Third week of class, philosophy teacher Priscila K'waik's class, the class was about to end, she was giving a class on the karmic reciprocity of actions and the consequentialism of decisions in life in an immediate and mediate way, the bell rang and it was break time.
– Well guys, the first leveling tests will be this afternoon, get ready and I hope you have absorbed the content, it will be very important for your lives... And again congratulations Miss Storm, you won concept points for your performance in my subject . – Priscilla said, with her magic she closes the books she was using as a base to teach.
– Thank you, teacher! – Sandy said, she was getting up, she was wearing her Kora'q veil in her hair, it was a burnt gold that reminded the desert.
– Let's find something to eat because I'm pissed off. – Artemisia laughed.
– When are you not hungry? – Pollo laughed.
– Worse, I'm hungry too, let's go? – Nathan said.
– You can go ahead, I'll go soon, I want to review some things first. – Sandy said.
– You know, friend, we'll be in the fifth floor cafeteria, whatever. – Said Gale.
– Okay. – Sandy smiled.
After about five minutes Sandy left the first year's room on the tenth floor, she was going down the stairs to meet her friends, but there on the seventh floor she bumps into three seniors pulling their veil from your head.
Philip Watts, 18 years old, his eyes were golden, his hair blond, his skin white; he had a rather arrogant look as well as a pretty face.
Damian Quasar, 18 years old, his eyes were multicolored, his blond hair short and bushy, his skin white. He had a seductive way and a bit nauseous.
Fafi Will, 18 years old, his eyes were blue, his hair black and medium, his skin white. She had a snobbish air.
– Aren't you ashamed to wear this, your filthy Kora'q? – Damian said.
– What? – Sandy said he was getting irritated. – Give me this back. –
– If we don't return, what will you do? Blow up your terrorist. – laughed Philip who took Damian's veil for Sandy not to.
– How dare you say that, you asshole. – Sandy said, she was almost using her magic to hit Philip.
– You're going to show the little claws, are you? These Kora'q are all the same anyway... Don't you see this place is not for you terrorists. – Fifi said.
Sandy was getting stressed, but someone came to intercede for Sandy, it was Alana and also Erik who were there.
– Damian, aren't you ashamed to say such a thing? – Erik said disgusted.
– Will you side with this terrorist? – Damian said.
– Look here, or do you return Sandy's veil now or I hand you over to the headmistress, discrimination is a motivation for dishonorable expulsion... Do you want to fall in? – Alana said that she was in front of Sandy facing the three bullies from the second year.
– That will not remain like this! – Philip said, t he gave the veil back to Alana.
The three juniors leaved.
– Sandy ,sorry for my brother, he's such an asshole who generalizes everything, he thinks that because of groups like Alghul all the Kora'q are involved, he takes this patriotism and being one of the three QAN clans too seriously. – Erik said being nice.
– It's OK! – Sandy said with a weak smile.
– It's fucking okay! Sandy, if they come after you again, report them to the headmistress, these xenophobes are not worth it. – Alana said strong and determined.
– T-Thanks Alana, but why did you help me? You and Megara are always snubbing us, minus the Gallards. – Said Sandy punctual.
– Well, that's one thing, it's more of a healthy rivalry, but I think you're a nice girl, but regardless, we can't let things like that happen, this thing of associating every Kora'q with terrorism, in the same way as a few decades ago they associated all blacks in Celestia with the illegal mafias... That only ended when the mavros celestians took a stand, so we can't just leave it alone. – Alana said.
– Impressive Alana, sometimes you seem so cocky and that you only care about fame and power, impressive to see you worrying about someone else. – Erik said with an air a little interested.
– I know they may have the wrong view of me, I turn around and like power, but not at the cost of seeing others like me suffer prejudice and violence, the Kora'q veil is a sacred symbol for culture, it is a link with the Kora'chian goddess Koralis... They don't understand Kora'q culture. – Alana said, demonstrating her empathic spectrum.
– Wow... Impressive, you're really a good friend when you want. – Sandy smiled.
– And very smart. – Erik said, he seemed to have been delighted.
Sandy's friends saw it coming up.
