4 Bullying a Child

No one talked to her or stopped her instead they all stood still, still recovering from the shock. Ivy walked across the village towards her home when one of the elders stopped her.

"Ivy Meadows right? The chief wants to meet you." Without waiting for her response he walked away as if knowing that she would follow.

'Who do you think you are?' Ivy thought but followed after him. They arrived in front of a three-story cobblestone tower and Ivy followed the elder up to the third floor.

"Chief. She's here." The elder bowed and then stood by the old man's side.

"You are Ivy Meadows." It was not a question and yet the old man said it as though it was.

"The one and only." Ivy mumbled.

The elders were provoked by Ivy's tone but the chief only chuckled at the young girl's fiery attitude.

"Well then, Ivy Meadows, you must be wondering why you are here, right?" One of the elders eyed her and studied her from head to toe.

'How is it that this girl has powers while my son does not? My son is so much better than this orphan here. The only good thing about her is her looks.'

Today Ivy is wearing a dirty navy blue dress, brown boots and a brown cape. Her hair is partly let down with one section tied up into a braid. Her streak of white hair is also tied into the braid so it looked as though it is bent and curved instead of being straight. She had long black eyelashes and warm brown eyes. Her cheeks and lips were also pink like the peach blossoms.

Although she was still a child, anyone could see that she will grow up to be a beauty.

He sneered. 'This girl would most likely become one of those sluts in the future, Using her looks and body to get what she wants.'

"If you have anything to say then make it fast. I don't have the time to be here." Ivy snapped at the elders and the chief.

This comment made the elders snap as well. "How dare you! How dare you talk like this the chief! You little imprudent orph-"

Chief raised his hand and the elder immediately stopped. "Chief, this girl just-"

"Enough." The old man stood up and walked over to Ivy limping as he held onto his cane.

"Little girl, I will go straight to the point. These past few months have I mistreated you?" What the old man's true meaning behind his words were easy to pick out.

Ivy smirked. "Still alive."

The old man's eyes narrowed. "Well then, you should know that for these past few months out village has not mistreated you in any way and that we have treated you like a part of this village."

Ivy stayed silent for a moment and lowered her head. A victorious smile crept up his face and on the elders as well. They thought that they had succeeded in persuading Ivy to become a "member" of the village.

Their goal was to have her sign in as a member of the village. When a child awakens their power they would have to file in their information. This would include their name, date of birth and such. They also have to write where they are from, what clan they belonged to and/or what village they come from. This would provide the village benefits from the government since the village that has the most awakeners would be prized more by the government. The number for this village has been dwindling and has been only decreasing.

They are clinging onto every child they can get.

"And?" Ivy looked up at the men before her. She showed no fear and the elders saw the coldness in her eyes.

Of course Ivy knows the reason why they were showing such sudden care to her. This only disgusted her even more and she wanted to give them a good beating but she suppressed her anger.

The elders stood still for a moment. "Well then. Since you don't understand I would like you to fill out this village on your application. You know that had we no-"

"I will not." Ivy cut the elder's speech off which left him standing there like an idiot with his mouth open ready to speak the next word.

The elders began to yell and curse at Ivy calling her names and telling her how ungrateful she was being. No matter what they said Ivy only only stood there silent and did not speak back. The chief also remained silent but he could not keep in his anger. How dare this little girl refuse him!

Although summer was coming to an end the day was still hot with no breeze. However up in the the watchtower a sudden breeze took everyone by surprise. The old man may not look like it but he was once a warrior that fought for the East Kingdom. After years out in the battlefield he chose to retire and returned to his home, this village. Years of not using magic led to mostly everyone forgetting he had magic, only a few know now.

A strong wind picked up and the chairs, potteries in the tower tumbled to the floor. Ivy couldn't keep her cold stance as she found it hard to stand against his spell.

'This old man.' She looked up to see that even the elders were caught off guard and were stumbling around like her.

'So he does have magic.'

The victorious smile was evident on the chief's face as he cast his spell on her. For some weird reason he found threatened by this little girl in front of him.

"You will sign the name of this village on your form." He declared, his voice is threatening and powerful.

"I said no." Ivy felt the magic rising with her anger. Light blue rope coiled around the palms of her hand.

The chief saw what was happening and immediately prepared to cast a spell. He muttered a spell then raised his hand and a yellow spell hurled towards her. Ivy used both of her hands and blocked the spell however because of the difference between their magic levels Ivy could only block. She was still too weak to reflect or destroy the spell and could only do the best she can to stop the spell from hitting her.

Sweat beads rolled from her forehead and down her face. Ivy knew that she is reaching her limit.

"What are you doing?" A male voice said and the chief's spell disappeared.

The chief immediately placed on a smile on his face. "Mr. Lin. The awakening ceremony is over, you have finished your job as the procter. Why are you still here?"

Mr. Lin, the procter, did not return the smile. Aside from being a procter he is also a teacher, he will not tolerate potential students to be harmed.

"I assure you that I meant to leave however just when I was about to I couldn't help but notice a child being bullied. As a teacher I can not ignore when a student is being mistreated."

Mr. Lin stood in front of Ivy, covering her, so he could not see the young girl panting and trying her best recover the magic she had used.

Seeing that the chief's not responding an elder spoke up."Mr. Lin. We-"

"I am only disciplining her. She has done something wrong, it is not wrong for me to discipline her." The old man reasoned.

"Please keep in mind that I do not mean to offend but my colleagues have just informed me that this girl is not part of this village. She had only arrived in the past few months and during those months this village had not done anything to help her. She was completely independent. All this disqualifies you from disciplining her since is not a resident of this village."

Mr. Lin's words hit straight on the mark and the chief along with the elders could not refute what he said. Truth be told, they had paid little attention to this girl. Mr. Lin took Ivy away from the tower and did not wait to hear their responses. He sent Ivy back to her cottage and personally told her when the carriage would be here to pick them up. Ivy did not speak and only used simple gestures to respond. In Mr. Lin's eyes he thought Ivy was traumatized but Ivy was not. That incident had reminded her of how weak she really is right now and that ignited her fuel to cultivate, to become more powerful.