Page 25 of The Blackened Blade

Xander, Kane, Anders and Knox turn toward us, their gazes instantly hardening as they see the scene around us. Then they walk straight over and place themselves around Seria in some protective stance.

These cold looks used to pierce me. They would hurt more than the dark words and whispers of others, or the physical hits thrown at me. I used to shrink into a shell, unable to stand their cold gazes.

The younger me had wanted the love and affection that they had shown me when we were kids…but not anymore. I didn’t need them or their affection.

I meet each set of eyes with a steady and cold look of my own, these faces now more stranger to me after years apart.

Kane glances at Ivy, then towards Seria who's now sporting a frown, before turning back to me.

“What did you do?” He grits out.

I sigh, drained from all the drama. I ignore him and walk past them and towards the door.

“Micai!” Kane yells as everyone's eyes fall on me.

I stop at the door, turning back toward him, a small tight smile tilting my lips as I meet his cold eyes.

“What's the point in talking to you? You’ve already made up your mind.” I turn away, ignoring the noise behind me as I make my way out of the cafeteria.

How could I never see the bullshit right in front of my face?

Why did I ever want the love of such cold idiots? And why did I ever let Ivy and those assholes have a hold over my life? Why did I never fight back?

Sure, I wasn’t physically strong,but still…I could have done something,anything.Something other than allowing them to get their claws in me, allowing them to break the younger me into small pieces, crushing her to a point she felt she couldn’t even talk back.

One thing was definite now…there would be no holding back. Even if it hurts, even if I bleed, I’ll pay them all back for everything they’ve done to me.

CHAPTER7

Imake my way toward the main academy building and to my first class. A whole week had already gone by since I came back.

The weekend had passed quickly after Friday's little incident.

Thankfully the majority of the students here went home during that time, what with having no classes and nothing better to do here or in town. They would travel home Friday evenings, arriving back late on Sunday before classes start back up again on Monday.

And for the few that did stay, they would either spend it studying in the library or working out in the training grounds.

I spent the majority of the weekend training or cleaning up after some petty low-grade bullying from Friday; my uniform torn and ripped in my locker, my books burnt in the courtyard and my dormitory door painted with the slur words‘pathetic whore’in black paint.

Scrubbing it away didn’t work with whatever paint or liquid they used,they might have even spelled it. So I painted over it, and now it's completely black. And honestly, I kind of like it.

I took the rest of the two days to train and rest properly. I’m not where I need to be just yet, but I could feel myself getting stronger. Each training session lasted longer without me out of breath and each move had slightly more strength in it than before.

I’d also been healing. Any small scratches or bruises would heal quickly, and my ability to recover from training and the muscle pain from it was much quicker as well.

I had never even thought of the possibility of that stupid charm bracelet being something so malicious. It definitely contributed to my lack of strength and inability to recover.

Another way for Seria to keep me under her shoe and physically unable to fight back.

That was another thing. Retribution for Friday's little incident would come harder in one form or another, the small petty pranks or cutting glares and words were too trivial for them.

Both Ivy and Seria wouldn’t let me off so easily. But at least with Ivy, she would try to take me head-on, enjoying the attention from whatever scene she causes.

Whereas Seria would work in the shadows and through other people, pitting them against me. Her schemes ran deep, like thin black threads spread throughout the academy. You never knew what was going on behind that fake smile or what malicious plots she planned.

Either way, whether it's Seria, Ivy or even Kane, I’m sure they’ll make a move soon enough, but this time I’ll be ready.

I make my way toward the history classroom, with even a couple of minutes to spare this time.

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