SOTL Draft Two/MAGIC - Ch7

Overview: https://kaylinrosealexande.wixsite.com/kaylinalexanderbooks/post/the-formation-of-school-of-the-legends

Read-aloud, pt. 1: https://www.tiktok.com/@kaylinrosealexander/video/7195203005992521002?lang=en

Previous: https://kaylinrosealexande.wixsite.com/kaylinalexanderbooks/post/sotl-draft-two-magic-ch6

Another long chapter! Have fun!

Also, I'm well aware I spelled "defense" wrong but I thought it would be fun to leave it.

Chapter 7

The bell to go to third period was the sound of heaven to Anahi. The only thing worse than dancing with Cheryl Desrosiers would be dancing with Marlis Haggard.

Anahi sluggishly walked to third period--Charms. When she arrived, she happily located Katya Zima-Frost.

"Hey, Katya!" Anahi said as she walked over.

"Hey, Anahi," said Katya, her head down.

“You having a good first day?” she asked, taking the seat next to her.

“I guess.”

“Um…” said Anahi, wishing Katya had given a longer answer. “What classes have you had?”

“Um, potions and self-defense.”

Anahi raised her eyebrows. “They have self-defense here?”

Katya finally lifted her head. Her pale bangs hung over her pale eyes. “Yeah, it’s new this year.” She tilted her head, bangs sliding over only her left eye. “You didn’t know that?”

Anahi shook her head.

Katya flipped her bangs back to where they were. “It’s on your schedule.”

Anahi hadn’t actually read her entire schedule yet. It was actually kind of embarrassing. She got out her schedule and scanned it over. Sure enough:

Period 8: Self-defence J. Spencer rm. 394

“Yeah, I see it,” said Anahi. “I don’t have it until eighth period, though.”

“What’ve you had so far?” Katya asked.

Anahi looked up from her schedule in surprise. That was the first time she’d heard Katya continue the conversation. “Um, history, then Ballroom.”

Katya nodded. “Cool.” Then the bell rang, and she turned to the front of the class.

Anahi smiled. Maybe she would make a friend in Katya after all.

*****

By eighth period, Anahi was starting to get tired. So far, today was good in some spots, but bad in others.

She had Linn Charming during lunch and Choir, and Katya was even in her Animal Care class. Potions was bad. Marlis Haggard.

Anahi, however, didn’t let Haggard bother her. She would just ignore her. Besides, Professor Marcus set them in alphabetical order. They were nowhere near each other.

Now was time for her long-awaited self-defense class.

Now she wanted Haggard in this class. As a practice target.

She opened the door to room 394. She scanned the room and was disappointed not to see Haggard.

There were no desks in the room, so all the girls were standing against the wall. Anahi found an empty spot, and waited. She watched the doorway, waiting for someone she knew. Her spirits lifted when Ryan McGuire walked through the door.

“Ryan!” she said, waving.

Ryan looked over at Anahi, but didn’t wave back. Instead, she went to the other end of the room in a corner.

Anahi felt crushed as the bell rang for class to start. She turned to the front of the room as Professor Spencer entered.

Anahi didn’t know what she was expecting, but whatever it was, Spencer was not what it was. She was short, blonde, and was younger than most of the professors at M.A.G.I.C. She smiled at the class. “Good afternoon. I’m Professor Spencer. Welcome to your first day at M.A.G.I.C.”

Anahi raised an eyebrow. By the sound of it, other girls were just as confused as she was. This was their self-defense teacher? She was just so… nice….

“This is my first year here, too,” Spencer continued, “and I hope we can have a great experience together.”

Spencer’s smiled faded slightly, though she still seemed to have a smile in her eyes. “Self-defence wasn’t always a thing associated with princesses, but I really think that everyone needs to learn it.”

“She’s a moron,” a voice behind Anahi whispered.

Spencer also heard it. She checked her role sheet, then said, “Cheryl Desrosiers?”

Anahi spun around. She didn’t see Desrosiers when she first came in. But she was there, with a surprised look on her face. “How did you--how do you know my name?” Despite having her in previous class, this was the first time Anahi heard her talk. She had yet another accent--pronouncing her i like ee.

“I memorized the roster of all the kids here,” she answered.

Desrosiers’ face went paler than it already was.

Spencer gestured Desrosiers toward her. “Come on, Cheryl. I need a volunteer, anyway.”

Desrosiers slowly started to walk to the professor. Spencer smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m a moron, remember?”

Desrosiers glared, but said nothing.

“Stand here,” Spencer said, pointing. Desrosiers did as she was told. “Now, punch me.”

The class was silent. Desrosiers looked around nervously. “This isn’t a trick, right?”

But Spencer said nothing. Desrosiers shrugged and drew her arm back in a fist. But just as she tried to strike, Spencer blocked her, and the next thing everyone knew, she flipped Desrosiers on a bunch of beanbags.

The rest of the class was silent as Desrosiers lie on the bags, clearly dazed. Spencer smiled and lent her hand to help her up. Desrosiers hesitated and took it. She didn’t look hurt, but she did seem to take Professor Spencer more seriously.

“Give it up for Cheryl Desrosiers!” Spencer said, clapping and smiling. Everyone else hesitated, but did as told. Anahi tried to hold back laughter. Desrosiers deserved what she got.

“We won’t be learning those moves just yet,” Spencer said. “Today, we will be learning about circumstances where you’ll need them. Okay, first, let’s take role…”

*****

Anahi’s ninth period class wasn’t really the one she was most looking forward to.

