Princess of Ruin

Chapter 4 - Underestimation

Emery

A few days after I first arrived at the academy, I found myself seething as I stormed from my calculus classroom to the library. Thatcher was driving me absolutely insane with his constant need to be right, even if he was entirely incorrect. Grumbling, I took in a deep breath and adjusted the messenger bag looped over my shoulder. It was growing steadily heavier as I went to more classes and accumulated more notes and textbooks.

    More snow had fallen since the day before, and maintenance hadn't yet come to clean off the path, so I was left to trudge down snow-covered pathways. At least my boots were staying dry, so I didn't have to deal with the added misery of cold wet feet. I stepped up the white marble stairs that led to the wooden double doors of the library and wiped my feet on the worn doormat before reaching up a gloved hand to push the door open. It wouldn't budge, so I turned to the side and shoved against it with my shoulder. The heavy wood groaned before inching open, and I stepped through with an indignant little huff.

    The interior of the library briefly took my breath away. The floor was covered in a plush red carpet, and the magnificent shelves of books reached all the way up the domed ceiling. Desks, tables, and plushy chairs were strewn throughout the building, but only a few of them were occupied by students, most of them clearly doing homework. It was far nicer than the library Elle took me to see when I was five.

    "Student ID, please," a young-looking woman sitting at a large rectangular desk said in a very bored monotone. Her light green turtleneck was rumpled, her curly red hair pulled back in a short braid that fell to her shoulders, and her dark green eyes were bored as she leaned her pale, freckled face into her hand.

    I rummaged around for a moment in the pocket of my black slacks before pulling out a card a bit smaller than my hand and giving it to the librarian. She looked at the picture of my face for a moment before saying, "I haven't seen you around before, ah, Emery. Are you a transfer?"

    "As of yesterday. I am curious to know, however, how you immediately recognized that I am a new arrival so quickly."

    "I've got an eidetic memory," she replied, tapping her head. "Also known as-"

    "As a photographic memory," I interjected. "Yes, I am aware." The librarian's eyes widened a bit, as though she were surprised by this.

"Not often that I meet someone who knows that. Where'd you transfer from?" she asked, handing back my ID card.

"Nowhere. This is the first school I have ever attended." I slipped the card back into my pocket, grabbed my cane from where I'd leaned it against the desk, and slowly stepped backwards. This was turning out to be too much human interaction for me, though it wasn't quite so terrible as supper the night before. "Now if you would kindly excuse me, I'd like to get going. I quite fancy taking a look around."

The librarian deflated, sinking her chin back into her hand. "Let me know if you need any help," she called as I walked off, cane muffled by the carpeted floor. "They never want to talk to me," I heard her mutter just before I stepped into the ceiling-high bookshelves.

I walked straight past the section of fairytales, as I'd read and reread all of them several times before, and moved on to the section of old classics. I gently set my cane and messenger bag down on an empty desk and scanned my eyes over the titles. They landed on a dark blue book spine covered in golden lettering that read, "Mystery in the City." I remembered seeing Elle reading it once while she was hiding from her responsibilities in my room. "I just need to find out who the murderer is, and then I'll be out of your hair" she'd whispered when I gently reminded her that no one was supposed to be in my room.

Smiling at the memory, I pulled the book off the shelf and tucked it under one arm before pulling off my gloves quickly and airing my hands out. They'd gotten rather sweaty in the sudden heat and were starting to slide against my skin. Footsteps approached from the other side of the bookshelf, and I quickly shoved the gloves back on.

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me," Thatcher groaned, slumping as he rounded the shelf. "Why are you everywhere I look? First, you were in my classes, then you were with my friends, and now you're in my library. This is just spectacular." I frowned, shifting my weight to my left leg for balance.

"Do you honestly believe that I prefer to spend precious time in your presence? Most certainly not. And last I checked, this library is open to all attending students." He snorted, stalking over to me and snatching the book out of my hands.

"And what is this crap that you're rea-" He broke off and frowned down at the title. "Damn it. This is actually a really good book."

My lips twitched up in a half smile as I plucked the book out of his grip delicately. "I presume you were preparing to make a rather trite remark regarding my choice of literature and then had an epiphany and realized that if you were to insult me, you would be insulting your own taste as well?"

"Aria wasn't kidding when she said you were real wordy," he mumbled.

"She most certainly was not. Now if you'll kindly excuse me, I'd like to continue my browsing."

"But I wanted to browse here."

"Do you see anyone saying you cannot?" Thatcher let out a little huff and settled himself a few meters away. I smiled again and turned back to the bookshelf, selecting a few more tomes to add to my pile. I was considering an interesting book that, as far as I could tell, was just about an old woman who loved to knit when a loud noise came from my back pocket. Thatcher sent me a glare, and I gave him a little glare before pulling the phone out of my pocket.

The screen was lit up with multiple messages, all from the same person, the newest sitting at the top of the screen.

I know you're seeing these, Emery. Please reply. I just want to make sure you're doing alright, it read. I poked the screen a few times, and it blinked at me briefly before going dark again. No amount of poking got it to light up, and I let out a little sigh.

