Nothing too zany to report. It's a miracle.

Last chapter's explanation of wild magic earned a lot of "like x" comments as usual. I'd say some are more accurate than others. The DnD Sorcerer angle isn't bad, nor is the concept of accidental magic from Harry Potter. I wanted to imply wild magic as being more like nature, however. Hence the `wild` aspect. It's alive and can writhe out of control.

This is where some of the similarity to Warhammer Fantasy came in that I mentioned ages ago in an author's note. In that lore wizards use the "Winds of Magic" which can blow more or less powerfully at certain times and in certain areas and always have an element of chaos to them. Draw too deeply or lose control and it can go out of control and lash out unpredictably. Sort of a similar thing here, except Wild Magic isn't concentrated Chaos energy and thus evil.

Chapter 12

"This is stupid…"

"Say the words, Ruby."

"But it's childish!"

"Say them."

Ruby growled under her breath and fixed her eyes on the page. She squinted, trying to piece the symbols together and using the picture painted on the page as a context clue. "The… The cat?" At Cinder's nod she continued, "The cat works – walks – the cat walks on the… the glass?"

"Would a cat walk on glass?" Cinder asked.

"Grass. The cat walks on the grass."

"Very good. You're doing well."

Doing well at reading books designed for children! She looked away, scowling at the nearby wall and bunching her hands on her knees. Ruby was sat upon Cinder's bed with the older Wildmage next to her, their legs touching and them both reading from a book Cinder held open in her lap. The book was brightly coloured with little paintings of animals, rainbows and a bright yellow sun with a smiling face etched into it.

"Why am I learning to read a book for babies?"

"Because you must learn to walk before you can run," Cinder said patiently. She always was that, rarely getting angry when Ruby asked a question or complained about not understanding why a word written a certain way read like it did. "I could read the Arcanum textbooks to you, but you would be given far too much information on a page. Not to mention how useless it would be to people like us."

"I still need to know it. What if the teacher asks me?"

"I'll read it to you before your lesson is due," she said. "Now, back to reading." Cinder turned the page, showing another happy image of a dog barking at the cat. "What does this say?"

"The dog barks at the cat?"

"Read it, Ruby. There's no point guessing from the pictures."

With a dramatic sigh she hunched her shoulders and leaned in, staring at the words in big black letters and piecing them together. Some of the words repeated a lot – things like `the`, `it`, `and` or `a`. Cinder said it was important she learned those quickly because they formed the basis of the language. Once she understood how those worked, it was all just a matter of learning the bigger words in between.

Fortunately, `cat` was something she knew by now – the `c` or `curly-cuh` as Cinder taught her, sounded just like the word cat did, so it helped her remember it.

Ruby pointed to the new word. "Dog?"

"That's right. That's a `d` which can also be pronounced `duh`. Duh for dog. And it has three letters, just like cat. Cat and dog." She pointed to another. "What about this word?"

Ruby stared hard. "It's not barked…"

"It's not." Cinder sounded pleased. "How could you tell?"

"It doesn't start with a `buh`. And the second letter isn't an `ah` like cat. Bark and cat would have the same second letter."

"Good. Very good. This is `woofed`."

"The dog woofed at the cat. What is a woof?"

"It's the sound a dog makes."

"It's totally not," Ruby said with a little laugh. "When have you ever heard a dog say woof?"

"I wouldn't know. I've only ever read about them."

Ruby cringed as the room was filled with silence. The book closed with a little clapping sound and Cinder placed it on the side, apparently done teaching her to read for the day. Or maybe even done with her after what she'd just said.

"I-I'm sorry…"

"It's hardly your fault. I'm not an idiot, Ruby. I simply never had a chance to meet any. I did have a horse, however. A beautiful bay mare called Mary." She chuckled. "An uninspired name, I know. I was young at the time my parents bought her for me."

They bought her a horse? Cinder's parents were rich then. Or had been. A working horse could be expensive enough and only the farmers outside the walls really owned them. Those and travelling merchants. You could get a dying donkey on the cheap, but horses were reserved for those further up the city than them. "What happened to it?" she asked.

"I don't know. I used to brush and ride her every day but when I was taken here I never had a chance to say goodbye to her." One of the hands in her lap curled, fingers pulling up her robes as she clenched her hand into a fist. "I expect they sold her. I can only hope she went to a loving home."

