
15Please respect copyright.PENANAMi8pk8Dfi1
15Please respect copyright.PENANAzszom1a8JU
15Please respect copyright.PENANACc0IQ7w0YH
Thanks to strict academic standards, Cinderfall Academy was brimming with students of high magical aptitude. High indeed, for the academy was ranked amongst the top schools in the Imperium, easily the top in the south-west, based on the magical median. As much a curse as it was a blessing, from where I stood. Stiff competition and multiple curses threatened to rob my standing right out from under me. If I maintained peak marks, I didn’t have to concern mtself with giving up my dorm to Lord so-and-so's brat. Unfortunately, book smarts had limits, and the practical exams were bound to hit with a vengeance. If not for Cinderfall, I’d be back at the orphanage. My anxiety returned, just thinking about it, and I swiped those thoughts away.
15Please respect copyright.PENANA5S0TuMxxhA
Nope.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAPF19q41XXg
My anxiety came anyway. Why? Because physical education was next on the schedule. It was the second semester, boys and girls. This is where the world ended, where my inadequacy really prepared to rear its head.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAzkGcHtjFdf
So, why was I forced to attend this course? Right, physical eduation was a mandate. It just happened to be one of Calum's recommendations on the road to academic success. Of course, the goal could be nothing but a pipe dream.
15Please respect copyright.PENANABg1KX4nII5
Blah and bleh roll around in my thoughts, deep in the mud pit.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAuqlQQ6fv7L
Trudging through concrete arches, wading through hosen, tunics, and what the scholars call pheromones, I began to second-guess everything about my future. Why did I care so much about having a prestigious occupation anyways? Maybe, it’s because nobody told me I couldn’t be a Magistrix? Somehow or another, I would harness the arcane and manipulate elements on a whim.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAfhLIgb6y3v
I beseeched the gods for the power to set my enemies on fire. That is all. Too much to ask? Yet, that ship sailed farther away with every lesson. To channel the mara crystals seemed impossible. Without that basic abilitity, what could I be but a priestess? But, but, but did I want to take those vows? No! I coud never blend in with the clergy or those sisters. What did they need to be strong casters? Zeal! Everybody knows that clergy members need zeal. My zeal was zero.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAkNOf6XuI6V
"Godsdammit!" I said aloud. Sauntering down the hall, some passing students glowered at me.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAPoEWlaqeB0
"Hey!"
15Please respect copyright.PENANA8JAp4O47LU
After dallying in the halls for too long, stuck in my head, I tried to hop, skip, and jump toward the arena. And I failed.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAUoxCtmdmvR
"Hey!"
15Please respect copyright.PENANAyOFjP8a9Xk
Who was being so loud?
15Please respect copyright.PENANAxlEjDPBQX7
"Hey!" A random ball of pale skin jumped in front of me: a boy. It startled me so, I almost tripped over the tiles. My hand shot to my cast to keep from stumbling. Who was this boy? Why did he do that? Confusion. Annoyance. Here I was, stuck before the combed and blonde piece of dough in front of me. He wore a silly cap on top of a goofy smile sliced with reddish dimples and a particular incision in between those buck teeth making him appear plumper. Somebody needs to lay off the cafeteria toffee, know what I mean? But then I recognized him. He was in my last class; was he not? Yes, yes, he was.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAApmkuLID0Q
"You are Pollux!" he stated, tightening his dimples wit a smile.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAzWzptdESxY
"Am I?"
15Please respect copyright.PENANAlrm02Gj4An
His face frowned in self-doubt. Gullible little meatball.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAnZ5qRagemX
I rolled my eyes. "Yes, I am..."
15Please respect copyright.PENANAJOlffKK5Xw
"I saw you chant that spell in Tome Study! Are you, like, some savant or something?"
15Please respect copyright.PENANAstyzrtdk5d
"I don't know; that was my first time."
15Please respect copyright.PENANA0mk8Vv39Ji
"So, you are a savant!"
15Please respect copyright.PENANAwrdL3BbNYc
"Listen!" I said sternly.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAKE867r61Um
The little gentleman froze. When he froze, I walked ‘round and right past him, silently. Unfortunately, he decided to follow me.
