LEO AUREUM

Chapter 9

“Cadet Alexander, I do not like repeating myself.”

Colonel Amanda was talking to me. It took my brain a brief eternity to process what she was saying.

I stood up, as I was about to make my way to the mat, a warm hand wrapped around my bare arm. Literal electricity spread around my skin.

“You can't seriously be considering going to spar.” River was looking at me like I had lost it. “ I am very sure that you have not gone to the clinic to get your head checked and sparring with a head injury would not end well for you.” He smirked at the “head checked”, seemingly proud of his mid wordplay.

“A head injury is a bit of an overstatement, don't you think?”

He was actually a grandma. No, in fact, all the grandmas I had met were wonderful people. He was more like a mosquito. A very whiny one at that.

“Stephanie, you need to sit this one out.”

He was starting to get on my nerves.

“ What makes you think you know what I need? We aren't all prestiged enough to be able say no to Colonels and sit out during classes.”

His smirk disappeared.

“Look,” I sighed. “It is obvious that you either don't know how things work here or you blatantly choose to oblivious. Me and you are clearly from very different social circles. Like you implied earlier, we are not even meant to be walking together. I think it is best for the both of us that you just stick to your role in the grand design and I stick to mine. Now, if you would let go of my hand, I have an opponent to spar.”

He looked hurt as he let go of my hand. Oh well, better him now than me later.

I walked to the mat without looking back. I could not believe it. There was no way I was finally allowed to spar.

Vern walked up to Colonel Amanda, voicing out my thoughts.

“There is no way that the House has allowed, the cariot to participate in physical activities.”

Colonel Amanda looked up at her.

“Ma'am,” Vern added.

“ I would excuse your disrespect because I am suddenly in a good mood, Cadet Erickson. What the house decides to do or what I decide to do with my class is none of your business.” Colonel Amanda continued. “You were all here when the Level 1 brought a House issued letter. Not that I need to explain myself to any of you; but, if you feel that the House was wrong with its judgements, you can take it up with your dad.”

I am sure monsters were scared of Amanda Selene Roosevelt.

Vern looked like a child who just had their favourite toy taken away from her. She went back to her position, telling anyone that would listen how her dad was going to have a say in the matter.

I knew that Vern disliked me, she made it obvious a huge number of times. The hate storming in her pupils when she looked at me did not surprise me. What surprised was the fear that simmered beneath the apathy. Why was she afraid?

“Ramirez, Alexander; mat now!”

I removed my trainers and socks and stepped on the mat.

This would not be the first time I had sparred with Stacey, she was good.

Things had changed though, even though I could not participate; I had watched all of the sparring matches, my rankmates have gotten stronger and faster. Stacey had gotten lighter on her feet and faster with her punches. Her two gold stripes glistened on her shirt. Further confirming what I already knew. Stacey dominated on the mat.If she was good before, she was great now. I gulped again.

Before the ban, I was well on my to getting my second gold stripe. I was grateful for the opportunity to be back on the mat. My curiosity matched my gratefulness in equal fold.

I looked up at the bleachers. Could it have been River? Sure, he countered a colonel and was top at the food chain of the elite but did he have enough power to advocate and even change a House order? I immediately shut down that trend of thought. It could not have been River. Even if he had the power, he obviously did not know enough about me or the extent of the grievances I had committed. If he did, he would not behave the way he did towards me.

Who could it have been? A movement I saw through the window caught my attention. Someone talking to the level 1 that brought the envelope.

Major Lucas.

It had to be him, he of all people would know how much sparring meant to me. He helped Rose coach me at some point. Did Major Lucas have enough power to change a house ruling? I knew he had friends in high places as well but why would he use those connections on me?

I shelved that to the thoughts for later section of my brain. There was work to be done.

I do not know what Colonel Amanda was thinking when she paired me up with Stacey. I had not had any legitimate physical training through out the year. I even had to jog in secret.

I was disadvantaged, I knew, Stacey knew it, Colonel Amanda knew it and everyone in the gym knew it as well.

My heart was racing, here I was, standing in a position where I never thought I would stand again. I took my starting stance and so did Stacey.

“You girls are not strangers to this. I want no broken bones unless absolutely necessary. 1-2 , fight!”

Colonel Amanda was seemingly elated. Her face showing no remorse or concern as she might have possibly sent me to an early grave.

Time to see just how much I had learnt from watching my rankmates.