Dark Urges

The day of the sparring match of the P.P.E has arrived. During class, professor Brathium prepared an elevated circle in the middle of the field and set up a roster for which students would go up against each other. You've all trained for weeks for this, and written on each face was either terrified or confident.

"Alright everyone, the rules are simple. Once inside of the circle, it will glow red which means no attacks shall be given at this time, but once it glows green, you may proceed. Using enchantments or spells is forbidden during this time. The winner will be decided once one of you is already unable to continue or disarmed." he explained, pacing in front of you and scanning each of your reactions.

"Let the sparring match begin!" he shouted. A barrier of energy surrounded the circle, "This energy will detect any form of magic inside the circle, and it will glow red once it detects any. It's foolproof, so don't even think of cheating," he took out a piece of parchment, which had the roster for the sparring.

"First off, we have Crius and Adair," the professor called out the first names on the list, making you perk up. 'The two of them don't have much of a sour relationship, they'll be fine,' you thought to yourself. 'I just hope they don't take this too seriously,' your thoughts were worried about the two of them hurting each other.

Kieran and Dorian made their way inside the circle, it glowed a bluish hue which meant that no magic was being detected from both of them, "Alright boys, I want this clean and no dirty tricks, set a good example as Knights to your classmates," professor Brathium warned.

The two made their stance on the circle, and then it glowed green. The first to attack was Kieran, making a move and going straight for a strike on Dorian's chest, but Dorian managed to move away just in time. It was so aggressive that it made you wince, "Too slow Crius," the professor noted.

Kieran moved once more, retracting the spear before swinging it over Dorian's head, making Dorian duck and roll away then striking where Kieran stood with his sword, making Kieran jump back, "Nice recovery Adair," the professor commented, making Kieran grunt and Dorian grin.

But his overconfidence made got him in murky waters when Kieran lunged forward, and Dorian took the bait, using his sword to deflect the attack. But it was a faint, Kieran slid forward and kicked Dorian's legs beneath him, making him lose his balance. Kieran took this opportunity to hit the sword out of Dorian's grasp, and it flew out of the circle.

"Adair is disarmed, Crius wins the match!" the professor announced, and a round of cheer erupted from the class.

"You were saying?" Kieran boasted with a smirk, towering over Dorian who was on his back on the ground. But he offered Dorian a hand to help him stand, which Dorian took. If he felt defeated, he didn't show it and showed sportsmanship instead by patting Kieran on the shoulder.

"Good fight mate," Dorian commented, dusting his clothes.

They both got out of the circle, and you waited for the next contenders to be called. Two by two your classmates went inside the circle, each match was a unique display of physical attributes, and it was evident who practiced and trained, and who didn't.

"Alright, last but not the least, Bellerose and Bardhyl, to the circle please," just as your luck has it, you've been matched with Ascian, who seems to be glad for this pairing. But you've prepared yourself, so you were confident, the only thing left is to concentrate and not lose control.

You entered the circle, and he was eyeing you spitefully. You remember when Caelum broke his wrist and he's been bitter and spiteful towards you more since then, "What are you gonna do Bellerose? Come at me!" he taunted, clearly underestimating you.

Then you heard it, "Want me to ruin him for you?" it was clear as the day. For the first time in weeks, there it was, 'her' voice. Creeping into your ear like a ghost, "I'll take care of him for us," her voice was like a temptation--Nox.

"Are you so afraid, you can't even move?" Ascian taunted once more, snapping you back to reality.

You shook your head, shaking her voice away, "I can do this," you encouraged yourself, which doubled as a response to Nox. "I don't need you," you added before going in the offense.

You lunged speedily, catching Ascian off guard. He barely dodged your attack when you moved once more, twirling along with your spear, hitting him left and right, pushing him back step by step. You didn't waver, nor give him any chance to retaliate, but he's had enough, and kicked forward, sending you back with a grunt.

"Don't get cocky!" he shouted before advancing towards you, and this time catching you off guard as he swung his spear, at your head, then your stomach, making you duck and dodge. He kept swinging at you without discernment, "You stupid mortal," he hissed.

"That's it!" you shouted, finally thinking enough is enough. With one swing, you hit his chest pushing him back. You swung at his side, and your spear made contact, making him stagger sidewards. You hit his spear away from his grasp, twirling around, you swung once more and stopped just before it hit his head. He fell backward, out of balance.

"You talk too much," you said out of breath. There was a moment of silence before the whole class erupted in applause and cheering.

"Bellerose won the match!" the professor announced, slightly grinning impressed. You rolled your eyes at Ascian before leaving him on the ground and walked out of the circle, where your classmates went to you with excitement, impressed with you.

Kieran and Dorian immediately ran to you, "Nice match Em!" "You definitely kicked his ass!" they said in unison. Dorian patted your head, while Kieran slung his arm around you.

"This calls for a celebration," Dorian suggested.

"He'll think twice next time before going up against you, I mean I'd be too embarrassed to even look at you!" Kieran jested, laughing out loud. "Oh, his reaction was priceless!" he continued to laugh, making you laugh along with him.

You sighed, "I couldn't have done it without you guys," you said, nudging them both. "Thanks, Dorian for sparring with me, and to you Kieran for giving me pointers on my technique." you thanked them sincerely, making them slightly embarrassed.