I limped back over to the desk where I'd left my belongings, occasionally using the bookshelf for support in case my knee gave out.

    "Do you want help carrying those?"

    I stiffened at the thought and shot him a glare. "Absolutely not. I can handle myself just fine." As though to prove my point, I snatched up my cane and slung my bag over my shoulder, all while perfectly balancing a stack of six books in my right hand. "Good day to you."

    "Where're you going?" he asked, c*****g his head to one side as I made to turn around. "I know you're new, but even a fool should be able to read a clock and tell that we've still got twenty minutes before the bell for next class rings."

    "I have osteonecrosis, my good fool. What walk may take most simply a few minutes will last ten for me." He fell silent for a moment as I strode off, and I thanked the heavens for the few moments of quiet bliss. Once I was a ways away, I tucked the books into my messenger bag, grunting when it became considerably heavier all of a sudden. Though I enjoyed the bag because of its comfort, it was irritatingly good at throwing me off balance.

    As I was exiting the library, I shot a quick glance at the historical section, and my eyes caught on a wall covered by a suspicious number of posters advertising the merits of reading a good book. I smiled. Mikela wasn't exaggerating, apparently.

    The bitter cold of the outdoors instantly froze my cheeks, and I hurried as quickly as I could without slipping down the stairs. It was a sensation I most certainly was unused to, and I was trying to decide whether or not I enjoyed the cold when the sound of pounding boots approached me from behind. I spun on my left heel just in time to barely avoid the blur speeding towards me. I watched, frowning, as Aria face planted in a drift of snow, flakes of it getting tangled in her brown hair.

    "What the hell was that for?" she whined, rolling onto her back and sitting up. "I was just saying hi!"

    "I suspect that's where you went wrong," Mikela chuckled, following more slowly. "And I thought you didn't like Emery."

    I raised an eyebrow as Aria sat up with a huff, brushing snow off her coat with mittened hands. She frowned up at her friend before replying, "That was yesterday. I was tired yesterday. But I got plenty of sleep last night, and today I don't dislike anyone."

    "You really don't make sense most of the time," Mikela muttered. She held out a hand to help Aria up and then turned to me, a scowl crossing her face. "Aren't you cold, Emery?" she asked, nodding at my black tanktop and lack of coat.

    "No, not particularly." I looked down at my black pants and boots and readjusted the grey scarf wrapped around my neck. "In fact, I feel almost toasty."

    "W-well I'm f-f-freezing, so can we please go inside?" Aria said, teeth chattering as she wrapped her arms around herself.

    "Excellent idea," Mikela concurred. "Emery, you've got training next, right?"

    "That is correct."

    "Cool. We've got that too, so we might as well all walk together." I gave a small nod.

    "Kindly lead the way, in that case."

    "So where'd you go during your free?" Mikela inquired as we strode down the pathways towards the building housing the dining and main training halls. Aria walked very close to her, still shivering wildly. It suddenly struck me that she perhaps didn't function especially well in the cold.

    "I visited the library."

    "Oh, did you meet Lucette, then?"

    "I love that girl," Aria muttered.

    "You hate Lucette, Aria."

    "Who is this 'Lucette' that you speak of?" I inquired, tipping my head to one side.

    "Bright red hair, green eyes, looks kinda aloof but then won't stop talking if you say even a word to her?"

    "Ah. Yes, I believe I interacted with this character you have described. She was rather odd, if I am remembering correctly."

    "Sounds about right. She's actually a student, but her ability isn't very well suited to the sort of thing they like to train people for here. An eidetic memory doesn't necessarily make for a warrior, more of a supporter, but she's incredibly smart, so the headmaster decided not to kick her out. Instead, she takes a few special classes and works in the library during her free time."

    "That explains quite a bit." A rush of hair swept through my short hair as I pushed open the door, holding it for my roommates. A few snowflakes made it into the main hall before I allowed it to close on its own as I limped down the hallway.

We strode past the empty dining hall and instead went to the end of the passage, where we were greeted by an open door. The room beyond it was muted in color, so different from the colorful walls in the rest of the building.

"You're early," a young-looking woman said with a frown, stepping into the doorway before we could get through. Her straight, shiny black hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail, and her brown, olive-shaped eyes glared down at us. I came to the uncomfortable realization that despite my best efforts, I was still the shortest person in the room.

"Sorry about that, Ms. Aiko. Mikela and I were let out early, and Emery didn't have a class. Besides, we wanted to get here early so we could find the best seats," Aria cut in. I looked around, eyes scanning light grey walls, an impressively high ceiling dotted with skylights, and a wooden floor empty save for several rows of chairs pushed off to one side. There was a large, blank scoreboard mounted on the opposite wall and a small rack of dull-looking weapons directly below that. Otherwise, it was a relatively empty room.

    "Oh, so you're the new student," the woman said, turning to me. "Nice to meet you. Please call me Ms. Aiko. I'll be your instructor for this class."

    "A pleasure," I murmured as she shook my hand. "You two locate a seat. I will be with you in a moment," I said to Mikela and Aria.

