This is the Imposition

Sky's mouth set into a firm line. Lifting her head, she said, "I do belong here. I am as good as any creature. I'm- I'm better because I'm not a racist, elitist, arrog-" Dain put a hand over her mouth.

"I'm sorry." He said, "We'll eat in the classroom from now on." Sky glared at him with flashing eyes.

Syn smiled coolly, "Fine. We just wanted to understand the situation." He turned and walked away as did the redhead. Uriel glared at Dain.

"If I ever find that Trangondongi in my classroom again, I'll kill it and then beat you so bad, you run home with your tail between your legs." Dain stiffened. Sky turned her glare on Uriel. He sneered at her then followed the others back to their table.

Dain released Sky's mouth. Sky stared at him in silence for a moment.

Then, she coldly asked, "Why did you do that?" Dain blanched.

"You were insulting them. They are all really strong. Uriel is going to be the High Officiant starting next year and Keigan is a member of the Public Relations Committee. If you made them challenge you, they'd crush you." Sky simply gazed at him in response.

She knew he was right. She still didn't know enough magic to hold her own. The only reason she'd won her two challenges were Pharon's overconfidence and Alyssa weakness. Her mouth twisted down.

"I'm- I'm sorry." Dain stammered still looking pale and almost terrified. "I just don't like seeing you hurt."

Sky sighed heavily and said, "It's fine, Dain. I'd lost my head. Why don't you tell me more about your fight?"

When they finished eating Sky went back to her rooms and studied. She spent all weekend studying and reading for leisure. Desperately, she wished she could go out into the forest, but it was like challenging any of those three males. She simply didn't know enough magic to face a Lesser and live, so apart from her morning combat practice she stayed in her rooms all weekend.

***

Week 8 Day 1 Alontil

On Alontil morning before class started, Sky went to see if Aven was in his classroom. She wanted to ask him to show her the way to the secondhand apparel store in town so she could buy clothes to wear on the weekend. She also wanted to replace her corset and for the that she needed a female's apparel shop, a secondhand store wouldn't do. Since she'd never been to town, she needed someone to show her where the shops were. She needed Aven.

Hesitantly, Sky knocked on the door to Aven's classroom, then pushed it open. Rather than being alone like she'd hoped to find him, Aven had another visitor. The visitor was a beautiful male with straight, long, white hair. His cheekbones were high and prominent, his jaw was strong, and his eyebrows and eyelashes were dark, perfectly shaped, and perfectly proportioned for his large, slightly upturned eyes. Sky knew Aven was good-looking, but next to this male he looked simply average, like a human next to a creature.

Aven coughed and his expression soured as Sky realized she must have been staring.

Hastily, she said, "You're busy. I'll come back."

"No, it's fine." Aven said, "Come here, Skylar." Sky obeyed and went to stand beside him. The white-haired male's dark eyes were trained on her. Aven wrapped an arm around her waist in what almost seemed like a possessive gesture. Sky turned to him in surprise. He was smiling at the other male.

"Skylar Maren?" The white-haired male asked with some surprise.

"Yes, she's a good friend of mine." Aven replied. Sky felt her cheeks warm. "Skylar, this is Kyra. He was my star pupil last year." Sky smiled at the white-haired male, Kyra, elated at being called Aven's friend good friend. Then her smile fell as she met Kyra's gaze.

There was something not quite right about his dark, captivating eyes. She stared at them trying to figure out what was wrong.

"I think Aven will be angry if you kiss me." Kyra finally said with a confident smirk interrupting Sky's study of his eyes. Sky blinked in surprise and looked at Kyra's mouth. It looked quite large. Then she gasped as she realized she had leaned very close to him.

Straightening with a blush she said, "I'm sorry. It's just your eyes. I feel like they're missing something." Kyra let out a sharp breath then muttered something too low for Sky to hear.

"Skylar, that was rude." Aven warned, "Kyra, I'm-" Kyra smiled coolly and lifted a hand.

"It's fine, Aven. I should get going."

"Well, I wish I could have been more help." Aven said with a warm smile. Kyra's smile became more genuine as he picked up his book from the desk.

"You were of great help. It was a pleasure meeting you, Skylar." He said. Then he left before Sky could say anything in response.

Aven turned to her and smiled.

"So why are you here? Do you also have a Spoken Magic question that I can't answer?"

Sky frowned in confusion and said, "I thought Kyra had said you were helpful." Aven's smile turned wry.

"He was being nice. He's good like that. Did you stop by just to chat?"

"Oh, no." Sky grabbed her left elbow with her right hand and shifted her weight on her feet. "I- I was hoping, when you had some free time, that you'd take me to the secondhand apparel shop in town." Aven crossed his arms over his chest as his smile fell.

"Why didn't you go to your two friends, those twins?" Sky frowned.

"I don't know." She really didn't. She knew Aven as an AR student had more responsibilities and less free time than West and Dain. They should have been the obvious choice. "I'm sorry. I'll go ask them." She turned to go.

"Wait." Aven said. Sky looked back at him. "I didn't say I wouldn't do it. We can go on Aelus but you have to wear your practice uniform and leave that horrible wig and those glasses in your rooms." He smiled. Sky goggled at him. It made her look very much like a fish.