"She cheated!" you all turned your heads to a furious Ascian, marching towards you. "She couldn't even walk the corridors without tripping, let alone manage to move like that!" he said incredulously.

Kieran and Dorian were about to retaliate when you stopped them, "And how does it feel like, getting beaten up by someone who trips on her own two feet?" you replied with a smirk, making him even more aggravated.

Unable to contain his emotions, he went for you, but with one swift motion, you swung your spear under him, making him fall, and then the next thing you know, your spear was directly in front of his eye.

"You're pathetic," you spat out, "just admit that I may be mortal, but it doesn't make me weak. Shouldn't you be embarrassed that you lost thinking you have the upper hand when in truth, you're just pathetic." you glared at him coldly, before retracting your spear and walking away.

"We should've broke him," there it was again.

"Stop it," you warned the voice inside your head.

"That way, he won't ever think of talking to us that way again!" it was louder this time, more compelling.

You sighed, frustrating, "Are you always going to be like this?" you whispered lowly as a reply.

You heard a chuckle, "Only when it matters," she said. You could almost hear the grin in her voice, mocking.

"Hey Emilia!" Kieran called out to you, he followed you when you walked away, "Don't mind that prick, you did amazing." he complimented, putting an arm over your shoulders.

"I feel kind of bad, walking out like that," you said half-heartedly when in truth, you were furious. Furious that it's not enough to train, to learn control when no one is aware of your abilities.

The same feeling of helplessness started setting in once more. You felt as though despite the changes that have happened to you, it doesn't matter because everyone still thinks you're the same clumsy, powerless, and weak Emilia Bellerose.

"Oh please, I think everyone would understand, and what's good is that Ascian got detention for intended violence towards you, it was a laugh," Kieran jested in an attempt to make you feel better.

But it wasn't the fact that Ascian attacked you that made you furious, it was what he said that struck you. You realized that all the bottled-up frustrations you've had in the past are trying to unleash themselves. Encouraging Nox's side of your personality, like she was starting to rub off on you.

You noticed that you've started to have these negative urges, even without Nox's whisperings in your ear. It was starting to become you, and you couldn't stop it, but there was a part of you that didn't dislike it either.

"Wait till Caelum hears about this, he'll be glad you finally had the gall to stand up to that ass," Kieran said pridefully.

The mention of Caelum made your heart pace, "Oh yeah, how is he? I haven't really spoken to him for some time," you said nonchalantly when in truth you feel somewhat anxious. You haven't talked since you kissed and it's been on your mind since.

"He's fine, just a bit preoccupied lately. He's preparing for the Inter-school Elemental Competition, he didn't tell you?" Kieran replied as you made your way to the changing rooms.

"No, he did not," you answered, somewhat disappointed that he didn't even tell you about such an important event. "But he's probably just too busy, I supposed."

Kieran took a stern look at your expression and he shook his head, "You two haven't made up have you?" it was more of a statement than a question with the way he said it.

You sighed, "No, we haven't. He's still avoiding me, and every time I try to strike a conversation, he'll suddenly make up an excuse and leave, it's frustrating!" you grunted, feeling the weight of your feelings.

"This won't do," he shook his head in disapproval, "You need to make up immediately before the competition, or else his head will be filled with pent-up stress from you," he scolded.

Once you got to the changing rooms, you went your separate ways, "Meet me later after class by the east corridor, and don't you dare chicken out," he said before going inside the changing room.

You also went inside, got a quick shower, and changed back into your uniforms. The other female students also started to get themselves clean when you got out, staring at you the moment they saw you, before grinning.

"You did great Emilia!" "That was amazing!" "You sure showed him." they complimented you one by one and you only smiled, saying a quick response before quickly leaving the changing room.

You breathed in a sigh, you've never really received much recognition outside of your Apothecary skills, so getting compliments from your classmates was a pretty big deal and crazy experience.

You went to your last class which was Mythical Biology, and by the time you arrived, Professor Montgomery was already starting the class.

"Alright students, next week we will have the Inter-school Elemental Competition, so for today's class we will try to figure out the different categories of mythical creatures based on their elemental abilities," he said while taking out a large crate from beneath the table and putting it on the table.

Inside were four little creatures, he opened the crate but not before casting a little barrier on the table to prevent them from going anywhere, "Each of these little things is capable of manipulating an element, and just by looking, can you figure out which is which?"

One had a hard rock-like skin, it had rock spikes covering its entire body, with four legs, and two were like pincers. The other had squishy and bluish green skin, kind of like a lizard but bigger, and it had dark blue eyes.

The other was like a small dragon, with scales covering its body, a spiky tail, and two horns, and just as you thought, it suddenly breathed fire. And the last one had wings, with feathers covering its body like a coat, it was like a smaller version of a griffin but this was more bird-like.

He had you list down the attributes of the creatures and their commonality. "These creatures might not possess the same level of power as those of you, but it does not mean they are any lesser than you. It might not be certain which of us came first, them or us, but one thing is certain," he took the one that looked like a dragon, "All of us possess a power that not everyone can possess."

The class was dismissed after that, and the professor's words got you thinking. You might not be able to showcase your powers like everyone else, but it does not mean it isn't there. That you do not need the validation of others' judgment to know just how much you are capable.