Where Fate Unfurls

[CONTINUATION]

Anya Aswwood begins to fight the enhanced magic bots that had been in the arena.

Anya fought the bots valiantly; she lasted for about 10 minutes before getting overwhelmed and set the standard for the rest in the class.

Anya then proceeded to go to her seat and watch the rest as they would be called.

More students had been called, but so far, none compared to Anya Aswood; she had gotten 10 minutes in the arena, while the people who had gone after her had an average of 2 - 6 minutes in the arena.

P.E Teacher: “Next up is… Fae Harlow.” He glances up to see him walk to the arena.

Fae Harlow walked up towards the arena so he could get assessed and see how long he could last, or if he would even last.

Minutes past and Fae was doing good, some might even say he was doing great as he was approaching Anya's time, but when he got to the 9 minute 50 second mark, he's stamina gave out, and he almost fainted so the P.E teacher stopped Fae Harlows time at 9 minutes 57 seconds, which had been the closest so far to Anya Aswoods time.

More people went up to see how long they would last after, and continued getting their average scores, nothing bad, but nothing noteworthy either, just the average. Eventually, it was James's turn.

P. E Teacher: “Uhh, James Belfork, your up.” He puts the register book to his side.

James Belfork walked up to the arena to see how long he would last.

James Inner Monologue: “It's finally my turn. Since I have F-rank aptitude, this might be difficult to pull off, but I do have stamina and okay strength to compensate.” Nervous.

P.E Teacher: “Start.” Whistle blown.

The clock started, and James had to go up against the enhanced magic bots. The bots can't be hurt without using magic, so James is at a disadvantage with he's low aptitude, so he is more focused on getting a good time and getting fast heavy blows on the magic bots instead of trying to win against them.

James was doing as he does, trying for time; however, when he was 30 seconds in, he's stamina started to fail him, and he couldn't keep up with the boys anymore. James eventually completely ran out of stamina and couldn't keep up anymore. 47 seconds in, James had to give up.

When James got out of the arena, he knew that he had the worst time, not even in the class, but no one ever got that bad of a mark in the history of Zell M&C Academy.

As James sat down where he was before, he heard audible laughs from his peers and those around him, due to he's total incompetence in the training.

By the end of the training, the teacher told everyone their scores, starting from lowest to highest, with James being the lowest with 47 seconds and the person above him having a time of 2 minutes and 43 seconds. The highest in the class had been Anya Aswwood with 10 minutes and 1 second, going to second place, which had been Fae Harlow with 9 minutes and 57 seconds, then third with 7 minutes and 21 seconds.

[AFTER P.E]

After P.E, everyone in the class went to the rest of their classes, which consisted of magic practice and general theory and such.

In every class after P.E, Fae Harlow started to taunt James Belfork any chance he got. Fae was light with the bullying to begin with, but as time went on, he got more and more violent as James generally kept ignoring Fae.

[FLASHBACK END]

Jamea has gotten used to he's daily life, he normally wakes up early morning to go on a run, then goes to class throughout the day where he's either ignored by or tormented by his classmates, where he then proceeds to end the day and do late-night training.

James goes through this schedule for a few years until someone he thought he'd be unlikely to see suddenly shows up at school during he's last year of middle school.

[A FEW YEARS LATER]

James is 13 years old and he's doing.. Badly, he has no friends and is pretty much ostracized by everyone, including the teachers at his school. No one is willing to talk to him, and he gets roughed up by Fae Harlow on a near-weekly basis, when Fae gets bored. James has accumilated hatred towards near everyone that had been, and is treating him poorly at school and outside of school, but he doesn't have the power to do anything about it, so he normally just doesn't interact with those he knows are bad towards him, and because of this he has become more stealthy, especially around those which high aptitude.

At the start of James Belfork's last year in middle school at Zells M&C Academy, he saw a familiar face, it wasn't someone he thought he'd see, but he saw them. It was Clover Winslow, he's supposed ‘Soulmate’ and the one he's bound 2, she was at the middle school and seemed to be a new student at the school, James thought that maybe he had got her mixed up with someone else, so he didn't go up to her or talk, he just minded he's business.

Later on, after the orientation James had attended during he's last year of middle school, Clover went up to him, and started a conversation after not seeing him for years.

James was walking back to he's dorm after leaving orientation and was in the halls of the school.

Clover Winslow: (Running) “JAMES!!!” Exsited.

James Belfork: (Looks back) “Hmm?” Supprised and cautious.

Clover Winslow: “It really, actually is you, James!” Smiling.

James Belfork: “Clover?” Cautious.

Clover Winslow: “Yess, it's me.” Happy.

James Belfork: “Ohh, how have you been all these years?” Neutral.

Clover Winslow: “I've been doing well, but what about you, have you been liking this school?” Concerned for James.

James Belfork: “Oh, it's okay, for the most part.” Fake smile.

