-Victoria-
The weeks had started to fly by. Since meeting Nothall and firmly separating myself from Azax, I had settled into a routine. I would wake up, grab breakfast with Nothall, Ani and Anna, attend the days classes, do what homework I could, eat dinner, have private lessons with Professor Zekora, and go to sleep.
There wasn't much time for my friends outside of classes and meals, but they all understood. I needed to learn how to access my magic. Every day, my professors sent updates on my progress to the headmaster. While Professor Zekora may be my mother's friend, she still had to be honest about my performance in her class.
I could feel Azax's eyes on me at every moment, but he kept his distance as I asked. He wasn't the only one watching. Princess Ustrea was also watching. I could feel her smugness growing with each passing day. I knew soon she would make her move. Unfortunately, I was right.
I was at lunch with my friends when Ustrea approached, her horde of girls following behind. She presented me with a letter, an evil smile on her face.
"What's this?" I asked, taking it from her.
"A summons from the headmaster," She explained, clearly pleased with herself, "I have dutifully reported your failings in magic to the headmaster. Tonight, I will put forth the case as to why you should not be here. If you fail to convince the headmaster you belong, you will be removed from Pelmora and returned to your home kingdom. Oh, wait. You don't have one."
Her laughter and the laughs of her gang filled the dining hall. My friends' faces were a mix of shock and anger. My eyes found Azax in the crowd. I could practically feel the anger rolling off him as he whispered aggressively at Itrix who bowed and disappeared quickly. He then started to make his way over to us. He stopped in front of me.
"I won't let her do this." He promised, "Itrix is searching for a way out of this. I need to go reach out to some of my contacts, but I will be there for your meeting."
He walked away swiftly, wall following just behind, a sympathetic smile on his face. Anna and Ani also stood from the table, a determined look on their faces.
"We'll go talk to Professor Zekora." Anna declared, "She knows people across both kingdoms. If anyone can get someone to help you, it's her."
"Plus, she knew your mother," Ani pointed out, "So maybe she'll offer up some information as to why your magic won't manifest."
Anna wrapped me in a tight hug.
"Don't lose faith," She whispered, "We'll find a way to keep you here, where you belong."
Tears spilled from my eyes at her words. She wiped them away before pulling back, a small smile on her face. She grabbed Ani and tugged him off in the direction of the professor's office.
Nothall stood next. I half expected her to run off on her own mission. Instead, she offered me her hand. I realized that while everyone else was off trying to help with tonight, she was going to help me make it through the rest of the day. I took her hand and felt her natural talent of hiding in plain sight wash over me.
We spent the rest of our classes hidden away which suited me just fine. I couldn't focus. All I could imagine was being cast out of Pelmora. Being sent to God knows where since no kingdom would have me. By the time I managed to get out of my thoughts we were at dinner. It felt like a last meal before I was put to death.
"Professor Zekora said not to worry," Anna tried to calm me, "She has a trick up her sleeve apparently."
"The prince won't let anything happen either," Nothall added, "Itrix said there was a plan."
"Everything is going to be ok." Ani finished, putting his hand on my shoulder.
"I'm going to miss you all." I cried, tears flowing down my face.
We all gathered in a group hug. Though they all had confidence that it would all work out, our fears would not diminish. The headmaster already hated me and wanted me gone. It was likely no matter what anyone said I would be leaving Pelmora in the morning.
"Pardon me," A voice broke up our moment. Separating, we found Professor Ubaris waiting, "It's time. Follow me, Victoria."
With one last look at my friends, I followed the professor to the headmaster's office. It felt like I was walking to the gallows. When the swung open to the headmaster's office, I knew the fight was over. The looks on the headmaster and Ustrea's faces was nothing short of delight. I stood before the headmaster's desk ready to accept my fate.
"Miss Victoria," He began, "It has been brought to my attention by our wonderful princess that you have shown no magical potential. This school is meant to teach the magically inclined, not the common people. Since you have no magic, I have no choice but to remove you from Pelmora and return you to your home kingdom."
"Headmaster, you forget," Ustrea interrupted, "She does not belong to a kingdom."
"That is true," The headmaster agreed, "Since no kingdom claims you, you'll be released into the neutral ground surrounding Pelmora."
"The wilderness you mean," I said, face as blank as I could manage, "Where I'm likely to die within a few days."
"Let's hope." The headmaster said much to my shock and clearly the shock of Ustrea.
"I think not." A voice all too familiar said from behind me.