It wasn't unusual for people to eat horse. "I'm sure she did. How did you come to be here anyway?" she asked, changing the subject. "You never told me. Did you join the Collegium as well? Did your wild magic go out of control?"

"So curious!" Cinder laughed and petted her head like one might a small animal. She did that a lot. Ruby wasn't sure if it was supposed to be patronising or not, but she didn't think it was. Cinder was sharp and cruel to anyone else – even the others kept in the Sanctum – but strangely nice to her. Almost like Yang, except bitter and callous. "Has this really been on your mind so much? You could have asked me at any point in the last few days."

"I thought you might get angry."

"Not at you, Ruby. Remember that. You and I are the same. If I'm ever angry, please be assured it's aimed at the Arcanists and not you." She spat the word Arcanist, voice laced with so much barely concealed hatred. "And if something you say hurts, I'll do my best to let you know calmly. I…" Cinder's face flickered. "I don't want to scare you away."

Ruby touched her knee against Cinder's. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Because I'm useful-" Cinder began, then stopped and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath. "My apologies, Ruby. That was uncalled for. Where to begin? I was not captured in some grand battle, nor was I a villainous Wildmage out for blood and turning children into amphibians. I was, as you may have realised already, born to a wealthy noble family in the city."

"Which family?"

"Does it matter?"

"If it doesn't matter, you might as well tell me," Ruby pointed out.

Cinder sighed. "Fine. It was the Malneux. My full name was Cinder Malneux, now Cinder Fall – a name given to better represent my fall from grace."

Malneux. Malneux. The name was familiar. Wasn't there a student in their year with that name? She couldn't be sure and didn't really know anyone other than Weiss, Coco, Sun and Jaune. There were names of other people she could put to faces if they were in front of her, but she didn't go out her way to talk to anyone, and most of the nobles avoided her thanks to her gross habits.

"I was a fairly normal child as far as I can remember. I learned to read and write, did well in lessons and looked after my younger brother on occasion. I also enjoyed equine pursuits and was a proficient rider. My father was an Arcanist and my mother a member of the guard – a cavalier commander, in fact – who married into my father's family. I was all but set to follow in one of their footsteps, with the only defining factor being whether I showed any aptitude for the arcane arts."

"And you did."

"Hush, little Rose." Cinder poked her nose with a smile. "I'll never finish if you keep interrupting. But yes, I did show something soon after. I don't remember exactly how it happened, but I do know I was able to levitate several objects in my room – and with a surprising degree of control. Almost instinctual, one would say."

Something an Arcanist couldn't do. They had to focus and control their magic, weave it to their needs and consider every step. Making something float was just like what she and Weiss had done to the study aids in Arcanist Oobleck's class. And just like her, Cinder apparently mastered it instantly. Worse, she mastered it with normal toys and not special objects created to make it easier for students.

"I was excited," she said. "I adored my parents and always wanted to be closer to da- to my father." Her eyes closed and a bitter smile appeared. "I couldn't wait to tell him and rushed to do so immediately, showing off my magical ability in front of him and my mother."

"He was an Arcanist," Ruby whispered. "He knew what you were. Was he made to give you up?"

"Made…? No, little Rose. He was not made to do anything. He was surprised, I recall. Now, I can recognise the look in his eyes but at the time he assured me what I had was incredible. He urged me forward and hugged me, as did my mother. They told me they wanted to take me to the Collegium to introduce me to the Grand Arcanist. They wanted to enrol me in the Collegium. Wanted to take me to see it for the first time. I'd heard so many stories about it on my father's knee that I couldn't help but be excited. I rushed to get ready, not even stopping to brush my mare down." Cinder's breath hitched. "I remember her watching over the fence of our holdings. I remember stroking her nose and saying I'd be back soon. That… That was the last I ever saw of her."

"The rest is history," Cinder went on, voice having lost so much of itself that she jumbled the words, deflating beside her. "They brought me here. I didn't even notice anything wrong. They put me in this very room, told me to wait until the Grand Arcanist came to talk to me, then left." Her eyes closed and she sighed. "It took me three days to realise they weren't coming back. Three days sitting here with a smile on my face, asking the `nice people` when my parents would return for me."

