Chapter 3 - Chapter 3 Annabelle's POV

"Guess it's not as different as I thought" I thought as I alighted the plane. It was the third time I was changing schools but the different thing about it was that I wasn't alone this time. For the first time since I became an Irregular, I had people I could call friends and I also had a clear goal. While Natalie searched for a ride, I and Talia made small talk while we waited. After a few minutes, Nat came back and we continued our travel. Talia then asked "Annie, we were told that there was a very high level Irregular at Charlotte academy. What's our plan for when we meet him?" I answered "Our job is basically to find this person and get a hack on his abilities. We'll know how to go about that when we know who he is so let's just act as normal as possible". We continued, making small talk about what to expect at Charlotte until we got there. After we got there and got through with the admission process, we got ready for our classes the next day. At the class, we were to introduce ourselves so Talia went first "My name is Talia, Talia Dale" as Natalie stepped forward "My names are Natalie Cruz but my friends call me Nat". I then opened my eyes (my eyes were shut all through the introductions) as I introduced myself "My names are Annabelle Sinclair--" which got the entire class shouting "impossible!" "that's the strongest Irregular of our time!!" "what's a person of her caliber doing here?!" I was surprised my name already went this far. Only four people were not involved in the chaos, quietly playing chess in their corner. All of a sudden, one of them stood up and shouted "will all of you shut the hell up? I'm trying to think here!" and it was as if something grabbed hold of my vocal cords as I couldn't find my voice. He then said "Please let's behave ourselves. We're in a classroom". At that I found my voice and laughed "you're one to talk. weren't you playing chess a moment ago?" Laughing, albeit tiredly, he said "Don't sweat it. I'm still playing my game. Just don't disturb me" as he looked me straight in the eyes and asked "so, Ms Strongest Irregular, will you take your seat or delay our classes today?" "Smartass" I muttered under my breath as I and my friends took our seats and the lessons for the day started. After classes were over for the day, he immediately stood up and, together with his friends, left the classroom. In trying to find out more about this guy, I was shocked. He was a Trickster and coupled with that, couldn't use the most basic elemental magic. I couldn't be seen around someone like him but I found myself staring at him even though he wouldn't cast another glance my way. Within a few weeks of enrolling, I had every student sucking up to me and my friends but he wouldn't be swayed. Together with his friends, he defied everything I stood for. "I never thought I would want to have someone suck up to me as bad as right now" I thought as I walked up to them, sitting in their midst and asked "Can I talk to you for a while?" "What do you want to talk about?" Will, one of his friends asked to which I replied "Ever since I came to this academy, you guys have taken it on yourselves to go against everything I stand for. I don't seem to understand why". Luke, another one answered "Just because you're stronger than everyone else around here doesn't mean that you can order everyone around. You had better realise that, here, you're the same level as we are. If you have nothing else to say--" "So" I said, cutting him off, "What if I decide that you were to be my subordinates?" "Do we have a choice?" Will asked to which I replied, using my ability of mind control (something I haven't done in seven years) "You know you don't have one". The area was silent for a few moments until Eric laughed. He laughed so hard I asked "what's funny?" "The fact you just tried to control me. I could feel the power in your voice but just so you know, that's not enough to sway me. To do that, you'd need power like this, GET LOST!!" he finished and just as I was told, I left the place. When I realised, I dug a little more into his person and found that his ability was that of compulsion, an ability that forces others to do your bidding. "Nice" I thought as I looked through his info. Some few days later, Eric came up in class and announced a magic training session for interested people and I decided to play one on him as I said "Guess you're the only one going, since you're in dire need of magic training". "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked to which I tongued out at him. Angrily, he charged, lifting me by my shirt up off the seat I was on and flinging me away but I managed to break the fall as I came in with a punch and said to him "time to show you the difference between me and you". "Challenge accepted. Let's make it an FFA" he said and I asked "what's an FFA?" "Free For All. It's a no holds barred form of fighting where anything but death goes" someone else from the class answered to which I laughed "guess the magic training just got practical". After he left, I thought to myself "Why did I challenge him in the first place? How stupid can you be, Annabelle?" There was no reason to fight him but I just picked a fight with the weakest guy in this academy. "Well, a challenge is a challenge" I said as I went to get ready for the duel.