p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8e4449de31621e63f8e2a92fdfcd03c4"Someone starts to sing, soft and warm compared to Amara's which was higher and filled with bravado. The shark calms from its frenzy and swims away as if it were merely on a late night swim and casually passed us on the way./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5fc049fb944ba15f44e19b1218aadf53"A feeling of relief spreads through my entire being as I watched the shark disappear past the coral gardens./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ef1447953ad1610b8a99bdc7e88db46c"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"If I hadn't been saved in time.../em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="39d182413980e5140220dd158d7926a5"A shiver runs through me at the thought./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="aa92c745aacefe9a5ef9c4f2702192fe"Come to think of it, the voice seemed oddly familiar./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bdcd7282404715bf8278f57d556e2267""Lelazora Euphonia Caerulius..." I stiffened at the mention of my birth name. There's only been one person to call me by my full name and that was, "Mother?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="587c4bcc9f581c491ede2f3ecc07670c"I turn, taking a guess and sadly being right as my eyes laid upon her infuriated face. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="2710638654784e2a534b684f4d00a7da"She rushes over to me, her tail swatting erratically, as she did so. I brace myself for what was to come./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b5c5b40c23243a7065908306f37331d5""I–I'm sorry, Mothe–Ugh!" She unexpectedly pulls me into a tight embrace./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="de05b32b5fccb4e663d88762618a4584""How could you be so foolish?!" I am left dumbfounded by her reaction since I was expecting more of a lecture, a reprimand for my actions and how they almost got me killed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="802652af7baa645f6426d5bb5bede611""You aren't hurt, are you? No pain?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="672d2d158fca64371b537a4d1cd36235"Then again, I'd never been in a near death situation such as this before—where the situation is completely out of my control. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0f0b2f4f3be7f586055914df13a9c89e"As the corners of my eyes started to burn, I found myself clutching my mother, wanting to be conforted after the ideal, desperately so./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e08ae1f70ce4ce96165ea53ba4bcb9b4"I hug her tightly and she returns it tenfold. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6886ca06c02c29ccb1e9c928a3306488""What were you thinking?!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9e9a6f684717199e3ffc6e138279c69f"Meanwhile, Amara seemed to be going through quite the opposite with her mother./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3df6faf9ac06aa5e846ab442c996e7f2"Lazurin knights escorted the other sirens as Amara's mother, Peridiz, the headmistress of our school, scolded her in the way I expected my mother to./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5fa25ef6cc38a02cc22a08b4c18e46d1""I'm sorry, Mother." She apologizes to her mother, but that didn't help her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5dfb23d5ddf2bbaf83f9ab27c5b2e72f"Her mother would surely find a way to punish her and as she glances over to me, she gives a slight smile and nod; glad to see that I was unharmed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="45cf74210d4cab9ebcb85ed5579ef9c6"As her mother swims away to follow the knights, she mocks her as she follows, earning a soft giggle from me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ca33241f9d5802cac81c24d4b87e3fa2"After we head to the duchy, mother and Headmistress Delphinia made sure that the other sirens in our group were unharmed and returned safely to their families./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="dcd235eec07a05a0f7b78f3f99c3b169"Saying goodbye to the Delphina's, mother gives me another once over before finally, scolding me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d82df50a5b70eeca4545954f82ec5036""The gods must've been watching over you for me to arrive in time! Don't think I've let you go either. As punishment, you'll be given supplementary lessons by Headmaster Delphinia after your classes at the academy until the next month! And don't think of exploring some isolated death trap with your friends. You will come directly home!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d1aff4d845b94038c23181753d0b5b9c"There she was;the mother that would scold me the second I did something wrong. Though, it didn't annoy me as much as usual. This time, she had cause and I didn't blame her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="eb228f5dc57c2ea40d540b9ee4b9d7ae"Really, it was second nature to my mother./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4814654150744c1bda58392a93c37724"Maybe, I would one day do this once I had my own daughter./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0da7d9bc596ae0b5d31eae9bd4a460f8"I know this only happened because she cared for my well-being, so I hugged her; accepting all the terms of my punishment and ultimately, my fate—just as Amara did./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ccb63e2910aa73f85c8cd31cfb7dc317""But mother, I have sessions with the Queen. Does this mean I can't go?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="80ae785eca69afe4a1942aa0c2adac5b"I feel her stiffen at the mention of the Queen./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f61798165e501925f8b478aa80a4e745""No, I'll send a message to move your lessons after the Queen's."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fbe5bc70285f4018b9b97a3ce5bf9028""Thank you, mother." I bury my face in her abdomen. "Yes, yes. Well, run along to your quarters. It's time to rest."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" data-p-id="783631cddc1026601b9a719b9bc46fc5"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;". . . /span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3a204ebf11e866f4e07d6e9d90135a92"It's been two weeks since mother put me under punishment. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6bf21e593ae73ced119efe562fe1d119"Tutoring sessions with Amara's mother were familiar. She seemed docile, but her teaching style was a bit more heavy-handed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0c30fcfd2d244784007f63e2cd45d17a"She pushed her pupils to their limits, and it made every day a challenge./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0583844bed917130a4207a42dd12ec04"In a way, she reminded me of Vulko. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d9572c72c69ac41d302f18e3c1f9c0d1"I started my training under the guise of private lessons with the Queen. I wasn't ready to tell my mother yet./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="daa7480261e373bdb7e820cf04ad14bd"Mainly, it consisted of me being able to use my legs which was a problem for some time./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ca2fce20f57d8d0463bb24ecc0e98677"I couldn't tell mother, so I had to ask someone who knew how to shift—Amara./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="21ffa0b9da15033bf7a24b1d0beb8f7d"It was customary for members in her family to learn the siren techniques and skill before their coming of age./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="44088f8fecc1be477144b76e9cea17c8"It's the same for the Caerulius too, but after the shark incident, mother thought that it would be best to go at my own pace. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fe175bf01508244add70cb8b1b120cb5"Though, after hearing the same excuse, I took it upon myself to ask my best friend who I knew would be able to teach me and keep it discreet./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8815666b7e3376e60b4b3b70955196bb""I figured you'd come after getting tired of Mommy Duchess."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="78207ab49bfe625f73722c147b8fb67c"She smiled smugly at me as she laid back on the couch./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ef7dd432c44f98f11e705c2919702218""You weren't my first choice–"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="720775aea3b3145ee32a81895aae81e2""No, Lady Caerulius. I was your only choice." I scrunched up my face and rolled my eyes./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6556d34b8c11db543cf63ad4297e14b0""Are you going to help me or not?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9bf3afbd8405870f314b6d103128c1af"She ponders the question for a while before getting up from her couch./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b832fa82998375e6dc9c7bcce9cb919c""I span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"suppose/span I can help my best friend learn how to walk for the first time."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" data-p-id="a9de33121c2400b67d83293603c64a9f"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;". . . /span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fb98e7a5c0c5a28ec0f088b98284d1ed"I don't know why, but.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d5879779b812af5186379b64e388ab7e""Urgh!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="979de4e5705165120634529aad7be298"...I suddenly thought that gaining two legs would make me a master of the arts. Sadly, that wasn't the case as I had slammed onto the matted floors for the sixth time./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d4898bd547bb2c4fe13e0dc12f08d620"The other recruit offers a hand and I ignore it, getting myself to re-tighten my arm braces./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1fe3119eecb2d68dbcc01d365d4250f4"Vulko walks up to me. "You must learn to have patience, Leora. You won't get anywhere if you just expect to have the skills you lack."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bfb080a575a094a6892199f6861156f9""span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Thank you/span for stating the obvious, Vulko." I say as I re-tighten the straps of my braces./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8df2f59aa4707c5a877b90c3844a2214""You seem troubled."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="55d6fb298fc42df8108029cbcd2afc30"I breathe out a sigh and look at Vulko, calming myself./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9281f0f63618fc72b5560afe8c474aa8""I'm a little overworked at the moment. It's nothing I can't handle."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="897cbea25361ab613a313706b4cba01d""There's no need to be prideful. If you're having trouble with other commitments, we can always re–"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="edebdddc5e7e33f61785333841091680""span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"NO!/span" I yell out loud, gaining the attention of some other recruits./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e2a30103f0ee72f59f27392edcad675b""I can do this just...give me some time..." Vulko looks at me worriedly. I'm sure the sight of a stressed teen was a weird sight for him, however he also saw that I had ambition./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4ba0b79b2da1c55e5996baf33413143b""I trust you, Leora, but we're cutting down training until your work load gets sorted."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b6ae02713ed1e76b8dbad83cf6a79e4f"I roll my eyes and stare at him, mouth ajar, hand on my hip as I breathed tiredly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6164f21dd94bbfb32e169e3b2d307084""Fine,span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" Master/span."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="909679eb1335370e29ddf3595fc18f57"I say as I bow in a flourish. It was almost time to start classes with the Queen and I had no more time to start an argument with him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bfa422ef52d34d765950e0f6f88d7266"I gather my things and head straight for the gardens, ignoring the stares and ridicule from my spar mates./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="60fe077b9b6fe4ae530274999cca4010""Leora!" