Hatred

The next day Belinda went to the classroom. She sat in the corner and waited for Amand to give out the daily tasks to the others.

He patiently spoke with every student, then walked to her. He took out a little stone ball and dropped it in her hands.

„The next step. Try to control your internal energy and send it to the ball. You can take it away to practice in your free time." he said, then turned around and left.

Belinda was confused. He didn't even asked her progress just gave out her next task.

- Who cares? Let's just practice! Tomorrow I'll ask Horác…

She closed her eyes and held the ball in her hands, so it would seem as if she followed the teacher's instruction.

When the class ended, it was Naómi who woke her up from the meditation.

Belinda looked at her, confused. She never took the initiation to speak with her.

„Hey! I heard, you working at the library?" she smiled at her.

- Don't tell me, she wants my points?! How can someone be so shameless?!

Belinda's face darkened. She nodded and left the classroom without a word.

Naómi angrily stamped on the ground.

As always, Belinda spent the afternoon in the library. She left for dinner a half hour earlier than usual to avoid Gregori. She felt a little helpless. He was a nice guy, but she didn't want to meet with the other two.

In the evening she practiced a little, then had a good night's sleep.

The next day, she went to speak with Horác. She told him what happened at the class and showed him the stone ball.

Horác leaned against the window with his back and watched the ball, deep in thought.

„How're the other students progress?"

„? They draw pictures on the stones…"

„Heee… I see." he took the ball away. „Previously I thought that because it's Amand's first time to teach he made some mistake, but the other students' signs of progress are good… Even if he wants you to reach the other's level faster, he left out some necessary step…" suddenly his eyes lit up. „How much you know about Bertold?"

Belinda was taken aback by the sudden change in the conversation. She remembered Zotmund mentioned some things, but it wasn't too much, so she shook her head helplessly.

„Nothing?" Horác raised his eyebrows. „No one mentioned he was the best student? He defeated older students, even some teachers?"

She nodded, then suddenly froze. „Teachers… you mean…?"

„Yup." Horác smiled evilly. „2 years before Amand became a teacher. Not long after it, he ended up in a friendly duel with Bertold. He humbly told that as a teacher he didn't want to bully a student, yet he lost badly. That was the first and last time I saw his stupid and innocent mask break. He was able to hide his feeling fast and said that he lost on purpose, but most of us were able to see how deep he was hiding. We, teachers made a bet to see who can break his mask again." he smiled. „You already saw how we treat him in front of others."

- So that's why! But…

„Didn't he just ended up becoming better to play the innocent?"

„… Not everything happens the way you want." Horác looked away. „He becomes a good actor such a young age…" he sighed. „So now we know why he teaches you wrongly. Just listen to what he'll say, then follow what I teach you. And this ball, you don't need it at the moment."

Horác threw away the ball and it broke some bottle on a table not far from them. The poisons spilled out from them and mixed up. It gave out some cry as if monsters fought and corroded the table at a fast speed.

Horác eyes shined. „So this will happen if I merge them?"

He ran to the table and happily watched the poisons' effect.

Belinda watched him with a dark face. She didn't understand, how could a teacher be so reckless? Mixing some random poisons, he wasn't afraid to kill the 2 of them?

Horác touched the poison then smelled it. He thought a little, then took out a notebook and wrote it down.

Belinda turned away and looked out of the window. She really couldn't understand crazy people.

After half an hour, Horác finished analyzing the poison. He walked back to Belinda.

„Amand completely left out a really important step." he took out a bottle with 3 pills in it. „These are the lowest level of energy pills. You can take one every day, no more. The previous time I didn't have these so I send my energy into your body, so the effect will be the same. It will help your body to change and become familiar with the internal energy. Go and sit in the room, I will check on your process later." he sent her away.

Belinda went into the room. She ate a pill and sat down. Feeling the energy in her stomach, she was surprised. It gave off a completely different feeling than when she practiced with Horác. Not to mention the grass flavor she felt in her mouth!

She meditated until noon, then Horác called her out.

„You are doing it well. I don't think you need a long time to catch up with the others."

„Thank you…" Belinda looked around and felt a little shame. „Every time I come here, I practice and never helped you in anything…"

„It's okay. With your level you can't help me." he said casually.

Belinda felt hurt. She looked at Horác but didn't know what to say. He was too direct!

„… Next time I intend to go to train, so I will come in the evening."

„Did you told it to Bertold?"

„?"

„The training has 2 parts. In the morning, the teachers gave you a class, but afternoon it's your mentor's job to teach you. He come here every day, so I'll let him know about it."

„Thanks… What will he teach to me?" she was a little afraid from the way how Bertold would teach her.

„That depends on him."