"Cinder…"

"I… I'm sorry." Cinder rubbed her face. There were no tears, but her eyes were red. "I did not expect the telling to affect me so. The grief has faded over the years, replaced with anger. I hate them. I thought it would be easy to tell you." She laughed. "I suppose it was not. Your sister accepted you, did she not?"

Ruby nodded.

"Then you are most fortunate. Cherish her. Cherish her, and do not let yourself be taken as I was. Fight to stay free. Die if you must. It is preferable to a cursed life locked in here."

"Do you… want to die…?"

"No. I want to see them burn." Cinder's eyes blazed. "But that is not your concern. I wouldn't ask you to enact vengeance on my behalf. What would be the point? You would only be captured, and then I'd be responsible for you being here." She leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. "I'll do my best to help you stay free."

Because it was a way for her to get back at them, even if only in a small way. Everyone had a reason for doing what they did. A motive. Revenge was Cinder's, and while that fell in her favour here, Ruby couldn't help but feel bad about it.

"A real family would never do that," she said.

"No. I suppose it would not. But at my age, I could not tell what was real or not. Does that satisfy your curiosity?"

Ruby's head fell. "I'm sorry for asking."

"Don't be. You hold no responsibility for my being here." Cinder jostled her with an elbow. "Now come, how about we read a little more? You're doing so well, and it makes me proud of you, little Rose. I'm sure you'll be reading in no time at all."

She nodded and leaned back into Cinder as the book was drawn out and opened. The reason why she had such a book seemed a lot more obvious now, especially if she'd been looking after her little brother before she came here. He must have been learning to read.

And right now, Ruby was fulfilling that spot in Cinder's life.

Except I'll do better. I'll not betray her.

"The cat s-said… he said hell- hello? The cat said hello to the dog."

/-/

Something was up with Ruby.

It wasn't her for once, so Weiss wasn't too upset, but she did feel a little spark of something she realised was concern after a few minutes watching. It was a rather unusual reaction for she'd only ever before been concerned for the occasional animal she saw. The servants never required it and her family certainly hadn't.

Ruby had been curiously quiet since the day began. Since last evening, actually, after another return from the Sanctum. That alone would have been reason enough for most Initiates, but Ruby expressed she wasn't bothered by it before. What had changed? Was it Jaune? He'd been absent from training for the last three days now. Ruby told her he was well when she asked, and his roguish friend, Sun – who Weiss would quietly admit had quite the attractive physique, even if he was rough spoken – assured her the same. Jaune was busy with some special training and would be back soon enough.

Maybe Ruby missed him, though. If they were as together as it seemed, she might be pining for his presence. That was a matter Weiss couldn't really help her with, nor would she ever want to. Still, to see it manifesting as Ruby being quiet and studious was a little worrying. It was after one lesson when Ruby didn't get up and instantly leave that Weiss decided to step in. Ruby was gazing over the chatting students – for once paying attention to their classmates.

"Is something the matter?"

"Huh? What?" Ruby flinched and turned to her, eyes wide and incriminating. "No. I wasn't doing nothing!"

"Wasn't doing anything," she corrected, "And I'm hardly a teacher out to trap you. I was asking if something is the matter. You're… You're acting odd of late. Being quiet. Staring at the other students. You only ate enough for a single person this morning."

"I am a single person…"

"Not the point and you know it. Something is bothering you." At least, she thought so. Her experience in such matters was lacking at best and she couldn't quite shake the fear she'd misjudged. That Ruby would look at her strangely and laugh, leaving Weiss embarrassed. "At least, that's how it seems," she added to deflect any blame. "Feel free to tell me if I'm wrong."

Ruby sighed. "You're not wrong."

Ah! Wonderful!

Well, not wonderful that something was wrong, but that she'd identified it. Weiss tried not to preen too much, thinking how if was perhaps better she be a friend and help Ruby with the issue. Self-congratulation could come later.

"Well?" she asked imperiously. "Aren't you going to tell me what the problem is?"

Ruby looked at her for a moment and rolled her eyes, but she did speak after. "You know a lot of the important people around here, don't you?"

"I am familiar with many of the faces within the nobility."