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f29ff55796479e1510189101a9a52e67"I ignore Vulko's call./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5fc049fb944ba15f44e19b1218aadf53"A feeling of relief spreads through my entire being as I watched the shark disappear past the coral gardens./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ef1447953ad1610b8a99bdc7e88db46c"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"If I hadn't been saved in time.../em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="39d182413980e5140220dd158d7926a5"A shiver runs through me at the thought./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="aa92c745aacefe9a5ef9c4f2702192fe"Come to think of it, the voice seemed oddly familiar./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bdcd7282404715bf8278f57d556e2267""Lelazora Euphonia Caerulius..." I stiffened at the mention of my birth name. There's only been one person to call me by my full name and that was, "Mother?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="587c4bcc9f581c491ede2f3ecc07670c"I turn, taking a guess and sadly being right as my eyes laid upon her infuriated face. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="2710638654784e2a534b684f4d00a7da"She rushes over to me, her tail swatting erratically, as she did so. I brace myself for what was to come./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b5c5b40c23243a7065908306f37331d5""I–I'm sorry, Mothe–Ugh!" She unexpectedly pulls me into a tight embrace./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="de05b32b5fccb4e663d88762618a4584""How could you be so foolish?!" I am left dumbfounded by her reaction since I was expecting more of a lecture, a reprimand for my actions and how they almost got me killed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="802652af7baa645f6426d5bb5bede611""You aren't hurt, are you? No pain?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="672d2d158fca64371b537a4d1cd36235"Then again, I'd never been in a near death situation such as this before—where the situation is completely out of my control. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0f0b2f4f3be7f586055914df13a9c89e"As the corners of my eyes started to burn, I found myself clutching my mother, wanting to be conforted after the ideal, desperately so./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e08ae1f70ce4ce96165ea53ba4bcb9b4"I hug her tightly and she returns it tenfold. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6886ca06c02c29ccb1e9c928a3306488""What were you thinking?!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9e9a6f684717199e3ffc6e138279c69f"Meanwhile, Amara seemed to be going through quite the opposite with her mother./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3df6faf9ac06aa5e846ab442c996e7f2"Lazurin knights escorted the other sirens as Amara's mother, Peridiz, the headmistress of our school, scolded her in the way I expected my mother to./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5fa25ef6cc38a02cc22a08b4c18e46d1""I'm sorry, Mother." She apologizes to her mother, but that didn't help her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5dfb23d5ddf2bbaf83f9ab27c5b2e72f"Her mother would surely find a way to punish her and as she glances over to me, she gives a slight smile and nod; glad to see that I was unharmed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="45cf74210d4cab9ebcb85ed5579ef9c6"As her mother swims away to follow the knights, she mocks her as she follows, earning a soft giggle from me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ca33241f9d5802cac81c24d4b87e3fa2"After we head to the duchy, mother and Headmistress Delphinia made sure that the other sirens in our group were unharmed and returned safely to their families./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="dcd235eec07a05a0f7b78f3f99c3b169"Saying goodbye to the Delphina's, mother gives me another once over before finally, scolding me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d82df50a5b70eeca4545954f82ec5036""The gods must've been watching over you for me to arrive in time! Don't think I've let you go either. As punishment, you'll be given supplementary lessons by Headmaster Delphinia after your classes at the academy until the next month! And don't think of exploring some isolated death trap with your friends. You will come directly home!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d1aff4d845b94038c23181753d0b5b9c"There she was;the mother that would scold me the second I did something wrong. Though, it didn't annoy me as much as usual. This time, she had cause and I didn't blame her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="eb228f5dc57c2ea40d540b9ee4b9d7ae"Really, it was second nature to my mother./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4814654150744c1bda58392a93c37724"Maybe, I would one day do this once I had my own daughter./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0da7d9bc596ae0b5d31eae9bd4a460f8"I know this only happened because she cared for my well-being, so I hugged her; accepting all the terms of my punishment and ultimately, my fate—just as Amara did./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ccb63e2910aa73f85c8cd31cfb7dc317""But mother, I have sessions with the Queen. Does this mean I can't go?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="80ae785eca69afe4a1942aa0c2adac5b"I feel her stiffen at the mention of the Queen./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f61798165e501925f8b478aa80a4e745""No, I'll send a message to move your lessons after the Queen's."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fbe5bc70285f4018b9b97a3ce5bf9028""Thank you, mother." I bury my face in her abdomen. "Yes, yes. Well, run along to your quarters. It's time to rest."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" data-p-id="783631cddc1026601b9a719b9bc46fc5"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;". . . /span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3a204ebf11e866f4e07d6e9d90135a92"It's been two weeks since mother put me under punishment. