Chapter 17

Another beautiful. It's strange how sunny and warm this world is when there is so much lush green grass and trees around. It makes me wonder how all the plants get enough water to drink. It has barely rained since I was born into this world, and I never see any watering the plants or trees. I have long since stopped trying to make sense of this world but thought like this one still popped up every once in a while. When I was a kid, it was always questioned why it always snowed on charisms? Now I can think about the oddest detail. Still, mostly, I wonder if Zeno knocked himself out by slamming into my barrier again. Sure enough, I find him lying outside my window when I let Bozzair out for his morning flight. I would have thought he would have learned by now how pointless it is to try and teleport into my room. I sigh as I cast healing magic on him. Maybe this time he will learn his lesson.

I get dressed in my uniform, and by the time Bozzair returns, I am ready for breakfast. The noble's dining hall is excellent, and I am sure today's breakfast will be just as delicious as always. Still, there is one thing I need to take care of first. It seems that perverted elf is trying to climb into my window again. He really never learns. I drop my barrier, and Zeno falls face-first into my room. I swear I won't heal him if his nose is bleeding again.

"You sure like it rough, my sweet," Zeno smiles with blood dripping from his lips.

"Let us just get something to eat before it's too late," I reply, turning to leave. If I find him by my window tomorrow, I will not be treating his injuries.

<0>

I walk with Zeno, Marshal and Noah to class. I feel guilty to be holding onto Marshal's hand with Arial watching. Still, I have to do this to fool everyone around us that Marshal and I are in a loving relationship. I feel bad for Marshal and Arial. If I could, I would switch bodies with his maid in an instant so they could openly be together.

We are the first to arrive in class today. We quickly find our seats as our maids stand off to the side, ready to serve us when required. This room really doesn't feel like a classroom at all. The chairs are too comfy, the food and tea too plentiful and the teacher too skilled. I am sure it wasn't like this for everyone, but in my old world, I was forced to sit on a hard seat with a wobbly leg and would struggle with hunger while watching the seconds tick by till lunch. My old school could never compete with this one.

I start getting everything ready. I pull out my science book, notebook, quill and ink. We are not required to take notes, and I have seen several of my classmates make their maids take notes for them, but it has been a habit of mine from my school days before I was reborn. I set aside some sweet my maid made for me this morning and… oh what is this? I don't remember putting a pink envelope with my supplies. While it is addressed to me, there shouldn't be a problem if I open it.

Dear Miss Lamonia

I have something I wish to discuss with you.

Please meet me behind the main school building during lunch

Well, it isn't as romantic as I would have hoped for a letter left for me, but I should still go. It is probably best to turn this guy down quickly before anything happens. Marshal notices the letter and wants to go in my place, but I assure him I can handle this. Now I just need to find the right words to turn this guy down without breaking his heart.

<0>

Just as I expected yesterday, science class was easy. Their grasp of science was surprisingly advanced but still not close to what we had in my old world. Still, on the upside, it allowed me to rehearse the lines I will tell this guy when we finally meet up. I couldn't find a way to be gentle about it, so I decided to just tell him straight I was already engaged. I hope he doesn't start crying.

Getting closer to the meeting spot, I can't help but think he picked the right place to do this. It is secluded, surrounded by trees, and hardly anyone is around. It is the perfect place to confess if you are too shy to do it in front of others. I really hope this guy take my rejection… what the?

"Lady Lockridge,"

Something is wrong here. Why is the heroine here? But most importantly, why is she lying on the ground covered in bruises. I quickly rush over to her, and she raises her head, looking at me with only one eye as the other has already been swollen shut. Who did this to her?

"Lady Lamonia…" The heroine gasps, seeing me. "You need to… you need to run… it is you they are after…."

"Don't worry about me," I place my hand on her shoulder and heal her wounds. It is worse than I thought. I can feel countless cuts and bruises heal and even a broken bone. I will make whoever did this to her pay. "Who did this to you?"

"Some boys from my class," Ellis answers as I help her sit up. "I overheard them talking about being paid to jump you. I tried to talk them out of it, but they attacked me instead."

"Looks like you decided to show up,"

These must be those boys Ellis mentioned. There are seven of them in total, two of them I recognise from my weapons group. They aren't that strong, so they shouldn't pose a threat. The others I could handle too. The only problem is the heavy looking clubs in their hands. Did someone pay these guys to kill me? I doubt that. They probably wanted me hurt, but these guys look like they will take things too far and kill me if I give them a chance.

"Stay still and take it like a good girl, and we will stop while you are still breathing," The biggest of the boys step forward. He is twice my size, strong-looking with short red hair and green eyes. "But I would like to fight someone as strong as you."

Usually, I would be merciful and give these guys a chance to surrender. I would give them a chance to run and rethink their actions. Instead, I punched their leader hard enough to smash his club and strike his chest with such force that he flew and slammed into a nearby tree. I held back enough to make sure he was still breathing, but he won't be feeling good when he wakes up. The rest of the boys stare at me, taking a step back. Too bad I am not in a forgiving mood right now, so I won't give them a chance to run or beg for mercy.

A step forward, but the guys don't run. Instead, they rush forward. I duck under the first club then kick one of the boys knocking him to a second, taking them both out of the first. I sidestep another swing, then step back to avoid a fist before taking down both of the boys. They are so weak I don't even have to try. The remaining three guys look at each other before attacking me as one.

