Disclaimer: I do not own CCS. Although I dream about it though.
"Oh look, there goes the Girl."
A breath of wind caressed Sakura cheeks, bringing yet another conversation to her ears.
"—would have thought that by now, she would have gotten rid of her lice and fleas and God knows what else. OooOhh, you can just see those fleas hopping about in her clothes and hair crawling with lice. Better not get near her least they crawl onto you. Such lowlife shouldn't be allowed into this prestigious academy like ours, and associate with the likes of us. Humph."
Sakura flushed deep with anger at the malicious giggle after the conversation. Her trot through the courtyard slowed down to a walk.
Both sides of the cobblestone walkway were full of towering trees that Sakura did not recognize. Their branches were dotted with bright orange buds that threatened to bloom. Passing breezes made the branches sway lightly, leaves rustling and depositing buds and leaves down onto the passing students as they made their way to the Academy gates.
Some of them were still half asleep while pairs, groups, strolled their way to the Academy. The metal gold and crimson gates to the Academy opened to admit the students. The gate had intricate designs. The metal were melted into thin strips and then twisted to form the signs for magic and the four mythical elements.
They were called mythical elements as these element: Fire, Water, Earth and Air had for centauries, not been born in anyone. As with the sequence, it was recorded that Fire was the easiest element to have and that Water was the nest easiest. Earth was next and Air was the last.
In fact, not many people with the power of Air survived past the age of ten as disasters, both man and natural ones, would always occur around the person. Also the power of Air, if not controlled properly, would burst out and kill the person and those surrounding him or her. Even if it was controlled properly, it was known that the power might burst out for no apparent reasons
Hence, the power of Air is infamously known for its unpredictability and dangerous.
The type of magic that people these days had were magic that could elevate items, make cold fire etcetera. It all depends on the amount of magic a person has. Some specialties are the healing of people or animals, cooking and others. The common name for magic was called the Gift.
Another conversation was brought to her notice by a breeze.
"What is the failure still doing in the Academy! After not showing any signs of magic and failing to do all those simple spells, it is a wonder that she is still here. She should be kicked out immediately. The Academy sure is getting very lax. My—"
Clenching her fists tightly she hugged her books tightly to her chest, trying to ignore the teasing, and cruel words that haunts her every waking hour.
Blast these highborn nobles! Whenever they are bored, they look for someone to spread rumors or play nasty jokes on. And who else do they look for? Me! And just because I am a commoner, and an orphan to boot. I should have known that life wasn't going to get better here.
Oh yes, I did know.
After getting hostile looks from everyone and getting nasty jokes played on me, I realized soon enough that I was not welcomed.
I just deluded myself from the truth.
I was a fool for even thinking that my life will get better if I came to this magic academy. Thinking that there was hope for my future, and my past could be forgotten for a moment.
I was wrong.
Here, I am tormented daily, bombarded by rumors and scathing insults and everywhere I turn, these rich kids are all out to spite me, spite my past, my loss, my status, and make me ashamed of what I am.
But who cares what they think?
They are just fluff headed highborn people who think that everyone serves them just because they have blue blood in them.
Sakura gritted her teeth and ploughed on to the rest of her classes.
I am going to show these people, that I am not as malleable as they think I am.
They are not going to break my spirit.
………………………………………
Two weeks ago…"Sakura! Where are you!" a high pitch, ear-piercing voice screamed. "Why aren't you doing the dishes? The Mage is coming soon! We will need all the dishes done by then!"
Sakura winced. For such a fat woman, you would have thought that her voice would be loud and booming.
But no, her voice was just the opposite. Lady Harashi's voice, the overseer, when used for screaming, is so piercing that it was known to have shattered glass. But even if that was just a rumor, her voice did make people's ears hurt, and one simply couldn't help but compare it to the screeching of ten-inch long nails on a blackboard.
As far as she was concerned, they certainly sound the same to her ears. Sakura gave a deep sigh and dragged her feet to the kitchen sink.
She hated washing dishes, firstly, it was a tiresome job, having to bend your back over and scrub.
