The next day proceeded similarly, with Kaine settling into bed feeling at home, happy, and well fed, but an insistent uneasy feeling of being a stranger settling inside her. A week passed and nothing was much different than human high school.

She was leaving Sociology when Anmarie stopped Kimi and her, asking how they were adjusting. Kimi smiled and honestly said she was great, that being among the other fledglings was better than she could've ever hoped.

"And you, Kaine?" Anmarie smiled at her, then frowned seeing the conflicted look on her face. "You know what, I don't want to make you two late. Why don't you come by my office after classes today, I'm not giving any priestess training until later."

Kaine took a sobering breath and nodded. She didn't want to make Kimi worry about her. "Thanks. See you then."

As they walked, her roommate gave her a questioning look, but Kaine blew her off. She spent most of the rest of the day trying to put her feelings into coherent words to talk to Anmarie.

Then her last class came. The previous week in fencing, she had mostly sat on the side lines, watching some of the other students with more experience hash it out; she hadn't even picked up a foil. But, she was a bit stressed and more than up for hitting someone with a stick, and after she got a bit of instruction from Cleo and Tilla, she lined up for her turn at one of the mats.

The first bout, she won. And the second, and the third. She was barely breaking a sweat as she spent most of the period conquering. When she took a break, Cleo immediately asked how she was doing it.

Shrugging, Kaine downed half a water bottle. "I don't know, really. It's almost like the second I picked this thing up I was invincible, like I can read my opponents' thoughts."

Tilla nodded approvingly. "Well, that makes you a BAMF, I do believe. I feel like that with video games a lot."

Kaine rolled her eyes, but laughed, knowing her friend's ultimate gaming abilities. She was just about to make a smart comment when there was a tap on her shoulder.

It was a male, a tall, musclular male with a fifth former mark on his jacket. "I hear you think you're tough."

"I might be. Maybe I'm just damn lucky?" Kaine set the water bottle down, ignoring the glance her friends shared. "What's it to you princess?"

"I challenge you to a duel."

"Do you? I was thinking of calling it quits for today."

"Maybe everyone's just letting you win, since you're new. Don't you want to know?"

Kaine shrugged. "Not really. You looking for a fight? Feeling emasculated?"

He frowned, his brow furrowing with anger. "How about a wager then? If you lose, you're my bitch for the next month."

She frowned. "And if I win?"

"Then, you can say you beat me."

"That's hardly fair." He started to walk away. "But you're on."

As Kaine held the foil in her hand, she took a deep breath and assessed the older boy in front of her. She tried to be positive and not think about how Cleo and Tilla tried to talk her out of it. She also tried to not think about how they said he was a warrior in training, a star in the program. Andus was looking at her like she was crazy, which probably a correct diagnosis at this point.

Cracking her neck and pretending she was making up a strategy for herself, her opponent's thoughts entered her head. He was cocky, thinking of his impending victory and assuming that Kaine would either charge recklessly or freeze.

Kaine smirked under her mask and took a few careful steps toward him when the bout started. He looked taken aback but gave the first blow, anger filling the swing.

Everyone was amazed as she matched him, blow for blow. Her disadvantage was her lack of skill and strength, his was her knowing every move he was about to make. The whole class cheered when she beat him.

She could hear him about to make a move that she couldn't defend against, she swore in her head and begged for him to miss, to make a move she knew she could beat him after. Then he did, enacting the exact one she had in mind. He leaned in too close when she sidestepped his changed attack. She elbowed him in the jaw, sending him falling to ground, the foil flying out of his hand.

After she pressed the tip of the sword to his neck, she dropped it, turning and running to the locker room, hiding herself until everyone else had left. She wasn't entirely sure what had just happened.

Tilla and Cleo were waiting on either side of the door. Tilla grabbed her hand as she exited the building. "Oh no you don't."

Cleo glanced at her. "Andus is waiting for you in Anmarie's office."

Kaine took a deep breath and nodded. "I-I… fuck."

"Hey, do you want me to come with you?" Tilla smiled at her encouragingly.

"Walk with me at least." Both nodded. As they walked, the two questioned her, but Kaine just kept shaking her head, feeling a bit like she was walking to the gallows.

She sat across from Anmarie at the desk, looking down. Anmarie smiled at her. "Kaine, don't look so sullen. What you did today was a great feat."

Kaine shook her head. "I don't know how it happened. I just… I just hoped and…"

Andus glanced at her, frowning. "I know that young man, I know you did not win on luck. Many of the other students you battled today are also very skilled."

"I don't know what happened, okay?" She said defensively. "It was like when I picked up that foil, I just kn-…"

"We're not accussing you of anything child." Anmarie reached toward her with a warm smile. "Just tell us how you were feeling. Andus thinks, well… he thinks you may have a gift for the foil."

"I don't!" Kaine stood, swatting the hand. "I practically cheated! It's like I knew exactly what each of them were thinking, the moves they were planning! A-And…" Her voice broke, as she registered the shocked, frightened, and impressed faces looking back at her. She sat down slowly. "I'm sorry."

"No, don't apologize, Kaine." Anmarie frowned, glancing at a stone at the corner of her desk. "And what?"

"I made him change his last attack. I should've lost… but…" Kaine covered her face with her hands, groaning.

"Kaine, what you did, it sounds like you have a Goddess given gift." Andus walked over and touched her shoulder. She looked up at him. "It is my belief that you are meant to be a warrior. Go, Anmarie and I must convene with the Goddess and the Council."

She frowned but nodded, leaving without another word.