The beautiful lake spread out before her eyes. The water was as blue as her eyes. Annabella approached the lake to wash her face. Her actions were halted when she saw the calm waters of the lake swirling in small waves. She lowered her eyes when she saw something in the water. Suddenly a pair of eyes glanced sharply at her...
"Arghh!" Annabella was knocked out of her sleep.
Hands scooped up her face. Her heart was beating fast. The dream haunted her again. A pair of sharp eyes that did not belong to a human. It resembled a pair of snakes eyes but bigger.
"Are you awake?" said a woman with green hair. A smile did not leave her lips.
"Where am I?" asked Annabella.
"The House of Healing."
"What has happened to me?"
"You don't remember?" questioned the woman again. She approached Annabella, and the wound on Annabella's body was examined. It was almost healed.
"I remember that I'm still fighting... Did I win or lose? How was the fight?" asked Annabella anxiously. If she lost, she would be sentenced to death. She didn't want to die at a young age!
"Your wounds will heal in two days," the woman told her.
"Oh... Thank you, Miss..."
"Ricia. Call Ricia." Ricia introduced herself.
"Thank you, Ricia for taking care of this girl." Andrew made a sound when he stepped into the patient room with Erena.
"You're welcome. He's not as bad as you used to be," Ricia said with a smile.
"What happened to him back then?" asked Annabella with interest.
"His first fight, his body was full of bruises and wounds. It's terrible!" replied Erena with a small laugh.
"I'll go first." Ricia walked away and asked to leave.
Yoke!
"Ouch!" screamed Annabella. Her head was in pain from being knocked with Andrew's sword sheath.
"I'm not doing anything wrong to be punished like this."
"You have deceived me," Andrew growled.
"When did I fool you?" The teenage girl looked confused.
"Pretending that you don't know how to fight."
"My father wouldn't let me use my strengths to hurt people. He doesn't want me to get caught up in violence. He also doesn't want me to play with sharp objects."
"What was that fight about?" asked Andrew.
"Dad said that when the time comes I can use it. That's the right time. If not, that girl is gonna burn my ass." Annabella defended her innocence.
"Uh, this girl!" Andrew gritted his teeth angrily.
"How did you learn that move?" Erena asked.
"My father taught me."
"Since when?"
"I was proficient with weapons and all self-defense techniques by the age of seven. I'm a fast learner," Annabella replied.
Erena and Andrew stiffened briefly at Annabella's honest confession.
"What did your father do?" Erena asked again.
"Policeman. His job is to catch bad guys."
"How did you get the hang of it?"
"When I was 13, my father made statues of people behind the house. I always practiced with them. I also practiced with my dad when he wasn't working."
"No wonder you look like good swordsmanship," Erena praised.
Annabella winced. She was embarrassed to be praised.
"What about the duel?"
"You don't remember?"
Annabella shook her head in reply.
"You almost killed Wilda Fermos," Erena informed her.
"What? Did I kill her? No! I don't want to be a murderer!" screamed Annabella.
Yoke!
"Hey!" screamed Annabella, furious that her head was always falling prey to Andrew's sword.
"Erena said you almost killed her." Andrew emphasized the word 'almost'.
"She's dead?" Annabella's face looked very scared. She was afraid she had become a killer
.
"She's still alive. Her sword dropped during your last attack. You took the opportunity to slightly injure her leg so that she fell. You swung your sword at her. The sword stuck on the ground two inches above her head. Not long after, you fainted." Andrew told me what happened.
"Oo..." Annabella scratched her head. That was apparently what happened. Her hands were still pure from killing people.
"Next week, you can go to class."
Annabella complained slowly. It sounded like it was not fun right away and there would be problems she would face after this.
***
ANNABELLA analyzed the map in her hand. She had turned the map upside down many times but it was still confusing.
What a nuisance! Even a map is useless.
The map was hand-painted by Andrew himself. There was no direct artistic talent. The map was more of a jumble of lines on paper. A kindergarten kid would do prettier than him.
She stood at the exit of Seraglio Academy's female student dorm for a few minutes. The direction she wanted to go was still undecided. The map was looked at again.
Start here. Take a right. Go straight.
Okay, fine, just trust the map drawn by Sir Andrew Cranel.
The pace was set. Her eyes didn't sit still as she was engrossed in the atmosphere of the academy that outshone the palace. If the academy is like this, the palace is even grander.
The academy students looked at her while whispering to each other. Annabella pretended not to hear. But her ears still catch those words.
"Is that a human girl from Earth?"
"How did she get here?"
"She won the duel just because of luck."
"She's just a weak human girl and doesn't have power like us."
"Maybe she cheated during the match. Who's know?"
Annabella had lost her way. She looked back at the map. This place is out r of the map.
Annabella walked according to her regulated footsteps. A feeling of awe enveloped her when she saw the academy area.
She came across a cafe. At one point Annabella ate to fill her empty stomach. The food provided was free. No need to pay. After eating, she continued to look for class.
