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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.
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Nope.
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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.
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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.
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Blah and bleh roll around in my thoughts, deep in the mud pit.
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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.
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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.
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"Godsdammit!" I said aloud. Sauntering down the hall, some passing students glowered at me.
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"Hey!"
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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.
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"Hey!"
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Who was being so loud?
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"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.
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"You are Pollux!" he stated, tightening his dimples with a smile.
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"Am I?"
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His face frowned in self-doubt. Gullible little meatball.
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I rolled my eyes. "Yes, I am..."
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"I saw you chant that spell in Tome Study! Are you, like, some savant or something?"
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"I don't know; that was my first time."
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"So, you are a savant!"
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"Listen!" I said sternly.
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The little gentleman froze. When he froze, I walked ‘round and right past him, silently. Unfortunately, he decided to follow me.
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"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?"
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"I'm going to Physical Education, er...”
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"Roy!" he said cheerfully. "That's my next class, too!"
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You're kidding. "You're kidding..."
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"I bet you're a real acrobat in the field."
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The fuck does that mean? "No, Ross, I'm not."
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"It's Roy."
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"Ron. As you can see," I gestured to my cast with the limp leg within, "I can do neither acros nor batics."
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"Hehe, you talk talk funny. Is it true that you lost your memory?"
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I stop. "And where did you hear that from, Roy?"
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"I just heard it through the berry vines."
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"Berry bines?"
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"Some other students were whispering in class about it."
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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.
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"Is it true that you're an orphan?" exclaimed Roy.
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Goddess, help me
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