***
I woke up even earlier than usual. I'm still in bed, but a little to the side, so as to not disturb Sophia. I have one of my feet on her leg to keep the ghosts away.
I'm scraping runes into one of the practice tablets. Why? Because I realized something yesterday during enchantments class.
But I'm not going to tell you, I don't want to ruin the surprise!
[We know everything you know, we already know what you are going to do? And you know what you are going to do? So who exactly are you keeping the surprise from?]
'The magic.'
[Excuse me?]
'Magic doesn't make sense. But it works. Even these runes don't really make sense. If I take this TOR rune it works the same way in front of every other rune except for the SAG rune, where it reverses. There's no reason for this at all. It's like English, I before E except after C, like Ceiling or Deceive. But also except for all the other words that randomly don't work like that, like being or beige. English doesn't make any sense at all, but it works because we all understand it.'
[So what does that have to do with you hiding thoughts you already know?]
'Magic feels alive, the same way a language feels alive, it's always changing, evolving. It wants to be understood and to understand.'
[Magic does not think, it is a force.]
'Gravity is a force, one that has shaped worlds. But I could make the same argument about Language. Without it humans back on earth would still be fucking around in caves. With it we put humans on the moon, built nukes and we have roads and trains that span the globe.'
[Language does not think, nor does gravity.]
'Yeah but unlike gravity, Language changes, it fits, it evolves and it influences. I think in English, so my thoughts are constrained by what is possible to conceptualize in English. If I spoke French, and thought in French, I would come to different conclusions.'
Gestalt is quiet for a moment.
[We speak numerous languages. We ran a simulation to test your hypothesis. You are correct, the deviation is minimal but statically significant. We will factor Language into our ongoing experiments.]
[So returning to the magic?]
'I've always narrated my life, ever since I was little. I don't really know why. I blamed it on my disassociating all the time. Seems as good a reason as any. But here, in this realm things are fitting the way I think about them. I've always hated Tuesdays. But here every Truday has had some insane bullshit going on. The way to fix Sophia's curse was sleeping in her bed, I can't do magic unless I do it big.'
I put the finishing touches on my tablet. 'I am not special Gestalt. I was a bit of a loser back home, one often lost in her own little world, I was failing. But here, where there is magic, the world understands me. And I think it's because I'm telling it who I am. Building a narrative of myself.'
[You think therefore the world knows who you are?]
'It's a working theory. And it's not that controllable, everyone else has their own ideas about me too. Which will also affect the world's perception of me. Then there is the magic's perception of itself, where the overton window of possibilities lies. I can't make up a word in English and have everyone understand it. But new words do come about all the time. What is possible, shifts.'
'We will see if I'm right, in dueling class.' I thought, while checking my domain, to make sure I had everything ready.
***
Dueling class.
It is exactly as you imagine it. Outside, dusty dirt floor with a trace of sand. The arena is surrounded by stone walls that then lead to seating - so spectators can watch us batter ourselves.
A mini square coliseum.
The whole class is standing in the center, and we have formed a ring around Gideon.
"The rules are simple. I will cast a barrier around the two active duelers. If that barrier is struck, then you have lost. You are welcome and encouraged to cast your own barriers on top of mine. That is all, who wants to go first?"
Rupert raises his hand. "Err Sir. We haven't learnt any offensive magic? All we know is light and barrier so far?"
Bronson cuts Gideon off before he could answer. "Hah don't be such a pansy Rupert." Bronson has come prepared, a wicked looking scimitar at his hip. He's already taking off his shirt, because it's Bronson, flexing the entire time. "Alright, which one of you cupcakes wants some?" he said, flaring his mana and creating a strong barrier enchantment around himself.
He's setting the narrative, and by the measure of his strength it is working. Everyone shuffles back and pauses for a moment. "I'm surrounded by weenies and wussies!" He laughed.
"I'll take you." I said, before anyone else can jump in.
Bronson responded perfectly. "Look sweetheart, I understand you are trying to find a husband here, but nobody wants an uppity woman. Leave the dueling to the men okay."
I just look at Gideon. Who gives a shrug. "Bronson v Tangerine. Everyone else out of the arena."
"But Sir, she's just a girl? She can't even cast spells? I demand a real fight." Bronson complained.
"Then beat her quickly." Is all Gideon said in reply.
The rest of the class left the arena floor, to watch from the surrounding seating. Lillian and Sophia looked concerned, but I gave them a knowing wink and smirk.
I waved to Maria, who was already sitting in the spectators area. Why is Maria here you ask?
Well I invited her when you weren't looking.
Because I'm cheating.
I know myself as Tangerine Stone, the loser, almost eighteen and still a virgin, the girl that wasted her life away playing videogames and pining after straight girls.
But that's not how Maria knows me. To her I am the girl that fell from the sky and adapted to this new world with ease. The girl who cured curses, the girl who fit into her family, the girl made best friends with a brain slug.
To Lillian, I am stone cold, a girl that can kill assassins and scared her mother by pulling a gun at the dinner table.
To Sophia I am her savoir. Her safe space. The one who grabbed the ghosts that have been tormenting her for a lifetime - and made them explode.
To the rest of the class, the ones that do not know me as well, I am the underdog. I have no weapons and no barrier. I'm five foot two, Bronson is six four - with a six pack, a hairy chest and a very big sword. But I stand here anyway, tall and proud. I'm dressed to the nines, makeup on point, eyes betraying an amused confidence.
