The Elixir

~Settling In

"Vieva Bestel," someone croons from behind her. Without even looking, she knows who it is. There is only one person who is allowed to call her by her full name, without being flogged.

"Kayd Wyvern," she echoes drily. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" Vieva has never taken pleasure in conversing with other people her age. She sees no need. In all her 12 years, she's never had a problem with the strategy. That saying, this is her first year going to school. Her schooling had been private, so she hadn't needed to experience the horrors of elementary learning.

Kayd slips into view, like the slithering snake he is. It's in his name; the wyvern species, some sort of air serpent, went extinct thousands of years ago. The last one was hunted during the time of the Founders.

"I didn't see you at the banquet the other day."

She rolls her eyes non discreetly. "That's because I wasn't there."

"Pity." Kayd's eyes travel to where a black-haired girl sits alone on the dorm steps, watching the others chat with a sad look in her eyes.

Xara Roffinnes.

The very name makes anger cleave inside Vieva. Storm mages had long thought to have been gone and suddenly, one appears? It seems highly unlikely. But that's not what angers Vieva. The thought that a Closorthian nobody gets to inherit the most powerful mage magic, while Vieva is stuck as an Arcane, threatens to make her combust. She's trained her whole life to be the most powerful mage since the Founders, bringing honor to her family. She actually thought she would get it, until Xara swooped in and claimed to be a Storm.

It's obviously a ruse. I mean, the girl's familiar hasn't even arrived yet! That has to mean something.

"They say she is the vessel for the Warlord."

"I don't believe it."

Kayd looks over at her. "Well, my father is the one who says it. And my father knows practically everything."

Arrogant moron.

"Might I remind you that I am at a higher position than you are?"

"Oh, is that so?" He smirks.

"Yes."

He leans in close. "That will never happen. A girl, Bestel or not, can never be at a higher position than a man. That's just the way the world works, Vieva. So, really, it is I who is at a higher position then you."

She snarls. "Position or not, I am still more powerful than you, and you know it. Do not push me, Kayd."

After one decisive moment, he trots off. Vieva exhales. In that short conversation, it felt like she had aged to 60.

"Cyrla Sulibot!" a gruff voice calls out, ringing against the mottled stone arches in the courtyard. Vieva pushes all thoughts of Kayd's smarmy face away. He's not worth her energy, nor her time.

✡✡✡

Vieva lugs her bags up the uneven steps of the dorms, muscles squeezing from the exertion. Normally, in this situation, she would have her guards take everything up. But the Academy has some stupid rule about outside visitors.

She swipes a hand low across her brow. Sweat collects on the back of her palm and she shudders in disgust. When she sweats after a grueling training session, the sweat on her face feels like a trophy. In this case, however, it just feels like a taunt. Lucky for her, she has been placed on one of the higher levels, meaning more stairs to climb.

Two girls, with their bags tossed over their shoulders, jog lightly up the stairs, giggling softly as they do. At her, at whatever they're talking about, she doesn't know. All Vieva knows is that she doesn't have the strength to yell at them.