The Institute for Mianite Arts

Chapter 80: Jazlyn's Sunday: I Draw the Line

I woke up like normal.

I went to Alyssa's room like normal.

I ate breakfast like normal.

Everything was normal.

But everything felt different.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Alyssa asked, looking deeply concerned. "I shared your worry at first, but now everything's fine. Do you think something's wrong?"

"Everything feels wrong," I answered, frustrated, running my fingers through my hair anxiously. "But nothing actually is wrong, and I don't know what to do about it."

"Just relax," she said, sounding uncertain. "Just like you said, nothing actually is wrong, and there's nothing you can do. Once you calm down and realize there's no danger around us, everything will be fine."

Easy for you to say. "Yeah, you're probably right. I'm sure it's just my anxiety acting up," I sighed. "It'll go away soon, probably."

She relaxed. "Oh, good, you agree." The two of us stood up to leave. "Well, I'm thinking we should practice Ars Magica."

"Yeah, you're probably right. Should we go back and get our spellbooks?" I asked.

Alyssa reached into the bag she was carrying and pulled hers out. "I've already got mine on me. Do you want me to come down with you to get yours? Or should I meet you in Waglington's classroom?"

"Meet me," I said, already leaving. "There's no need for you to come all the way down with me."

"Alright." She readjusted her bag on her shoulder and flipped open her spellbook, looking through it as she exited the room. 

I left through a side door, heading down a hallway. I silently went through a list of things I would have to practice today in order to be on top of our current lesson. No time for flirting today, I'd need to buckle down and get some real work done. 

"HOW DARE YOU?" Suddenly, a loud yell erupted from the room next to me. Something smashed, and high-pitched screaming sounded. I immediately dropped everything I was holding and shoved open the door, leaping into the room.

Somehow, I wasn't surprised to see Lucas, fighting a boy who I recognized as Jake.

"What are you doing?" I snapped, furious. "Get off of him!" I tried to pry him off of Jake.

For the first time, he didn't fight back. "Jazlyn, he was hurting Lucy!"

"What do you mean?" I asked, stepping back. I turned to see the frightened Ianitee huddling in the back corner, looking absolutely petrified. "What was he doing?"

"He tried to force her to kiss him!" Lucas attempted to throw more punches at Jake, but he was too strong. Lucas fell to the floor, bleeding, and looked at me desperately. 

I didn't have my sword with me, but that doesn't mean I wasn't strong enough to take this idiot down. "You tried to force Lucy to kiss you?" I hissed at Jake, pinning him to the floor with my foot.

"He... he might have even gone further," Lucy whispered, shaking, "if Lucas hadn't come soon enough. Please don't be mad at him, he was just trying to help..."

"Oh, I'm not mad at Lucas," I said, boiling with rage. "Lucas did the right thing. This piece of absolute shit, on the other hand..."

"EXCUSE ME?" Jake hollered, punching me. "Don't act like you're so great. I can take you down even more easily than I took down Lucas. You girls are so weak..." Before he could finish his sentence, I smacked him as hard as I could. 

This is where I draw the line.

"ME? WEAK?" I screamed, throwing as many punches as I could at his face. "Don't you dare think, for a second, that you are better than any of us, you hear me? Just because you're male, just because you're strong physically, gives you... absolutely... no... more... privileges!" With each word, I delivered another hit to the side of his face. 

"Alright, I get it! You can punch, jeez!" Jake snarled, pushing me away. He looked like was going to leave for a second, but then whirled around and hit me in the cheek, catching me off guard. "Didn't see that coming, now did you?" he taunted.

While he was laughing, I punched him in the gut, sending him flying to the floor. "You tried to force a girl to kiss you, Jake? Did I hear that correctly?" 

He struggled to get up, but I pinned him to the floor again. I'm sure he loved the smell of my shoe next to his face. "You're not my leader!" he snapped. "You can't tell me what to do!"

"Your leader is female, if I recall correctly," I hissed, "and I don't think she'd be pleased to discover that you tried to take advantage of a girl, now would she?" I kicked him in the soft spot, gently, but enough so that he was in pain. 

"Leave... me... alone!" he shouted, growing desperate.

"LEAVE YOU ALONE?" I let out a humorless laugh. "Why would I leave you alone? Is it because I'm forcing you into a situation that's uncomfortable for you? I wonder how that must feel."

Lucy let out a small laugh from the back of the room, which gave me hope and confidence. 

"She should have just enjoyed the kiss, and anything that followed it," Jake snapped back. "She didn't need to be all whiny..."

"ALL WHINY?" He was making this too easy. "Well, why aren't you enjoying me hurting you?" I kicked him repeatedly. "I'm enjoying hurting you. You should just be enjoying this, right? Why wouldn't you enjoy it, if I'm enjoying it?" I looked him dead in the eye and hissed, "Maybe it's time you learned that the world doesn't revolve around you."

I stepped back and allowed him to get to his feet, wincing. "Stupid bitch, should've just minded your own..." he started to say, but I was done. Absolutely done. I held his uninjured arm with both hands, and in one swift motion, bent it back and pushed it against a wall.

The cracking sound it made could be heard from all corners of the room, as well as the shriek that followed.

"And that," I said proudly, watching him stare in horror at his limp arm, "was for saying that I was weak. Now get out of here. You can go tell your precious leader why you're hurt. And if you lie, let's just say that the gods are going to take the word of me, Lucy, and Lucas, over yours."

He ran out of the room, seething. I watched him go, feeling stronger and more confident than ever before.

"What happened?" Alyssa gasped when I entered the Dine at Night for lunch, covered in blood and bruises.

I sat down next to her, and grinned at the shocked faces staring at me. "I drew the line."