Clover continued to talk to James for a little bit after seeing him for the first time in years. Their conversation lasted a few minutes before James went back to his room, as he made an excuse to leave first, so he would be rested for class the next day.

[THE NEXT DAY]

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

James woke up as he normally does, for the last couple of years, and got ready for his first day of his last year at Zells M&C Academy. He got out of bed, changed his clothes, and headed towards class (James is in class 3 - 3).

James walks to class while those around him make fun of him as they normally have for the past couple of years, but he pays no mind to it, or at least tries to put on a facade that makes him look as if he doesn't. Eventually, James gets to class, expecting to see the same old faces he had since he first came to Zells M&C Academy, but much to his surprise, he sees Clover.

Clover was in James' class as a transfer student who took Anya Aswood's place, as Anya had left the school just the previous year, due to personal reasons. However, James didn't expect Clover to be in his class, although he knew she had joined the school.

When James sat down in his assigned seat, Clover stood up from her seat so she could talk to him, just as they always had before they started going to school a few years ago.

Clover Winslow: (Walking to James). “James!!!” Waving her hand.

James Inner Monologue: “She’s coming up to me?”

James Belfork: (Alerted). “Clover?”

Clover got to James' desk and proceeded to sit on it.

Clover Winslow: “Are you feeling well? you said you had an upset stomach yesterday when we had been talking.” Concerned

(James had made an excuse saying “I’m not feeling too well, my stomach hurts,” the day before, so he could leave Clover and go to his room, so he’d have enough sleep and energy for the day to come).

James Belfork: (Nervous). “Ahh, yes, I’m feeling much better now, thanks for asking.” Gives off a fake smile.

Clover Winslow: “That's good to hear, as long as your doing well.” Smiles with her eyes closed while looking at James.

James Inner Monologue: “She's cute.”

James Belfork: (Poker Face). “Yeah.”

The classroom door opens, and the teacher walks in.

Unknown Teacher: (Aggressive). “Everyone, to your seats, I’m your new home room teacher.”

Everyone stops talking and walks back to their seats.

Unknown Teacher: (Standing straight). “With all of you seated, let me introduce myself. I’m Willow Winterbourne, the Seventh daughter of the Winterbourne family. I’ll be your new home room teacher starting from today, and will also be at the high school from next year onwards.”

A student in the middle of their class raises their hand.

Willow Winterbourne: (Looks at raised hand). “Yes, you the in the middle.” Slightly irritated sounding.

Student #18: “If I may ask, what happened to Zoe Cleaver?” Suspicious.

Willow Winterbourne: “Your former homeroom teacher left the school and took work elsewhere, so your unlikely to see her around anymore.”

James Inner Monologue: “I wonder what made her leave.” Grunty voice

All the students start speaking for a little while about the situation until Willow makes them stop.

Willow Winterbourne: (Bangs the table). “Quiet.”

The students stop their chattering.

Willow Winterbourne: (Glances around the room). “Is that all the questions you have as a class, or does someone want to ask anything else?”

All the students in the classroom remain quiet and wait for someone to ask questions or for their new teacher to continue explaining their agenda for the day.

(SECONDS PASS)

Willow Winterbourne: (Blinks). “It seems that thes no one who wants to ask anything, so I’ll continue with what I was going to say after introducing myself.”

Students start paying more attention to what Willow is about to say.

Willow Winterbourne: “As of this year, since it's your final year as Middle schoolers. The will be an event held by the school, called (‘The Grand Spellblade Showcase’). It will consist of a few rounds of head-on battle, between all 5 3rd-year classes, and a few other schools will be participating as well, With the winners of the event receiving honour and glory, along with getting their pick of high-class dorms, which are normally only accessible to teachers, and in addition to that, can go into the first floor of the forbidden library in the high school.”

The students get excited and cheer for the new challenge that will be thrown at them.

Student #15: (Arogent). “This will be a piece of cake.”

Student #13: (Arogent). “Yeahhh, it’ll be easy, we’re going to be the winner for sure.” Said loudly.

Those in the class continue chattering for a little bit before their teacher stops them from elaborating further.

Willow Winterbourne: “That's enough.” Echos.

Willow Winterbourne: (Grinnnig) “Since you all seem to be in high spirits, then I’m expecting the best of you, regarding the Event; however, for the rest, I have to say.”

Willow Winterbourne: “It's regarding your classes.” Semi-bored

Willow Winterbourne tells the class about their new schedules and where they’ll have to go, so they can meet their new teachers, and also that they’ll have special training starting next week, so that they’ll be ready for the event being held by the school at the end of the year.

After homeroom class, James Belfork heads to his next class, which is theory, but on his way, the he has an interaction with someone he truly hates in this second life of his.

Fae Harlow: (Angry) “JAMES BELFORK!”

James Inner Monologue: (Scared) “Isn’t that Fae? Why would he be calling me at a time like this? I didn’t do anything, did I?”

[TO BE CONTIUNED]