– Your class is arriving there, I'm leaving... Anything, just call me. – Alana said with a mischievous smile.
– And… I'm going with her. – Erik said, he went after Alana, he had been delighted.
Sandy was putting on her veil and still looking sad, Artemisia and the staff arrived and asked what had happened and she told them what had happened.
– If I catch these bastards, I swear I'll break their faces. – Artemisia said that she was almost on fire because she was so stressed.
– Don't worry friend, it's over. – Sandy said.
– Sandy, if they touch you I'll make sure they get kicked out myself. – Nathan said haughtily.
– Guys, I'm fine, I got angry at the time, but we have to bear in mind that this is their moral deficiency, it's not a justification for my moral failure. – Sandy said.
– My jaw dropped with that intelligence ... I would have turned my hand in their faces. – Artemisia said.
– Sandy has always been like that, she is our moral compass. – Adam said, he had a fondness to talk about the Kora'q origin mage.
– Let's go, we have the test now... It's time for you to shine where you dominate my friend, you have the best performance in the class. – Apollodro said.
– You're not that far behind either. – Nathan said, raising the morale of the young Hecatrix.
– You're incorrigible, Nate. – Gale laughed low just for her cousin. – Let's go a bunch. –
And so they went to his room to take the test.
***
The first year students of class A were taking a placement exam before the exam week, it was to have an understanding of the situation of the students' level of knowledge, they took the exam and everyone Apollodro, Sandy, Gale, Erik, Sheila and Alana looked like the ones who were doing better and taking the exam more easily. The first to finish the exam was Sandy who left the room for having finished, leaving the room she was waiting for the floor, but she didn't spend much time alone. Philip, Fifi and Damian appeared in the courtyard that was empty because the other students were in their classrooms taking exams.
– Now, Kora'q alone... It's time to take care of her. – Damian said.
Sandy was thinking about how she was going to get along, there were three seniors, she wasn't ashamed of who she was, she wouldn't deny her Kora'q origins. Alana had also finished the test and saw that scene, she was not going to leave Sandy alone in that situation.
– Are they still going to piss her off? Honestly, I don't see anyone else around here with this behavior, so you guys could drop that ball. – Alana said that she was not afraid to confront her seniors, even though she knew that her emotional manipulation magic might not be as effective against them.
– So they are traitors like my brother who is friends with a filthy Kora'q. – Damian said.
– Asshole… "Throw yourself down the stairs, please". – Alana said using her persuasion magic, a rosy mist came out of her mouth and impregnated as a perfume in Damian, it almost worked and he ran to throw himself down the stairs.
– No! – Sandy said, she used his wind magic to save Damian from falling.
– He wasn't going to die, he was just going to get all broken, he deserved it. – Said Alana indifferent to the physical integrity of the veteran.
– Alana, thank you very much, but violence is not always the solution, it would only make them more anger... His moral failure does not justify ours. – Sandy said, she remained faithful to her convictions.
They didn't notice, but teacher Priscilla was around and keeping an eye on the situation, it was interesting to see how Sandy was such a thoughtful and controlled young woman, kind even in the face of adversity, but it was time for her to interfere.
– Quasar, Watts and Will… Did you by any chance forget that you are already on thin ice because you are chasing the Kora'q students? Honestly, this is a disgrace to this institution... And especially to Mr. Quasar, whose parents are both renowned Royal Guard mages and very close friends of mine and several other Kora'q in the order. – Said the teacher Priscilla. – Tell me the same thing you told her if you dare [1], or just know how to play badass with helpless first years? –
The three were swallowing hard.
– Mistress Priscilla, you are from the Royal Guard, you have proven yourself trustworthy, and you were born here, but we cannot say the same about this one that uses the veil. – Fafi said.
– And you think that being a pureblood celestian makes you more trustworthy than the others? – Priscilla said with disgust in her speech.
– A full-blooded celestian, especially royalty, would never betray the nation, as Kora'qs… – Philip said.
