Sam stormed through the halls with a still stinging throat and a very bad mood. He had realized that, because of Belle, he had lost the papers the headmaster had given him. Not only had he almost harmed students without permission, but he had also lost the information about the kids he was supposed to 'mentor'. Anger boiled in him and he felt a familiar tingle run up his spine. Speeding up slightly he walked towards the school's training fields. The opposite direction of the library. He had to let off some steam before he was prepared to do any kind of social interaction. He walked past the first field where a group of kids were practicing techniques and another group where a few other students were brawling. He paused when he realized that the two students brawling were one of Belle's satellites and the third centuria kid from before. He scanned the rows for Belle only to find she wasn't there. He let out a breath and rolled his shoulders. He was ashamed that he had worried about her being present but didn't let himself delve too much into that.
Turning he began walking again only to be stopped by someone's hand on his shoulder. He jumped and spun around. The tingle along his spine grew more pronounced. His stomach dropped when he saw that it was another of Belle's satellites. She had purple hair and deep sea blue eyes. Sam mentally kicked himself for not noticing her sooner.
"You sure are jumpy." The girl laughed. Sam didn't like the amount of hatred that was coming off her and stirring his magic up even more. He had to get out of there and fast. He took a step back only to slip on a large puddle of water and fall onto his butt. Glancing at the puddle he watched as it seemed to attract even more water. The girl laughed and Sam realized she was an elemental mage. He was really sick of dealing with mages today and couldn't wait to go and hang out with his human and beast friends. They were so much more humane than mages.
Standing he prepared himself for another attack.
Thankfully the student body president stepped in before anything could happen. Which Sam was profoundly grateful for. Well, he was, until he got a swift punch in the gut from said president. He gagged and fell to his knees. Dammit, that hurt. If only he could- He gasped and stared right at the president who had a smug expression on his face.
"What have we talked about fighting others?" He said. The antipathy he felt for Sam so clear in his voice it would take an absolute moron to think they were friends.
Sam bit his retort and slowly stood. His stomach was going to bruise, he knew that for sure, but at least he was saved from a proper beating.
"Don't," Sam said. He knew the rules. Why wouldn't he? It's not like they restrict him so much that he can barely breathe without getting yelled at. He glared at the floor and did not continue. He didn't have the authority or the pain tolerance.
"Right," The President said, "So then why are you starting a fight with Marina?"
Sam's head flipped up and he opened his mouth to protest only to get another punch to the gut. His knees connected with the gravel and he felt a sharp sting where a rock scraped his knee. The President chuckled and kicked Sam's side.
"Maybe you need to be taught a lesson." The President said as he turned to Marina, "Would you like to do the honors?" His predatory vibe replaced with a cheery diplomatic smile.
His sudden change of personality might have shocked a normal person but everyone at the academy was aware of Harry's bipolarity. One of the reasons no one dared to go up against him in the presidential elections and he ended up winning by default. Something Sam strongly resented.
He heard Marina giggled and then someone poured water over his head. At first, he was simply shocked at the coldness of the water but then he realized what was going to happen and tried to stand up. Marina's laugh turned sharp as the water began to swirl into a bubble around Sam's head. He took one short, scared breath before he was completely submerged by the bubble. It didn't take long for his lungs to start to burn and he clawed at the water. He needed air and quickly. His movements became more frantic as he tried desperately to free himself.
Just before he took a breath of water the bubble popped and water sloshed everywhere. Thankfully his clothes absorbed most of it so the people around him were not really affected.
Sam gasped and coughed on the graveled path and shakily looked up to see Marina and the President talking to a teacher. They were clearly telling some story about how he attacked him. He took a deep breath and stood. His legs shook but he refused to collapse again.
"Sam, come here please." The teacher said. She was looking at him with such a harsh look that he was sure he was gonna get expelled or something. He went back to glaring at the ground and walked towards them. It didn't matter, it never did. They never got in trouble and never would because they always found a way to blame him.
"Do you mind following me to my office, Sam?" The woman said. Sam cursed under his breath. Called it. He was going to be in so much trouble.
"No, ma'am." He said quietly. As he walked past Harry he caught him smirking and had to dig his nails into his hand to stop from punching him.
He followed the woman down the gravel path away from the practice arenas. She walked past the girl's dorms, which were just two large mansion-like buildings on either side of the path. They were honestly rather scary to walk past. At least for Sam. He knew he could probably beat every girl staying there but they were still very scary buildings. Especially as they seemed to loom over him and trap him on the path. They walked past the main school building, which was the biggest building on the campus and at least five times as large as both of the girls' dorm buildings put together. It was huge, but Sam liked it like that. It was easy to find a quiet place to talk to his friends.