"Do you know the Malneux family?"

"I know of them, yes." Weiss pointed to a wiry boy with black hair and golden eyes off in the corner, talking and laughing with three others. "That is Martyn Malneux."

Ruby scowled. "Is he important?"

"Self-important." Few were important from her perspective. "He's not bad as far as nobility goes but he's quite petty, or so I've been told. I've heard rumours he had a maid handed to his personal guards to `use for their pleasure` because she failed to clean his room properly."

"What!? How is that legal!?"

"It's not," Weiss said. "And I expect were it true, he would have been investigated and punished. Rumours tend to grow out of control. That said, I do know he's the type who has to feel in charge of a situation. He likes to be – or to think he is – the strongest, smartest and otherwise best at everything. He cannot abide coming second place."

"Does he have a sister?"

"A younger sister I think – less than ten at the moment."

"Not an older?"

"I don't – no, I seem to recall there was one. She died in a riding accident. Or so I heard. Martyn inherited in her place and became the heir, and I believe his parents had a second child to act as a spare." It was a familiar tactic and one she herself had been to Winter. It didn't always foster resentment, either. You just didn't know when illness or tragedy would take someone. "Why do you ask?"

Ruby looked away from the boy with a scowl. "Thought he reminded me of someone."

"Hm. I wouldn't be surprised if he did. His type is common among the noble families. I'm sure Menagerie had its fair share of arrogant heirs and heiresses." She couldn't imagine Ruby getting on with any of them. "Did you want me to introduce you? He and I are hardly friends, but I have influence. He will listen if I do."

"No. No, it's fine. But thanks for offering."

She couldn't help but think she hadn't solved the problem. Only fed it. "No problem…"

At least Ruby was okay with her.

/-/

"So," Jaune said. "I hear we've spent the last few days eloping."

"Hah?" Ruby looked up from the pastry she'd been nibbling on, crumbs falling from her mouth and down her initiate robes. Jaune was back and covered in sweat, tunic sticking to him after the morning's run. "Mnghl?" Ruby swallowed before Weiss could hear her. "What was that?"

"Us," he said, pointing to her and then himself. "According to the rumour mill, I've been missing because I've been sneaking out to meet you. And you told someone you did the same a few moons prior. That was awfully romantic of me. Or us."

What? Had he hit his head or- Oh, wait. Her excuse.

"Did Weiss tell you that?"

"I got it from Sun. Apparently, she felt the need to talk to him and ask him to make sure my intentions with you were honourable." His lopsided smile gave away his amusement. "Do you mind telling me what my intentions with you are? I seem to his misplaced them."

Oh sheesh. She could just imagine Weiss doing that as well. It was more a surprise she didn't corner Jaune himself and start the interrogation. It was sweet in a way. In a way that if she'd really been into Jaune, she might have appreciated it. Still less violent than what Yang would have done.

"I may have used you as an excuse. Um. Sorry? I can change it if you like…"

"I don't mind." Jaune flopped down with a boneless quality. He was shaking and red – but definitely not with embarrassment. He looked too worn out for that, literally dripping with sweat that ran down his golden hair. "It's not exactly bad for my reputation if you're okay with it, and I figure you have your reasons. I know a thing or two about wanting to keep a secret." He winked. "And you kept mine. Thanks for that. I'll do the same here."

She panicked for a second and then remembered what he meant. "Is your work in the Sanctum finished?"

"For now. I'm on a rotation, so I'll have to go back again in a few weeks. Don't worry, it's nothing bad. Just time consuming." He yawned. "And a little exhausting. More mental than physical, hence why I don't get out of morning runs. No one gets out of morning runs."

"Your adoring fans would be upset if you did."

He laughed. "I don't have adoring fans, Ruby. Other than you."

"I'm swooning."

"You don't look like you're swooning."

"I'm very good at hiding it." She winked and he laughed back. Just like that, the issue was over, and things were back to normal. If they'd ever been bad. Weiss could have taken a lesson or two. Just apologise, get it over and move on. "Is you working at the Sanctum really a bad thing, though?"

"It's about fifty-fifty. Some people are bothered by the idea I could be throwing them in. Some aren't. It's not worth taking the risk. You okay with that?"

