You Really Do Have Beautiful Eyes

As expected, all eyes were on me as Julian and I made our way down the hallway to our first class. Whispers and sidelong glances followed us, like an invisible current that pulled at the edges of my awareness. I tried to ignore them, keeping my gaze fixed firmly ahead, my footsteps deliberate and steady. But the weight of their stares—sharp, judging—was impossible to shake off. It hung in the air like a thick fog, thick with unspoken thoughts, so heavy it almost felt suffocating. No matter how hard I tried to avoid it, the aura they exuded was powerfully unpleasant, seeping into my skin, making my heart race and my shoulders tense.

When we entered the classroom, I sat at the back and did not make any eye contact with the students. The sound of the other students whispers spread throughout the whole class until the professor spoke.

"Welcome gentleman to your first magic class. I am professor Joseph. First we will begin our lesson with the different attributes each ability has. For example, my ability is water. I can create waves, ice, water bubbles and nothing more because those are the limitations of being a water ability-user. I cannot create storms or make it rain. Now can anyone else tell me what other abilities can do and their limitations?"

I raise my hand, along with a few other students.

"Yes, lady Seraphina."

"According to the textbook ascribed to us wind ability users manipulate the air around us to perhaps blow others away and fly. A limitation would be that they cannot create typhoons." I knew reading the textbook last night was worth it.

"As for earth ability users they can cause the ground to shake, create walls for protection, and raise a certain amount of the ground up. A limitation would be they cannot cause earthquakes. And for fire-"

"You seem to know a lot about magic. But can you use magic?" a student interrupts, their voice dripping with amusement.

I hesitate, feeling the weight of their gaze on me. "No, I really don't know much," I mumble, suddenly aware of how small my knowledge sounds. "I only studied a little from the textbook."

The student smirks. "What about your ability? You're a dark ability user, right? Why don't you show us what you can do?"

I freeze, the words swirling in my mind, but none of them seem right. The pressure of their eyes makes my thoughts scatter like leaves in the wind.

"Julian's voice is unexpectedly firm as he says, 'Lady Seraphina was never taught how to use magic like the rest of us, so it would prove... difficult.' There's a protective edge to his tone, though I can sense the underlying frustration, as if he's trying to explain her situation rather than belittle it. I catch the others trying to suppress their laughter, but Julian doesn't seem to care. His words, though blunt, feel less like mockery and more like an attempt to justify why things aren't as simple as they think."

"Well, then, there's no better time to learn than the present," Professor Joseph says with a forced cheerfulness, his tone almost sarcastic.

I stare at the ground, my face burning, and mutter under my breath, "Okay."

I stand up, my hands trembling as I take a shaky breath. I close my eyes, willing my magic to appear. Nothing. I try again, forcing it to come out, but still—nothing. How utterly pathetic. My face burns as I stumble through another attempt, the silence thick and suffocating. Then, as if on cue, the entire class erupts into laughter, even the professor joining in, their mockery sharp and cruel. It feels like my insides are crumbling, every laugh a reminder of how useless I am.

"Prince Julian, are you truly certain that Lady Seraphina possesses any magical ability?" Professor Mathew inquired, his tone skeptical.

Julian straightened, his gaze unwavering. "I have not witnessed it myself," he replied, his voice calm but carrying an air of quiet authority.

"She's just trying to manipulate you!" one student sneered, crossing their arms with a smug grin.

"Exactly!" another chimed in, rolling their eyes. "She's probably making it all up!"

"Don't let her fool you, Your Highness," a third student added, tone dripping with arrogance. "She obviously has some hidden agenda."

Julian's expression hardened, a glimmer of resolve flashing in his eyes. "Just because I have not seen it with my own eyes, does not mean the King has not. Seraphina was brought here by His Majesty for a reason," he said, voice steady and commanding. "If any of you have doubts, I suggest you take them up with him. But I would advise caution in questioning the King's judgment."

I blush. I didn't know we were on a first name basis already.

After the lesson ended, Julian and I went to the cafeteria. We both ordered pasta, and I sat there, staring at him as he chewed silently.

"Say something," I whispered, trying to break the silence.

