Natasha

I gently placed my amulet on the table in front of me and exhaled, my shoulders dropping with a sigh. The luxurious excesses of this academy, from a whole damn cafeteria and buffet to room just to make phone calls in the same building.

It was nice and quiet, and it was a place that I could be alone.

It was a bit odd, though. There was a lot of space for a phone booth. But I could appreciate the privacy. And there was a bench, too. It felt more like a prayer room, or a meditation chamber.

"Jeanne," I said quietly. "I don't know if I can do it. I don't think I'm cut out for this."

I closed my eyes and felt a single tear roll down my cheek.

"Hey... It's not that bad, right?" I asked, trying to convince myself.

I felt silly for almost praying to Jeanne of all people.

I looked at the clock. I didn't want to keep Ikki waiting, so I'd have to be quick.

I reached out and grabbed a handful of the amulet Caroline's family had given me. It felt warm to the touch.

I stared at it and took a deep breath. I'd just gotten of a call with my mentor. The woman I'd been training with ever since the incident. I had a debt to pay to the Void clan for what I'd taken from them. She'd been one of the few people who hadn't abandoned me.

I wasn't sure how to do it. But I needed to keep training.

I closed my eyes, letting myself slip into the void. It was a strange, dark, and cold place, and I wasn't sure if I liked it or not.

On some level, I felt guilty for reverse-engineering so many of Caroline's techniques, especially now. The Void Clan's abilities were supposed to be secret.

But the meditation techniques had been invaluable.

The Void Clan had meditated for hours on end every single day, and they'd even been able to use the void to hide themselves from the magical senses of others. Not everyone could achieve a state of Sunyata. And it was an experience that could not be explained in words. But it was an incredible, beautiful feeling that was almost addictive. And it made you feel connected to the universe, to all of life.

The philosophy was that life itself was an illusion. All of existence. Even magic itself. The Void Clan believed that the only true reality was Sunyata, and that all else was merely an illusion. They meditated to reach that state, to find peace and tranquility in the chaos of the universe.

But to me?

It made life all that more beautiful, because it was so fleeting and temporary. And I didn't need to hate it all. I just had to learn to let go and enjoy what I had. Because, in truth, it would all end. And then I'd just be a mote in the greater fabric of reality. And that was the point.

But I had a lot of work ahead of me. Nearly dying during the Chaos Event just over a week ago was enough to get me to refocus. And my debt was the first step in paying back what I'd done to her family.

I opened my senses to the void, passing through the booth door as if it wasn't there.

I walked back towards the cafeteria, my footsteps light and graceful, my hair flowing behind me.

The mission I'd been given just now could wait until tonight. A Nightmare Zone had formed near a major cluster of negentropy generators. It needed to be dealt with. Piece of cake. I had no fear.

But I needed to finish lunch first. And I had to be careful not to get Ikki caught in any of my business.

And of course, just as the thought graced my mind, my perfect day was interrupted by a shout.

I sighed.

"Oh? What's this?"

The familiar voice was sharp and mocking.

A tall girl with long, flowing blonde hair and red eyes, with a uniform and accessories that screamed of wealth and luxury. She was in front of the cafeteria doors, flanked by a pair of lackeys. The blue haired girl with the stunning magic who'd hit Ikki. And William Darpel, Caroline's friend.

She'd seen me, and there was a smirk on her lips, and she looked like she wanted to make trouble.

"Did we lose our scholarship status?" Chelsea said mockingly.

I raised an eyebrow. I'd had a long, rough month, and the last thing I wanted to deal with was some stuck-up snob. Again.

"No. But you're about to get lost in the halls, because I'm done dealing with you."

"Oh? Big talk for someone who's just here to leech off us and pretend she's special," the blonde-haired girl sneered.

"Go away, or you're going to regret it."

"Oh, I don't think I will, actually. I think I'm just going to have to make you cry in public again."

She was really getting on my nerves. I clenched my fists and let a little mana pulse through my body, just to see if she was bluffing or not.

"I don't think you want to do that. Leave. Now," I hissed.

Chelsea stepped closer.

"Why? What are you gonna do about it?" She said smugly. "What? Gonna cry? You think your pathetic attempt at trying to look tough is going to scare me? Go home and cry to mommy, or go home and cry to daddy. I don't care which one. Oh wait. Neither of them can, can they?"

"Shut your damn mouth before I make you."

"Try it, bitch," Chelsea taunted, smirking.

