Chapter 4 - Shaviah

Chapter 4 - Shaviah

"Dear friend, thanks for the information. I appreciate it." Theraessa said while Zena nodded her head.

Then she continued with a smirk expression appearing on her face, "As for me, whose name you have forgotten, is Zena Zlyderanne. And I think I should be your most loyal friend."

"Yea, I recall now." Theraessa said while Zena smiled.

"What institution do we study at?" Theraessa suddenly asked.

"The Znales Institute of Witchery, Summoning, and Magic." Zena replied.

"Hmm. Alright. Can we head out now? I would like to go round to see if I can juggle some memory." Theraessa said while Zena nodded her head in agreement.

"Let me go with you." Zena uttered.

Then together, they left the room and walked down a long flight of stairs. After reaching the floor that the stairs ended at, they walked into large circular and rectangular halls. These halls—called Halls of Learning, were large and seemed to contain seats for at least, eight thousand people.

'This institution is massive. Amazing.' Theraessa said with intense admiration within herself.

Looking at Zena, she asked, "The halls we entered, what do they teach there?"

"Well, each of the halls are designated for..." Zena couldn't finish her speech when a group of tall and mean-looking girls suddenly appeared before them.

"Hally, we heard about what happened to you; the tea poisoning that caused you to convulse and discharge stinky, nauseating foams from your mouth. But sincerely, we seriously and immensely hope that more of such event occur to you. You haven't seen anything, Theraessa, more to come." A girl who seemed to be the leader of the group, said with a really harsh tone and a completely mean expression on her face.

"Judging from your tone, facial expression, and mannerism, you actually sound like the person that poisoned my tea. What do you think I should do to you?" Theraessa suddenly asked, causing both Zena and the leader of the group of girls to be utterly astounded.

"Aww. Finally the courage to stand up to people, instead of smiling and turning around, running away like the rat that you are, and will always be when confronted by people. Finally developed some brazenness and temerity, eh?" The girl, who was Shaviah by name, said with a mocking tone and ridiculing expression on her face.

"You should be careful with the way you speak to me, or you will regret it." Theraessa said icily.

Though she spoke with a frosty tone, it was however intense searing heat that began to emanate from her body, causing the atmosphere in the particular hall they were in to suddenly increase to an unbearable, frightening level. This successfully scared the company of girls who immediately backed many feet away from her.

"You actually used your damned power in the hall? You actually did so? Wow!! Have you forgotten the first rule of the institute, that absolutely no student is allowed to display the slightest effect of any of their powers within the school's hall, or they will get disgracefully expelled? Amazing! It's just unbelievable that you, a top and exemplary, rule-abiding student could actually forget such. Well, I guess the worldly forces that backed you have finally forsaken you for your constant transgressions toward us, you condemned moron." Shaviah said in the harshest tone possible, trying hard to incite more of Theraessa's fury.

Then looking at one of the girls in her group who all had ridiculing expressions on their faces, she said, "Lyanarri, quickly, go report this to Instructor Shwyvellyn. Let us see to the quick and discreditable dismissal of this idiot."

Zena looked at Theraessa and said with tremendous worry in her tone, "Hally, this is bad. You are going to be expelled for this. Absolutely no student, no matter how favored they are, is allowed to showcase any of their abilities within the halls of the institute. Though you are a top student loved and adored by even the teachers themselves, they won't break the institution's ten-millennia-long, ancient standing rule of instantly expelling any student that exhibits their powers in the slightest or lowest degree possible within any of the Halls of Learning. I should have briefly mentioned the laws we have to you before uttering any other thing."

Theraessa's eyes shone with total understanding over what Zena said. Actually, she didn't expect the power of fire possessed by the body her soul took over to instantly manifest the moment she spoke coldly to Shaviah, trying to threaten and intimidate her.

Comprehending that perhaps the fire summoning ability was linked to deep and intense, frigid or passionate emotions, she subtly nodded her head, knowing how her to manifest the flame-evoking ability that the body possesses in case of next time. Besides, due to her abrupt discovery, it will save her more time and effort trying to find out how to conjure any of the fire-based sub-abilities that the body could use and constantly operate.

"I understand." She said, looking at Zena who was greatly worried.

"It's okay. I won't be expelled." Theraessa said further, trying to comfort her friend Zena who had total worry etched on her facial features.

"You won't what?! You will pack your belongings soon and leave the institute in a beautifully shameful manner. Haha. Can't wait to see the look of embarrassment and sadness that will appear on your face at that time." Shaviah derisively said and cackled.

Theraessa, who didn't know what other laws there were, maintained her calmness and clear-headedness. Although she thought of giving Shaviah some really good slaps that would cause her to contemplate the reason why her bright future had suddenly gone bleak, she however held herself back, or she might play into the hands of the seemingly cunning Shaviah who was intentionally provoking her, saying rude and vexatious words to further invoke more of her ire and in the act, add to her punishment.

Seeing that Theraessa simply maintained her spot and even seemed to be paying less attention to her and to what she was saying, she produced a strong and deeply unsatisfied 'hmmph' before turning around to walk away.

But she had only taken a step when Theraessa's cold and resentful voice suddenly rang out, "Well, I unknowingly set myself up, which was directly caused by you. So, I applaud you for that. But know this, if your plan to get me expelled fails, your life in this institution will be full of daytime and nighttime nightmares. I will make your life a gloomy, hellish one. I assure you."

"Well, that's what you fail to understand. As long we are in this institution, you can't do a thing to me. So, your empty threats don't work on me. Go use it on another fool who is going to fall at your feet and worship you with all their heart, so as to appease your useless vengeful anger."

"As for if you will be ingloriously expelled, I will see to that. Believe me when I say you will surely be sent packing out of here like the lame street dog you are, orphan. That, I can assure you."

"We shall see again, when you are dejected, shamefaced, and full of sorrow."