Chapter 9
A fter removing the blood from my face and hands and tidying up the best I can, I make my way onto the training grounds.
The area is almost like a huge football field with large open spaces and obstacle course equipment spread out around the large grounds.
There are some low-lying metal barriers separating it from the immense forest around it.
There's also a small grey building that sits off to the side, where weapons and training equipment are kept locked away for classes, only the instructors having access to it.
I make my way over to the group of thirty or so students already training in the centre of the grounds, when suddenly my name is called from the side.
A man over six feet tall with a face that could make even the most spinsterish of women swoon, calls to me.
I freeze for just a moment as I’m met with two deep green eyes. My breath catches in my throat, lost to his bewitching features and a face that even an angel would envy.
His light golden hair sways with the breeze and brushes across his shoulders, while the muscles in his arms pull and stretch at the fabric of his cream shirt. He narrows his deep green eyes toward me as I make my way over.
I continue to walk, picking up my pace as his lips pinch into a slight frown and I realise who it is that I’m staring at.
I guess those rumours about the new Defence teacher were true after all.
There's a slight tick to Mr. Valor’s jaw as he watches me and stands to the front of the class, his gaze becoming colder and more cutting the closer I get.
“Three laps around the training ground for being late Ms. Bane.” He turns back to the class as a couple of chuckles fall from the group, but instantly stop with his glare.
I guess with the attack and then tidying up, I was late by a few minutes.
I look around the grounds. It had to be at least three normal football pitches long and at least two pitches wide. This would take a while.
I begin to stretch out, momentarily forgetting my pain, as a sharp sting moves up my spine and into my shoulders. I wince with the pain just as a familiar voice speaks up from the group.
“Isn’t three laps a bit much?”
All eyes turn toward the voice, my own pair turning toward the familiar brown-eyed boy.
Knox looks at Mr. Valor, as Kane and Xanders stare daggers into the back of him.
Anders looks around the training grounds, a low whistle falling from his lips as he shakes his head.
“That is a lot for someone like her to cover.
I mean she doesn't even have any physical strength, let alone magi– ugh –” Knox elbows him in the side, his eyes narrowed at his friend, before Anders' gaze flickers to me.
His creased brow eases out as his eyes slightly widen, and quickly mouths a ‘ Sorry’.
Knox glances back toward me, his mouth open before he freezes. His brows crease deeper the longer he stares, his gaze quickly moving down toward my clothes. His eyes slightly widen when he reaches my trousers.
I peer down and notice the stains on my knees. There were a few scraps from the fight earlier and it looks like a little bit of blood seeped through.
I glance back up toward Knox as his gaze meets mine, an unreadable look in his eyes as he tries to take a step toward me. But Xander reaches a hand out, pulling him back before cutting me a cold glare.
To them I was some weak and pathetic memory of the past and an annoyance to have to share space with now.
I take off my grey zip hoodie, throwing it to the ground before I take off in a slow sprint, putting distance between me and the voices calling out behind me.
I was no longer the weak girl they knew.
I may not be the fastest or strongest, but my mentality was no longer the same.
I know my worth now, and that I deserve more from this life than what I’ve always been shown by those around me.
This second chance, this new life…I won’t waste anymore of it on them.
The wind whips through my hair and past my face as I build myself up into a run. Something thrums through me as I pick up my pace. Even with my body sore and aching with pain from the attack, I felt a power and strength slowly building in me. This was Freedom.
Too many days, weeks and years were wasted rotting away in a small prison cell, or a suffocating cage called Wensridge academy . Too many small and mundane moments were taken from me, and too much of my blood and tears shed in these prisons.
The pain and fear I felt in the Facility, and the years of torment in the academy before that, had taken parts of myself that I didn’t even realise were gone. They left me alone and broken, believing I was unworthy of a good life, or a life at all.
I pass by the group, finishing my first lap, feeling their eyes on me, and Mr. Valor’s voice calling for their attention as I continue the pace I’ve set.
None of them could ever understand how this felt; the aches and the pain, I’d embrace them all and let them slowly strengthen me.
