Rising Hope - 2

[Lyra pov]

Even now, as I sat against the back of the bar's chair, sipping quietly at the wine I had ordered. There were cracks on my expression.

The smile I usually kept, regardless of the time. Was cracking, all because of my new roommate. For one he was a boy. That was unusual in of itself.

But there was another reason. One that I could barely keep within myself. So much rage that I wan- no I needed to kill someone, to strangle them and watch their life go from their eyes. Preferably the person that had raped my new roommate.

Gabriel. He was such a nice kid. Barely even of age and on the first day here in the academy he was already… God, I just wanted to strangle the bastard that had done this.

The signs were there, the crying in front of the dorm, where he could barely see anything. Most of the times at least as he was able to use some sort of power to see.

But that was besides the point. There were so many little signs that just screamed abuse. That subservient gaze of his, of course that was typical, but it was more than just that. 

He recoiled at every slight touch, even with me just being slightly close. He suddenly became super quiet for no apparent reason.

The tears that he shed when he thought he was alone. Not that it was easy to catch him off guard, and that was why it was so easy to tell.

As in those times he wasn't even aware enough to tell that I was quietly comforting him.

God, for someone to do something so horrid. To someone as nice and as pretty as him… Especially after knowing of the ability he held.

To heal someone with merely a touch. It was a wonder that he wasn't being hailed as some saint. It was a wonder that he wasn't proudly married to… to the princess or even the queen. As anyone would love the prestige of marrying a boy so useful.

FUCK

I downed the wine, checking my watch, looking at my watch a moment after.

'Ten minutes.' I muttered to myself.

Ten minutes until his lecture was done, give or take another twenty or so until he actually left. I remembered those lectures, the beginning ones where everyone was talking to everyone. In a class of only girls, even then it was still five or so minutes until I could leave because I was being talked to too much.

But for there to be a boy in the class. I scoffed, feeling even more pity and rage for him. Knowing that so soon after he would have to confront and talk to so many girls. When all, I knew, he wanted to do was lay in a ball and cry.

I could respect that dedication and will. But I could only lament that he couldn't just do what he wanted.

For a moment I just sighed, turning my gaze to the girl that was watching me. Trying to divine my intentions. Her gaze was dangerous, but so was a second year.

Many thought that the academy taught combat and regular classes. With an emphasis on the latter.

To those that thought that I could only scoff. It was true, on the surface that was. But to survive to a second year you needed to give away all hope for support from your family.

You had to be mercenary and fight for every opportunity for money. For the requests and subjugations that would give that money.

And even then you had to be even stronger to complete those.

It was why I had so many scars and so much power. A necessity rather than a want.

And it was for that reason that I didn't underestimate the girl. If she was here she was either a student or a professor.

Either one was dangerous, and whether she was the latter or the former would determine my response.

That was why I fixed my gaze on her, smirking as she recoiled back as if embarrassed that she had been caught.

"Yeah you." I curled my finger and gestured for her to come closer.

She didn't, merely running away at the first opportunity.

I scoffed again, "First years, am I right."

"Whatever you say." 

I laughed, placing down a couple bills, enough to pay for the wine and a generous tip. It was nice being the favored customer here.

The bartender's eyes shined as she took the money and pocketed it. I winked at her and she did the same, sliding me a piece of paper.

I took a quick look at it and burned it with a snap of my fingers. A snap that I ended on three fingers.

"Good, same spot." I nodded.

And with that I left the bar, spinning towards the lecture hall that I had left my traumatized new junior.

God, even the thought of it still made me grind my teeth. My eyes narrowing at the cruel fate he had been forced to experience.

Still I swore that I would wring the neck of the bastard.

…

I leaned against the lecture hall, listening as dozens of conversations echoed through the doors. And when I heard them start to fade I opened the doors.

Eyes stared at me as I walked towards the blank eyed boy, surrounded by all kinds of girls. Stared at by the quiet ones and surrounded by both cheerful and flirty ones.

Sighing I snapped my fingers, letting them panic as their shirts caught fire. Mirth in my eyes as the professor caught sight of me and sighed.

"Lyra." She spoke, a tired sigh on her tongue.

"Yo." I greeted back.

"Why are you here?"

"Picking up my new roommate, he needs a bit of guidance, you should know that he's kind of blind."

"So be it, don't hurt the others too much."

With that she went back to the board, solving problems and revising them. Preparation for her next class no doubt.

I still shivered at the thought of all of those lectures and practical lessons. She was ruthless, my god, I still couldn't believe that she was allowed to be a professor.

But judging by the faces of the students she still hadn't shown her true side.

I couldn't wait, they would be crying in droves and I would have a front row seat to those cries of theirs.