ALEXiThymiA: Chapter 47: The New Girl

Chapter 47

The New Girl

On Wednesday, for the first time in nearly a decade, a new student was allowed to enroll in classes on a day other than Monday. The girl was a petite young thing with pale skin, dark hair, and a giant hulk of a bodyguard for a shadow.

“Now Ms. Stevens, here is your school sash that must be worn at all times.” Mr. Mackie said, handing over a sash with just one pin on the psychic side. The pin denoted a third eye opened on the forehead. This was used as a generic catch all to showcase an extra sight of the wielder. Ultimately this was along the lowest of powers on campus, only useful for catching students who were trying to obfuscate their presence or cast various illusions. On a campus where the biggest threats were people who could Mind Control, or Enhance their bodies to be bigger, stronger, and tougher than normal students, her powers were quite weak.

“Now I know you are on the Junior level according to your academic record, but I would give you the chance to join our Sophomore class. They are relatively new, having all started less than three weeks ago.” Mr. Mackie said.

Sarah Marie Stevens, the newest transfer student to Dawning Light just looked at Mr. Mackie like he was crazy. Who on earth would want to subject themselves to an additional year of high school?

The only problem was, she failed to turn to ask her bodyguard’s advice on the subject. If she had, she would have seen the way he was providing a subtle head nod, a sign that she should take this deal. If pressed he would have pointed out that this time in quarantine would just be 90 days, which would not affect her overall records at all.

Still the question had been posed to Sarah, and Sarah alone answered.

“Junior class please.”

With that Mr. Mackie nodded his face not providing any of his personal thoughts on the matter.

“Very well then, you will use this pin, to keep your sash sealed to your shirt.” Mr. Mackie said, while handing over one of two pins that were in his hand. The pin had the Roman numerals ‘III’ denoting her grade.

With the administration portion taken care of, Mr. Mackie himself escorted the pair down the halls to Sarah’s first class.

Knock, knock.

That was all the notice Mr. Mackie gave, before opening the class door to the lower tiered power Junior classroom.

“Instructor Juleman, I have your new transfer student.” Mr. Mackie said, gesturing to Sarah.

“Come on in, there is plenty of seating towards the back.” Ms. Juleman said, gesturing for the two to enter.

With that, Sarah came in, followed by her abnormally large shadow that had to bend to properly enter the door.

As she entered, recognition filled everyone’s faces.

“That’s her, right?”

“It must be.”

There were conversations that happened all over the room as over twenty sets of eyes locked in on her as she made her way to the back of the room.

Once there, she found herself sitting on the back row next to a heavy-set blond boy, who purposefully wore dress pants and a dress shirt to class.

This section of the room was clearly for the odd balls, as there was a girl who all but seemed to bounce in her seat as soon as she recognized Sarah.

Sarah sat down, by and large she was surprised. No one treated her like the potential plague bearer that she was. No one seemed to even care that she was being quarantined due to being directly targeted by a Necromancer. Instead, they all looked at her like she was royalty. In a way she was close, the King and his kith were still the true royalty. While she was merely the daughter of an elected official.

As always, Ajax took up a standing position behind her back right shoulder with his arms crossed. This was his pose used to show he was not going to attack anyone. Of course, all it did was cause his muscles to bulge under his form fitting suit.

The blond who had up until now been the best dressed person in the room took one look at Ajax, and then shook his head in defeat.

For the most part the students were quiet, at least during the lecture. Once the lecture was over, and they were allowed to talk, that was when everyone turned to Sarah.

Sarah for her part had been expecting this, in fact she had prepared for a number of questions that might be asked. No, she was no longer contagious. Yes, she had been tested just this morning before class and would continue to do so for the full 90 days. If she at any point tested positive, she would have to reset her counter.

But rather, than having any of those questions asked. She was asked questions that she was not prepared for, though given her audience she probably should have been.

“Did you know?” The blond boy next to her was the first to ask a question.

“Did I know what?”

“That you were infected with Necromancy?” He asked, as he trembled exaggeratedly at the thought.

Sarah paused, as that had not been a question she was prepared for. “Honestly, I knew something was off. I kept getting sicker and sicker, but I didn’t know. Though I did suspect.”

“How are we going to be able to tell if we are infected, if there are no obvious signs.” The dark-skinned boy to the blonds left spoke up.

“I want to know what it felt like?” The jittery girl in front of the blond asked.

At this Sarah, just paused. “How what felt like?”

“To be cleansed, of course. How did it feel to have that removed? It looked painful.” The jittery girl clarified.

With that Sarah paused. Again, this was not one of the questions she had been prepared for, though she should have. Thinking back to the moment, she felt her heartbeat quicken.

“It was painful. Though I know she somehow stopped my brain from being able to feel pain. That was very nice of her…” Sarah said, as she realized the level of pain, she should have felt was much more subdued than she would have expected. Still even with her pain receptors dampened, the entire experience was painful.