This time Annabella found the library. Her jaw almost dropped. The bookshelves are very high. She saw the librarian take the top book using the power of the wind.
The tightly closed door was opened. Her eyes did not blink at the contents inside. It was full of weapons. She closed the door after she was satisfied playing with the weapons.
Thump!
"Ouch!" Annabella fell when she was hit by something sturdy. She got up and contemplated the person who violated her.
"You have no eyes?"
"You're the one with no eyes," Eidan retorted.
"You pushed me!" said Annabella angrily.
"Maybe your eyes are on the soles of your feet."
"What did you say?"
"Grumpy!"
"You want to mess with me?" Annabella was already inflamed.
"I haven't pounded anyone in a long time. You want a taste?"
"Crazy," Eidan cursed under his breath.
"Psycho!" retorted Annabella. She didn't want to give in.
"What did you call me?" Eidan was angry.
"White-headed!" cursed Annabella with an innocent face.
"Air-headed!"
"I better get going before I become more stupid than you!"
"Hey!" screamed Eidan.
She walks away.
This time Annabella was outside the academy looking at the students who were practicing using their respective powers. In addition, there were also practicing using weapons.
She went back inside the academy. Right now, she had lost her way. Annabella found a bench and sat down to relieve the soreness in her legs. She raised her face when someone tapped her shoulder.
"Err..." Annabella was speechless.
"Let's go to class!" she invited.
Annabella followed the person's lead. The guilt still haunted her.
"Wilda..."
"I forgive you. I can honestly say I had fun fighting with you. You're good at swordplay even though you're only an Earthling."
"That wound..."
"I'm fine. You taught me something."
"Eh? What?" asked Annabella.
"Power is not everything. Not using power can also win. It's the spirit that matters. You have a high spirit and never know the meaning of despair. That's why you won."
"My father taught me. In battle, the sword is the only friend you have. You just need to trust, feel and believe in it."
"What encouraging words. Of course, your father is a great hero."
"He's my hero."
"I, Wilda Fermos. You?" Wilda introduced herself even though they had already known each other during the resistance week.
"Annabella Valiant. You call me Anna. Can we be friends? You know that I'm a mere mortal. The academy students here don't seem to want to be friends with me."
"You're the first person to ask me to be friends."
"You don't have any friends?" Annabella wondered.
"That question is very sensitive. Just look at me."
"But, you cute," complimented Annabella sincerely.
To her eyes, Wilda was very cute. Her hair was a fierce red color befitting her who had the power of fire. Her eyes were also red. Her cheeks also looked reddish white.
"You want to taste some fist?"
"I mean it." Annabella earnestly assured the girl that she was sincerely complimenting.
**
THE first subject this morning was Sylvania History. Annabella was already sleepy.
"Annabella!" screamed Professor Lordes, the History teacher.
"I know you are human. But I serve everyone equally. Now tell me the name of the first Sylvania's Ruler."
Annabella who was already standing swallowed saliva.
"Err... King... King..."
"If you don't know, just say you don't know," mocked one of her classmates.
"King Rowan de la Dragwellestyn," said Annabella.
"Why was he the king?"
"Because King Rowan is the only first Lvanian to have all the powers exist. King Rowan is also considered the symbol of the unification of all kingdoms. Oh, yes! I'm sure the dragon exists. Otherwise, why does the academy's logo have a symbol of a dragon?"
All eyes looked at her. Did she say something wrong?
Wilda pulled her hand to force her to sit down.
"Did I say the wrong thing?" She whispered to Wilda.
"Pro., is it true that King Rowan is related to a dragon? Does dragon exist?" asked one of the students.
"It's just a myth. The dragon is just a symbol of great power. It does not exist. Annabella, think before you speak. Let's continue," replied Professor Lordes.
***
"IT is wrong what I said earlier?" asked Annabella. She was still unhappy about the history class.
"It was wrong. Dragons don't exist," Wilda replied. She was already lying on the bed. The storeroom had officially become Annabella's room.
"How can it not exist! Any fantasy movies show dragons exist. That fire-breathing creature must exist!" Annabella was firm in her opinion.
"It does in your world. But in Sylvania it is not," Wilda said.
"Why does the academy logo have a dragon on it?"
"It's just a coincidence."
"It can't be a coincidence because Prof. Lordes said... The dragon is just a symbol of great power. Don't you think it's strange that six countries are happy to crown King Rowan as King of Sylvania? There must be a reason." Annabella still believed in her theory that dragons existed.
"Because he was the first to be born with the six powers," Wilda said.
"Okay, that makes sense. But how did King Rowan defeat the evil King Tralgar?"
"He used the Rapturous Sword forged by the elf king, King Frystan, the first ruler of Eatherland," Wilda replied to her friend's question.
"I know! But what I wonder is, how were the Demons who attacked at that time easily defeated?"
"You think too much. Dragon is only mythical creatures. If dragons exist, where is the evidence? There isn't any, is there?"
Annabella complained. Wilda was right. If dragons exist, there must be evidence. For example, the skeleton of a dragon is proof that dragons exist.