Page 8 of The Blackened Blade

There would be no dark and damp cells in my future and no cage of any kind imprisoning me ever again.Never.

This was my second chance, my second life, and never again will I let someone take it from me.

I slowly make my way to the main building where classes are held, enjoying the scents and scenery around me.

The main academy building stood three stories tall, with grey bricks spread throughout its exterior. Light layers of ivy sprawled up its old walls, hiding some of its gothic-inspired arched windows and ornate stained-glass windows.

Its main entrance was a feature by itself, framed by two large grey marbled gryphons and a large eight foot black mahogany door, adorned with intricate details and carvings.

I make my way through the large ornate doors and in toward the main reception.

After a couple of minutes of pretending to have lost my class schedule and with a few annoyed sighs and narrow looks from the secretary, I now hold it in my hands.

It also came with the date. Looks like I was back in early October. So I was still seventeen as my birthday wasn’t until November.

I glance at my schedule as I make my way through the hall. I had ‘World History’ right now on the second floor.

I make my way up the stairway and head into the class, following a group of boys already heading in.

I scan the room full of students and make my way up toward an empty seat in the middle section.

Just as I’m about to sit down, I hear a nasally voice call out from behind me. “...Bane…Ms. Micai Bane.”

I turn toward the voice and am met with two narrowed grey eyes.

The charcoal grey haired man taps his pen impatiently on the desk in front of him as he raises a brow.

The class falls silent, all eyes flickering between me and the annoyed teacher with slight amusement.

“You're late, Ms.Bane, and I believe I’ve made it clear what my policy is on tardiness.”

I glance toward the boys I entered the class with, some turned away uninterested, a couple of them smile patronisingly, one even winked, but none of them were being stopped or called out to.

So why me?

And then it hit me,whothis teacher was.Mr. Finch.

He was a man that in my previous life, I had felt intimidated by. He would try, at any chance he could get, to degrade and humiliate the students he deemed unworthy of the academy's education, and of his time.

Unfortunately for the old me, I had been regularly humiliated by the asshat of a teacher. He had made the younger me, with already a small sense of worth, feel even smaller.

“Are you listening, Ms. Bane?” He sighs, brushing a hand down his olive-green silk tie, annoyance synching his brows together.

“Since you seem to lack focus as well as basic awareness, then maybe standing for a while will help you remember better.”

He points to the wall beside the steps, as a few giggles ring out around the class.

“Stand there, and don't cause anymore problems for the class Ms. Bane.” He turns around and begins preparing for his lesson.

How did I ever fear this man? His ego was clearly larger than his five foot eight inch frame. I’d met more terrifying guards, almost twice his height, with glares so dark and chilling they would make you tremble with just one look.

He begins the lesson in his poorly fitted brown blazer with its small check patches around his elbows, and all I could see now was a weak and pathetic man. One who tried to get his kicks from demeaning kids a fraction of his age.

I take a step toward the wall and lean against it as he turns back to meet my eyes.

“I don't remember telling you to get comfortable there Ms. Bane, this is a punishment.”

His gaze hardens as he points to me again.

---