“What was it like to see Judge and Warder?” The dark-skinned boy asked.

“Ty, that is not important. She got to meet Al… I mean Aru’ka at her start.” The blond said, chastising his friend for making a note of the fact that she had met Aru’ka.

“That’s true. Not many people can get to claim that they were among the first she healed.” The dark-skinned boy, Ty, replied.

“That’s not…” the jittery girl in front said, while gently holding her hand over her heart.

“Actually, I have a question of my own.” Sarah began.

With that the three in her immediate area, along with the others all turned to look at Sarah. Seeing so many faces all turn her way, she knew one of them must have the answer to her question.

“Do you all know who Aru’ka is?” Sarah asked, her voice low as if she was asking for the code to the royal vault. Then of all the responses she had expected from people saying they didn’t know. To being refused to even acknowledge such a question, she instead was met with an entirely different response.

Laughter.

They laughed at her. Well not her, but at her question.

“Oh this is good. The new girl has no clue who Aru’ka is.”

“Can she use her eyes?”

“Calm down, she is new to campus.”

“Still.”

A few students spoke loudly enough that Sarah could easily hear. At that, Sarah felt embarrassed, though she didn’t exactly know why she felt embarrassed.

“It’s okay,” the jittery girl began, but was immediately cut off by the well-dressed blond.

“Just keep your eyes open. You will know her when you see her.”

“Yeah, just look for the only female who looks like they can dunk. That will be her.” Ty added.

Dunk? Sarah thought to herself, before she realized it was a sports reference to basketball. Though, she did not quite get the reference to a girl being able to make a basket. Many people could throw the ball, right?

“Well, I take it she isn’t here.” Sarah asked, looking around the room and seeing no females that fit the general description of Aru’ka.

“No, she’s not even in our grade.” The blond said, with a note of sadness in his voice.

“Is she a senior then?” Sarah asked.

More laughter.

At that, Sarah just looked at everyone like they were crazy. This was the most logical conclusion. If she was not a Junior, then clearly, she would have to be a Senior, as her power level was above anything she had ever seen. Putting her on par with some of the most powerful junior awakened supers.

“No, she is not a Junior, nor a Senior.” The blond said.

“Frank, you can’t be that obvious about it.” Ty admonished the blond, Frank, for clearly going over some mental line of information sharing on a super.

“Oh, come on, it will be obvious. She is literally the only one on campus with the big red cross on her magic side.” Frank admitted.

“Oh, that’s right, she would have her Healing pin displayed.” Sarah said, mainly to herself. Then a thought hit her, if she wasn’t a Junior or a Senior, then that would mean “she is a Sophomore?”

Chuckle.

“Look, we can neither confirm nor deny.” Frank said.

“Oh, yeah that is all but admitting it, especially with the way you neither confirmed nor denied the other answers.” Ty said.

Suddenly Sarah felt a flash of shock, as she remembered Mr. Mackie asking her if she wanted to go to the Sophomore class during her time in quarantine.

“Wait?” Sarah said, turning around and staring at Ajax.

“Did I have a chance to…” Sarah trailed off as Ajax was already nodding his head in agreement. “Well, that’s just brilliant.”

While Sarah was deep in her own self-doubt, she was sent a lifeline.

“Say, you should join me at the Healer’s hut for extras.” The jittery girl said.

“Extras?” Sarah asked.

“Yeah, after school to keep us all well rounded we have to join either a sport or be part of the medical team.” Frank answered.

At that, Sarah’s mind raced. “Everyone has to play a sport?”

“Or you can join the medical team.” The jittery girl replied.

Sarah looked around the room, at the people who had been healthy for the last year and a half. People who didn’t have to deal with the damages caused by necromancy ravaging their bodies and slowly withering them away from the inside. Just thinking about competing against them made her body ache.

Then another thought registered in Sarah’s mind. Healer.

“The healer’s hut?” Sarah asked.

“It is more or less a standalone house in the middle of all the practice fields. You can’t miss it, big red cross on the front.” Frank answered helpfully.

“Yeah, that sounds great.” Sarah said, feeling slightly relieved that she would not be forced to push herself too hard physically. Also, she was certain that everyone was hinting that Aru’ka would be at the healer’s hut.

With that class passed by at a crawl, but somehow still ended.

Once the class was over, Sarah and her shadow followed the jittery girl, who she learned was named Gina, to the healer’s hut.

Once they got to the hut, Gina visibly tensed up, as she didn’t seem to want to enter the hut.

“You, okay?” Sarah asked.

With that Gina just wrung her hands together and looked a little sheepish.

“I might have not been entirely honest with my recruitment of you to join us. See, I might have made a big mistake.”

“With Aru…” Sarah trailed off, as she knew she wasn’t supposed to link the person to their persona. Especially considering the fact that said person likely was inside the hut. “With her?”