"Sure. Long as I get to use you as an excuse."

"For turning guys down?"

It was her turn to roll her eyes. "Guys don't come onto me, Jaune. Most think I am a guy. You did as well!"

"That was before you started filling out. You don't look much like a man now."

"Are you calling me fat?"

"No. That's not what I'm saying at all."

"He's saying you look less emaciated," Sun said, strolling into the conversation with his tunic hung over his shoulder and his glistening pecs on full display. Weiss was beside him, prim, proper and certainly not a little red in the cheeks. "Which is a good thing. You were all skin and bone before. Now you're starting to fill out and show some womanly charms."

Womanly charms? Ruby looked down and was surprised to find that for the first time in forever, her vision was a little obstructed. "Huh." She bounced on her heels, and while they didn't mimic the movement, there was movement in the first place. That explained why her balance had been shot the last few days. "Wow. I have boobs."

Yang was going to freak.

"Oh my…" Weiss slapped a hand to her forehead. "Ruby, explore them in your own time, I beg you, and not in front of others – especially men! And Mr Wukong, commenting on a woman's assets is the height of impropriety!"

"Even when she brings them up first?"

"Especially when she brings them up first!"

"Then I apologise, my lady." Sun swooped down to rest a finger under Weiss' chin. He smiled roguishly at her. "It was never my intention to make such a fair and delicate flower upset. Though, if I may confess, you're all the more beautiful when you're angry. If such a thing is possible."

"A-Ack. D-Do…." Weiss' pale cheeks turned a dark red and she stammered her words. "D-Do you expect me to be affected by such words? I am a proud and noble lady. S-Such empty compliments mean nothing to one such as I."

"Who ever said they were empty? I meant every word."

"Ruby!" Weiss rounded on her, stiff and wide-eyed. "Now that we have ascertained the safety of your beau-" Sun dug an elbow into Jaune's side and Jaune rolled his eyes. "-I think it is time we made our way to lessons. T-There is quite the day ahead of us."

Ruby tried not to giggle. "But we still have half an hour."

"Now, Ruby!" Weiss' voice dropped, embarrassment dripping from her lips. "Please!"

"Alright. Alright."

/-/

The hardest thing about lessons wasn't pretending to be able to read. It was not showing off more capability than she was supposed to have. When the teacher asked them to work on creating a small flame in one hand, Ruby had to pointedly grimace and think clearly about not making any fire at all, all the while looking like she was.

Under the surface, her magic swirled and twisted. It didn't feel of anything in particular – or if it did, she couldn't decipher it – but if she had to put a word or an emotion to it, she'd go with eager. It was ready and waiting, already as hot as fire itself.

If she let it, she knew she could set the entire room ablaze.

"This is difficult!" Weiss hissed.

"Mmh." Ruby lied. "Harder than before. You're doing good."

Weiss had managed a few small sparks, which the Arcanist in charge assured them was the first step. Elemental magic was much like controlling said element itself, and it always worked on the same principles. Fire burned from fuel, and magical fire used magic as the fuel. It couldn't come from nowhere, however. It had to start with a spark. Ignition. Once they had that, the fire would burn of its own accord.

There was more to it than that. The Arcanist had made it clear how they were to focus their magic to their hands and buffer it, how they needed to cut it off from the wrist and keep the flow steady and sperate. Theory and technique, tips and tricks that Ruby tuned out of, knowing she'd never need them. It was more important to keep a handle on her own. There was a primal urge in her to just summon fire the second the teacher told them to.

"Hah!" A chair scraped back as a boy stood, holding a flickering but steady flame in his right hand. He was the first student to make one. "I've done it! Ha ha!"

"Very good," the Arcanist said. "Now, focus on feeding the fire and maintaining control. Still, well done to you, Mr Malneux."

It was him. Cinder's little brother. Ruby tried to not stare at him. He was innocent of whatever his parents did, literally a child himself at the time. She'd not wanted to judge him but Weiss' depiction of him didn't bode well.

"Our blood has always been strong in the arcane," he said. "My father was an Arcanist and his father before him. It only makes sense I be one of the first to achieve this. I'm sure my fellows will finish their own in but a moment's time."

