CHAPTER 57: RIGHT SIDE OF THE HISTORY

(Amaia)

From next week forward, the routine returns to normal. But the thought of the first proper session with Alnilam puts me on edge.

Now that the week is gone he wants me to practice with him and not just read theory. The pen he has given me stays with me most of the time.

Lost in thoughts, I sit for my class, but my fellow mates don’t go easy on me. Most of them snicker or make jibes. Being a human in Orion Academy is already bad enough because you sit at the bottom of the hierarchy chain, but having a dungeon punishment adds insult to that injury.

Guild Pegasus is the worst when it comes to bullying, and their Guildmaster is even worse.

Jasian Ewine: guildmaster of Guild Pegasus, and he is in charge of "Offensive and Defensive Magic."

During his sessions, I am supposed to attend mine with Alnilam.

Jasian Ewine is a man in his mid-thirties and is very well known to be biased towards his guild, especially since he favours Ramian Kalit, son of the powerful alpha, Lasith Kalit from the State of Diera. One of the five powerful kings who holds the most powerful positions in our world.

Carefully, I approach Professor Ewine and tell him that I have an extra session with Alnilam.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. But this particular class is important for humans as well. They can learn a thing or two about magic and how it affects them. They need to be prepared for it too." He casts me a distasteful look before continuing. "You are attending, I will speak to Alnilam. You have already missed two classes due to your punishment."

Members of his guild snicker as if he had cracked a joke. Anger surges, making me boil over like a kettle, but I stay quiet.

"Sit with Rahria." He points towards one guild member who literally hates me.

I turn around and find Alnitak watching Professor Ewine with contempt, even Kacir doesn’t seem pleased but Rahria appears worse.

She crinkles her nose and shifts to the edge of the desk, leaning as far away from me as possible as if I carry some contagious disease.

I ignore her reaction and sit down, opening my notebook.

Professor Ewine walks up to the chalkboard and picks up a white chalk, jotting down the word Magic on it.

He turns, and his dark brown hair is like a mop on the top of his head. He has a medium build but powerful magic must run through his veins.

"As I explained before, the magic system rests entirely upon the manipulation of energy. Either drawn from within the self or the surrounding environment. In instances, it can also be snatched from other individuals." He makes a clawing gesture in the air before continuing. "This manipulation is almost universally governed by will; the focused intent of the practitioner. That means you guys." He points towards his guild members, one after the other as if others don’t exist.

"Or you can be entirely annihilated because your magic was weak and only one individual of your kind used all of yours and left you in ruins," Ramian snickers, his golden hair shining under the sunlight that filters through the window. But there is nothing sunny about him, only cockiness.

The insinuation makes a fire light up inside me. The classroom half echoes with chuckles while the rest of us just stare at him in disbelief.

But I am not that surprised, his father has always been a staunch supporter of the Dread Army.

"So you are the kind who supports a genocide because one individual made a bad decision? Does that justify killing children and raping women?" I ask, not blasting at him but in a calm voice. My insides are anything but calm, an inferno burns. My hands clutch the pen so tight that I am afraid it will break.

He turns, watching me with cunning blue eyes.

"Well if they grow up to become maniacs too and bring about the total annihilation of our world. Then why not? I mean I want to live." He barely shrugs his giant shoulders, and more snickers follow his words.

"That’s a terrible mindset and exactly the reason why our world is heading towards more chaos instead of healing," Alnitak blasts at him. Both of them face each other with shoulders squared, hands clawed and eyes narrowed.

The alpha aura leaks out from both of them smothering the others in the process.

Some bow their heads, others begin to suffocate.

"That’s ENOUGH," Professor Ewine finally speaks up, putting an end to their aura fight. "Save it for the training session, both of you will have ample chances to prove who’s got the upper hand."

Somehow seeing Alnitak as Zevran has me excited for some reason.

"Why not have a session for later today. Others can learn what to do and how to use their magic, weapons and shields while Alphas fight. My brother can settle this in the transformation class," Mintaka suggests, lazily leaning back in his chair. This makes Professor Ewine’s eyes shine as if he has made a groundbreaking discovery.

"Oh! Perfect, now I will have to defend myself in the presence of two uncontrollable Alphas," Rahria mutters under her breath, pinning me with a glare. "I hope you are happy, creating a rift by opening your mouth."

I can’t believe my ears. She is blaming me for the crap Ramian has just spewed.

"Weren’t you happy stealing my mate? Do you need to dig your dirty hands into Alnitak too?" She carries on but I am done listening.

"Shut up, if you don’t understand something," I hiss at her.

"Miss Zhāng and Miss Diez, what’s so important. Care to share with the class?" Professor Ewine’s voice has my head tilting and I see everyone is watching us.

Whatever decision Professor Ewine had to make has already been taken.

"Sorry, it’s nothing," I sheepishly answer with flushed cheeks.

Cackles add to my humiliation while Professor Ewine narrows his eyes at us before speaking.

"As I was saying and now repeating." His gaze finally shifts and I sigh in relief. "Transformation and Battle Strategy will be held as a joint session by me and Professor Alnilam today. Two teams will be formed. Team Alnitak and Team Ramian. You will defend your Alphas and aid them during the fight using different strategies which we will study now." His eyes shift to Mintaka as he furthers. "You will be sitting this one out."

My head turns to watch Mintaka and his lips flatten in displeasure at this decision. He places both his hands behind his head and leans further back before giving only one small nod.