    "See ya!" Aria grinned broadly, and I turned back to the instructor.

    "I understand you have been made aware of my circumstances?" I muttered in a low voice.

    "Of course. You're exempt from any activities in class that you can't complete on your own, but I do expect you to put in an effort where you can. And I assume you've been told when you have to be back?"

    "Every evening after supper, correct?"

    "Exactly. Now go sit down."

    "What was that about?" Mikela inquired as I sat between her and Aria.

    "Nothing of special import."

"Do you ever take those off?" Aria asked, nodding to my gloves as she shrugged off her warm coat.

"Not if I can help it." I rubbed the black leather between my gloved fingers, fascinated by the sensation, as a loud bell rang, signalling the end of class. Only a few moments later, students began pouring through the doors, apparently not wishing to face the wrath of their teacher, who was sitting in a chair separate from the rest and glaring at every student who walked in.

"Hey, guys!" a chipper voice that was probably going to haunt my dreams said. Its owner sat down on the other side of Mikela and then looked over, catching sight of my cane, which I'd leaned against my legs. "Oh no. Not again. Seriously, why the hell are you literally everywhere? I know I said this earlier, but I just feel the need to reiterate, because I'm getting really fed up with you showing up and ruining my life."

"Last I checked, all I did was score higher than you in several assessments. This truly was not anything important before you made it out to be with your melodramatic tendencies," I snapped, leaning over to glare at Thatcher.

"Is that what all this is about?" Mikela said with a sigh. "You're both being ridiculous. Just knock it off and play nice already, will you?"

"But she's soiling my honor!"

"And he is soiling my honor by implying that I would soil his!"

"You're both children," my roommate groaned, running a hand through her dark braids.

"Quiet, all of you! Class has begun," Ms. Aiko snapped. Everyone talking closed their mouths, and everyone standing immediately sat down, attention on the teacher, who was now standing imposingly in front of the class. She looked very imposing, her tanktop and leggings hugging strong muscles that probably could have crushed my little bones with no trouble at all.

"Are you feeling ok?" a student sitting a few rows behind me said.

"Rachel woke me up at four this morning. I love that kid, but she really needs to get past the phase where she barely sleeps." She trailed off and looked into space for a brief moment before snapping back to reality. "But that's beside the point. Today, we're going to begin with a little sparring. I have a new student, and I'd like to see how she'll do in a fight."

My blood went a little cold at that thought. I wasn't expecting to be fighting so soon, but I supposed there wasn't much I could do about it.

"First up is Brian and Thatcher," Ms. Aiko called, looking at a clipboard. Thatcher sent me a glare as he walked into the middle of the floor, followed by a buff-looking blonde boy from a few rows back.

"Do you perchance happen to have a hairband?" I whispered to Mikela as the instructor blew a whistle for the two boys to begin their match.

"Sure," she replied, pulling one off of her wrist. "Just return it by the end of the day, please. A certain other roommate of mine has a nasty habit of taking my hairties and never giving them back."

"Much obliged." I pulled half of my hair into a bun and fastened it so that my hair would still be down, but I wouldn't have little hairs getting in my eyes. Just as I was folding my hands in my lap again, a strong gust of wind swept through the large room and ruffled my wavy hair, blowing my loose hair into my face.

"Thatcher wins," Ms. Aiko said in a monotone. "Brian, you held out for three minutes and twenty-seven seconds." I turned my attention back to the center of the room, where the blonde boy was picking himself up from the floor, and Thatcher was stalking back to his seat. On the opposite wall, the scoreboard lit up with Thatcher's name at the top and Brian's all the way down at the bottom.

"Beat that, Snow," he said smugly when he sat back down.

"I'd like to ask that you very kindly refrain from calling me that."

"Never will now that I know it bothers you."

"Flynn and Mikela, you're up next," the teacher called.

"I forfeit," Flynn called.

"Alright, then. Less work for me." The scoreboard blinked again, showing Mikela dead in the middle and Flynn's name right below Brian's.

"Why is it that only this course has rankings like this?" I whispered to Mikela. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aria look rather offended that I wouldn't ask her, but I pushed that thought to the back of my mind.

"They're in all classes, actually. It's just not as obvious. Some classes only give a rank after a quiz or test, but Ms. Aiko likes to do something every class. She says the competition keeps us sharp. If you go into the common rooms of the dorms, actually, they've got a board that has the ranking of all the students in the school. Your ranking is tabulated from all of your classes, and the top rankers get-"

"Aria and Emery, your turn," Ms. Aiko called. Aria stood up, looking rather uncomfortable, and I followed her with somewhat more enthusiasm. This was going to be interesting. "Emery, since you don't know the rules yet, I'm going to reiterate them real quick," the instructor said when Aria and I got to the center of the room. "The main rule is that you've gotta be gentle. I'd prefer that we not get any serious injuries here. Whoever wins first gets the higher ranking. You can either win if your opponent gives up or if they've been rendered immobile for ten seconds. Ready?"

"Yes," we chorused.

"Excellent. Now, begin!"