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6bf21e593ae73ced119efe562fe1d119"Tutoring sessions with Amara's mother were familiar. She seemed docile, but her teaching style was a bit more heavy-handed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0c30fcfd2d244784007f63e2cd45d17a"She pushed her pupils to their limits, and it made every day a challenge./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0583844bed917130a4207a42dd12ec04"In a way, she reminded me of Vulko. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d9572c72c69ac41d302f18e3c1f9c0d1"I started my training under the guise of private lessons with the Queen. I wasn't ready to tell my mother yet./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="daa7480261e373bdb7e820cf04ad14bd"Mainly, it consisted of me being able to use my legs which was a problem for some time./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ca2fce20f57d8d0463bb24ecc0e98677"I couldn't tell mother, so I had to ask someone who knew how to shift—Amara./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="21ffa0b9da15033bf7a24b1d0beb8f7d"It was customary for members in her family to learn the siren techniques and skill before their coming of age./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="44088f8fecc1be477144b76e9cea17c8"It's the same for the Caerulius too, but after the shark incident, mother thought that it would be best to go at my own pace. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fe175bf01508244add70cb8b1b120cb5"Though, after hearing the same excuse, I took it upon myself to ask my best friend who I knew would be able to teach me and keep it discreet./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8815666b7e3376e60b4b3b70955196bb""I figured you'd come after getting tired of Mommy Duchess."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="78207ab49bfe625f73722c147b8fb67c"She smiled smugly at me as she laid back on the couch./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ef7dd432c44f98f11e705c2919702218""You weren't my first choice–"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="720775aea3b3145ee32a81895aae81e2""No, Lady Caerulius. I was your only choice." I scrunched up my face and rolled my eyes./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6556d34b8c11db543cf63ad4297e14b0""Are you going to help me or not?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9bf3afbd8405870f314b6d103128c1af"She ponders the question for a while before getting up from her couch./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b832fa82998375e6dc9c7bcce9cb919c""I span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"suppose/span I can help my best friend learn how to walk for the first time."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" data-p-id="a9de33121c2400b67d83293603c64a9f"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;". . . /span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fb98e7a5c0c5a28ec0f088b98284d1ed"I don't know why, but.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d5879779b812af5186379b64e388ab7e""Urgh!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="979de4e5705165120634529aad7be298"...I suddenly thought that gaining two legs would make me a master of the arts. Sadly, that wasn't the case as I had slammed onto the matted floors for the sixth time./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d4898bd547bb2c4fe13e0dc12f08d620"The other recruit offers a hand and I ignore it, getting myself to re-tighten my arm braces./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1fe3119eecb2d68dbcc01d365d4250f4"Vulko walks up to me. "You must learn to have patience, Leora. You won't get anywhere if you just expect to have the skills you lack."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bfb080a575a094a6892199f6861156f9""span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Thank you/span for stating the obvious, Vulko." I say as I re-tighten the straps of my braces./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8df2f59aa4707c5a877b90c3844a2214""You seem troubled."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="55d6fb298fc42df8108029cbcd2afc30"I breathe out a sigh and look at Vulko, calming myself./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9281f0f63618fc72b5560afe8c474aa8""I'm a little overworked at the moment. It's nothing I can't handle."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="897cbea25361ab613a313706b4cba01d""There's no need to be prideful. If you're having trouble with other commitments, we can always re–"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="edebdddc5e7e33f61785333841091680""span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"NO!/span" I yell out loud, gaining the attention of some other recruits./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e2a30103f0ee72f59f27392edcad675b""I can do this just...give me some time..." Vulko looks at me worriedly. I'm sure the sight of a stressed teen was a weird sight for him, however he also saw that I had ambition./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4ba0b79b2da1c55e5996baf33413143b""I trust you, Leora, but we're cutting down training until your work load gets sorted."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b6ae02713ed1e76b8dbad83cf6a79e4f"I roll my eyes and stare at him, mouth ajar, hand on my hip as I breathed tiredly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6164f21dd94bbfb32e169e3b2d307084""Fine,span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" Master/span."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="909679eb1335370e29ddf3595fc18f57"I say as I bow in a flourish. It was almost time to start classes with the Queen and I had no more time to start an argument with him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bfa422ef52d34d765950e0f6f88d7266"I gather my things and head straight for the gardens, ignoring the stares and ridicule from my spar mates./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="60fe077b9b6fe4ae530274999cca4010""Leora!" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f29ff55796479e1510189101a9a52e67"I ignore Vulko's call./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" /p