The Evil Chancellor's Intervention

Instructor Drakkon took care of informing the school that Sky had not, in fact, died, but he neglected to tell anyone else. When Sky walked into class at 11:26 that day, everyone stared at her motionless for a long minute. Sky shifted on her feet. Then Jin, who'd appeared despondent when she'd first opened the door, jumped up. He snatched a paper from his desk and raced to her, eyes bright like a kid seeing his favorite toy returned to him.

"I got here early and made this list for you, but then I was told you were dead." He thrust the list in front of her face. "I want to see these." Sky blinked and focused her eyes on the list. "I'll test you on them on Clayden." Sky's mouth popped open.

"There's so many."

"You'll gain ten points for each spell you do correctly, and you'll lose ten points for each spell you mess up or don't do." Jin grinned broadly. Sky's mouth opened and closed.

Finally, she managed to whisper, "You'll dock my points?" Jin shrugged, his smile still bright and genuine.

"Yeah, well I'm supposed to."

"What?" Sky choked.

"The Chancellor doesn't want you surviving the next round of cuts. All the instructors and AR students were told to take your points."

"But I don't know any other instructors besides you, Aven, and Instructor Drakkon, so they're not really going to deduct points from me. Oh and Instructor Gillianice." Sky said rationally, trying to calm herself.

Jin shrugged again and said, "Chancellor Draekkon showed us all in a meeting what you looked like and said to take points for anything, talking in the halls, poor penmenship, damage to the school, and whatever else we can think of."

"But the school has repair enchantments on it." Once more Jin continued as if she hadn't spoken.

"He's even threatened my boards, if I don't start taking points." Boards were tests at the end of each year where AR students demonstrated the fruits of their research. They were usually perfunctory. "You were really late today, so I'm going to take five points from you." Sky gaped at him. Jin smiled jovially and walked to the desk. He gathered all of the books on its surface together into a stack, placed the paper on top of them, and shoved them into Sky's chest. Automatically, she took them and immediately staggered under their weight. "So yeah, learn all of these."

"But the week's exercises."

"Yep, I'll take points if you don't do those too. Page numbers and books are listed. Get crammin'." Sky let out a sharp breath as her cheeks flushed. She'd liked Jin and enjoyed having him as a teacher. She never would have thought he'd do this to her. She felt like crying from the unfairness of the situation. "Oh, and since I like you, I am gonna warn you. Bear is planning to take fifty points from you, if you miss today's Monthly Ranking Matches. And he'll take 25 points per day for missing combat training."

"What? What are the monthly ranking matches? Since when have we had combat training?" Sky spluttered.

"Since always. It's after class in the Indoor Practice Courts in the Annex. Wear your practice uniforms." Sky stared at him on the verge of tears. Jin sighed. "The Annex is the big, low building behind the school. You really should be studying, rather than standing here staring at me." His tone had become irritated. Sky took a sharp breath and bit her trembling lip as she turned, heading for her practice room.

"Um, Instructor Donohough, are you going to be taking points from us too?" She heard one of the males ask.

Jin replied, "I haven't been told to, but it's unlikely you'll survive the cuts anyway." Sky fumbled with the door to the practice room as she balanced the books on one arm. Eventually, she got it open and disappeared inside.

***

Sky stared at the floor, blushing in embarrassment, when she walked into the Indoor Practice Courts promptly at 1 pm. Despite how hungery she'd been during lunch she'd made sure to eat light. She didn't want to get sick during the matches. Sky tugged at her tight-fitting practice uniform as she glanced around the room.

It looked much like the outdoor practice courts. Stadium seating rose around the tan, sandy floor on three sides. The floor was divided into six courts by white lines painted on the sand.

As she entered the jovial chatter of the creatures seated to the right of the door ceased. Sky could feel their eyes boring into her back. She'd had to forgo her wig and glasses and her corset hadn't been replaced yet, so she was very uncomfortable.

Lifting her eyes, she saw her three classmates seated in the stands to her left. She began making her way to them with stuttering steps.

"You!" A thunderous male voice boomed across the silent room.