Julian looked up, his eyes cold and his jaw tightening. "You should've kept your mouth shut when you had the chance," he said, his voice sharp with frustration.

I winced, feeling the weight of his words. "I didn't want them to think low of me," I said quietly, my voice almost pleading.

"Think low of you?" He scoffed, his frustration bubbling over. "They're always going to think low of you because you… are… a… woman. And now? Now they'll think even worse of you. You just gave them a reason to."

I swallowed hard, feeling the sting of his words. My stomach twisted with regret, and I couldn't meet his eyes. I knew I had messed up, and there was no taking it back now.

"I'm sorry," I said softly, my voice barely a whisper, thick with guilt. I felt like a child who had disappointed someone they cared about.

Julian didn't even glance at me. His face was tight with anger, and I could feel the distance between us growing. I could tell he didn't want to deal with my apology, didn't want to hear it. I had already made things worse.

"We have sword practice next. Don't get involved. I'm sure the professor will know why." Julian says coarsely.

When Julian said sword practice, I expected the swords to be made out of wood like when Sammy and Albert practiced at home. Housemaster Gilbert is teaching the lesson for some reason. Maybe he will heal the injuries after the fight. After all he is the housemaster of light magic and light ability users have the power to heal the wounded and cast force fields.

"I will select two names from the box. The individuals chosen will step forward and engage in combat. Let me remind you—no magic is permitted. Should your opponent fall or forfeit, you are to cease all further attacks immediately." Housemaster Gilbert says.

Housemaster Gilbert's hand trembles slightly as he digs through the box, pulling out two names with deliberate slowness. "Lady Seraphina Clarke, and Sir Brian Porter."

My heart stutters in my chest, a sharp pang of disbelief coursing through me. I glance at Julian, but he's already moving, his face a mask of urgency, his footsteps echoing as he strides toward the housemaster, his purpose as clear as it is unnerving.

I see Julian standing with the house master, their conversation muffled in the distance. But the way Julian's face twists, tightens, and darkens with every passing moment tells me everything I need to know. Whatever they're saying... it's not good. Julian turns, his eyes locked on mine as he strides over, each step heavy with the weight of unspoken words. When he finally reaches me, his voice is low, almost reluctant, but there's no mistaking the gravity of what he says.

"I'm afraid you have to fight."

I drag the sword across the grass as if it's as students snicker menacingly. I force myself to lift up that is heavier than I am. After a moment I find it's surprisingly lighter than before. Did I just think it was heavy because I've never used one?

"Start!" Housemaster Gilbert shouts.

In a blink of an eye my opponent slashes my thigh.

"Argh!" I scream in pain.

"Listen, you have to at least land one strike on your opponent for you to surrender. It is forbidden to forfeit when you haven't even fought yet." Julian's voice plays in my head.

Just one strike! Just one strike! Just one strike!

Slash! Chop! Slice! Blood drips from all over my body from Brian's cuts. I feel like I'm going to faint at any moment. But if I'm going to lose anyway, I at least want to land one strike at Brian. I remember seeing Sammy using a technique that landed him a strike instantly. I just need to widen the gap between us first.

"I'm going to touch those repulsive golden eyes of yours next." Brian says swinging his sword. I take a few steps back, so now there's a perfect gap between us, bend my bloody legs and run as fast as I can towards Brian. He swings his sword at me and I duck just missing his blade and cut right through his rib cage.

Brian screams not out of pain but anger. He swings his sword again to cut me into pieces.

"I surrender!" I scream from the top of my lungs.

Suddenly, a yellow magical shield appears and dodges Brian's hit. I look behind me to see housemaster Gilbert placing the shield.

"The winner is Sir Brian!"

I sigh in relief and fall to the ground.

Housemaster Gilbert turns to me and kneels hovering his hands above me.

"Let's get those wounds healed now, shall we?" I watch in awe at how the cuts all over my body close.

"Incredible." I say aloud by accident.

Housemaster Gilbert laughs.

"I'm truly sorry you had to endure this. However, the other headmasters insisted you fight. Well done."

"Seraphina." Julian takes off his blazer and wraps it around my teared dress.