The Flame

CHAPTER 12

We made our way towards the dining hall for our lunch. Unlike in the morning, now the tables were already filled with our food, and my stomach welcomed the food again.

We all huddled together at the far end of the table, talking and laughing at our professors. The food was really good and I didn't stop myself until my stomach was full.

I got up to wash my hands and so walked up to the far opposite side of the hall. I knew I cannot handle pumps well, but I also knew that I was not that clumsy enough to fall off while walking on a straight floor, but I did trip down. I know it caught a lot of attention because I did hear a loud laughter around me. I recovered quickly from the awkward position I fell on, to see the person who put me in this embarrassing moment, Princess Genn.

I didn't know I could hate someone so much, the first day I've met them itself, but she tops off all the charts. She was looking down at me, her eyes sparkling with humour and a smirk on her face, it took every ounce of my self-control to not just turn around and do anything to wipe that smirk off her face. I was not going to let this bitch get me, no matter what.

"So this is what you do, if you don't get it your way huh? Pretty cheap for you Princess" I barked, and oh mahn! That look, that look she gave me. I instantly knew that the insult got too deep into her viens, she looked mad; she thought that by embarrassing me she could teach me a lesson, but girl, she was so wrong...so so wrong.

We had a lot of spectators now, all looking for some really spicy drama; of course, the famous Princess put in her right place would be quite a drama.

She opened her mouth to say something but stopped when she saw Olivia coming, breaking through the crowd to know the reason for the commotion.

"What's going on here?" She directed at me, I felt slightly offended the way she thought I might be the one causing trouble. Genn immediately got into some ridiculous story of how I got tripped down and she helped me up. The way she kept her princess face all the time and was effortlessly lying made me wish I could throw something at her perfect face right then. God! I already hate her for someone, I've met only three hours back.

Olivia ordered the crowd to disperse, and people started to leave for their classes. Merlin, Sonya, Katy, and all other friends of mine whose name I still don't remember all came rushing towards me. Genn long back left, satisfied by my humiliation, but something told me it wasn't over.

"You fine?" Katy asked, "Can you walk? you don't have a sprain, do you?" she continued surveying my ankles.

"Ohh, Jeez don't embarrass me Kat" I whispered, earning everyone's smile.

***

Their practical class was in one of their halls. Nothing like an assembly hall or something, because it was quite small for that. This practically looked like something specifically built for practical classes. There were papers lying in front of everyone, well everyone except for me. It was Professor Herlin again, though she didn't like me, she allowed me to attend her lecture but from a distance.

Before the class started, she called me up and told me that she doesn't want me to be seen. I know I couldn't be invisible but I made sure I kept a distance from her while she went around people sitting on the floor, with a piece of paper in front of them.

"So, students" she addressed them, forcing a fake smile. "All your educational years, you must've used a stationary to write, but now as magic flows in your veins stronger" she gave me a dirty smile pausing, then again shifted her attention to the class "You will no longer need stationeries to write, but will write or get your words inscribed on this paper using your mind, using magic.... Now I'll demonstrate once and then you try". She ordered them to stand so that they could have a clear view of what she was doing.

She made the paper hang on midair, though she didn't explain to them how she did it, I could only guess that it would be for their next lesson. She just closed her eyes briefly opened it and then simply stared at the paper, showing immense concentration and then all of the sudden words started appearing on the paper.

My name is Herlin Goviashkov.

"Now that looks very easy, but it needs a good amount of concentration from your part, as a beginner. Now get back to your places and start practising", she said clapping her hands together. Immediately everyone dashed back to their seat ready to perform magic for the first time, is what I assumed. Because after some time I realized that some didn't even break a sweat making words appear on that paper. It was just like some other day for them, But for others? Not so good.

I could see Katy not even looking away from her paper. I remembered the saying 'If looks could kill' for some reason, funny because the way she wasn't taking her eyes off her target, it was like suddenly it would catch fire, not able to withstand that much intensity. By the end of an hour, only a few could manage to inscribe a few words on their paper. I was oddly satisfied that everyone couldn't manage because I knew that Katy would take the failure too hard.

When the class got dismissed she wasn't in high spirits, and the continuous jabbering of Merlin of how well she succeeded was not helping either. We walked off silently to the next class which was on the open field outside the school building. I was happy to get some fresh air finally; after all, it was a long day. We walked off to the other side of the spherical building turning away from the direction we came from yesterday; this ground was more cleared and was well maintained, we walked off till the edge of the river and waited forming a semi-circle for Professor Krinton to start the class. Katy was anxiously looking around.

"Nice view isn't it?" I asked, trying to distract her.

"Rose? Will I be able to..." she didn't complete her sentence, and she didn't have to. I understood what was worrying her, she was told that she could perform magic, but she wants to be sure that she deserves to stay here.

"Yes, you will", I said smiling "You don't give up in one day, do you?" I continued. She didn't look quite resolved yet, but for now, she smiled back and with that Professor Krinton started speaking and she went back to being her nerd-taking-notes mode.

Something exciting is going to happen next...😁 I'm very excited...how excited are you???