Beyond?

“The Gejene's power of transmutation is one of the most versatile ones. It's said that their influence is based solely on their ability to transmute worthless materials into valuable ones. But their ability goes actually a step further. The talented individuals of this clan are actually able to transmute their bodies. Imagine someone being able to transmute their skin and clothing into steel. Or changing into a liquid form to negate physical attacks. Depending on its use, this ability can change the nature of a magical fight.”

-Sam Eddins, Librarian

***Free City States of Nict, Nict***

***Azir***

“Karsen. I swear it. Those girls are confused in their heads!” I complain while I study an interesting book about alchemy. We are in our classroom and enjoying some free time from the lessons. We have just a few weeks left before we can choose our next path of education.

And then I'll finally get access to this rumoured library!

“Are you talking about Olivia or Annice?” He asks, looking bored while doing his homework. “And are they the reason why you are hiding under the table?”

I am helping Karsen by telling him the answers once he gets stuck. “They don't know when to give up. And I am not hiding! I am avoiding contact with the enemy! That's something else. If you know that a fight doesn't benefit you, you avoid it!”

Karsen sighs. “Just beat Olivia down like you always do. It's not like she can offer a real challenge to you. As for Annice... no, you are actually right to hide from Annice.”

I turn the page. “But Olivia is like a fucking tumbler! No matter what I do to her, she always gets up and tries again. Yesterday I broke both her legs and left her lying in the hallway! I thought that had finally done the trick. But today I saw her searching for me in the canteen!” Advertisements

He clears his throat. “Breaking her legs sounds a little extreme, but now that you mention it, I heard that one of Olivia's friends is an Eddin. They can fix someone up in record time with their healing magic.”

That's cheating! What point is there in hurting her if she has her personal healer? “She used deadly force against me. Didn't you see the holes in the walls on our corridor? Those were made by her fists! If she hits my head like that it will simply go *pop*!”

Karsen drums with his fingers onto the table. “Then how about trying another route? Freak her out by doing something totally unexpected!”

That might even work. I frown. “Like?”

“Kiss her! I promise, she won't come within ten metres of you again.” Karsen looks under the table and grins.

“Idiot! Annice's advances are bad enough!” That's an absolute no go.

“Haah. I wonder what you'll do at the party then.” Karsen returns to doing his homework. I hear the scribbling sounds of his pen above me.

“Which party?” Party? I don't remember anyone inviting me to a party.

The scribbling sounds stop and Karsen's face appears again. “Don't tell me that you don't know.”

I hit his leg. “Tell me!”

“The party at the end of the year? Our graduation ceremony? The dance all males on this academy fear!? The day when the hunt starts?” Karsen looks at me with an open mouth.

I just look at him, understanding nothing at all.

He sighs. “You see. There is a dancing party afterwards. And who dances with whom? Boys with girls. And who is in the minority on this academy? You get it now?”

I slowly close my book. “You want to say that Annice will become even more annoying?”

Karsen snickers. “Not only Annice! All of them! Which girl doesn't want to dance at least once before the real university life starts? And they'll try to bond with you for other reasons. That means unless you find a shield until then...”

What's a shield? “Shield?”

He sits up straight again. “Take me and Talia for example. I promised to spend the entire evening with her. So she'll naturally repel all the annoying bugs who'll surely try to sting me.”

The gears in my head start turning. “That's fine. I'll hide behind Stella.”

Karsen snorts. “Don't do that to Stella! The girls at the school are already eyeing her with ill intent because she is close to you! And she has no backup from one of the big clans! They'll tear her apart.”

I purse my lips. “Then Louise?”

“You could try to ask her.” The scribbling starts again.

***Free City States of Nict, Tri***

***Annice***

“~Hmhmhm.~” I step into the classroom. “Hi, Karsen! Have you seen my destined one?” He should be here according to my informants.

Karsen shakes his head. “He just left. I think he has a special sense to detect your approach. It's actually becoming a little freaky. Ten seconds before you appear, he jumps up like something bit him and then he teleports away without a word.”

“Tch! I am starting to believe so myself.” I look around, but there seems to be nobody else in the classroom.

“Why are you so focused on him? Aren't your families enemies?” Karsen looks up from his work.

“That's because we are bonded by fate! It was when we first met that I simply knew that he is the one!” I form a fist in front of me to emphasize my point. “And I didn't find a better guy up until now. So there is no reason to change my target.”

“That doesn't sound like love.” Karsen states with an emotionless voice. Advertisements

I make a dismissive gesture. “Who cares about love. It's destiny! That's wrong by the way. The Treburü attacked our southern border in the year seven hundred and forty three.” I point at the page he is writing.

“Oh? Thanks. I don't understand why we have to know about all these attacks on our borders. There is no point in it. And why are these small countries even trying?” He corrects his mistake.

I frown. “It's to show us that reasoning with them isn't possible. That's why we have to learn the whole history. And they are attacking us frequently because every warlord who gains control over three or four small nations tries his luck with Nict once he becomes cocky. Then he dies and the next one takes his place.”

It's a never ending story of rising to might and experiencing their downfall. “I'll go then. The day is still young and I have some time left to search for Azir.”

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