Confrontations and revelations

As you and Anna-Bell make your way toward the exit of Cerberus house, your arm around her waist, you see that there are other students lounging about the common room. Some appear to be studying, while others engage in subdued conversation around the fire. You receive quite a few glances and hear excited murmuring as you and your lovely companion pass. You decide to pay this little mind and just enjoy the company for your walk back to your dorm. Let them gawk and whisper, you doubt anything could ruin your good mood at this point.

As you reach the entrance, the door opens and in walks a tall and lean boy. You don't see his face because it is currently buried in a large book, his wispy blonde hair just visible above the tome. You and Anna-Bell quickly sidestep out of the way before the three of you collide.

"Jesse! You really ought to watch where you are going. You almost bowled us over.", Anna-Bell chides the boy with a firm, yet sweet tone. She has a stern, but kind look on her face.

The boy, Jesse, pauses and removes his face from his book to look at her, somewhat abashedly.

"Oh... I'm sorry Anna-Bell. You're right. I just can't help but to get absorbed in Evocation.", he says with an embarrassed grin.

"I understand Jesse, but perhaps you should wait until you are seated somewhere before becoming absorbed.", she says with a sweet smile.

"Sure, sorry.", he replies with his own smile. He then notices you and a wide grin spreads across his face. He looks between you and Anna-Bell a few times, his blue eyes sparkling and his grin growing.

"Anna-Bell, who is your friend here? Isn't he...",Jesse begins.

"Yes. He is.", anna-Bell interrupts him before he can finish his question. She gives you an endearing smile and pats your arm around her waist, probably figuring you'd want to avoid talking about the incident at orientation.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you friend. I'm Jesse... Jesse Albright. Any friend of Anna-Bell's is a friend of mine.", he says, extending his hand.

You shake his hand, introducing yourself with a friendly smile.

"You're somewhat of a celebrity around here. Everyone is talking about...", he begins before he is interrupted again.

"Jesse, it's getting late. We need to get him back to his dorm before curfew.", Anna-Bell says with her firm and sweet tone.

Jesse's eyes go wide with realization.

"Oh! Of course. Forgive me. It was very nice meeting you. I'd like to hang out with you and talk sometime. I'd like to know how you did..."

"Jesse...", Anna-Bell draws out his name, her tone growing more serious.

"Right, sorry. anyway, have a good night.", Jesse says with his embarrassed smile.

"I'll be back before curfew Jesse. We should still have time to study Evocation before it gets too late.", she says, relaxing a bit.

"Sure. Sounds good Anna-Bell. I'll see you when you return.", he replies with a smile, then returns his gaze to you. "good night friend. See you soon."

"Good night Jesse.", you respond with your own smile.

He turns and begins walking away, his face soon planted firmly back in his book. You see Anna-Bell roll her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. You just chuckle.

“Don’t mind Jesse, I know he can be a bit much… and a little clueless… but he’s very smart, and one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet.”, Anna-Bell says as you casually walk the main corridor.

“No worries. He’s charming.”, you say, giving her a gentle squeeze for reassurance.

You both continue your leisurely walk in comfortable silence, content in each other’s company.

“Disgraceful.”, comes a cold and familiar voice from behind you.

Aeriel, who has been riding silently in her accustomed piggyback fashion, immediately burns hotly with malevolence. You and Anna-Bell turn to see Victor Kyrie glaring at you disdainfully.

“I should have known the mongrel wouldn’t be smart enough to heed my earlier warning.”, he says, looking at you with a sneer. His expression softens to a frown when he regards Anna-Bell. “And you Anna-Bell, I thought you were more sensible and classy than to associate with scum.”

“Victor, not everybody shares your views on the world.”, she responds stoically.

“If only you would have stayed… I could have shown you how superior we are. You would have come to see things for what they really are.”, he says, his tone regretful.

“No Victor.”, she shakes her head, speaking in a level tone. “I DID see things for what they are. I saw YOU for what you are Victor. I could not abide your… shortcomings any longer.”, she says resolutely.

As you watch this exchange, you focus inwardly to Aeriel who is seething by this point. She now stands in front of you, facing Kyrie. You can feel the ire radiating from her. You gently place your hands on her hips to try and calm her.

“Hey silly girl… What is it…? This is twice now you’ve reacted like this toward him… I know he’s a jerk, but it’s not that serious…”

Aeriel shakes her head. “No…”, she growls, a low and animalistic sound. “His words are shallow and inconsequential… It’s his magic… It’s tainted…”

“What…? What do you mean…? How can you tell…?”

“I see it in his aura… Channel a small amount of my power into your eyes and see for yourself…”

You do as she says, grabbing a handful of her supple ass. She twitches reflexively at your touch and a trickle of energy flows into you. Closing your eyes, you channel the flow into them.

