Meadow made her way to the classroom with each step she took feeling heavier. 'I really don't want to go.' She thought to herself as she neared her classroom. Finally at the entry way, Meadow took a deep breath to relax herself before slowly opening the door.
Meadow spotted Gladys looking out the window repeatedly slapping her pointer stick down in her hand. She gulped seeing each time Gladys smacked the pointer against her hand. Hearing Meadow enter, Gladys did not even bother to turn around.
"Baroness Snider, I apologize for my tardiness. Professor Greyweather also sends his apologies for keeping me so late."
Meadow curtseyed and waited for Gladys to say something to her or at least acknowledge her presence. Gladys didn't even flinch at Meadow's words and just kept smacking her pointer against her hand.
After some time had passed Gladys cleared her throat, but continued to look at the window. Meadow thought for a second she she could see Gladys's face in the window's reflection. What she saw was Gladys's face distorted into absolute anger and disgust, but Meadow doubted her eyes, when she heard the calm voice that came from Gladys.
"Close the door and come forward."
Meadow shivered at the command, but listened. She closed the door as quietly as possible and before walking elegantly to stand behind Gladys.
After standing behind Gladys silently for a while, Meadow waited in dread. However, a certain thought came to Meadow as she was dreading. 'I could just push her out the window and say it was an accident.'
Meadow quickly shook her head at the thought. 'No, no. I shouldn't be thinking like that. I don't ever want to stoop below Gladys, let alone be at her level.'
"What did you do wrong?"
Meadow jumped at Gladys's sudden question slightly scared. 'Did she read my mind?' Meadow dismissed her thoughts and answered calmly.
"I do not believe I have done anything wrong, Baroness."
"Lift your dress."
"But I haven't done anything to be punished for!"
"Lift" *Slap* " your" *Slap* "dress!" *Slap*
Meadow raised her voice at Gladys's command, which was followed by Gladys enunciating her command again. Gladys paused with each word firmly slapping her pointer into her hand. Meadow flinched with each slap noise.
Even though she was nervous, Meadow was not going to back down.
"No."
Meadow refused for the first time ever to Gladys's command as she was confident that she had not done anything wrong. She did not mess up her greeting, she did not get the question wrong, she was not bowing low enough, and many other things Gladys punished her for. Meadow knew that she was late, but she could not see fault in this because it was due to another Professor's class.
Gladys was still facing the window, but quickly turned around after Meadow's refusal. Gladys had a crazed look in her eyes before she started swinging her pointer down on Meadow.
Meadow tried to protect herself with one arm while cradling her flower closer with the other. It was the first time Meadow had seen Gladys snap like this. From Gladys's actions, Meadow was certain that Gladys was not punishing her for a righteous reason.
"Stop! I haven't done anything wrong!"
Meadow shouted at Gladys, but Gladys continued to beat down on Meadow. Instead of waiting for Gladys's wrath to subside Meadow focuses her magic on her flower. The plant grows vines that stretch out and stop Gladys arm that was hitting her.
Practically out of magic, Meadow starts panting and breaks out in a sweat from using just that little. Realizing that her movements her movements, Gladys glares. Meadow looks up at Gladys who is glaring at her in disgust though all Meadow really sees is a wild beast.
Gladys's usually tightly tied bun was falling apart. Stands of silver and auburn hair where sticking up in every direction. Overexerting herself Gladys was breathing heavy but there was no hint of exhaustion in her eyes. In fact, Gladys looks more fired up than ever.
*SLAP*
Meadow vision blurred for a second as a loud ringing noise fills her ears.
"How dare you!"
Gladys shouted at Meadow after slapping her across the face. The slap knocked Meadow off her feet and caused her to drop her plant.
Meadow ignored the searing pain she felt in her cheek as she looked back up at Gladys. Gladys's hand was glowing red with a flame as she grabbed the vines restricting her arm.
The vines quickly caught fire and the fire crept its way down to flowers. Meadow tries to get up and save her plant, but soon Gladys foot is pushing her back down on the ground.