Secondly, the detergent used, though absolutely useful and efficient in removing grease stains, was of such low quality, it practically scoured off the first layer of the skin on her hands.
Thirdly, if you were doing washing up, you would probably be the last to eat.
And lastly, the water ran down your arms to pool onto the floor making it wet, slippery and putting the washer, namely her, in more risk of slipping on the floor.
Oh well, if I don't do it, I'll have to go without supper. Might as well get it over and done with.
……………………………
"Welcome to our humble orphanage Elder Mage Syusuke, please come in." Lady Danoi greeted in that sly and nasal voice of hers. Sakura mock shuddered and hid her grimace as she bowed.
Every time a Mage came to the orphanage to check for gifted children, Lady Danoi would order a feast to be prepared for him.
And that meant that all the orphans would just get bread and water for all three meals. Table scraps if you groveled and begged the cook. All the orphans that the Mage identified would go to a special place in the orphanage and learn how to do simple everyday spells.
There is this magic academy but Lady Danoi doesn't send them there as it is too expensive and anyway, these children have hardly but a drop of power in them. Also, only the sons and daughters of nobles get to go to that school. Sakura had never heard of any commoner passing all the tests and enrolling into the school. She suspected that even if they did pass the tests, they would not have enough money to pay for the school fees.
It is said that the amount of school fees accumulated after 10 years, the average study years to become a Mage, was enough to built a mansion. How many commoners had that type of money? It would take several life times to earn that much.
When the children with the drop of power have reached a certain age, they will be hired as servants to the various friends and relatives of Lady Danoi and Lady Harashi.
She waited impatiently for the Mage to walk in so that she could go back to finish her chores.
'No, not this kid, not an ounce of magic in his blood.' the mage muttered to himself, as he passed by Tamaki, Lady Harashi's pet, standing right at the front of the line…as usual. She couldn't help but grin, as she sneaked a peak at Tamaki's crestfallen face, 'serves that tattle-tale right for telling on me, when I threatened Mary and blackmailed her into doing my chores.'
She was still, mentally chuckling to herself when a pair of large pair of sandaled feet stopped abruptly in front of her.
"Look up girl." His voice was strong and Sakura immediately got a wave of emotions that she couldn't place. She felt nauseous and giddy all of the sudden. She swayed at the slight breeze, knees threatening to fold any moment.
"Sakura! Do what he says!" hissed Lady Danoi when she did not immediately did what the Mage said. Her words immediately shook her out of her current state, jolting her to attention. And Sakura felt her heart sink to the pit of her stomach.
Now whatever the Mage did not find acceptable, she was going to get the blame. Just like always, life wasn't fair, life never was, why did fate deal others a better stack of cards than they dealt her?
Wasn't enough that she did not know her parents, abandoned with nothing more than a piece of cloth wrap around her. Because of that, everyone thought that she was the unwanted and unfortunate child of a whore.
Ever since she was young, strange things happened. A boy that had bullied her when she was five almost drowned. When spring came and the ice melted which causes the river to swell and flood the village, the orphanage would be the only one not affected.
Strange events still continued to happen.
But as Sakura got older, they became less frequent. And when she reached the age of 10, they stopped altogether.
As she reluctantly raised her head, she knew with dead certainty that the moment she locked eyes with the Mage, her life would change drastically. But in those ten seconds that he had looked at her, Sakura felt like he had used a fine-toothed comb and gone through every inch of her soul. A cloud of stuffiness seemed to cloak over her, making it had to breathe.
As she stared at the Mage, she saw from the corner of her eyes that beads of perspiration had formed on his forehead and were threatening to slide down to his chin. The moment he broke eye contact with her she felt lighter and had the becomings of a headache.
As it is, she was the only child he had made eye contact with.
……………………………
"Sakura, please come into my writing room." Lady Danoi's unpleasant voice sounded across the room. Was it just her or did Lady Danoi's voice sounded displeased? And how was it that in all her ten years in the orphanage that only now did she start to feel other people emotions?
