"Watch out!" a girl screamed. A girl that I fancied. Her long pigtails bobbed up and down.

The Ice Blade slashed my arm. Bianca smirked as I struggled to raise a Shield control.

"Admit defeat!" and she positioned her fingers for a Thrust Blade.

"Bianca, no! We're not friends, but not enemies either! What will you gain by ending me?"

She considered for a moment, then let up.

"Fine. A draw."

With her kindness I got fifty marks and she lost fifty. Man, it is good to have a sharp mouth.

"Campbell!" I have wished everytime that this pretty girl call me by my first name, but no, "do you know that you are absolutely stupid?" she said heatedly, her white irises flaming with fury.

"Stupid? Demetra, but -- why?"

"Why?" she scoffed, "thought Bianca was a right putty to duel with?"

"I --"

"Next time ask her for advice," someone drawled, "it'll save you a lot of problems,"

It was my very best friend.

"I admit, I did think Bianca would be easy to duel with," I sighed, "I mean, last week was she not bottom five? Who knew --"

"Shut up!" and Demetra stormed away. That's what I hate about her. She won't let you explain.

"Man," Freddie slapped my shoulder, "you're looking like Thanos slammed you with detention,"

Professor Thanos was our head of house, and a master. He came striding forward now, handing me a wooden tally.

"This is?" I turned it over in my hands, looking for runic markings.

"Pass to your dormitory. Leave the grounds," he said gruffly.

I pulled Freddie by the arm and made for the dorms. Naturally, everyone followed us. It was not like I was popular or anything-- the people who had come to see my duel with Bianca were mostly my friends. But at least they had the prescence of mind not to talk.

Soon, and I was expecting, my squad came to join me and Freddie in the Common Room. We were five in all, but Demetra had become angry with me and so was absent. A squad was your little family within the Academy who you did assigned tasks with. Most squads did not proceed beyond that, but a strong bond held mine together, and the Jet-Fighters were known even by upper years.

There was Freddie, my best friend. He was the tallest, with a prowess of fire related things. He was also physically strong, and had an unusual knowledge of the secret passages of the Academy; perhaps because he had three older sibblings who were seniors here.

On the other hand was Deric, twin brother to Demetra, blessed as well with the silver irises that came in handy in several ways. He was unfathomably gifted, too, with fire and mind sensoring. Downside was that he didn't approve of me.

Catherine Carmelie was our walking library. Even though she was gifted with only flight and locomotion, her knowledge of other different abilities saved our necks many a time.

Me. The chappie from Earth. I was their leafer. Grappling with my ability yo magnetize objects, I was the one they looked up to. And not exactly brainy, Catherine it was who read through all my theory work.

There's not much to know about Demetra, only that she was the prettiest thing you'd ever come across. Her abilities remained hidden until they were needed.

A metallic objects materialized in front of my face. Not a task now....