When you open your eyes again, you look at Kyrie. Around him is a corona of green energy flecked with black splotches. You look to Anna-Bell and see her aura is a deep and rich purple, free of blemishes. You see something else… well, not so much see, but sense. She is tense, alert. Outwardly, she portrays a calm stoicism. But her aura betrays her nerves. It hugs her closely, as though she is sucking it into herself, holding it taut like a bowstring ready to loose an arrow.

“Shortcomings?”, Kyrie picks up their conversation. “Superiority is not a shortcoming.”

“Your so called superiority is artificial and hollow. It is only a detriment to yourself and others.”, Anna-Bell states flatly.

You look to Kyrie again and see him tense up physically.

“So it comes back to THAT again, like always. I told you, I have not touched Scale since you left. my power is my own today.”

“He’s lying…”, Aeriel growls.

“I wish I could believe you Victor, but I know you better than you think... And of course, it always comes back to power with you. Power is all you care about. Even if I subscribed to your ridiculous notion of superiority, it would not be based solely on power. That is shortsighted, and that is one of the shortcomings I referred to.”

You see Kyrie trembling, his face contorted in rage. His aura begins to recede, similarly to Anna-Bell’s, and the black splotches start to spread.

Aeriel burns hotter.

“He’s drawing energy… Be ready for anything…”

“You were always naive Anna-Bell, a pampered little cunt. With your lineage and your potential, you could be truly remarkable... with me. But instead, you choose to squander your gifts and associate yourself with lesser beings.", he nods at you as he says these last words.

"And it always comes back to that with you Victor... my bloodline and my potential. That's all you really care about, not ME. At least this so called lesser being likes me for ME. He doesn't even know who my family is.", Anna-Bell says, her voice thick with emotion.

"But he doesn't even have any magic in him.", Kyrie spits. "The old man may have fooled everyone else with his illusions, but I saw right through them. I don't know what his game is, allowing someone like him here, but it is disgraceful. Perhaps I should demonstrate just how out of his element he is. I do owe him a lesson for not heeding my earlier words.", he says, returning his gaze to you as he speaks.

"Victor! Don't!", Anna-Bell says gravely, concern in her eyes.

"I told you before mutt, know your place. I think I need to show you where it is...", Kyrie says with a malicious scowl.

"Get ready... Watch him carefully...", Aeriel bristles.

"Come on and show me then you pompous ass. If you think you've got me all figured out, then come on and show me.", you say, your temper finally breaking.

"Don't provoke him.", Anna-Bell says, shooting you a reproving look.

"Very well mongrel.", he says menacingly.

Suddenly, Kyrie vanishes. You see no trace of him where he stood. You hear no sounds and you sense no movement. Using a small amount of the power you had slowly accumulated after Aeriel's warning, you attempt to track Kyrie by his aura by channeling a little energy into your eyes again. There, moving at you quickly, you see a flash of green and black. Reflexively, you channel more energy and form a small shield of ice just as Kyrie materializes in front of you, viciously attacking with his fist. You raise your shield in time to absorb his violent blow, which is powerful... likely magically enhanced. In that moment, you briefly see surprise register in his dark eyes, but cold hatred quickly replaces it. Your ice shield shatters with the impact, but you are unharmed. You quickly retreat a pace, but he advances, trying to press his slight advantage.

Just then, a wall of blue energy appears between you. He runs into it, cursing. You look over and see Anna-Bell with her palm outstretched, apparently the one responsible for the barrier.

"VICTOR! THAT'S ENOUGH!", she shouts angrily.

He whirls on her, his face almost purple with rage.

"You bitch! Why are you protecting him? He's nothing!" Facing you again with a glare, he screams, "I'll get you mongrel. She can't protect you forever."

"Mr. Kyrie...", you hear as the headmaster appears. "I think it is time for you to head to your house. It is almost curfew, and it appears that you need time to calm yourself. I highly doubt Professor Zizana would be pleased to learn that her dueling captain was expelled for fighting."

Kyrie whirls on Hallgrave.

"You! Why do you permit such scum to exist here?!" Hallgrave steps toward Kyrie imposingly. "You would do well to mind your tongue when talking to me boy. And doubly so when speaking to my granddaughter.", Hallgrave says with venom in his voice, a stark contrast to his usual amiable manner.

Kyrie quails at the rebuke,, composing himself again.

"My apologies headmaster.", he says mechanically.

"I'm not the one who needs nor wants your false apology Mr. Kyrie.", Hallgrave says.

"I'm sorry Anna-Bell."

"No you're not. Just save it Victor. Just go.", she says with a scowl, her eyes threatening to overflow.