She straightened her back and added life to her steps as she neared Lady Danoi's room.
"Sakura, Elder Mage Syusuke wants to sponsor you to the Magic Academy. Do you accept?"
Her voice was laced with displeasure and eyes promising that she would make her life as miserable as possible should Sakura accept the Mage's proposal.
Sakura's mind whirled with all the possibilities that she would have if she went to the Magic Academy. Finally, she would have three meals a day instead of two or one. No more chores. And no more Lady Danoi and Lady Harashi hiding at every corner waiting for her to make a mistake so they could have an excuse to punish her.
Only a fool would decline this amazing offer.
" Yes Lady Danoi, I would like to accept the Mage's kind offer." Sakura said, while trying not to smile, but failing miserably.
……………………………
Back at the Academy…As Sakura made her way to an empty seat at the back, twitters from the other students followed her every step. She ignored them and kept her expression impressive, a skill practiced to perfection.
The class had a homely feeling to it, quite the opposite to what Sakura had expected. The tables were made of teakwood, spelled to prevent vandalism and dirt. Tall rectangular windows allowed the sunlight to shine into the classroom. Cherry coloured draperies and tassels made of real gold strings were used. Magic was used to direct air currents into the classroom to keep it cool. The chairs were cushioned and covered with velvet. The floor was also carpeted as was the hallways.
However, before she could seat down, she noticed a raven-haired girl approaching. Curious, Sakura turned to face her and a pair of amethyst eyes immediately held her gaze.
What does this girl wants? Is she here to taunt me? But her eyes, they are so reassuring……wait she could be putting a spell on me. I must break eye contact from her…
Sakura willed herself to break eye contact and watched out of the corner of her eyes to see if there was any change in her expression. If this girl had put a spell on her and she had broke free of it then this girl would get a backlash…or this was what she had gatherfrom listening to the others secretly.
She relaxed a bit when the girl's expression did not change one bit and waited for the girl to reach her and say something nasty. She gave a start when the girl introduced herself, " Hello, you are the new girl right? I would like to introduce myself. I am Daijouji Tomoyo. How are you?"
Tomoyo extended her hand to shake and her expression had change to one of all pleasantness but Sakura could not be too sure. There was still a faint chance that the students had put away their differences and gang up to humiliate her.
Sakura frowned at her hand.
Is this girl for real?
She stared at her gave her a look over. Tomoyo had shadowed black hair and it wasn't as glossy as the rest of the nobles were. Her complexion was smooth and pale.
"It's okay if you do not want to shake. I mean, I would be suspicious too if someone I didn't know suddenly come up with all smiles when all the other students were nasty." Tomoyo smiled and sat herself down at the table besides hers and started putting away her books.
"Before you came, I was the butt of their jokes. Now I guess it's your turn huh." Sakura couldn't help but stare at this peculiar girl.
Is this girl really for real?
Hope started filling her heart, maybe now I can finally have a friend. But it died immediately when she saw a few highborn girls approaching them and they were wearing decidedly angry expressions. Tomoyo also noticed them the same moment Sakura did and said,
"Don't worry. You just seat down and be comfortable. I will deal with them. This teasing of you got to stop now." Was all that she said to her before she stood up and faced them.
"What is all this. Daijouji, why are you with her? The likes of us should not mix with the likes ofthem. Just because you are friends with them does not give you the right to do whatever you want. Now, what do you have to say for yourself?" demanded the leader of the group.
"Haha." Replied Tomoyo with a sarcastic laugh.
"Now isn't it ironic. The last time anyone talked to me you had said that I was on the same level as the commoners as it is suspected that I am of commoner blood and that you people must not mix with me. And now you are telling me that I am a noble. Aren't you contradicting yourself Lady Karin?" drawled Tomoyo who was definitely enjoying herself taking Lady Karin down a few pegs.
"And I bet that the disciplinary master would be oh so surprise to find out what goes on behind your doors." Lady Karin's reaction to this was indeed satisfying. She became very uncomfortable and had difficulty finding an answer to that and her supporters were slowly but surely backing away.
