A Rude Awakening

"Do you have any idea how stupid you are?" Instructor Drakkon snarled. Sky quickly glanced at him then away, not able to meet his eyes. A low rumble sounded from deep within his chest. Sky flinched; that was clearly a warning.

"I- I just wanted to study," she replied meekly.

"Then, you do it somewhere else! If someone were to hurt you or kill you in here, no one would find out until you were already long dead. Are you trying to die? Is that why you refuse to leave?" Sky grimaced and concentrated on the floor. Then, taking a deep breath and squaring her shoulders, she looked at him.

"I have nowhere else to go, and yes, I would rather die than be trapped in a lousy mating or end up as someone's slave. I am here because this is where I will learn what I need to know in order to protect myself," Sky explained. Instructor Drakkon recoiled back as if she'd slapped him. Then, he sneered.

"That's not what you're doing here. You are wasting your time reading books on a type of magic you don't even possess."

"I do too have it. There have been signs!" Sky felt herself getting angry.

"Oh, so you brought toys to life, lit fires when you got mad, or made it storms indoors?"

"Well no but—"

"Then, you don't have Elemental Magic! Now, go to your rooms and sleep there." Sky stared at him. Her breath came in short pants because she was pissed. Grabbing her books, she turned on her heel and stormed away.

***

Sky was too angry to try to return to class that day. Instead, she took a shower and fell back asleep until noon. Then, she got lunch and went to study in the Elemental Garden in the forest.

Sky returned to class on the next day, Ruken, the third day of the week. The mixed looks of anger, disappointment, and frustration on the faces of her classmates informed her that they'd thought her absence the day before had meant she'd given up. Partly because she felt guilty for imposing on them and partly because she wanted to, Sky headed straight for a practice room and studied in there for the entire day. She even went so far as to eat her to-go lunch in the room. She got a lot done and felt better away from the glares and stares of her classmates, so she repeated this ritual every day until Clayden, the sixth day of the week.

***

The exercise test was on Clayden. All day she sat below the windows nervously waiting her turn to be tested on this week's exercises. Sky had watched as each of her classmates traipsed down the hallway and came back a short while later. Most were wearing smiles, but a few, including Nix, wore scowls or frowns. Once they had taken the test, they were allowed to leave. The classroom was now empty save for Skylar.

Footsteps sounded, coming down the hallway. Sky got up, stretching stiff legs. Her classmate appeared wearing a disappointed frown as he talked to Instructor Drakkon.

"There's nothing you can do about it if you don't have the magic," Instructor Drakkon said amiably. The male sighed.

"Yeah, I know. It just sucks. That is the area where I have the best control," he said, turned, and glared at Sky for a moment. "Well, have a nice weekend," he said turning back to Instructor Drakkon.

"Yes, you too," Instructor Drakkon told him distantly as if he were distracted. He frowned at Sky. The other male left the room, and Instructor Drakkon began to head towards the desk. "Why are you still here?" he asked. Sky frowned confused and fidgeted nervously.

"I have been waiting to take my test. Can we do it now?" she asked hopefully. She developed dreadful feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"No. You are not a student. You are a Runaway, and as such, you cannot take the test," Instructor Drakkon replied coldly as he sat and pulled the black book over to himself. Sky felt a wave of cold numbness ripple through her body, leaving her extremities tingling in its wake.

"How can you say that to me?" she demanded. Her anger and frustration rose with every word, and soon, she'd probably cry. Her eyes stung already. Instructor Drakkon cocked an eyebrow at her.

"What do you mean by that?" He looked directly at her and seemed puzzled.

"If you hadn't attacked me in the Chancellor's office, then I wouldn't have been classified as a Runaway," Sky stated. Instructor Drakkon's other eyebrow joined the first on his forehead as his mouth, and both of his eyes rounded.

"You think I attacked you?" he asked with disbelief. Sky simply looked at him in response. His expression hardened and asked, "then, what makes you think I won't do it again, especially when you are being so annoying?" Sky felt her anger clawing its way up her throat and a bitter tang filled her mouth. "Go away. I'm not indulging this stupid fantasy of yours. The other students won't ignore you forever, and when they stop, they will do whatever it takes to rid themselves of your presence. Leave while you still can; otherwise you will die." Sky glared at him as tears of frustration stung her eyes, and bitterness tightened her throat.

"First, you attack me, then, you ignore me, and now, you're threatening me. All I want to do is take the exercise test just like everyone else!" Sky's voice came out high pitched and strangled. Instructor Drakkon glared icily at her, and her lip started trembling.