It was a challenge phrased as a compliment and several of the nobles around him tensed and concentrated all the harder, sweat beading on brows and weak lights sparking in their hands. Weiss was among them, legs and body tense. That didn't help her concentration and she wasn't able to make even the smallest flicker of light, where before she could do so consistently.

Stay calm, Weiss. You're letting him distract you.

"No? Well, that is a shame. Do not worry, however, I am more than willing to aid our esteemed teacher by offering advice to those struggling." His smile was equal parts satisfied and genial. Easy to be friendly when you had that much of an ego. "Anyone? How about you, lady Schnee? I'm sure you are close to mastering this."

Her voice came out brittle and icy. "I will be fine."

"Oh, I do not doubt it. The sister of Winter Schnee and daughter of Lord Jacques, cousin to the King himself. Why, I do not doubt you are about to succeed at this very moment." All eyes turned to them, some more eager than others. In Weiss' failure they saw a chance to deflect attention from their own.

Weiss' eyes closed, resigned to the mockery.

Ruby's anger flared.

"Ahh!" Martyn staggered back as the fire in his hand burst out suddenly, engulfing his fingers and hand, and quickly spreading down his arm and setting his sleeve alight. He shrieked and waved it wildly, stumbling into another Initiate and knocking a chair over. Two more stood up and moved away, shouting out warnings.

"Aquis!" A sphere of water formed around his hand and arm down to his elbow, snuffing out the fire before it could spread. The teacher lowered their hand. "Mr Malneux, I warned you to ensure there was no flow of mana between your arm and hand. If you give it fuel, it will burn. It is a hungry element we do not control so much as guide. Let this be a lesson to you all about not stopping to gloat when concentration is key. You may sit down, Mr Malneux. Well done on summoning fire, even if you failed to adequately control it."

"But I did! I cut off the mana-"

"Sit down, Mr Malneux. Everyone else, continue."

The rest of the lesson continued in silence. Weiss was the next to manage a flame, taking another twenty minutes to do so – and Ruby let herself come third, matching her roommate and earning a proud smile for her efforts. Both maintained it for the next ten minutes, Weiss with heavy concentration and Ruby feigning even more.

By the time the lesson ended most, if not all, had managed something similar. It was apparently about the technique, and once a few people had it down the other figured it out. Malneux had gotten his under control as well, though that didn't stop a few people snickering at him as the lesson came to an end, laughing into their hands as he wrung out his wet sleeve and glared at anyone he could. Ruby didn't hide her mirth.

"Something you find funny, Rose? I suppose a barbaric animal from a backwater like yours would find the suffering of your betters to be of some amusement."

"You will take that back, Malneux!"

"Coming to the defence of your pet project, lady Schnee? That speaks well of you, being willing to stand in for someone less fortunate." He smiled politely to Weiss even as he insulted Ruby. "We can all learn something from your humility, but perhaps you should seek to better control your companion's outbursts. I've already heard disturbing rumours about her."

"False," Weiss said. "I assure you."

"Is that so? And here I'd heard she was stationed at the Sanctum currently – and for sneaking out to spread her legs for some guard."

Several nobles gasped. The suggestion that she'd sully herself and damage her marriage options was a heavy one – at least for a noble. To Ruby, it meant nothing, and she treat it as such, rolling her eyes and ignoring him.

Weiss was less forgiving. "How dare you! Retract that statement immediately!"

"How can I be expected to? I'm only recounting what I have been told. And we all heard Warden Adel speak of Rose attending the Sanctum. That is no falsehood. Do you expect she was punished and sent there for no indiscretion?" He spread his arms, addressing the audience. "I'm sure the good lords and ladies here can make their own mind on the matter."

They would, and she knew they were making it against her. Why wouldn't they? She was the outsider, the one who acted differently and wasn't part of court. Martyn Malneux was someone important. He had influence. Better for them to side with him.

"Why, you-" Weiss stopped as Ruby placed a hand on her arm.

"Oh? Going to speak for yourself, Rose? Rare. I normally only hear you stuffing your mouth."

"I'd like to say the same, but we can't hear anything other than your voice." Ruby channelled her sister with a huge grin and a confident toss of her hair. Yang, Miltia and Melanie weren't afraid to talk their minds and you couldn't get a word in edgeways without learning the same. "You like the sound of your own voice. Or maybe you're just desperate to be important. Jumping up like that when you managed to make some fire, then setting your own arm alight. I wouldn't be boasting if I were you."