Emotions battled in her as astonishment, shock and last of all anger flitted across her face.
She gave a smoldering glare at Tomoyo and hissed, "I will not forget this. You will pay and you will pay dearly for it." She then turned away in a huff and marched of with her friends in tow.
"Now, she will not bother you for quite sometime." Said Tomoyo. Sakura couldn't help but ask, "Why did you do this?"
Tomoyo thought for a while before answering, "Well, I had long since wanted to get back at Karin and I wanted to help you as I know how hurtful their remarks and pranks can be."
There was a short pause before she said, "And I also wanted to be your friend."
……………………………
Ever since then, Tomoyo accompanied her everywhere and a couple of days later she said, "I would like you to meet a close friend of mine. Do you want to meet him? Please Sakura-chan! He is really nice and he helped me out before when I was in trouble."
"Well, if you say so." Said Sakura doubtfully as she followed Tomoyo through the winding corridors of the Academy. The corridors were decorated with paintings and exquisite tapestries. Rich colours like gold and crimson were mostly used with balls of magical flames that lit the path. Wide windows let in the bright sunlight.
The magical flames were cold to touch and they hung in mid air. Accomplished mages has magical flames that follow them, lighting the path for them. One could also buy magical flames but those do not last long and they cost a large sum.
"Hurry up Sakura-chan! Why are you so slow?" cried Tomoyo. She reached out and grabbed hold of Sakura's hand and began running. "Tomoyo! Not so fast! Why are you always in such a hurry? We still have and hour or so before the next class starts so there is no need to hurry."
Tomoyo shouted over her shoulder, "Oh no! It is not me who is always in a rush, it is you! I am rushing as Eriol's class starts in fifteen minutes. He has advanced lessons as he has great magical potential. I was thinking if he could help you out in your magic lessons too."
"Ah! Here we are!"
"Finally! I was thinking we would never ever stop!" Sakura placed her palms on her knees and panted. "Anyway, where are we? I have never been here before. And what are these markings on the door suppose to mean?" asked Sakura curiously.
"This is where the students with potential magical abilities are housed. The board of directors of the school decided that they could not be housed in the same place as us as they thought that we would be a bad influence on them. And what markings are you talking about? There are no such things on the door." replied Tomoyo who had cocked her head to one side.
"Huh! But they are right over—Hey! Where have they gone? They were there just a moment ago. "
Those markings, they were just there a moment ago but now they have disappeared.
"Are you alright Sakura-chan?" inquired Tomoyo. "I am—" "Good afternoon Tomoyo-chan! How are you? I haven't seen you in such a long time. What brings you to visit me today?"
The door opened and a handsome young man with black jet hair and cerulean coloured eyes greeted Sakura. "Eriol, this is Kinomoto Sakura and Sakura-chan, this is Hiiragizawa Eriol." Tomoyo introduced.
"Nice to meet you Kinomoto-san." " Nice to meet you too Hiiragizawa-kun." As they shook hands, Sakura felt calluses on Eriol's palm.
So he isn't a soft-handed noble as I suspected. That sure is interesting.Just then, the Academy bell chimed and Sakura remembered a retest that she had to take.
"I am so sorry. I have a retest to take. I have to go now. See you later." And with a wave at the pair standing in the doorway, Sakura disappeared. "Hey! You were only here for a minute only! Sakuraaaa." Wailed Tomoyo "Gomen nasai! Tomoyo-chan. I will make it up to you next time." "But—"
Tomoyo gaze a great sigh and mock droop her shoulders. "So what did you think about her Eriol?" "She intrigues me. She had the Gift but I can't seem to pin point it. It seems to disappear whenever I locate it. This is unusual."
"You don't think that she has the Power? Li's Fire is also like that isn't it?" asked Tomoyo. "It is the same but I can't be sure until I have solid proof." Replied Eriol with a slight frown on his face. "Do you want them to meet?" inquire Tomoyo, a sly look in her eyes.
"That will be arrange in good time." Replying with a secretive smile of his own.