Manners.

Ugh.

But nevertheless, she was ready for her last class.

Unlike Professor Spencer’s room, which had beanbags in random places, mats everywhere, and no seats, Professor Thresh’s room had no extra things on the floor, and desks in neat rows.

Everything was so well put together and neat, it looked like it belonged in an old magazine.

Anahi once again scanned the room to see if she knew anyone. Only one: Rory Phillips from her history class.

Anahi smiled and walked over. She sat in the desk next to her. “Hey, Rory.”

Rory didn’t respond, instead she was staring at the back of the girl behind her, her eyes glazed over. “Rory?” Anahi asked, a little louder this time.

Rory didn’t respond. Anahi reached over and shook the blonde princess a little. Rory jolted awake. “I’m awake, professor!” she shouted.

Anahi jumped back. Rory blinked a couple times until she realized where she was. “Not again,” she muttered, putting her head in her hands.

“Rory?”

Rory looked up. “Hi, Anahi.” She sat up, tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry, I’ve been falling asleep all day! It’s a because of that stupid Sandy!”

“Sandy?” Anahi asked.

“Derogatory word for the royal family of Indosiera,” Rory answered. “You know, Citra Malik? Daughter of the stupid sandman who’s supposed to send you stupid dreams.”

“‘Supposed’?” Anahi asked.

Rory looked up. “I don’t dream.”

Anahi’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

“No,” she answered. “Maybe I just don’t want to. Maybe it’s because of my mother.”

“You mentioned her earlier,” said Anahi. “What happened to her?” “I’d rather not go into it,” Rory said, shifting her feet.

“I know what you mean,” said Anahi. “I don’t exactly like to go in my family’s history, either.”

Rory sighed. “From what I’ve heard, most of the princesses of our generation have parents who did something stupid that made them famous. Most of the girls here won’t talk about it, though. But I know some of them.” She squinted at Anahi. “What kingdom are you from again?”

“Pueterica. You?”

“Americania,” Rory answered, still squinting. “Just north of the Carib Sea.”

“Wow,” said Anahi. “Our kingdoms are really close.”

“Yeah…” said Rory. “Usually that means we’d know each other.”

“Really?”Anahi asked.

“Yeah,” said Rory. She stopped squinting. “How many other royal families do you know? Before coming here?”

“Before?” Anahi asked. “None.”

“None?”

Anahi shook her head. “I’ve never left the castle, and we’ve never had visitors.”

“Strange,” Rory said as the bell rang for class to start.

Professor Thresh entered the room. Unlike most professors, Thresh was wearing heels and a knee-length royal blue dress. Her hair was in a neat black bun, and she walked with some of the best posture Anahi had ever seen. Even her parents--king and queen--never walked with such poise.

“Welcome to your manners class,” Thresh began. “I am Professor Thresh. This class is simple. All I expect from you today is straight posture and closed mouths.”

Anahi jumped as a thin stick hit her desk. “I said no slouching!”

Anahi quickly fixed her posture. Thresh still glared at her. “Cross,” she said, pointing at her legs with the stick.

Anahi did as she was told.

Thresh walked to the front of the classroom. “All of you most do as I told the hazel-eyed young lady with no makeup I might add.”

Thresh glared at Anahi as she said this. Note to self, Anahi thought, wear some makeup tomorrow.

“If you sit with the correct posture, you’ll pass my class. This semester will be easy if you learned anything from our beginners branch, or even tutors,” she said this word as if she were disgusted by it, “you would know most of this stuff already. Unlike the brunette in the second row.” Thresh smiled at Anahi, but unlike Professor Spencer, Thresh’s smile was cold. “What’s your name, dear?”

“Anahi Rosario.”

Thresh took out her role sheet. “Well, Princess, I may as well give you an F for the day.”

“What?!” Anahi gasped.

“I’m sorry,” said Thresh, not sincere at all, “but you are obviously not ready for this class. The only way you can take this seriously is if I fail you.”

Anahi’s mouth fell open.

Thresh’s eyes scanned over to Rory. “And who might you be, my dear?”

“Rory Phillips,” Rory answered, without hesitation.

Thresh looked at her role sheet. “I have an Aurora Phillips.”

“Sorry, that’s me.”

“Well, decide, are you Aurora Phillips or Rory Phillips?”

“I’m Aurora, but I prefer--”

“Okay, Aurora,” Thresh interrupted, “you have the potential to pass this class. Maybe even ace it.”

“Really?” Rory asked.

“Of course,” said Thresh. “You have the posture of an actual princess.”

Anahi felt her fists clench together. That self-defence class might come in handy.

“Alright, class,” Thresh said, moving back to the front of the room. “Aurora Phillips is now your role model. You must try as hard as you can to be like her.”

The whole class turned to face Rory. She looked like she wanted to disappear, but made no effort to do so. Instead, she continued to sit up like a princess.

Anahi continued to clench her fists. Nothing had made her as angry as Professor Thresh did. Not even Marlis Haggard. But there was a little voice inside her that told her to lash out and even hurt or strangle Thresh.

I like Anahi's budding friendships with Katya and Rory. I kinda like Professor Spencer. I don't like Thresh.

I don't like how Rory used a derogatory term for Citra's family, even if Citra isn't a good person. However, the concept of the Sandman and Sleeping Beauty being rivals is actually fine. The kingdom names still suck.

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