– Cheeky children… I don't know if you noticed, but you started this mess… And if you fell asleep in teacher Anitta's history class, the last Earl of Yaxley betrayed the nation by helping the stroikos with a promise to be made the deputy of the stroikan Empress in Celestia, and it was the descendants of Zambi and Kora'q from the region who fought against the stroikan forces that the Earl of Yaxley helped to enter the country. – Priscilla said. – And if I'm not mistaken, the Earl of Yaxley in question was your uncle, wasn't he? Mr. Watts. –
The three seniors were embarrassed and sad.
– Now apologize to Miss Storm, not to mention that she has the best performance in her class, which I cannot say about the three of you. – Priscilla said.
– Sorry, Sandy. – The three said each at their own time, even if they didn't like it, but they were feeling humiliated.
– You three are in detention without being able to take any mission, understood? – Priscilla said.
– This is unfair! – Damian protested.
– Unfair is what you were doing, now get out of here, otherwise I will request an exemplary punishment for you and go back home crippled. – Priscilla said with authority.
– Yes ma'am! – Damian said that along with the other two students they left.
Now it was just Alana, Sandy and Priscilla, but Adam left the room and went to see what was happening.
– Teacher Priscilla… Sandy, what was going on here? – Adam said that he had heard only the last part of the scolding while leaving and was worried about Sandy, he had a special affection for her.
– I see you're already well accompanied, I'm on my way, and don't forget "the other's moral failure doesn't justify mine", but defending yourself is no sin. – Priscilla said, giving the student a proud wink and was leaving, that phrase was one of the central phrases of the ancestral religion kora'q, words of the goddess Koralis herself.
– Some seniors were pestering me again, but teacher Priscila fixed them, I want to go get a milkshake in the outside cafeteria. – Sandy smiled.
– This is the Sandy I know, always in a good mood. – Adam laughed.
– Well, apparently things are already resolved, I have to go solve some things, even more boys. – Alana said to get out of there elegantly.
– Was Alana helping you? Twice in the same day, weird. – Adam laughed.
– Ah! I don't think we should judge her that much, she proved to be a friend in her time of need... She and Megara are good at it, they're just a bit cocky. – Sandy laughed.
– Got it… Shall we take the milkshake? – Said Adam.
– Let's go... Then the others will find us. – Sandy said, she also liked to spend time alone with her childhood friend.
***
Adam and Sandy had moved to the outdoor dining hall, it had an oval glazed and metallic design, it was spacious, with spaced pilasters, several tables ranging from 2,4,6,8,10 and up to 12 people. Sandy and Adam were sitting at one of the two-person tables, they were having a milkshake each and talking.
– You're not angry about this whole story, say, what are you feeling? – Adam said he knew his friend well.
– You're really observant, well, it's just that... I just felt sorry for them, they're so wounded with pride by the crimes of the nobles in war that they want a scapegoat, but I didn't surrender to these empty provocations, it's just young people with hurt pride. –Sandy said, she had a lot of peace of mind with herself.
– You could have been hurt. – Said Adam worried.
– Adam, I was going to find my way to escape, but Alana helped me, but that's not the important thing, the important thing is that I'm fine with myself and I don't need to antagonize the other to feel good... The war left its marks around the world in the long run. – Said Sandy reflective.
– I know that well. – Said Adam remembering his mother.
– Not everyone turns pain into something positive, in their case they have become xenophobic, but violence is not going to solve this, someone needs to take the first step to break the cycle of violence. – Sandy smiled, adjusting her veil.
– You really are very special, I don't know someone so enlightened. – Adam smiled.
Sandy realized in these episodes of prejudice that the effects of the war were still clear, the fact that parts of royalty had been caught as traitors made the noble students linked to these traitors somewhat sensitive and trying to deflect this feeling of guilt and shame in others more vulnerable and unable to fight back, it was not a matter of simple prejudice, but of not accepting the sins of their own. Sandy was wise, peaceful and honest, she could have reacted aggressively, but against three seniors it wouldn't be smart. Sandy matured with this experience, she saw that she had to stay true to her principles, but she also had to know how to impose herself, she always knew that things like this could happen, but she wouldn't let it down, her goal was to be a master of the Royal Guard one day.
[1] At Belladona Academy, teachers can discipline students with physical strength because it is a military academy.