sparred as well. 

He kept tossing over what Laura had said. He could either die, go insane, or learn to control.

Sebastian thrust his sword at Tedros' side, stepping away. Tederos' wooden sword moved to hit Sebastian's arm.

Death, understandably, was not an option. Not only did Sebastian not want to die, but he was also the only living heir to Havfrue. Without him, the kingdom would pass into the hands of his estranged Uncle, and Sebastian would rather have someone like Laura rule a kingdom than his Uncle.

Tedros took the offensive, rapidly swinging his sword towards Sebastian in slash over slash. Sebastian met each swing easily, the smell of metal and the clash of the sword sinking into his blood.

Insanity also seemed unappealing. He had been taught that he must be a strong but peaceful leader. Insanity wasn't conducive to those measures.

Sebastian ducked as Tedros swung at his head, and slashed his sword at Tedros' legs. Tedros crumpled to the ground.

Control was a horrible thought. The last thing he wanted was to accept the magic.

Sebastian stepped forwards, his sword to Tedros' throat.

And then again, he didn't have to accept it or yield it. If he could learn to keep it hidden and pressed down, he wouldn't need to worry about unleashing anything accidentally.

Tedros grinned up at him, and let go of his sword, swinging his hand up to grab Sebastian and pull himself up.

A slight twinge of guilt arose in him. What if his parents? What would they say if they knew? 

Enough. They didn't know, and would never know. Tedros wouldn't need to know. None of his family, his friends, nobody needed to know. 

Except for Laura. 

Sebastian glanced around, worried that someone might be able to hear his thoughts. Professor Espada approached and Sebastian twisted his wrist on the sword. Tedros followed his motion and stepped towards him to begin sparring again. 

And yet she hadn't told anyone. She had kept it a secret. She knew it could ruin him. He would no longer be a prince, a soldier, or a son, and yet she hadn't told anyone.