I move forward, then swipe the guy's leg knocking them all down before punching one of the guys knocking them out. I get up at the same time as the boy. They don't seem like they will give up, but I am okay with that. They raise their clubs high but don't hit me with their swings. Instead, I catch their club and smash them into their faces ending the fight. I feel better now.

"I don't think they will bother either of us again," I tell Ellis helping her stand. "Do you want to go…"

"What happened here?" Well, the teachers have perfect timing. They always seem to arrive after the fights have already ended. "Did you do this to them?"

"Yes," I nod my head. "They were…."

"Assaulting students is a serious offence," I have never met this guy before, but this teacher is already annoying me. "You are in a lot of trouble."

"But they were…."

"You won't be getting off lightly for this," Is he even going to listen to my side of the story?

"But sir, she was only…."

"I don't care," It isn't just me. he won't even let Ellis speak. "Both of you are coming with me to the principal's office."

<0>

"So you two assaulted seven other students unprovoked," The principal shakes his head. "You are both in a lot of trouble, and I can't turn a blind I to bullying."

"But sir," I try to explain, but the principle is just as bad as that teacher. "They attacked lady Lockridge, and I only acted in…."

"Your reasons don't matter!" He won't listen too. "You assaulted eight students." Eight? I only beat up seven. "And you even have the nerve to intimidate lady Lockridge into covering up your misdeeds."

"Sir, she isn't…."

"Be quiet, lady Lockridge," Like, with the teacher, the principal isn't letting the heroine speak as well. "You don't need to be afraid, lady Lockridge. You won't see lady Lamonia won't be able to hurt you anymore."

This is pointless. I can't even defend myself here or fight back unless I want to look like the bad guy. So I have to use this one trick. I hate this magic because of how it can be missed used, but I have no choice in the matter if I want to prove my innocence.

"Lady Lamonia, I have no choice but to…."

"Bozzair!" It feels nice to interrupt him after he did the same to me countless times. In a matter of seconds, Bozzair flies through the window.

"You called?"

"Sir, I believe you are well aware of Earthen Recordings," I say, and the principal nods his head.

Earthen Recordings are the records of life. Every action, event and word a person speaks is recorded by the earth. It isn't nice to think about the earth recording my every moment. Still, I feel better knowing only great dragons have the power to rewatch the Earthen Recordings. If someone like Zeno had this power, I would have to kill them. Come to think about I think there was a game called tales of something that had a similar item. What was it called again? I think in that game, they were called Earthen Historia.

"While Bozzair here is one of the great dragons that can access the Earthen Recordings," I continue seeing the principal's eyes widen. "If what he shows proves I acted in self-defence, I will be free to go, right?"

"Yeah…" He nervously nods.

"Bozzair, can you bring up the fight I was just in?"

In a matter of seconds, we are back in the area of the fight. Bozzair has shown me this ability once before, but it still is shocking. It is like we are really behind the school building. Bozzair starts the recording a bit too early, but it works out for me despite the fact I wish I didn't have to see what I did. The recording shows the heroine arriving, asking the boys not to attack me, only for them to attack her. One of the boys holds her hands behind her back while their leader hits her until Ellis falls limp in the first guy's arms. Even then, they don't stop. Even after she has fallen to the ground, the leader of the boy kicks Ellis in the stomach a few times.

I look to Ellis and see her wiping a tear from the corner of her eyes. I was too lenient on those guys. As for the principal, I see him sweating. I knew something felt off about this situation. The teacher arrived too soon, and then no one would let me defend myself. It looks like the principal is starting to panic since whatever plan he is a part of is falling apart.

Then it moves onto me arrive it. It shows me treating Ellis's wounds and the guys surrounding me. I may not have planned it out this way, but the recording shows I only attacked the guys that threatened me or attacked first. Even if the principal wants to punish me, he can't now with this evidence. It clearly shows I was the victim, and I could even get the boys arrested for attempted murder with this evidence. I show Marshal what happened later and let him decide how to handle those guys.

"As you can see, I only acted to defend myself and lady Lockridge," I tell the principal with a smile. "Can we leave now?" The principal can only nod his head as he stares back wide-eyed. "Lady Lockridge. Since it is nearly time for our afternoon class, would you care to join me for lunch? I'm sure my maid can make use something quick to eat in time."

"Yes!" Ellis jumps, looking happy. "I would love to join you, lady Lamonia."

We leave the office and the principal to start thinking of excuses to tell whoever put him up to this as to why the plan failed. We lost half our lunch break, but I am sure my maid could make us something to eat in time. She is fast, and even on a tight deadline, she can make something delicious.

"Excuse me, lady Lamonia," Ellis suddenly stops. When I turn around, I see her nervously gripping the edges of her skirt. "Can I ask a favour from you?"

"If it is something I can do, then go ahead," I nod.

"Please. On our next free day, can you please teach me how to fight like you do?"

Ellis looks like she did when she asked me to teach her body strengthening magic. Her pleading eyes as just as deadly as they were that day. While I already agreed to teach her body enhancing magic so I could teach her how to fight when I do that on our free day.

"Sure," I answer, making her smile. If she smiled like that to those guys, they never would have attacked her. "I can teach your body enchantment magic as well like I promised."