I felt my blood begin to boil, but I took a deep breath.

"You're not worth it," I muttered.

She stepped closer.

"I said leave, Chelsea. Or you're going to regret it."

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"Oh? You think I'm scared of you?"

"I've been playing nice. Last time you were hurting others, this time you're bothering me, and I'm not in the mood."

"Really?" She said smugly, taking a step forward. "You sure you don't want to go cry to your new boy toy and beg him to protect you?"

I narrowed my eyes and looked at her coldly.

"Chelsea. You have 3 seconds to turn around and walk away, or I'll make you leave."

"1."

She scoffed and crossed her arms.

"2."

"Or what?"

I sighed. I was tired of this.

I was already gathering my magic. My power.

I slowly folded up my glasses and put them into the collar of my shirt.

"I challenge you to a duel."

"Wait, what?" Chelsea asked.

"A formal duel," I stated coldly. "If I win, you leave me the fuck alone, as well as Ikazuchi and Cordelia."

Chelsea blinked in surprise. She was a bully. And bullies were rarely used to people standing up to them.

"W-wait. You can't do that. A formal duel? Are you insane?" she snarled, flaring her own mana. "We're students. I'm from a noble clan, and you're a commoner with nothing bu—"

"I said I challenge you to a duel."

She stared at me for a moment.

"You're crazy. I don't have time to play these silly games with a commoner," she scoffed.

She tried to step past me. I untied the ribbon around my hair and let it fall down around my shoulders, the slate-black locks, nearly bright silver in this lighting falling around my face. Then, I stepped in front of her.

"I don't care."

"What?" Chelsea snapped, her expression hardening.

I ignored her, taking a deep breath. I'd drawn the attention of several of the students already. This was a public setting, and the perfect time to put an end to the constant bullying and insults.

I had enough of a problem with her in class, or in public.

She'd always made it a point to humiliate me.

It wasn't a big deal to me, but Ikki getting involved the other day meant he was in danger, too.

"I challenge you to a formal duel," I declared. "If you refuse, then you forfeit. That means I win."

"W-what?!" Chelsea shouted, her face going red with rage.

"You may name a second to take your place," I continued.

Chelsea looked around at her friends, and they all shrank back, not wanting to fight her. She was a spoiled, entitled bitch.

She thought she was better than everyone, and that she could push people around. She'd gotten her way by bullying others for far too long, and I was done with it. She could push me around. But I wasn't going to stand for it if more innocents were caught up because of me.

I wasn't going to let her get away with this any more. I was tired of the constant insults, the bullying, the abuse.

If she was going to push me, then I was going to push back. And I was going to make it hurt.

"Chelsea de Mornay. You have invoked the name of your father - Count Edmond de Mornay. Thus, this is an honor challenge," I declared, loudly enough for the other students to hear.

"If you do not accept the challenge, then you dishonor his name, and the duel will be decided in your forfeit."

"T-This is absurd," Chelsea said, her expression a mixture of fury and fear.

I smirked, looking her in the eye.

The crowd that had gathered was growing larger. People were talking excitedly, pointing at the scene unfolding in front of them.

"By my rights as a member and signatory of the Corinthian Accords, I declare you a dishonorable individual," I said loudly. "You trample upon the weakest among us, and I will not allow it. As the daughter of Count Edmond, and a member of the House de Mornay, you have a duty to uphold the honor and dignity of your family's name."

"W-What?! This is ridiculous," she sputtered. "You can't just-"

"I invoke my right as a student of magic," I continued. "In spite of being a commoner, I have signed my name to the Accords and have a right to challenge you. You, a member of the noble class, are expected to uphold the values of chivalry, honor, and justice. As such, I demand satisfaction!"

"You are not of my class! How dare you try and force me into this charade!" She snapped.

"Ah, and what class are we again, de Mornay?"

A girl with brown skin, blue eyes, and braided silver navy blue hair walked forward from the crowd, with an air of regal elegance and a sense of grace that would have been impressive in anyone. She wore the same school uniform as Chelsea, with gold cufflinks and lapels that denoted a higher tier student.

Whispers were exchanged as she walked forward.

She smiled as she spoke.

"Laurel Brahms," Chelsea hissed, and the blue haired girl from earlier whispered something to Chelsea, looking nervous.

"I believe that this commoner has every right to challenge you, Chelsea," the newcomer continued, walking to me and offering me her hand. "You've gone too far."