Perfection.
"Take your positions."
I walk to my starting place and face Bronson.
"FIGHT." Gideon yells from the bleachers.
Bronson goes to laugh and raises his sword, not taking me seriously at all. He starts to say some insults but I can't really hear him.
I'm already moving, the tablet slips from my domain easily, and I dump mana as hard and fast as I can, two threads, both from my core and the sol ring.
The mana comes easier than it ever has, it is excited, the stage is set, it knows its role, what it's meant to be. I have written the narrative of a small plucky underdog vs a big foal oaf.
I throw the tablet to my right and dive to my left. I hit the ground hard, face the dirt and squeeze my eyes shut. Hands over my ears.
The crack of sound is piercing, even with cotton buds in my ears and my hands covering. The light is still blinding with my eyes tightly closed and facing the dirt. I felt the vibration go through the ground.
I stand up slowly, and dust myself off. Acting nonchalant. The first thing I notice when I take out my ear buds is the screaming.
The barriers don't protect you from everything. You can still see and hear through them. I imagine there are modifications you can make to a barrier - which would limit the amount of light or sound that could pass through. But I gambled on Bronson not thinking about that.
And won.
I slowly walk up to the screaming Bronson. He's lying on the ground holding his eyes. Blood trickled from his ears.
I pull Chekhov from my domain, his barrier is still up, what with it being a self sustaining Enchantment. I unload my gun into his face.
I haven't fired Chekhov since before doing the dream training. It doesn't feel right, like my mind and body are expecting two different things. I will need to practice more in real life.
I reload using my domain trick, and it takes another three bullets for his barrier to crack.
Then I kicked him in the bollocks - to finish the match. That's for calling Sophia a crumpet, arsehole.
"Tangerine wins!" I heard Gideon call from the seating.
I leave the arena and join Sophia and Lillian, spinning Chekhov around my fingers like a cowboy.
"What the ever living fuck? Tangerine!" Shiv said.
"What do you mean?" I asked in my most innocent voice.
"Bronson is bleeding from his ears! I'm pretty sure he pissed himself."
"Yeah I might have overcharged it a little. I figured the audience barrier would filter light and sound. I was pretty sure I wasn't going to blind all of you guys as well." I said.
"Nah it was still pretty blinding, I think they barely held together. That was insane." Said Lillian, a little bit of awe in her voice.
"Sorry." I said as Sophia threaded her arms around mine when I sat down next to her. She looked a little bit smug.
Daisy was practically eye fucking me from where she sat.
So was Rupert, but who cares about him.
[Not us.]
Maria was smiling and gave me a little 'good job' nod. Gotta say, that validation felt real good.
The rest of the matches weren't quite so dramatic. Nobody had brought weapons other than Bronson, so they borrowed stuff from the arena.
Rupert beat Daisy, both having chosen rapiers. I have a sneaking suspicion that Daisy let him win. She fought fair and lost. The Daisy I know doesn't play fair.
Lillian terrorized Vincent. She lost, he's a Vampire she didn't really stand a chance. But with how uncomfortable she made him, she basically won.
The twins fought each other, and that was uncomfortable for all the rest of us. They made fighting look like foreplay. I heard Gideon mutter "Never again." Under his breath.
Shiv had a crack against the Construct. Which was entertaining as hell. Shiv bounced around the arena like a cracked out weasel. Throwing bombs everywhere. The Construct ignored most of the blasts, although a few did rock him slightly. He did eventually get a hold of Shiv and then that match was over.
Last up was Sophia vs Ria. Which was about as anticlimactic as you could get. There wasn't much Ria could do from the wheelchair and Sophia is about as non violent as they come.
In the end they chose to decide the match by who could create the strongest barrier. They both cycled one up and then Shiv threw bombs at them until Ria's barrier broke first.
***
After lunch we had Creature handling. Which immediately became my favorite class because I got to pet the bunnicorn!
It's a unicorn! But a bunny!
Who is the best bunnicorn? Is it you? yes it is! You're the best bunnicorn!
There was a teacher, big guy, solid mustache, looked like one of those old timey English adventurers that would go steal shit from Africa. Like Doctor Dolittle.
I honestly didn't pay much attention to the class because there was a bunnicorn.
I mean who really expected me to be able to focus? If Bronson had pulled out a bunnicorn during our duel I would have been fucked.
***
I've fucked myself.
I should have paid more attention.
I owe the Academy three hours of gym time per week, and so far I have only done one.
So I had to spend two hours following Lillian around, picking up all the heavy shit.
I want to die.
Sophia and Shiv joined us. Shiv is wildly strong for her size. Something about different attachment points and more leverage. Sophia surprised me though. The girl isn't Lillian stacked, but she's still packing. I guess that's what growing up in a medieval convent does to you. She probably picks up pigs for fun.
I try my very best to be respectful and not ogle her when she is naked around me - so I never really noticed, but holy shit she's toned. Got those ab lines that make a girl swoon.
This girl.
I am swooning.
By the end of my two hours of torture Sophia and Lillian help me back up to my room. Lillian is far too happy about my suffering.
Sophia helps me wash off my sweat and grime, and I am too tired to be embarrassed about that. It felt really good though.
I am asleep before my head hits the pillow.
***