I turned to see Azax, anger on his face and a file in his hand.
"I claim Victoria as a citizen of Aivoria. If she is to be removed from this school, she will be sent there." He threw the file on the headmaster's desk, "Those are my withdrawal forms."
"What?!" All three of use yelled.
"If Victoria is to leave Pelmora for Aivoria, then I shall go too." He stated.
With wide eyes, the headmaster read over the file. He finished it quickly, standing and rushing around his desk to kneel before Azax.
"Please, Your Highness," he said, "I beseech you not to do this. It is imperative to our realm that you finish your education here before you take the throne."
"It is done." Azax declared, "Victoria and I will return to Aivoria as soon as possible. Expect my guard and spy to tenure their withdrawals after this meeting has ended."
Azax lightly pressed a hand guiding me towards the door. Seeing us leaving must have awoken the stunned princess because she chooses that moment to intervene.
"She can't go to Aivoria with you," She states, running to come between us and the door, "She's not Aivorian."
"And how, my dear, can you be certain of that?" Professor Zekora's voice filled the room.
She had appeared, as always, out of nowhere, sitting in the headmaster's empty chair. Her appearance brought the headmaster back to his feet.
"Zekora." The headmaster warned her, but she ignored him.
"I do believe our precious princess is a liar." She points a finger at Ustrea who blushes.
"How dare you accuse the princess of such things." The headmaster storms up to the professor, "Apologize at once."
"You know I have an old friend from my time here at Pelmora," Zekora continues, still ignoring the looming headmaster," I've wrote him about this incident. He has agreed to come here to aid us in determining where this child truly belongs. He even contacted his counterpart in Aivoria so that the test might be fair."
"You cannot just bring people here whenever you please," The headmaster spat, "I make the decisions, and I have already decided."
"You couldn't stop them from coming if you tried," Zekora argued, standing to meet the headmaster gaze, "And if that girl is not safe inside these walls when they arrive, you'll be short a job."
"Just who is this old friend of yours?" The headmaster demanded.
"I believe you've heard of him," Zekora snarked, "King Udel of Varezia. Which makes his counterpart, King Romonar of Aivoria."
"Impossible!" The headmaster cried, "How could you know a king?"
"I told you," She replied, a smirk on her face, "We attended Pelmora together."
"I don't believe you." He said.
"Well, then why don't you ask those two rather official looking gentlemen just what news they carry?" Zekora sat back in the headmaster's chair.
We all turned to see two identical messengers standing next to each other, each holding a scroll. The only difference between them was one wore red while the other wore blue. Once all eyes were on them, they began to read their message at the same time.
"Let it be known," they began, "That I, King Udel/Romonar, while arrive at Pelmora in three days' time to determine the kingdom of the lost child, Victoria. Until such time I arrive and test her, Victoria shall remain at Pelmora, unharmed and as well-kept as she's been for these past weeks. So signed your honorable King."
The messengers handed the scrolls off to the headmaster before leaving. The headmaster angerly read over the scrolls before glaring at Professor Zekora who just smiled back.
"All this will achieve is that when she leaves here, she ends up in her home kingdom instead of the wild." The headmaster stated, "She still has shown no signs of magic. She cannot remain at Pelmora."
Professor Zekora's eyes found mine and she nodded ever so slightly. I felt a hand join mine. Looking beside me, I saw Azax holding my hand tight in his own. He gave me a firm nod of his own. I felt his magic rush into me and my own respond. I concentrated on the energy and pushed it out towards my empty hand, willing it to form a ball.
A bright light filled the room. When it faded, a ball of energy was floating just above my open palm. Azax released my hand, but I kept focus on keeping to ball from fading. It only lasted a few seconds after, but it was long enough.
"Now I believe, headmaster," Professor Zekora said, a smile on her face, "That that was magic."
"The prince helped her." He argued.
"Maybe to start the flow of energy," Zekora conceded, then added, "But she was able to maintain it even after the prince had let go. She has magical abilities; they must simply be locked away somewhere inside her. I will ask the King to look when he arrives."
"And if he finds her magical ability to be below the threshold for entry into Pelmora?" The headmaster inquired.
"Then I will admit defeat and allow you to send Victoria away." Zekora agreed.
"Very well then." The headmaster stood inches away from Zekora, "Her future will be decided when the Kings arrive in three days."
"Will she stay?" Zekora asked, eyes filled with fire.
"Or will she go?" The headmaster finished, his eyes full of ice.