They walked towards the faculty building and Sam's heart rate sped up. The only faculty who didn't have an office in the faculty building was the principal whose office was in the main building on the third floor. Sam had only been to the faculty building once before and that was because he needed extra assignments from a teacher.
He followed the woman into the building and began to fidget with his still soaked shirt. The staff that saw him stared until they saw the woman and promptly returned to whatever they were doing. Sam stared at the back of the woman's head. Who was she to be getting such a response?
"In you go." She said as she opened a door which led into a small office with a bookshelf, desk, and two chairs, one in front and one behind the desk. Sam nodded slightly and walked in. He stood next to the chair in front of the desk but didn't sit. He simply stood and watched her close the door and take her own seat. Sam watched her shuffle through papers before she glanced up and raised an eyebrow.
"You can sit down." She said. Though her voice was commanding her expression showed a strange curiosity. Sam shook off the uncomfortable feeling she gave him and took his seat. They watched each other for a moment before the woman went back to her papers.
"It says here you're a mage, the second centuria going into first, a perfect student in everything but classes that involve using magic." She looked up at him, "Mind telling me why you struggle so much with magic?"
Sam looked her over and decided to say the normal response. She was clearly human with brown hair and normal brown eyes. She probably wasn't supposed to know anyways.
"My magic is extremely weak and because of that even the simplest of spells become difficult." He said. It wasn't true, but it was what people accepted the most. The truth just made them more uncomfortable around him.
The woman raised her eyebrows and smiled. Sam frowned slightly. Most people would try and be sympathetic or try to comfort him.
"Really? Because from what I heard necromancers are usually extremely powerful." She said nonchalantly as she brushed through the other papers. Sam's breath caught and he gaped at her. She shouldn't know that. How did she know that?
"The principal told me if that's what you're wondering." She said without looking up at him. He closed his mouth but continued to stare.
"Why?" He said. His voice was both quiet and demanding. This shouldn't have happened. Who was she? What gave her the authority to know this?
"Because, Samuel Crow, I am Amelia Stone. I will be the new head of security and because of that, I know everything about everyone. Including the reasons they are here and who their family is." She stared Sam down and he cringed. He wasn't proud of his bloodline. They were known for murder and torture. Something that only one person in his family ever did and his uncle had been sentenced to death for it. His mother had cut ties with the rest of the family and sent Sam to the Academy only to die shortly after.
Something else was also clicking into place in Sam's mind. Amelia Stone. Stone. The Stone family was known for their rune magic. Rune mages looked just like humans and are frowned upon by both humans and mages.
"You're a rune mage," Sam said as his mind spun. Amelia laughed and nodded.
"Indeed I am, and you are a Crow and therefore a necromancer. Though I didn't think they let any of their offspring go to school." Amelia said. Sam frowned and stared at his legs.
"They don't. I cut ties with them shortly after Uncle's incident." Sam said. Amelia nodded in agreement and Sam became even more fidgety.
"That was smart." She said. Sam paused. What was he supposed to respond to that? Thanks, I never liked them anyway! He scowled and nodded.
"Now then back to business. As head of security power over your magic is now mine. The president no longer has that power. Aren't you glad? Well don't be, Harry still has the ability to shock you but I will be deciding whether it was called for or not. After three uncalled for shocks that privilege will be taken away. If you provoke him purposefully I will count it as a called for shock, understood? Good, Since it's going to be your first year in the first centuria we will be focusing on your control. I will be much more 'lax on your power boundaries but keep in mind that can change. For better or for worse. We will meet in practice arena A at curfew. That gives you two hours of training before lights out. I also need you to meet me every morning before classes so I can check on you. That's all." As she finished she stood and started to clean up the papers on her desk.
Sam sat there for a second and processed the new information. She had spoken so fast he had barely been able to keep up. He stared at her as she cleaned up.
He had to meet her at curfew. Was that allowed? Probably, if the principal gave his okay. But curfew was at nine and lights out was at eleven. He usually went to bed around ten so he could get up at seven without too many difficulties. This was going to mess with his sleep schedule. Why couldn't the principal just leave him be for once?
He also had to meet her every morning before classes. His first-class was at nine so that wasn't so bad but breakfast ended at eight. He could either lose an hour of sleep or start making breakfast for himself. That was probably the best option because then he could wake up at eight.
She knew everything about him. That made him uncomfortable but it wasn't the worst possible thing. He could finally talk to someone about his powers plus she seemed more empathetic than any of the others who knew his history.
She also said he would be allowed to use more of his magic. That was pretty great but he would have to readjust to the constant talking and emotional baggage. He would be able to see his friends more so that was also pretty good. Does this mean he would be allowed to participate in mock battles? Would he be allowed to use his magic as normally as some of the other students?
A snap brought him back to the moment and he blinked. Amelia was leaning over her desk with her hand inches from his right ear.