I step in after Boleyn; chattering immediately fills my ears.
"DRAE!"
I turn my head to the sound, my eyes briefly meeting Thar's. My gaze diverts as I feel a nudge.
I look down Boleyn tugging on my shirt, eyebrow raised. I lean down, her breath tickling my ear.
"That's her," she whispers.
My eyebrow narrows in confusion.
"The new girl, next to Thar."
I straighten upright, eyes darting first to Thar, then to the girl next to him. Her honey-brown hair is tied in a ponytail, loose strands brushing her face. Her olive-tanned skin contrasts with everyone around her. My gaze flickers from her almond-shaped eyes to her heart-shaped lips. Our eyes meet, and I could swear I catch a flicker of surprise before it returns to neutral.
Boleyn pulls me forward toward the two. My hands stay in my pockets, my face relaxed.
"Drae, well, this is Zeythria. And Zeythria, this is… well, as you already know, Draevon," Thar says.
I watch as she straightens, right hand outstretched. My hands stay firmly in my pockets. She clears her throat, and just as she is about to drop her hand, Boleyn slips hers in.
"I'm Boleyn," she smiles, her genuine grin revealing a single dimple. She leans toward Zeythria.
"Don't mind him. He doesn't like women; might as well call him celibate."
I scoff, fingers tightening in my pocket.
"I can hear that, you know," I mutter.
Boleyn glances at me, her lips widening in amusement, and then lets go of Zeythria's hand.
"Oh, yeah before I forget, Draevon, Zeythria will be sitting next to you."
I freeze. No one has ever sat next to me. My eyes scan the room. In the end, there's no other space. The chattering quiets as students rush to their seats. Thar and Boleyn leave, and I notice a glint of confusion in Zeythria's eyes. I sit down.
Zeythria slides into the desk beside me. I could easily differenciate between smells, her natural scent is subtle but there a faint floral note, sunflowers maybe. I shake my head, forcing my attention back to the teacher.
"Students, today, as you know… and Zeythria, you probably don't know… today is a full-on practice, once every month. It's preferred You sit out this time, but it would be nice to show what you have."
Everyone turned to look back, not at me no, at her, any new student will immidieatly-
"I don't mind."
My gaze falls on a girl whose pen clatters to the floor beside us. Mistress Elowen blinks. "Excuse me?"
"I would love to take part," Zeythria continues, lips widening, though her eyes betray a flicker of doubt.
"Very well then," Mistress Elowen says. "We shall head to the training grounds after changing. Can someone direct Zeythria to the girls' changing room?"
"I WILL!!" Boleyn's hand shoots up.
********************************************************************************
The boys' chatter rippled through the corridor, a constant noise I dulled by adjusting my eardrums until the sound faded to a low hum. A tap on my shoulder broke the silence I'd built, forcing me to open them again.
"What do you think of the new girl… Zeythria, is it?"
I slipped on my vest with a stoic face. "What do you think, Alex?"
His grin widened, sharp with amusement. "I think she's fascinating."
Another voice cut in, eager. "Yeah, I can't believe she accepted that task."
Alex only shook his head, but before I could respond, a sharp bang cracked against the lockers. The hallway stilled. Thar's fists were pressed hard into the metal, his knuckles white. He lingered there for a few seconds, then yanked his sling-belt off its hook and stalked away without a word.
"What's up with him?" Alex asked, voice rough.
My brows drew together. Could it be…? No, No. Impossible.
Michael snorted. "I almost pity her. She doesn't know the hell she's walking into."
"You're right," Alex agreed. "It's not called a Daredevil for nothing."
I bend down on one knee to tie my shoes, muttering, "Who even named it that?"
"No one knows," Alex commented with a shrug. "But it does have a nice ring to it."
I huffed, snapping my locker shut. "You guys done?"
Alex glanced down at himself, shirt untucked, first two buttons undone, shoelaces undone, hair sticking up in every direction. "Yup."
I just shook my head, adjusting my sling-belt as I headed for the door. He never had a care in the world.
We reached the training grounds, Mrs. Elowen already ticking names off her list.
"Remember, no killing," she warned.
I strode toward Thar. He unsheathed a sword from the racks, the rows of equipment glinting in the light. Shifting my legs against the sand, it wasn't cooled today, the heat creeping up my boots.
"You ready to spar?" I asked, stepping closer only to freeze. His eyes weren't on me, no. They were on her.
That girl again.
"Sorry," he utters, voice flat. "I promised to help Zeyrithia. You can spar with Alex."
A crease appears on my eyebrow. Alex bumped me on the side with a grin.
"What's his problem?"
Still watching Thar, I say calmly, "Get your hands off my shoulder."
Alex gave me a sly smirk, sliding his hand away far too slowly. Something crawled up my leg. With a sigh, I flicked my fingers ice crystallized instantly, freezing it in place. I shattered it without effort.
Turning to Alex, I muttered, "Using a sneak attack on me is really… pathetic."
His roots lay in shards across the sand. Alex pouted.
"You're no fun."
He reached for a spear from the rack.
I sneered. "A spear in a sword fight?"
He chuckled, lifting his chin. "They never said what was allowed and what wasn't. And besides… I'm better with spears than swords."
A smirk tugged at my lips. I stretched out my hand, a sword leaping from the rack into my grip. Resting a finger on its tip, I drew a thin line of blood. Solid enough.
"Shall we begin?"