Kyrie looks at her, then to the headmaster. He takes a breath and begins to leave. As he goes, he shoots you another glare, which you return.

After he's gone, Anna-Bell comes to you, clearly concerned.

"Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"

"No, I'm fine. But what about you? Are you ok? He said some pretty hurtful things."

"I'm fine. For the most part, I don't let him get to me. What little he did, I'll get over soon enough. Mostly, I was upset at how he was treating you.", she says, placing her hand on your cheek and giving you an adoring look.

“Victor Kyrie is a troubled young lad.”, the headmaster says as he approaches you both. “He is misguided and insecure. Please try to not hold any grudges.”

You shake your head. “I don’t, but I’m not going to waste my time trying to change his mind, he seems too far gone for that.”

“I don’t blame you, but please keep this in mind… no one is beyond redemption.”, the old headmaster replies.

Nodding your head, you respond. “I will. However, if he hurts Anna-Bell or attacks me again, I WILL defend her and myself.”

Hallgrave smiles warmly at you. “Of course my boy. But, as you may have heard me say, Victor is the captain of Professor Zizana’s dueling team. Perhaps that may be a better way to preserve your and Anna-Bell’s honor?”, he adds with a wink.

“Perhaps.”, you admit. “I am still considering that. But I don't want to do it purely out of spite, I don’t believe that is a valid reason to do anything.”

"And I believe that attitude is precisely why you are the perfect candidate. But, I will not press the matter any further. It is your decision to make.", Hallgrave remarks with a smile.

"I agree.", Anna-Bell chimes in. "Aside from that, what I just saw you do in self-defense, with so little experience was amazing. How were you able to react so quickly?"

"He is a very special boy my dear.", Hallgrave interjects. He then looks between you both for a moment, as though reading you and grins.

"Anna-Bell, I approve.", he says to her simply. To you he adds, "Treat her well young man, she is very dear to me."

"Grandpa...", Anna-Bell pleads, blushing fiercely.

"Ok, ok. I'll drop it. Go on you two, get to your houses before curfew. But if either of you happen to be a couple of minutes late, I'll let it slide this once... due to your unexpected interruption.", he chuckles knowingly before walking away.

When he is gone, you look to Anna-Bell and see her still blushing furiously, her eyes cast to the floor. You walk over to her and cup her chin in your hand, drawing her eyes to your own.

"Grandpa?", you ask.

She simply nods, her beautiful eyes still wet with unshed tears. "I didn't mention it because I was afraid how you might react. Most boys are too intimidated to approach me, and others think only of furthering their own reputations. I wanted you to see me for me."

"anna-Bell... this changes nothing. You are incredible, and not because of your grandfather. I enjoyed every second with you tonight, and I want to enjoy more.", you say tenderly.

She embraces you tightly. You feel wet warmth on your shoulder, her tears finally breaking free. You hold her to you, stroking her hair. After a few moments of this, she withdraws and plants a tender kiss on your lips.

"Thank you. You don't know how much that means to me."

"Come on, lets get going.", you say, taking her hand.

You both continue your walk back to Chimera house, once again enjoying each other's company. Aeriel has settled down after the confrontation and is riding on your back again, nuzzling your neck affectionately.

Finally, you reach the mural which marks the entrance to your dorm. You turn to anna-Bell and look her in her eyes.

"Are you sure you're ok?"

"Yes. I'll be fine, especially now that things are aired out between you and I.", she replies smiling.

"I wanted to ask you something."

"What?"

"What is Scale? I heard Kyrie mention it."

She sighs deeply and places a hand to your cheek.

"Scale... or Dragon's Scale to be more precise. It is a powerful **** that enhances a person's magical power. As the name suggests, it is derived from grinding dragon's scales into a fine powder. When ingested, it boosts a person's power considerably. But it has **** effects on the brain. The person becomes volatile. Some theorize that the person's brain becomes almost dragon-like, and the effect grows the more it is used. I honestly think this is where Victor's behavior stems from. He can swear to me all he likes, I don't believe he's given it up."

You hug her close.

"I'm sorry. I can tell this is difficult for you. You and he obviously have history together."

"Yes...", she responds into your shoulder. "He and I were close once. Betrothed actually. But he changed, and with that, his feelings toward me and others changed. I couldn't do it any more, so I left him."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. That was two years ago. I've moved on. I gave him ample opportunity to redeem himself, but he has never made any improvement. What love there is, it's not enough to keep me attached to him. Just promise me you will never touch Scale. You are too sweet to lose to that wretched substance."

"You don't have to worry Anna-Bell. I won't."

After a few more moments of embracing one another in silence, you break away from each other. You bid Anna-Bell good night with a tender and passionate kiss.