Gina nodded.

“You see, I was given some bad information and I might have thought she did something she shouldn’t have.” Gina began.

“Have you told her?”

“I tried, but I never had the chance.”

At this a tall figure with a knot of blond hair on her top came forward. Seeing the blond hair, Sarah dismissed the person as they were the right size and shape, but clearly not the person she was looking for.

“One quick question.” Sarah said, changing the subject for a moment. “Does she have a twin by any chance?” Sarah said, noticing the blond hair and thinking that this person had to be her healer. Or a clone of her.

“Yes, she does, why?” Gina asked.

“No reason.” Sarah said, disappointed at the fact that the first person she was that fit the mental image was not the person she was looking for. “What exactly did you think they did?” Sarah found herself asking, as she picked up the last conversation topic they had.

“I might have thought she did Necromancy?” Gina said, twiddling her fingers together in a nervous gesture.

“You think the Healer, performed Necromancy?” Sarah asked, her voice incredulous.

“Shh, I just saw the green magic and saw her taking down enemies. Enemies that should not be taken down,” Gina said the last part in a low voice so not to be heard by anyone.

A quick glance showed only the blond twin coming forward. Though there was something odd about the twin’s hair, Sarah was more focused on what Gina was saying.

“Did she use the black energy of Necromancy?” Sarah asked, vile filling her words.

Gina shook her head. “No, it was only the green light she used to heal you. The only problem was, I had never seen Necromancy in use before. You know, it being a taboo subject and all. Even the documentaries that we are shown never show the power in use. So, I saw her using her Healing magic to take down monsters, and well, I thought the worst of her…”

A slight pause.

“Is that why you were frightened of me? Because you thought I used Necromancy?” The blond twin asked.

Then looking at the girl, Sarah could see the number of pins on her chest. She had three psychic powers, four magical classes all with the ‘X’ next to them. Then the pin denoting her year as a sophomore.

At this sight, Sarah realized the blond with dark highlights was the healer she had been desperately looking for all day.

Sarah wanted to talk to her, to thank her. Unfortunately, she had her gaze squarely upon Gina, who now seemed to have shrunken in on herself.

“Sorry. I just saw what you did, and thought there was no other way, other than Necromancy.” Gina said.

With that the blond nodded. “I could see that.” She said, her voice calm and calculated. “Though, I must say I am disappointed.”

With that Gina just squirmed slightly.

“I know, I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.”

The sophomore just shook her head and held up a hand to stop Gina’s confession. “No, you should have reported me.”

“What?” Sarah found herself asking.

With that the Sophomore turned her full attention to Gina.

“If you suspect someone of being a necromancer, or having conducted necromancy, it is your duty to report them.”

At that, Sarah was shocked. That was the law, but to have someone say they were disappointed for not being turned in, that was different.

“The thing is, I sort of did…” Gina said.

“Good.” The Sophomore said, with an approving nod of their head.

At that, Sarah just felt lost, especially with her response.

“If that was your only concern, then there is something I would like to tell you. If we are to remain friends.”

“What? You want to remain friends?” Gina asked.

The Sophomore just looked confused. “Now that I am no longer a suspected Necromancer, your original fears have been answered, is that right?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Good. Then I will tell you my dark secret, tonight. After which time, you can determine if you still wish to be my friend.” The Sophomore said.

Sarah just shook her head, “dark secret?”

The sophomore turned her attention to Sarah.

“Oh, right. It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Alexa Thyme, I a sophomore here.” The girl with dark hair and a sun kissed knot of blond hair on her head spoke, as she held out her hand.

Sarah confused, grabbed the hand, then shook.

Then once that was over, she dropped her hand and turned her full gaze back to Gina.

“So, if you still wish to be friends, I will meet you tonight, by the dungeon entrance.”

“We don’t have to go in again, do we?” Gina asked a note of fear in her voice.

The sophomore, Alexa, just shook her head. “No, I apologize for that. Though there was something I wanted to show you last time, that I was unable to. I think if we are to remain as friends, we will need to have this meeting.”

“Okay…” Gina said, clearly wanting more clarification from that odd statement.

However, rather than getting more, Alexa seemed to take the words as an affirmation. “Good, I will see you there at eight.”

Then just as quickly as she appeared, she left to enter the healer’s hut.

Sarah turned to Gina. “Is she always like that?”

Gina for her part just shrugged. “Honestly, I think she might have been nervous.”

“Nervous?” Sarah asked, thinking back over the conversation and the way every word was given without any emotion whatsoever.

“Yeah, you kind of have to get used to her.” Gina said, as she too entered the hut.

Sarah, now alone, except for Ajax just turned to her bodyguard. Before she could say anything, Ajax seemed to answer the unspoken question with a shrug and the raising of his hands in an I don’t know, gesture.

Realizing no further answers remained outside, Sarah too entered the hut and started her first day of extras.