This was a small taste of the freedom I now have; of the fresh air surrounding me with no shackles or cage binding me. Nothing was chasing me, there was only an endless path in front of me, with myself making the choice on where to go and how far.
The nightly training had clearly helped in some way, maybe building my stamina up, because even after another lap, I’m still staying strong and moving steadily.
I keep my pace, my breathing slightly heavier on my final lap. A small trickle of sweat drips down my face and chest as I see the group in my sight and push myself harder.
I reach Mr. Valor, placing my hands on my knees as I calm my breathing and racing heart.
Mr. Valor calls for the class to continue, as I lift my head up and into two captivating green eyes.
The sun catches his white gold strands as he leans down, handing me a cold bottle of water.
There's a slight glint in his eyes, his gaze still a little cold and guarded but less cutting now than before.
I straighten myself and take it from his hand, quickly pulling myself from my daze.
I give him my thanks as I gulp the water down in seconds. The cold liquid quickly cooling and reviving me.
“Join the others, Ms. Bane.” He heads back to the class, and calls for their attention as I make my way over.
I get a few pointed looks, but also some curious stares as I head to the back of the group, where I find an empty space.
“We’ll start the stance again, since the majority of you seem to be having issues.” Mr. Valor’s lips straighten into a grim line as he looks around the group, a frustrated tone in his voice as a few of the students avoid his gaze.
He takes a stance in front of the group, his body slightly bent forward as he holds a wooden-tipped blade in his hand.
His muscles bunch in his arms as he flicks the wooden blade outward, before throwing the blade upwards in a dummy move meant to distract.
He twists his body around, catching the blade to the back of his imaginary opponent and slashes outward quickly, aiming for a vital point, essentially incapacitating or killing his invisible target.
I watch his posture, remembering the stance and moves easily as he begins to straighten up. It's a simple technique meant to distract, then incapacitate or maim.
How was anyone struggling with this move? How was this so hard for them?
“Depending on the wielder of the weapon, and if properly executed,” He glanced coldly at a couple of boys whispering to a girl beside them, “It could catch your opponent off guard and disable them. Pair up and practice.” He makes his way over to them as they fall silent, shrinking in on themselves as he nears.
Pairs . Great.
There were unfortunately a lot more boys in this class than there were girls. I was actually one of only three here, and they seemed more interested in Mr. Valor than the actual class.
Glancing around the field, I notice the girls are already paired up with boys who immediately jumped toward them at the mention of practising together.
My eyes meet two sets of eyes watching me curiously, a familiar green pair and brown pair. Knox and Anders.
They whisper to each other before Knox takes a step in my direction, but soon freezes as a hand grabs his shoulder. Xanders brows are pulled downward, his glare cutting as he flickers his gaze from Knox to me. His lip curls upward as he speaks in hushed tones to Knox and Anders.
I turn my gaze away. Whatever was going on had nothing to do with me anymore.
And maybe if I was lucky I was the odd number out, and could practise by myself.
Mr. Valor makes his way over to me, and hands me a small wooden practice dagger. He glances around the field before calling someone over for me to pair up with.
A scowling Kane slowly makes his way over and beside Mr. Valor just before he is called by another teacher across the field.
Kane’s scowl looks permanently etched on his face, like some disgruntled pug. Minus the cuteness.
I sigh. Of all the assholes I could have been paired with, it had to be this one.
“Don’t think that I want to be paired with you.” He bites out through gritted teeth. “Even being near you makes me cringe.”
I wonder what it was that made him turn into such a cold ass? What made a grumpy boy that used to chase after me and cry when I was hurt, turn into someone completely cold and unrecognisable?
I guess whatever it was, hadn’t anything to do with me anymore. I also didn’t have to take their shitty words or cutting glares sitting down either. They’ve made it crystal clear how they feel, now it's my turn.
“Then just imagine how much shittier it is for me to have to be beside you .”
Kane freezes, his eyes slightly widening as his mouth opens, before it quickly closes again.
A few students near us fall silent, a few brows furrowed and questioning glances thrown my way.
Right . The younger me wouldn’t ever have talked back or spoken her mind.