"How dare you keep me waiting. You who are a measly Baron's daughter from a non-noble background dared to keep I— from a noble Baron's house —waiting. Such insolence!"
Gladys slammed her foot down on Meadow again and again. Meadow curls up in a ball to protect herself from Gladys repeated attacks.
"You and your family who bought their nobility have no right to stand before me. Yet, you dare to raise your filthy commoner hand against me. Your stupid mother had a chance to marry nobility and instead she married another filthy commoner, a lowly trash mercenary."
"My mother isn't stupid and my father isn't trash."
Meadow mumbled at Gladys, angry at Gladys for speaking ill of her parents. At Meadow's retort, Gladys stretched her fire magic into a whip and started to smack Meadow with it. With each slap Meadow could hear her dress and skin sizzle.
"You still dare to have the audacity to speak back to me, filth."
'Monster.' Meadow thought to herself losing the will to fight back with each whoosh of the fire whip. Laying motionless on the ground, Meadow hopes that it will stop soon.
Gladys stops after a couple of minutes panting. She looks down at Meadow who she assumes is no longer conscious in disgust. Storming toward, Gladys mumbles to herself.
"Why must I teach this putrid mutt? ...Tsk... Disgusting."
Gladys exits the room and slams the door behind her. Meadow slowly peaks her head up to check her surroundings when she spots her shattered flower pot.
Crawling her way over to the flower pot, she scoops up the remains of her flower. It laid burnt upon the pile of dirt. Meadow knew that even if she wasn't low on magic, she wouldn't be able to revive the plant.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."
Meadow starts wailing as she cuddles the pile of dirt. The scorched plant slowly crumbles into the dirt. She lays her body on the ground and holds the dirt close and silently cries.
Soon a group of footsteps could be heard approaching the room from the hallway. Meadow lacks the energy to get up and act like everything is fine. The main reason is because Meadow knew she wasn't fine as her tears burned her cheek and her whole body aches.
"Little Lady, Is everything alright? We saw Gladys storm out! Ahh!"
"Oh my!"
"Meadow!"
A group of maids opened the door and started to speak before taking in the situation. They see the traces of smoke left in the room and cover their mouths. That is when they noticed Meadow curled up on the ground covered in dirt, blood, and scorch marks.
Harriet was the last to enter but the first to run forward and reach Meadow. Harriet held back tears as she carefully helped the balling Meadow sit up against her. Sue, the oldest of the maids present, looked at May who was gaping at the scene, not sure what to do.
"May, don't just stand there gasping like a fool. Go find Lady Lark and Lord Lark. Inform them on the situation. If you see any of the other servants on your way ask them to help you with this task. Make sure to not cause a scene when asking for the Lord and Lady. In the meantime, I will go call for a doctor."
"Yes…I am on it."
"Harriet, while I go call for a doctor, use your water magic on her cheek to help soothe the burn."
"Understood."
After Sue gave her directions, both her and May dashed out of the room. Harriet immediately got to work as well. She started to gather her water magic in her hand when she heard a quiet whimper.
"Harriet."
"Yes, Meadow."
"I am sorry."
"Silly, what are you sorry for? This isn't your fault. Take a deep breath. I am going to use my magic on your cheek. Everything is going to be okay."
Harriet softly set her hand against Meadow's cheek. At first, it stung, but soon the cool water felt good on her wound.
Meadow had stopped crying but she still felt sorry and helpless. She was sorry that she let this situation grow into such a big problem, sorry that she worried Harriet, and sorry that she wasn't strong enough.
Just as when Meadow was going to apologize again to Harriet. Meadow sees her mother burst into the room with May trailing close behind. Her mother abruptly stops as she sees the wounds covering Meadow.
Seeing the distress in her Mom's eyes, Meadow starts to cry again. Her mother, not missing a beat, rushes forward and carefully lifts Meadow into an embrace.
Meadow buried her face into her mother and just cried. They stayed like that for fifteen minutes. Her mother didn't say anything and she didn't need to. Her embrace was all Meadow needed.