15Please respect copyright.PENANASS2uNIXNds
"So, Pollux, are you going to be a priestess? Maybe become Hierophant one day? My mother wanted to be Hierophant, but she said she couldn't because she had me. She said I can be Hierophant, so she takes me to the chapel and teaches me the Sacred Verse. You seem like you know you're way around holy magic, which is surprising! I have never seen you at the chapel! Maybe, I missed you. I ask because I was wondering if you tutor? I bet it's hard, though. Though, probably not for someone as good as you. Where are you going?"
15Please respect copyright.PENANAgHCk2Z93xf
"I'm going to Physical Education, er...”
15Please respect copyright.PENANAhUypQi5AE5
"Roy!" he said cheerfully. "That's my next class, too!"
15Please respect copyright.PENANAIAd0Oic4aJ
You're kidding. "You're kidding..."
15Please respect copyright.PENANAAjAtomxJoG
"I bet you're a real acrobat in the field."
15Please respect copyright.PENANAbC00qU2QMO
The fuck does that mean? "No, Ross, I'm not."
15Please respect copyright.PENANARDL1Ft6vmx
"It's Roy."
15Please respect copyright.PENANAEnPMVIePKD
"Ron. As you can see," I gestured to my cast with the limp leg within, "I can do neither acros nor batics."
15Please respect copyright.PENANAnZ7cFGEHK9
"Hehe, you talk talk funny. Is it true that you lost your memory?"
15Please respect copyright.PENANA44mt7ri82R
I stop. "And where did you hear that from, Roy?"
15Please respect copyright.PENANARDDYohfGhm
"I just heard it through the berry vines."
15Please respect copyright.PENANATv7QhrccXS
"Berry bines?"
15Please respect copyright.PENANAxaUzaRZvzr
"Some other students were whispering in class about it."
15Please respect copyright.PENANATKbgGBxIzR
For such a big academy, word spread spectacularly fast. Maybe ‘twas a fluke, a pebble in the stream. Roy was an anomaly. Most students couldn’t know about my condition, of which there is more than one, one being obvious. I refused to accept it. Sigh. I made my way through the open halls, which were all but empty now.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAEgXTrcncDV
"Is it true that you're an orphan?" exclaimed Roy.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAXoliVHGfEp
Goddess, help me
15Please respect copyright.PENANAv6cjsIhgud
15Please respect copyright.PENANAi5vtJdJljK
15Please respect copyright.PENANADraxiCsna3
Thanks to strict academic standards, Cinderfall Academy was brimming with students of high magical aptitude. High indeed, for the academy was ranked amongst the top schools in the Imperium, easily the top in the south-west, based on the magical median. As much a curse as it was a blessing, from where I stood. Stiff competition and multiple curses threatened to rob my standing right out from under me. If I maintained peak marks, I didn’t have to concern mtself with giving up my dorm to Lord so-and-so's brat. Unfortunately, book smarts had limits, and the practical exams were bound to hit with a vengeance. If not for Cinderfall, I’d be back at the orphanage. My anxiety returned, just thinking about it, and I swiped those thoughts away.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAlz9o809poa
Nope.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAWrcl0GoMeS
My anxiety came anyway. Why? Because physical education was next on the schedule. It was the second semester, boys and girls. This is where the world ended, where my inadequacy really prepared to rear its head.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAw9hbSM9TwC
So, why was I forced to attend this course? Right, physical eduation was a mandate. It just happened to be one of Calum's recommendations on the road to academic success. Of course, the goal could be nothing but a pipe dream.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAw8DsPc2m8R
Blah and bleh roll around in my thoughts, deep in the mud pit.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAZssrcwx0Vo
Trudging through concrete arches, wading through hosen, tunics, and what the scholars call pheromones, I began to second-guess everything about my future. Why did I care so much about having a prestigious occupation anyways? Maybe, it’s because nobody told me I couldn’t be a Magistrix? Somehow or another, I would harness the arcane and manipulate elements on a whim.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAyFggWyUw3d
I beseeched the gods for the power to set my enemies on fire. That is all. Too much to ask? Yet, that ship sailed farther away with every lesson. To channel the mara crystals seemed impossible. Without that basic abilitity, what could I be but a priestess? But, but, but did I want to take those vows? No! I coud never blend in with the clergy or those sisters. What did they need to be strong casters? Zeal! Everybody knows that clergy members need zeal. My zeal was zero.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAI4Q3BifZRn
"Godsdammit!" I said aloud. Sauntering down the hall, some passing students glowered at me.
