Caged Birds Will Fly

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Chapter Five: Woman of Armor 

H E L E N
My skirt sticks to my legs as I walk, and I tug on it once more; my jet-black hair in a ponytail. I slip on my black school shoes and head out the door. Ivory walks next to me and judging from the way he sways back and forth, he didn't sleep last night. The wind blows softly, and the wildebeest swings from branch to branch in the wind; my brown leather satchel bangs against my thigh lightly. The classes are easy, but the prejudice that the teachers and students have is astonishing. By lunchtime, I am exhausted, tired, and drained. The cafeteria is massive, much different than the commoner's school down the block. It disgusts me. I steadily hold my tray as I try to locate Ivory. I spot his table and hurry to his side, beside him are Aurous, Jack Littin, and Davis Harding. I swallow the lump in my throat and sit down. The boys' eye me suspiciously, but with Ivory's stern face, they drop it. I take out my book of Knight Strategies and begin to read the pages that I had practically memorized. I felt a tap on my shoulders and turned to see a girl with lavender hair and clear amethyst eyes standing behind me with a forced smile, "Hi, so are you the girl that got into the Knight's section of Tiransi Academy". I put down my book and turned to face her, "And who are you to know?"; for a moment I saw anger flash through her eyes, "I am Prince Aurous's fiancé-"
"Not "fiancé" yet, she means, don't you Gwen", Davis interrupted. Gwen gritted her teeth and force a smile onto her face, "Why Viscount Davis, I didn't see you there! I am so sorry, but I am Prince Aurous's fiancé". Lightening clashed between him and I sneakily tried to return to my book. Not my problem, not my problem, not my problem, I chanted in my head. She sat down beside me, "What are you reading". She snatched the book from my hands, " "Top Battle Strategies from Midterm Wars", why would any lady want to read this nonsense. Try "The Newest Trends of The Capital", it is so much more fitting". I clenched my jaw, she didn't mean any harm from that, I thought. I took the book out of her hands, "While you may like the latest trends in the Capital, I find this fascinating. Though I am a woman, I would rather help fight than let myself be hidden and await death or someone to save me. Even if you are the Prince's fiancé, that does not give you the right to deny other people's interest, even mine". She stood up and poured her tea over my head, "HOW DARE YOU?! YOU'RE JUST SOME ORPAN!". I sat there in shock and anger as Ivory picked me off and ran; I clung to him, the hotness of the tea staining my shirt and burning through it at an alarming rate. I was scooped up and flung onto his bed as he began to search my drawer for something I could wear. He settled on a large button-up shirt, dark grey jeans, and a jacket. I gratefully accepted the items and changed in the bathroom. When I came out, Ivory was sitting on the bed; his face rested on the back of his hand. "I am so sorry", he muttered, "I should have stopped her, but he was there... I know it's no excuse-". I cut him off, "Don't you dare... don't blame yourself for what she did-", I flexed my arm, "okay, see I'm not hurt, so don't blame yourself like this". I took his face in my arms and looked into his dark green eyes, "Do you want me to be happy?", I asked He nodded. "Then smile. Show me the smile that I so love". And for the first time that day, he smiled. I, realizing my words, blushed and walked out the door.

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"Why is Ardor considered a lost country?", Mr. Volendin states to the class. I slump in my seat as do the other students during his lecture, "Long ago Ardor stole Hestia's fire and brought it to her lover Nevermore. After feeling betrayed by her own, Hestia summoned her sister, Hermi, and asked her to lock her up. Feeling sorry for the couple, Hermi secretly locked Ardor and Nevermore together, creating Ardor and the Neverlands. Four months later Hestia and Hermi battled Gaia and Jezebeth. Afterwords Jezebeth rested in Nevermore. Henceforth Nightshades were born". He looks around the class, checking for students who were not paying attention; on impulse, I sit straighter in my seat. Ivory leans into me, "Did he see?", he asks. I stare at him, "I don't think he saw the drool from your mouth". He hastily wipes frantically, I laugh under my breath. They tell of the main countries of Elevrly. I take notes, 'Maybe they could help me in the future', I thought. 

Our next class is P.E. Mr. Resse asks us to run four laps before training. He pulls me to the side and whispers into my ear, "You don't have to run. I know how weak you girl's stamina is". I shake my head, I know he means so harm, but it still stings, "No. I will run". I start off, gaining speed. I pace next to Ivory. He smiles at me. "Want to have a race?", I challenge. He accepts. I sprint faster, gaining momentum; he dashes past me. My feet scrape the dirt as I propel forward; I breathe faster, inching farther and farther away from him. We tie. I slap his hand, gasping hard. Sweat stains my forehead, my white blouse almost see-through. We stare at the others, who have yet to catch up with us. I begin to stretch, Ivory follows me. The coach stares at me, "Told you I can run". He smirks, "Yes...yes you did". The slight smell of the daisy wafts into my nostrils. We walk towards the field for combat training. Everyone is catching their breath. "Everyone will be assigned partners", he says which makes us groan. My partner is Ferric, heir to Grey Industries. He boasts that fighting a girl is like crushing a fragile bug. Ivory reminds him that I came in first with him and he goes red. The battle is "fairly" even. Ferris attacks continuously while I wait for the perfect moment to strike. He grabs my wrist and flings me over, luckily, I land on my feet. This leaves his left side wide open for me to roundhouse-kick him. He collapses to the ground but freezes my right foot. With my other foot, I step his face into the ground. That felt strangely good. The others, except Ivory, seemed shocked at my victory; he stands there clapping and grinning. My smile shone brighter when I spotted that a Knight witnessed the entire time, except he... isn't smiling. The Knight walked over, "you there, girl. That was good, Sage. I expect remarkable things from you. Is that clear?", he had a very Russian accent. "Yes, Sir!". I grin stupidly. I knew why I felt like this: for once my efforts were rewarded. After all this time. Mr. Resse sends me to fight another male. He seemed more skilled, using his earth magic to weigh down my body. I almost feel sorry for him because, at the house of Matthews, I was forced to learn to deal with pressure. Lydia would often pressure me into marriage, luckily, I was reincarnated in time to stop this. I rise from the ground, startling him. I glare at him and used my Gia to morph pale rosy wings onto my back. I once again turn my arms into pale spears. He runs, building steps from the earth. I slice through the dirt, making him fall. His eyes are fearful, but I do it anyway. I hit him down, hard. He's pounded deep into the ground, dirt and rocks fly from the impact. I flutter down, gaining support from Ivory. I had won. The growing pain I felt from my wings were the consequences of my weak body. One step closer. Do not faint, I chant to myself. This seemed to satisfy the Knight. Mr. Resse grinned at me, showing his canine teeth. Ivory carried me on his shoulders as I blushed rose. Blast my fair skin. Some were curious because that didn't seem like a skill from the house of Matthews.