"You've no right to speak to me like this, Laurel," Chelsea snapped, glaring at her. "Viscount Brahms has sworn fealty to my father. And you have no authority to speak in such a manner, either."

Laurel smirked. "You're the one who is acting shamefully, Chelsea. And I think it would be a shame if Count de Mornay heard of this. You've made your bed, now you must lay in it. You see, you've been insulting the rest of the student body for too long. It was bound to come back and bite you eventually. And you've made it persona by going after Cordelia."

Cordelia? Is Laurel Brahms her sponsor?!

"I will not be lectured by some uppity merchant's daughter!" Chelsea snapped, stepping forward and getting in Laurel's face.

I looked at her. Laurel was beautiful, with long, wavy shiny blue hair that fell down to the small of her back and a slim figure.

Laurel was angry, and her anger was boiling over, and I was pretty sure that I could feel the heat of her anger coming off of her. I could sense the mana radiating off of her, and she was definitely powerful.

"Your actions have been disgusting and vile. And if you continued to act like this, I would have taken action against you directly," she stated. "I have been patient. But you have finally stepped too far, Chelsea."

Chelsea scoffed, rolling her eyes.

Laurel glared. "This ends today."

Chelsea laughed.

"You? You're nothing. You have nothing. Pathetic lands, no soldiers, no real titles in the New World!"

Laurel smirked.

"Oh? Is that so? A direct insult?"

Laurel looked back at me, and I nodded to her.

"If you will not accept a commoner's challenge, then I - Laurel Brahms, first daughter of House Brahms, challenge you to a formal duel," she stated loudly, her voice echoing across the cafeteria. "I will not stand for your personal insult. To continue to act like a bully, to treat those below you with contempt. To mock and ridicule those who are less fortunate. To abuse your powers and your wealth. May all that have witnessed her insult serve witness!"

I stepped up to her.

"And I, Natasha Zamir, volunteer to be her champion. I will defend her honor in combat."

Chelsea scoffed. "This is absurd."

She stepped back.

"William. Be my champion!" she snapped.

"E-er," the older boy said with a gulp, stepping back. His gaze darting between us and Chelsea.

He looked pale. And I could understand. A Viscount with considerable resources and a Count were in the mix. Darpel was always the opportunistic, mercenary sort. He was already probably looking for a way to make a profit off of this.

No matter what tricks Chelsea or her crew brought to the table. I'd fought worse. Sparred with some of the strongest normal mages in the world in the Void clan.

But suddenly, a melodic but harsh voice cut over the murmurs.

"I will be your champion, Lady Mornay!" the familiar voice echoed from across the hall.

I froze.

No.

It couldn't be.

I looked over, my heart pounding in my chest.

That voice that had given me so many memories. That had given me so much joy and happiness. And so much pain and grief.

The spectators in the room all stared at her in shock.

I could barely hear anything else, as the blood rushed in my ears.

Long, straight black hair. Deep purple almond eyes, her porcelain skin. Tall, with an ever-elegant posture.

She'd grown. Matured.

I felt the weight of the locket in my heart. The necklace that was tucked away beneath the collar of my shirt.

I felt like my entire world was crumbling. My mind was reeling and I was trying desperately to keep it together.

"I, Kong Jia Luo. Courtesy name Caroline of the Void Clan, offer myself as the second of Lady Chelsea de Mornay. Daughter of Edmond de Mornay, with no terms save for honor. Do you accept this offer, Lady Mornay?"

Caroline looked straight at me, and I saw a look in her eyes that I'd seen before.

A look of anger. Of betrayal.

And a look that told me that I had lost everything. And that I would never have her back. That she would never forgive me for what I'd done. For leaving her to suffer.

Chelsea spoke, and I could barely hear the words over the roaring of blood in my ears.

"Lady Kong? I, Chelsea de Mornay, do accept your terms and offer."

I felt like my world was spinning, like I was falling.

And I was falling into despair.

I felt a hand grip mine, and looked down to see Laurel squeeze my fingers.

She smiled at me reassuringly. "You've got this. I've seen what you can do."

The crowd in the cafeteria was loud, and everyone was staring.

There were people who knew me, and people who didn't.

But none of that mattered. All that mattered was the person standing across from me.

And I knew, in that moment, that I was about to face my worst nightmare.

My greatest regret.

My biggest fear.

My greatest shame.

I felt tears form in the corner of my eyes.

And then, I took a deep breath, and stepped forward.

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