15Please respect copyright.PENANARiXMo06JQr
"Hey!"
15Please respect copyright.PENANAp1FeK3KJ5n
After dallying in the halls for too long, stuck in my head, I tried to hop, skip, and jump toward the arena. And I failed.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAlP6hVfMPRl
"Hey!"
15Please respect copyright.PENANAxpTUPhF6oE
Who was being so loud?
15Please respect copyright.PENANA8E0opH2XjO
"Hey!" A random ball of pale skin jumped in front of me: a boy. It startled me so, I almost tripped over the tiles. My hand shot to my cast to keep from stumbling. Who was this boy? Why did he do that? Confusion. Annoyance. Here I was, stuck before the combed and blonde piece of dough in front of me. He wore a silly cap on top of a goofy smile sliced with reddish dimples and a particular incision in between those buck teeth making him appear plumper. Somebody needs to lay off the cafeteria toffee, know what I mean? But then I recognized him. He was in my last class; was he not? Yes, yes, he was.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAtInfY6mcSB
"You are Pollux!" he stated, tightening his dimples wit a smile.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAofKLQDDRxZ
"Am I?"
15Please respect copyright.PENANAqDd6odux45
His face frowned in self-doubt. Gullible little meatball.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAgxwyryGuPH
I rolled my eyes. "Yes, I am..."
15Please respect copyright.PENANAS0YxBGFV5J
"I saw you chant that spell in Tome Study! Are you, like, some savant or something?"
15Please respect copyright.PENANABeneWwcDEa
"I don't know; that was my first time."
15Please respect copyright.PENANAYSPakwaqiQ
"So, you are a savant!"
15Please respect copyright.PENANA7W8wpBX9uS
"Listen!" I said sternly.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAfAMwV80Vsp
The little gentleman froze. When he froze, I walked ‘round and right past him, silently. Unfortunately, he decided to follow me.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAcR79Wc558P
"So, Pollux, are you going to be a priestess? Maybe become Hierophant one day? My mother wanted to be Hierophant, but she said she couldn't because she had me. She said I can be Hierophant, so she takes me to the chapel and teaches me the Sacred Verse. You seem like you know you're way around holy magic, which is surprising! I have never seen you at the chapel! Maybe, I missed you. I ask because I was wondering if you tutor? I bet it's hard, though. Though, probably not for someone as good as you. Where are you going?"
15Please respect copyright.PENANAwWShH3xoNe
"I'm going to Physical Education, er...”
15Please respect copyright.PENANACeQXnYdTl6
"Roy!" he said cheerfully. "That's my next class, too!"
15Please respect copyright.PENANAnSnCIpyApB
You're kidding. "You're kidding..."
15Please respect copyright.PENANAzY6YJhvnOl
"I bet you're a real acrobat in the field."
15Please respect copyright.PENANAD5PEi2IoMn
The fuck does that mean? "No, Ross, I'm not."
15Please respect copyright.PENANAlq6fj31Ccu
"It's Roy."
15Please respect copyright.PENANAAtgLz3O3II
"Ron. As you can see," I gestured to my cast with the limp leg within, "I can do neither acros nor batics."
15Please respect copyright.PENANA9Px5vlv00A
"Hehe, you talk talk funny. Is it true that you lost your memory?"
15Please respect copyright.PENANAoFDSlHt28o
I stop. "And where did you hear that from, Roy?"
15Please respect copyright.PENANACUDXnVfytL
"I just heard it through the berry vines."
15Please respect copyright.PENANA91XIsg30Wq
"Berry bines?"
15Please respect copyright.PENANA7XyEe8ojuZ
"Some other students were whispering in class about it."
15Please respect copyright.PENANAieNrIb4ev7
For such a big academy, word spread spectacularly fast. Maybe ‘twas a fluke, a pebble in the stream. Roy was an anomaly. Most students couldn’t know about my condition, of which there is more than one, one being obvious. I refused to accept it. Sigh. I made my way through the open halls, which were all but empty now.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAddqT8okiCj
"Is it true that you're an orphan?" exclaimed Roy.
15Please respect copyright.PENANAsNDvedGIjl
Goddess, help me
ns216.73.216.220da2