I was taken into another realm—the same realm where I always ended whenever I was collapsing or dreaming about the same Fenrir.
'You let your mind overdrive again, my young lass.'
I looked behind me, and there she was. The same majestic midnight blue-furred Fenrir, who had been visiting me. Then I admitted with a heavy sigh. "I can't help it."
'I'm not saying it's wrong, but it wasn't right either. You triggered your anxiety.'
"But the school's ranking system overwhelmed me." I started to reason. But the truth was, the rumors I had been hearing at the cafeteria had gotten into my skin. They whispered about me ranking up because the Knightrose family was backing me, that I was not good for the family's image, that I was using my mate bond with one of the family for attention. None of it was true, but it still hurts my feelings. Then I softly said, "I'm a newbie, but I jumped too many ranks. It's unfair for the others."
'It might be it. But Bernila, it's not unfair when it's about you and not them.'
I didn't say anything. I could say anything to rebut that, but she was right. I was in the new school, for myself, and to get my diploma, and it was nothing about the others but me. I sighed, fully recalling my conviction as I agreed to marry Mirxalyn and live in their environment.
'Your instructors acknowledged your abilities and sensed your awakening powers, which is why they promoted you to the elite rank where you could excel rather than staying in the Fledgling rank. They were not expecting too much from you. They just knew that by staying in the elite rank, your power would flourish more.'
I kept my mouth shut, digesting her words, and she was right. My odd moments during training—I lost control over my body and blocked out. There were times I couldn't breathe when caught up in concentration; my skill and flexibility could withstand my wife's overwhelming strength whenever my wooden swords kissed hers.
I closed my eyes, absorbing everything that I've been through, letting my body remember my training as well as the power radiating through me. More importantly, I remember my sole core reason for attending the school—my diploma, which I began to feel wouldn't be a paper anymore.
***
After a week of my sudden collapse, I was welcomed by whispers echoing in the locker area as Allison was pissed on my behalf. She was much grumpier than I could, but I couldn't comment on it until the same jocks—the jerks I had beaten on my first day—appeared again.
"So, how did it feel like using the influence of the Knightrose backing your rank up to elite?" He teased, making his fellow laugh.
I closed my locker, stopping Allison from speaking for me. Instead, I coldly looked at him before turning my heels as I flipped my hair and answered. "Supreme."
Everyone in the locker area had dropped their jaws and looked dumbfounded as I passed them. I wasn't accustomed to this kind of confidence, which I was wearing like armor. It might had something to do with my bond with my wife or perhaps about something else. There was one thing I was certain of: accept the changes, this rank, and focus on getting better.
But I was still not a fan of anything that had to do with physical endurance, and my opponent, whom I had beaten before, wanted revenge and fought me again.
"JUST BECAUSE YOU RANK UP TO ELITE DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO SLACK OFF!" He was frustrated, shouting as he charged at me.
I used to follow his moves and be in defensive mode, but his words started to trigger me. I tried to remain calm as much as possible, applying what Sir Athan had taught us. I tried to control my temper, being patient as we observed our opponents' movements, but still respected what our opponents could and could not do.
I calmly blocked his attempt, but he said something bad about my wife. My temper quickly spiked up. My temper was always getting the best of me. I know that I get easily annoyed when it comes to Mirxalyn. But hearing that bad comment behind my wife's back, I surely see red flashing in my eyes.
He gave me a surprise attack. It was a strong and fatal blow to my stomach, combining it with a kick, but I felt nothing. His attempts were easily blocked, causing us to stumble away from each other due to the heavy contact.
"He got me there." I thought as I looked over my hands, shaking them from feeling numbed. With an empty expression, I carefully studied him, assessing.
"I hope you can keep up." He grinned, thinking he won, and started raining me with different forms of combat stunts from kicks to punches.
All types of martial arts he knew, he poured against me. They were accurate, heavy, and hard to block. Everyone in the class was awed by his attempt. They even began cheering for him, apart from three. They were disappointed.
"He's got to be kidding me. He never learn."
"Does he forget that she beated him because of what he's doing right now?"
"This will end badly."
Their words confused the others; they didn't understand what they were missing until I quickly moved away, doing a few backflips before standing on my ground, sighing. I might not want to do this, but this man leaves me no choice. I closed my eyes, composing myself, but he won't let me get ready. He charged with heavy blows, speed, and flexibility. They were fatal, suffocating until I recalled what Sir Edgar mentioned to me before.
'Just remember what you feel there and maybe in no time, you'll be standing like a knight.'
"Knight my ass." I groaned in my head as I blocked his attacks. Slowly, my body was reaching its limit, getting tired from being in defensive mode.
"I wonder what it feels like kissing the love of your life." I knew he was just taunting, but his swords cut something deep inside me.
