A hand smacked Bridget's face and she stumbled back, hitting her head against the wall behind her. Her face turned red as anger filled her eyes.
"Repeat it," a man commanded her.
"I won't say it," Bridget yelled. "I'm no slave-whore, especially to the likes of you."
A middle-aged bald man scanned Bridget up and down, with a paddle in his hand.
"Say it again," he said, slowly putting his face closer to Bridget's. "I will be a good wife, and please my husband to his utmost delight."
Bridget looked up at the man and snarled. She threw a quick jab at the man's crotch before pushing him down to the ground.
"You crazy tomboy!" the man yelled as he groaned in pain. "You were born with a beautiful body for that must be trained. No man will ever want to bed you with that attitude. You'll rot in a lonely unmarried life."
"I didn't even want to be in this dump of a place to start with," Bridget snapped.
She looked down at the man, grinning menacingly. The headmaster walked in with a cold, stern face as she stared at Bridget.
"Headmaster Anna," Bridget murmured.
Bridget stood up tall immediately, with her hand leaning on her chest and bowed. Anna walked over to Bridget and looked down at the man.
"Care to explain to me what is the meaning of this?
"He was making me say horrible things, Anna."
"That's Headmaster Anna to you, young one. I will talk with Paul about your behavior. If I find that he is treating you in a horrible manner, we will take the appropriate actions."
Paul rolled over and lifted himself up slowly.
"That girl," Paul said as he wiped off the dust from his shoulders, "has some problematic issues with her brain. She will never be a proper lady and she would be better off becoming a cheap harlot."
"That is quite enough, Paul." Anna looked at him with a stern glance. "You can take your leave now and leave young Bridget to me."
Paul walked out of the room, throwing Bridget a look of contempt.
"Don't forget to put ice on it!" Bridget snickered.
"Bridget!"
"Yes, Headmaster?" Bridget responded, looking down at the floor.
Anna placed her finger under Bridget's chin, and lifted her head slowly.
"Eyes up here, young one," Anna commanded.
Bridget looked up slowly toward the eyes of Anna.
"That's a good girl. Now. What are the core values here at the Academy?"
Bridget let out a soft sigh, scratching her nape.
"Love yourself. Love others. Love Goddess Astra."
"Now, that wasn't that so hard, was it now?" Anna asked.
"No. It wasn't," Bridget replied. "But I don't like being forced to be something I am not. I want to be free to make my own decisions and run wild in this world. Having relations with a man until the day I die does not sound like a life worth living."
"You do not have to get married if you do not want to," Anna said looking at Bridget. "Marriage is not for everyone. Some women, like me, stay single and charge forward, making their own destiny. I believe you can do the same."
"You really think so?"
"Yes. Yes, I do," Anna replied. "But you cannot punch our faculty in their family heirlooms. They only get one set, so kindly refrain from taking them out of commission. Is that understood? Will you promise me not to do it again?"
"I promise, Headmaster. I will try not to punch any unruly men in the gentleman's area. Even if they do deserve it."
"Good enough, I suppose." Anna let out a small chuckle. "Now go Get some rest, young one."
Bridget crouched down and picked up her books on martial tactics She noticed Anna giving her weird glances.
Just because I want to study knight formations and other types of warfare doesn't make me weird, Bridget thought to herself. Does Goddess
Does Astra even care for us? They speak of such love of the Goddess, but people like Paul exist to torment me. I have a bad feeling about his intentions. He considers himself a devout believer, but most of the professors at the Academy are dirty crooks. They say one thing with their lips and another with their actions.
Bridget proceeded to the Academy library for her afternoon studies. She picked a desk in the corner of the library, away from the traffic of the busy day. She chose a book from one of the nearby shelves—Deri Meritari: On the Art of Military Formations Vol I, "I've been looking for this for so long and it's finally back!" said Bridget, grinning.
This book had been on Bridget's mind for the past three months. She quickly grabbed it and sat down at the nearby table.
Chapter 1: Formations of Military Knighthood
The pages showed her the formations knights used to attack their enemies in close quarters. She visualized a scene where knights were pinned down by their enemies and were back-to-back, pushing their way out of a critical situation.
The knights are so dreamy! She sighed. As a female, I could never be a knight. Why is this world so cruel? I'm tough. I can definitely take on any of the girls here.
"Hey, Bridget!"
Bridget looked over to where the voice was coming from. A young short girl with chubby cheeks ran toward Bridget.
I'd know that voice anywhere. Bridget smiled. "Hey, Grace!" Grace and Bridget slapped hands and punched each other's fists.
"Let's say our version of the Academy's motto," Grace said. "Okay together now."
Goddess Astra Last
Treat yourself right first
Don't marry a crazy man
He will always thirst
Grow as a lady
Pursue the truth
Love yourself to no end
Be uniquely you
Bridget hugged Grace before they sat down together at the table. "I heard you had to go back home to your mother's funeral," said Bridget.