Blasphemy

 Ecaterina was shaken from the loud noise. Mr. Peon angrily arched over her.

 "Ahhhh" Ecaterina screamed when she saw Mr. Peon looming over her like a dead spirit.

 Ignoring Ecaterina's scream he spoke, "Now, you shall answer the question"

 Ecaterina was half-awake half asleep and spoke loudly, "Yes Sir!".

 The girls all snickered beside Mahir who still sat in the same rigid posture required by the school. Ecaterina wanted to fall asleep yet was forced to be awakened. Ecaterina slowly walked over to the bright, blue-screened board. She read the question. The girls didn't stop their restless snickering and rude comments.

 On the bulletin board, it was written, "Why do the gracious gods give the blessing while the spirit king gives curses and why is that true? give evidence for your statement."

 Ecaterina thought about what Axel had taught her then she replied, "The most accurate response to this question is that not all blessings are blessings, and not all curses are curses. An example of this is when a person has a curse to be only attracted to women between the ages of 25 to 35 this could have benefits such as preventing a man from being a pedophile or gay. An example of a Blessing not being a blessing is when a person being blessed with advanced hearing leads to them being super sensitive to sound. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, the line between what is our curse and what is our blessing is nonexistent."

 Everyone was appalled by Ecaterina's response. Mahir had let go of the rigid posture and seemed to be impressed by Ecaterina's response.

 "Incorrect!" Mr. Peon emphasized. This jolted Ecaterina awake.

 Ecaterina shocked replied, "What I said was true…"

 "You didn't answer the question." Mr. Peon spoke as he made his way up the rows of desks toward the bright neon board with a superior grin. Ecaterina reread the question.

 "Oh! The answer is simple the glorious gods do not give us the initial blessings. Same as the spirit king does not give us the initial curse." Ecaterina knew the answer to this question and thus got very excited to share.

 Ecaterina looked around the room excitedly, yet all she received were astonished looks. Mr. Peon face palmed himself while shaking his head in a disagreeing manner. Afua and the rest were left speechless, but Mahir with her quick thinking decided to help the new kid out.

 "Mr. Peon, may I speak," Mahir spoke with a grin on her face.

 "Sure, you may," He sighed at Ecaterina's blasphemous statement.

 "We all have misunderstood Ecaterina's "blasphemous" statement. The statement isn't blasphemous because they create them, and we are bestowed the blessings by our heavenly gods. We must cherish the blessings and not use them for our own selfish human greed. The curses are not given to us, but we earn them from the spirit king through our despicable nature. Thus, this is why the severity of a curse depends on the person's deeds." Mahir explained Ecaterina's action.

 " Ah, now I understand. Good job Ecaterina and Mahir" Mr. Peon gave them a thumbs up.

 The rest of the girls were shocked to hear Mahir speak. While Afua mocked Mahir who sat at the very front of the classroom. The bell for lunch rang loudly from their electronic board. Signifying lunch time.

 Mahir took her to lunch and on the way there, showed Ecatrina the library and the gym. She thanked her profusely because she had to miss half of her lunch period.

 She said, "Ecatrina, no need to thank me, it's fine". She honestly seemed cool to her. Ecatrina planned to ask her to be her 1st friend in Solia before she could do that Mahir had already sat down at a table. Nevertheless, she was invited by Afua to sit next to her during lunch. She looked over at her table and saw that only two other people were sitting at her table. Could she be an outcast Ecatrina thought. Uncle had taught her this concept called bullying that takes place in common school. She was kind, and she knew for a fact that she was sincere how could people be so cruel and ostracize her? This made Ecaterina gloomy.

 Mahir had a strange smile while speaking to the two boys at her table.

 Then Mahir looked over and smiled at Ecaterina. The two boys turned to take a glimpse at Ecaterina.

 "Ecatrina!?", Afua yelled while having Pastec stuffed in her mouth. Pastec was one of the most popular dishes in Solia. It was bread made from the magical fishes around Solia that influenced the water currents in the drowning god sea. Which is the sea that Solia is surrounded by. The name of the sea was named by Matthew C. Sandler who enjoyed being an oceanographer.

"What's wrong? Do you miss your previous school?" she yelled since the loud chattering in the cafeteria made it hard to hear.

"Not at all. My previous school was pretty lame!" She yelled back.

"Which family are you from?!", Afua questioned with impure intentions.

 "Au-Adler is a cadet branch of the Sandler" Ecatrina replied quickly. She had on accident almost said Auburndad. 

 "Never heard of this cadet branch" Afua spoke.

"I have, It is part of the second lower branch of Sandler's. She is from our great great uncle's side," Vrani told Afua.

"Our third cousin. She is no threat." Afua relaxed.

"Cousin, we better not see you with Mahir again. She is our enemy," Afua ordered.

"Not mine," Vrani corrected. Afua gave her a crooked smile. Vrani paid her no mind.

 "Why?" Ecaterina questioned.

 Before Afua could speak Vrani explained, "I don't want or see them as enemies. I rather believe they are people who must be avoided."

 Afua countered, "Do you know how the next leader of Solia is chosen by the rankings? All three of them rank higher than me and most members of the Sandler family. Who would you rather win us or them."

 "I believe if they are worthy it doesn't matter to me which family they originate from" Ecaterina replied casually not paying much attention to what Afua was saying. Afua frowned at Ecaterina's reply.

 "I really don't care who is in charge," Vrani sighed and continued eating.