"If you were me, you'd have some manners to speak of," Martyn spat. "And my family name would be dragged through the mud. Maybe it would have been best if your own parents got rid of you at birth."

Weiss gasped.

Ruby's hands clenched. Fire crackled between her fingers, unnoticed by anyone else but felt by her. She knew in an instant that if she wanted it, he would burn to a crisp. She took a deep breath and let it go, closing her eyes and thinking of Yang and her mom.

"Oh. Did that hit a little close to home? Perhaps they already did and that's why you're here."

"You would know all about that, wouldn't you?" she asked. Her voice was calm. Dangerously calm. "Getting rid of family members, I mean."

His eyes narrowed. "I don't know what you're getting at."

"Your older sister, Cinder Malneux. The one your family got rid of when she displeased them."

"Lies!" His face was red, and his eyes shot left and right in a panic. He knew. He fucking knew! And the only thing he cared about was how it would reflect on him. "My sister died in a riding accident. Her mount tripped and crushed her and died in the process."

Her horse was dead then. Blamed and framed.

The fondness with which Cinder spoke of it had her gut clenched into a knot.

"Liar."

"W-What!?"

"Liar!" Ruby shouted, striding forward, out of Weiss' reach and toward the boy who stepped back, suddenly nervous. "Your sister wasn't tossed by a horse. She wasn't even killed!"

Whispers burst out among the class. Nobles huddled together and others leaned forward, suddenly interested as Martyn Malneux gave ground, shaking his head silently and grasping for anything he could say.

"Your sister still lives."

"Lies!"

"Your sister is in the Collegium."

"Lies!" he yelled. "Rose, I demand you take back what you say, or I shall not be held responsible for my actions!"

"Everyone's responsible for their actions! You and your family included! Your sister was a Wildmage-" People gasped; Ruby's smile grew wicked. "Your sister was abandoned by her family and thrown into the Sanctum. Tossed aside because she wasn't good enough – because she might damage the family's reputation."

"N-No. That's not true-"

Such a scandal. They'd faked her death for a reason. Obviously, admitting they had a Wildmage in the family would be terrible for their reputation, especially if people thought it might spread in the family. Weiss' lessons were good for something. They'd made it clear just how important perception was to the nobles. Fighting them wasn't a matter of raising to the bait and trading insults. She had to go for the throat. And unluckily for him, she knew just what to use. Cinder would be interested in hearing about this, she was sure.

"Well guess what, Martyn. That could just as easily have been you. And maybe it will be you if you keep messing up like this. Who can say where you'll be in five years' time? Maybe your parents will decide they're done with you as well and you'll suffer an accident just like her."

"Challenge!" he shrieked, finger pointed at her, face pale and afraid. "I challenge you to an honour duel!"

Oh Ruby, you and your impetuousness. Or maybe it's just a strong sense of morals, ironic given how much you steal from people. Well, Ruby always struck me as someone to be very serious on what family should and shouldn't do.

The duel between school rivals angle is a common trope, I suspect. I can think of at least ten books, anime or games that have used it in a similar concept from Harry Potter to Zero no Tsukaima, Top Gun to Irregular at Magic School. I'm calling Top Gun a school since I think the boxing match happened while they were in training to become pilots. It's probably one of the most commonly used tropes ever, but that doesn't necessarily make it bad in my mind. It's a good way to establish culture, conflict and how combat works in a story. Most of those stories use it for that purpose – with it being in things like Harry Potter, our first real instance of seeing what "wizarding combat" looks like.

Anime tends to do the same, but also use it to hype up their harem protagonist, usually by having him (and nine times out of ten it seems to be a him) be all stoic and silent, then suddenly pull out mystical powers to "Omae wa mou shindeiru" their opponent. Then all the harem girls can squeal, gasp, tsundere or `become interested (read; obsessed) in his technique` - delete as appropriate.

I'll be avoiding that with Ruby, though hopefully you can see how that would be a problem anyway, since she VERY WELL could kill her opponent in an instant if she lost control.

Next Chapter: 15th October

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur