-Victoria-
I woke with a new feeling of excitement. As I dressed in my, now, red uniform, I felt lighter. Like some incredible weight had finally been lifted off my shoulders. I practically skipped up the stairs and into the dining hall. There I was greeted by an interesting sight. Just inside, right along the edge which separated the two kingdoms, were two tables, one decorated in blue and one in red, pushed together to form one larger table. Around it sat my friends along with Azax and his guys.
"Everyone seems to be in a good mood," I said, talking my seat in the middle, "The vibe feels great right now."
"Yeah, that's because someone is missing." Anna said with a very wide grin.
Looking around, I couldn't find the absence of anyone sticking out to me. The confused look on my face caused everyone to laugh.
"The princess…" Anna supplied but I just stared at her, "Isn't here."
"Really?" I took another look around, "Oh yeah, she's gone. Where is she?"
"Off enjoying this week's punishment." Anna said.
"This week's punishment?" I felt even more confused.
"Mhmm," Anna nodded her head enthusiastically, practically vibrating in her chair, "His highness can explain it. He was there for the unraveling."
"And what exactly did happen?" I directed my attention to Azax.
"After you left, King Udel wanted to levy some heavy punishment on Ustrea but the headmaster, at first, talked him down to an in school suspension for the next few weeks." He explained, "That was to be her punishment until Professor Zekora pointed out the princess's treatment of Pelmora's servants and staff."
"And everyone has heard the rumors from when he was a prince." Ani chimed.
"What rumors?" I asked.
"The rumor he was in love with his servant," Anna answered, "That he still is and that's why he always looks so heartbroken."
"Needless to say, he has always been known to favor servants and despises any who treat them poorly," Azax continued, "He was exceptionally angry after learning about her behavior. It was Professor Zekora who came up with the punishment in the end."
"Every week, until we break for Yule, she'll work alongside the servants here at Pelmora." Anna blurted out, unable to contain her excitement. "She even has to live with them and dress like them."
"But won't she miss most of her classes?" I don't know why I was concerned about her education.
"Professor Zekora graciously agreed to teach the princess over the summer." Azax informed me, clearly pleased by this development.
"So for her lies and abuse, she has to play servant for a few months and attend summer school." I summarized.
"You're forgetting the best part," Wuzahl said, raising a glass, "None of us have to deal with her until after Yule."
"Maybe I'll finally be able to improve in my classes," Ani said raising a glass as well, "Now that I won't be picked on day after day."
"To freedom from her royal bitchiness, Princess Ustrea." Anna yelled, clinking glasses with the two bows.
Everyone was cheering and laughing but I couldn't help but feel bad. I may not like the girl but it felt wrong to toast to her misfortune. Looking across at Azax, I could tell he felt the same. The celebrating stopped as we made our way out of the dining hall and headed off to our respective classes. I followed behind Ani and Anna laughing at their antics.
Even though I couldn't celebrate Ustrea's punishment, I had to admit classes went a lot smoother without her. The whole room seemed far more relaxed. The lack of fear from a stray curse flying your way made for easier learning.
I did have another feeling of sadness looking at Ustrea's gang of ladies. They just seemed so lost without their ring leader. One even tried to convince me to be her friend but that was shut down by Anna pointing out all the curses the girl had thrown our way.
Finally, it was time for the best and worst class of the day. Advanced Magic with Professor Zekora. She was by far my favorite teacher but I just couldn't accomplish anything in her class. She introduced the new lesson.
"Today we'll be looking at the magic required to be an inspector," the Professor began, "Inspectors have the widest range of skill of any job. They need to be able to manipulate the body and mind of those they are following. They need to be able to track even the smallest hint of magic back to its source. But most importantly, and the thing we will focus on today, is the barrier."
With just the mention of that barrier my mind flew back to the day I can to Pelmora. Stopping that truck. Watching my mother walk away, through a barrier I couldn't pass through.
