Radiance - The Alight Archives Book #1

51. Halfbreed

Clearing her throat, Adeline gathered the stack of paper off the table and into her hands, standing straight with her eyes as focused and clear as pale-colored flames. 

"And that concludes morning announcements, everyone. However, if you wish for me to better elaborate on something, please converse with me after homeroom, and I'll see to it that your concerns and inquiries are resolved." The girl gave a bow towards the class, and, in a well-assured stride, she made her way back to her own desk, sanguine hair flowing behind her.

Elaine spun the pen in her fingers, her head leaning against her wrist as she watched Adeline take her seat in the row ahead of hers. It was still hard to believe that such a prominent figure and powerful sorcerer was her class president, let alone one of her classmates.

Though she seemed polite and well-mannered, Elaine often had trouble speaking with the girl as her intrasigent aura was sometimes too much to handle, and staring at the girl in her eyes, why, Elaine would close in on herself at a single glance, and she wasn't the only one.

Many other of her homeroom classmates all shared a similar consensus in regard to Adeline. While they all respected her and her undeniable aptitude for sorcery, there seemed to be an underlying sense of intimidation that hung in the air. Pure admiration could only go so far in compensating for that feeling.

As far as Elaine was aware, there were only a handful of people who weren't immediately daunted by Adeline's presence. One of those select few was Mason Hammer, who just so happened to be her very own desk neighbor. 

Then again, the tall, curly-haired boy was very rarely fazed by anything. Elaine took a quick peek out of the corner of her eye at him; as always, he sat quietly at his desk with a stoic expression, his fists clenched before him.

Movement at the front of the class pulled Elaine's attention away from him, and lo and behold, there appeared another mage whose spirits would never falter from Adeline's innately domineering aura; if anything, the reverse was true.

With a sleepish glower plastered on his pale face, Professor Marsh steadily stalked to his desk, hands concealed inside his dark-colored cloak's pockets. As always, Lyra, the crow, was perched on his shoulder. Elaine flinched as the feathered creature cocked its head to one side so that it may peer its large eye directly at her, almost as if it could, in some way, detect her thoughts or, rather, discern her emotions.

"All right, class. I have a headache, so I'll make this brief." Marsh pinched the bridge of his nose as a yawn escaped him. Truly, it looked like the man had just arisen from bed, his eyes red and the dark hair spilling over his shoulders more disheveled than normal. He was a complete mess this morning. "I doubt it's much of a secret now that a few members of our homeroom class managed to entangle themselves in a bit of controversy recently. There was a sorcerer duel declared and initiated without the proper authorization; a most egregious offense, indeed."

Elaine felt the weight of his stare—though Professor Marsh wasn't particularly looking in her direction—as it poured over her, almost as if invisible hands were attempting to crush her in her seat. At the front of the class, Elaine noticed Kliff shuffling uncomfortably, lunging a frustrated scowl at their homeroom's front door as if he were eager to stand up and march right out. She hoped he wouldn't; they were already in enough trouble.

"I won't waste time going over the details," Professor Marsh muttered. "From what I've been told, our headmaster has already dealt with these trouble-makers. I can only emphasize that, in the future, all of you think before you act, lest you want to receive an even harsher punishment from yours truly. I assure you, I'm far less forgiving than Headmaster Valerian. Remember that, you bunch of brats." Lyra shuffled her feathers on his shoulder and squawked in his ear. "Hmm? Oh, that's right. We're approaching the halfway point of the semester, aren't we? I hope you haven't forgotten about the Radiant Star that I'm owed from every one of you. There isn't that much time left."