A rigid spine kept her upright, made her neck tense and her hips devoid of a sway. "You'll never get a guy with a walk like that," a former classmate, now her student, once told her. Quistis wondered if she could give her extra homework. Wondered if it was ok to show everyone how childish she was capable of being just this once. Spite masked as authority. No, that wouldn't do. She felt eyes on her as she made her way to class (Instructor Trepe reporting for duty) and tensed further. Tight lips, tight bun, tight walk. She almost couldn't hear the whispers over the sound of her pulse in her ears as she walked into the classroom.
And can you believe it... she fights with a whip.
Laughter. Smiles. Silence.
They didn't have to know she heard.
"Good morning, students."
The first day was always the hardest.