"The point of this lesson is selective admitance through the barrier," Professor Zekora instructed, "You will work with another student. You must make your barrier permeable only to yourself and your partner. I will come around and test the created barriers regularly."
Once she was done instructing the class, she turned to me and gave me the same instructions as every other class. Reach inside, feel the magic, pull it forward in the shape of a ball. So I close my eyes and reach deep inside. I gathered the energy up and pulled it out towards my hands trying to form something. I opened my eyes and, as always, there it was a ball of light.
Wait. What?
Floating between my hands was a ball of light. I looked at Professor Zekora to see shock but also acceptance? Like she expected this to happen today. I didn't have much time to think as I was bear hugged from behind.
"Oh my god," Anna yelled, "I can't believe you finally did it!"
"Nice work, Victoria!" Ani yelled joining the bear hug.
"This means you can work with us on our class assignments!" Anna was really excited.
"Not so fast you three," Professor Zekora said, "While it is truly a blessing that Victoria was finally able to access her magic, she still has much to learn before she can perform the advanced magic in this class. For now she will continuing calling forth her magic until it is as second nature as breathing. And you two back to barriers."
With a renewed sense of excitement, I continued on with my task. I made many shapes with my magic. Animals, toys, basic shapes and even a small city. Every time I tried to make something it appeared far easier than the last.
As we neared the end of class, I started to get hungry. Thinking about what I would like to eat, suddenly a large pizza appeared on the desk. Everyone started to giggle as I blushed.
"Seems you've come a long way in these short hours," Professor Zekora said still laughing, "You've now found yourself at the second problem when first learning to use your magic. How to not make things appear when you think of them."
The whole class laughed again at her statement causing me the blush a darker red. All I wanted to do was curl up under a blanket and disappear. Much to the amusement of my classmates, and to my utter despair, a blanket appeared and dropped onto my head at that same second.
"Alright, alright," Professor Zekora called everyone to attention while trying to stifle her own laughter, "Let's all settle down. I want you to continue working on the barrier for next class."
"But Victoria hasn't been able to try the barrier yet." Anna said.
"It's far too advanced for her." The professor pointed out, which was fair.
"But she's made a barrier before," Ani argued, "In order to save her mother."
"Very well," the Professor conceded after a while, "Victoria, think of the barrier you created before as well as the one you saw the inspectors create."
I pictured both in my mind. The barrier came to life, separating me from the professor and my friends.
"Now allow your friends to pass through but not me." Professor Zekora ordered.
Ani and Anna both walked through together. Before the professor could go through, however I focused on making the barrier firmer. She lightly collided with it. She caressed it with a knowing smile.
"I see," She said, "You made the barrier weak so your friends could pass through and then altered it before I could pass. A clever solution but not the right one."
A tiny glow of magic appeared at the end of the professors finger tip and the barrier exploded, dissolving into nothing.
"Your mother would be so proud of you." Professor Zekora said with a gentle smile, I just had to smile back.
I was then pulled rapidly through the halls by an excited Anna. She was eager to share this new development with our friends and so was I. She ran in screeching about it for all to hear. Azax was the first to approach me, offering his hand.
"Congratulations," He said, "I knew you could do it."
I took his hand without much thought. As soon as we touched, electricity shot through me. I felt his magic in me and, for the first time, my magic in him. A burst of energy flew out of us, illuminating the room in lovely purple lights. The lights weren't the only purple thing in the room as all the decorations went from their regular blues and reds to new shades of purple.
There were gasps of shock but it all seemed so distant to me. All there was, in this moment, was Azax and I. The feeling of our magic merging and curling inside each other it was hard to find a word to describe it. We came closer to each other. He intended to kiss me and I was going to let him.
Something caught my eye, however, at that exact moment. It was Ustrea dressed as a servant. She looked furious but also sad. That was all I needed to see. The spell was broken as I dropped Azax's hand moving quickly away. The dining hall returned to normal as I ran from the room. Azax's heartbroken stare etched into my mind.