I thought Mirxalyn's softness was not for me anymore. Her smiles were for somebody else, and her breathtaking kisses were tasted by someone who wasn't me. Those images alone made my entire body burn. I had a sudden urge to break something or anything before me, causing me to stop. I stopped dodging, moving all at once, and his straight punches were stopped by my hand.
Like a breathing threat, I snapped. "That's it. I'm going to rearrange your face."
"A-as if! L-let's see if you can." He stuttered, sensing the shift in me. He tried to pull his fist away from me, but my grip was iron-strong.
He wiggled out as I let him go. As soon as I did, I saw clear lines of his scent, emotions, and attempts. I saw them clearly in my head, and my block became more solid without feeling numbness from each contact. There were some gasps, whispers, and worries as I faced him. But something strange was crawling beneath my skin as my body moved according to the memories. Quickly, I mirrored all his moves, but more lethal, unforgiving than he could give.
"Okay, you win." He sinisterly gave up. He thought that he could outsmart me when I was outraged, but he was wrong. When he realized that I was not slowing down, his expression became terrified. "I'm sorry..." He sheepishly apologized, but I wasn't listening, which scared him more. "Stop...I surrender."
He tried to regain control, blocking, but what he made me think was something I could not forget or forgive him for—until my rage subsided. Sadly, it wouldn't be happening soon.
I was exceeding my limit, not letting him make another attempt. With my palm, I pushed his chest harder, and I quickly maneuvered my leg to make him lose his balance before he slammed on the ground, cracking it in the process. He coughed blood, and I didn't stop. I towered over him, giving him blows on his face.
"BERNILA, STOP!"
"STOP IT NOW, BERNILA! ENOUGH!"
I could hear them, Allison and Almira's worried screaming voice at me, but I'd lost my grip. My body was no longer answering me. It was moving out of my control as the image of my miserable yesterday triggered more of my rage. They were flooding inside my head, not even caring how my opponent looked beneath me: beaten up, covered in blood, and I was not yielding. Not yet, at least.
There was only tension in the silence until there she goes. My hand halted from punching randomly, and I stepped away from the unconscious body beneath and diverted my full attention to the shadow that entered the class. I moved like the wind and gave my heaviest punch straight to my wife's face. Everyone gasped, but here we are standing close to each other, eyes finally seeing each other like it's the first time again.
"I see you lost your way here, my lovely queen." I sarcastically commented. I swear I wanted to hide, embarrassed that my mouth rolled it out easily. But instead of witnessing only her clenched jaw, I saw amusement in her eyes pierce me. My rage was put on hold as my cheeks blushed slightly, and I put down my fist that she blocked.
Mirxalyn kept her stance the same, unreadably powerful, making everyone fear what she could do to me after the attempt I made. "I'm not lost, but you are." Her cold response nudged my rage, and I felt mocked. I didn't hesitate and attacked her, as the rest feared for my life. I didn't yield. I have no reason to, not that I felt as if I was burning. Then her steady but soft voice reminded me, "You lose your composure there, which means death on the battlefield."
Something ticked me off, irritated. But I won't give her any satisfaction; instead, my lips curved teasingly, saying softly, "And who's to blame, hm?" Mirxalyn's words caught in her throat as she clenched her jaw again. And before I could hold my mouth shut, I found myself expressing them, "You see, just thinking of you made my body react like this. I could not control it whenever somebody or someone says or attempts something bad against you." I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, my words were soft but raw. "You're driving me nuts."
"Bernila." She warned deeply, making my body shiver, but the way she held her beautiful, cold façade, masking her truth—I didn't want to give in.
I know it. In front of everyone, she must be the queen, and she can't show softness easily. But like what she had told me before, I won't bow down to her, and that's what I am doing.
"Don't start with me," I warned, glaring at her. "Don't call my name in that tone." I spat steadily before adding, "You told me I shouldn't cower before you, and that's what I am doing. So suck it up!"
Mirxalyn's eyes flickered with amusement before leaning closer to my face. "Very well, my love. Release them." She whispered, which I was the only one who heard. "Released them to me."
I shivered at her commanding cold voice, but I held my ground. I'm starting to like it—our new rhythm in front of everyone. Then I whispered back, "Then please enjoy training me."
Without hesitation, I quickly used my foot and gave her a roundhouse kick. It was a heavy contact, making her stumble slightly. Then our combat skills exploded. Letting them do the talking instead of using words.
Everyone was holding their breath because no student or anyone could face the queen without fearing death, but as for me, I've been facing death all the time. It was an intense exchange of combat skills, where I showcased what I'd learned so far. Facing her with an irksome feeling and fire, I doubled my speed compared to hers. I ensured she would end up on her defense, and it happened.
But again, my body did something that surprised us both.
I grabbed her collar, pulled her closer, and almost kissed her lips on the spot. Then I whispered only to her, "Dammit. Your lips..." Mirxalyn faintly grinned. Then I meet her eyes, sighing before asking, "Why can't you stop driving me insane?"