“I don't know what crawled up your ass or what broke your little shifter brain into thinking I’d want to be paired with you, but let's be clear...I would rather be alone than have to spend one minute longer in your presence.” A humourless chuckle leaves my lips.
“I think it's been made crystal clear what you all think of me, and any affection we shared is long burned out with all your shit.”
His brows scrunch, his lips pinching together as he opens his mouth, but I cut him off.
Narrowing my gaze, I slow my voice so he knows I mean each and every word as I continue. “I don’t want to be around you, any of you , more than I have to be. So let's make this as painless as possible.”
I take the stance shown earlier as I grip the wooden blade in my hand. “Let's get on with it.”
Kane’s frozen face flares into something else, contorting into something dark and cold as he glares at me.
“Of course. This is the real you…” He looks me up and down, a hardened expression pulling at his features as he slowly takes the stance, gripping his own blade tightly in his hands. “A manipulative bitch .”
Before I know it, I’m moving forward and toward him, my reaction too quick, it catches him off guard and too late for him to dodge.
I replicate Mr. Valor’s move, but instead of throwing the blade and twisting to the back, I drop it, catching it with my other hand and thrust into Kane’s front.
I push every last ounce of strength I can into my shoulder and hand, pain slicing up my back with the movement, as I flip the blade to its hilt and slam it into his solar plexus. Even for a shifter, that shit should hurt.
A grunt falls from his lips, his eyes widening before scrunching together in a look of pain. He bends forward, taking a knee and hitting into the grass below us.
I crouch down, placing a hand on his shoulder as I lean some of my weight on him, pushing him further into the ground.
“ Manipulative? ” I scoff, looking him dead in his eyes.
“Who have I got around me to manipulate Kane? You all left me, remember?” I shake my head.
“Probably the best thing you all ever did though. Showing me who you really were. All fake lying assholes .” I feel my expression harden as he opens his mouth, a slight tremor to his eyes as he watches me.
Pulling myself up straight, I cut off any words he has when he opens his mouth.
“And don’t delude yourself, you know nothing about me, Kane. Nothing. ”
A bell rings out in the distance as I hear Xander and Anders call for Kane.
I make my way through the group and over to Mr. Valor, handing him the wooden blade as he glances back toward Kane and the growing crowd.
He looks at the wooden blade and then back over to Kane, a brow raised as he watches me, his lips slightly tilted before he quickly schools it.
“I had heard you had no magical attribute. I guess you’ve made up for that in other ways.
” He twirls the blade between his fingers like it weighs nothing, before throwing it toward a pole a few metres away, hitting it dead centre.
“Don’t be late again, Ms. Bane. Your time is better spent learning.
” He begins to make his way toward the crowd.
“ Micai. ” I call as he turns around, a brow raised in question.
“My name's Micai. Ms. Bane doesn't really suit me.” I grew tired of hearing it. The same surname as her , and the old memories that came with it. A powerful and prestigious family name that I didn’t need anymore.
An unreadable look forms on his face as he slowly nods, and then leaves for Kane and the crowd.
“Class is over. Can someone help Mr. Fields up so he can walk it off. You're a shifter…” He pats him on the back, an apathetic look on his face. “You should be able to handle one hit Mr. Fields.” He turns back toward me.“Even if it was a pretty impressive one.”
He goes around taking all the wooden weapons back as my eyes meet Knox’s. He’s standing beside Anders and Xander who are helping Kane up. His brows scrunch together, his mouth opening slightly before I turn away and head back toward the dormitory, ignoring any of the noise around me.
Was he planning to complain about me hitting Kane?
He would need to get over it.
It was a Defence class, and there would be plenty more bruises in the future, especially if any of them were paired with me.
I leave the grounds and make my way into the dorms, grabbing something quick to eat and showering.
When night falls, I’ll slip back into the forest's shadows and train. I’ll go over what we learnt today and add my own variations.
If today has shown me anything, it's that I’m getting stronger. My body was still in pain and sore from the attack earlier, but I was healing, my body recovering quicker than it had before. By night I might even be fully healed.
Maybe I couldn’t take a shifter out just yet with my strength, but I was able to hold my own, and soon I would be able to do much more.