Rave Academy

Chapter V

Rosalie Solace (1967)

   "Today was so exhausting!" Blake whined, dragging his feet into the library.
   I rolled my eyes, flipping the page of my book. Blake always complained about his day. It could be a day full of fun things yet he'd find something to complain about.
   "Blake," Bailey hissed, "No one cares!"
   Blake sat onto a dark brown leather chair that was pushed up against the corner of a light brown brick wall. Bailey handed him a black spiral notebook with his name on it but he just placed it on the floor.
   "Bailey, do you have notes on mint leaves reactions to curses?" I asked.
   Bailey was busy writing something down in her Alchemist journal. Her eyes lifted up from her journal, as she turned towards me.
   "Yeah," Bailey answered, "But it's in my dorm."
   "Oh okay," I smiled, "Can I drop by your dorm later today?"
   Bailey nodded, going back to writing in her book. Darlene had walked into the room, shoving a book into Blake's hands. "You left it in Miss Sinclair's classroom," Darlene sighed, sitting in a seat next to me.
   I looked up to the sound of books falling. Seeing Ms Lu's cat, Pepper, sitting on a bookshelf where books used to be.
   "Pepper!" Ms Lu yelled, walking from behind
her counter with a tray of blue butterfly-patterned mugs and a white glass plate of large marshmallows, maple syrup, candy canes, and chocolate muffins.
   Ms Lu walked towards us, placing the tray on the coffee table that we surrounded. Darlene Squealed, thanking Ms Lu and grabbing a mug of the brown liquid we were provided with.
   "Hot chocolate?" Ms Lu said, rolling her eyes at how quick Darlene was, "You guys are the 4th group of kids to visit the library today."
  I picked up a marshmallow from the plate, plopping it in my mouth. The taste of pure sugar filled my mouth, seconds later the taste became bitter to me. I hated marshmallows yet I still eat them.
   "Kids don't like reading nowadays," Darlene said, placing her hot chocolate on the table.
   I pushed another marshmallow into my mouth, tasting the sweet yet bitter taste again. Bailey grabbed herself a mug, placing a candy cane into it.
   "You chose for the new student to go in my dorm?" I asked Ms Lu, before eating another marshmallow.
   "I thought you wanted a roommate," Ms Lu said, sitting in the empty seat.
   Ms Lu was our librarian, she was in her mid-twenties. Her black hair was pulled into a bun, her bright blue eyes resembled the light blue sky. She wore a sundress with sunflower patterns around the white prints.
   "Don't eat all of the marshmallows!" Blake yelled at me, taking a marshmallow and putting it into his mug.
   I rolled my eyes, flipping another page of the book I was reading. "Yeah, but I'd rather know someone who's going to be my roommate," I complained.
   "I think you're really going to like her," Ms Lu smiled, "You may be the best of friends.'
   "So you're trying to have her replace me?" Darlene asked, lifting a brow.
   Ms Lu laughed, "No silly. I'm just giving her a roommate that could be her friend. You have Bailey."
   Darlene doesn't respond, rolling her eyes.
§•°•~•°•§
   I sit down on a bench, placing my sword against it and pulling my hair into a messy bun. I practiced swordsmanship after school with Ms Ophelia.
   The sound of wind brushing against the trees catches my attention, a bird was sitting on one of the branches. It's eyes on me. A hummingbird. The bird was a hummingbird. It had green and white feathers. Its body was covered with the white feathers while its wings were covered in green. Its eyes were pure black, its beak was long and thin. The bird sat on the branch peacefully, uninterrupted from whatever it's doing.
   "Rosalie Solace!" Ms Ophelia snapped, causing me to turn towards her.
   Ms Ophelia clicked her tongue as I got up from my seat, putting my sword in my hand. Ms Ophelia backs up, picking up her sword from a small box. How did it fit in there? I have no idea.
   "Your training yesterday went somewhat well," Ms Ophelia sighed.
   Unlike me, Ms Ophelia felt like she didn't need any gear. I was wearing black iron shoulder pads; Black iron knee pads; black iron chest plate; and black leather gloves. The rest of my clothes were also black.
   "Today, we will focus on defense," Ms Ophelia spoke, propping her body into a fighting position.
   She wore black pants and a button up white shirt. Her sword was double-bladed. The handle is wrapped up with leather. Even though the sword was double-bladed, the blade was dull.
   I prop into my fighting position. We will focus on defense. This means I have to block her attacks. Ms Ophelia swung the sword forward, and I backed up. She swung the sword again and I blocked the hit with mine.
   Sword training. I want nothing to do with it. But my father saw it on the school paper and wanted me to train in it. I wanted to do something more demure, like ballet, piano or violin.
   I pushed Ms Ophelia's sword from mine, or backed up from its hits. This is how it was over and over again.
   I looked towards the sound of a bird. Seeing the hummingbird from earlier. It flew off, flying up into the sky. I turned back to Ms Ophelia. Her sword was close to me, too close. I felt the object hit against my shoulder, and I fell to the floor.
   "You need to focus!" Ms Ophelia demanded, lending me a hand.
   I grabbed Ms Ophelia's hand, she pulled me back to my feet. As soon as she let go of my hand, she hit her sword against mine, and my sword was thrown to the floor.
   "Don't trust anyone," Ms Ophelia ordered, "That's how you couldn't meet a high score in the maze!"
   I took in a deep breath, picking up my sword. I wasn't made for sword fighting, yet I take these lessons at least 3 times a week.
   "Come back tomorrow," Ms Ophelia said, "Train by yourself then come back tomorrow. And rest."
   I tightened my grip around my sword as Ms Ophelia walked off. She met with a black-haired guy who was training by himself. Unlike me, he was one of the kids who were well trained in Sword fighting. He probably puts effort into it because sword fighting is something dear to him.
   Unlike me, He was focused on fixing his flaws, I just wanted my lessons to be over with. He had Ms Ophelia proud of the skills he worked with, Ms Ophelia wants me to work on skills.
   Ms Ophelia talked to him yet I couldn't hear her. The guy fixed his fighting stance, swinging his sword against the air as he fought a pretend person. Ms Ophelia clapped her hands as she saw his skills.