Prologue 4

What is this? Normally at school, especially sports club or sports school the boys would've mocked me or teased me. And that was one month ago.

In the first week of school everybody would come and ask questions about me.

"What school are you from?"

"What sports do you like?"

"You have such long hair!"

"Wanna hang out?"

It was so overwhelming that many guys were asking me questions.

Finally I blew my top.

"Why are you not ignoring me or something?" I asked. I was more comfortable in a way if they didn't really talk to me.

The boys looked at eachother and giggled.

"We were just interested in you! Nothing else." one had said.

"Plus the rules say that we must treat all genders equally." one had quickly added.

"What rules?" I tried my best not to sound threatening.

"Uh….. someone got a pamphlet?"

The boys searched their pockets until one of the boys named Joe handed me the pamphlet.

"What about this?" I asked as I went through the rules of the school. I scanned through them. My eyes caught a sentence.

"Treat every gender equal. No exceptions."

-Rela-

I nearly dropped the pamphlet to the table. This quote was on most every ground rule book but not everybody kept their words. And Rela? So she was the author of this rule. That was interesting. And it was also unexpected that those…. Gentlemen followed the rules.

"Wow." i said

"Anyways we kept our words because…. Well, nobody is sure when Rela would come and haunt us."

"As if!" his friends joked nervously.

Wait did he just say come back? To this academy?

Hold up, was Rela the one who came to this academy? Seriously? That made me want to squeal. I managed to compose myself. I wanted to ask more questions about her but the bell rang and our next lesson was about to start.

Just like Callista said, we also did learn some history about Rela. Since i knew most of them because Callista told me about it , i was just looking at the pictures from the textbooks.

"Then for the next team, we will have Reyna, Joa, Charles and Andreas."

I looked up. What team?

"You will do a project about the most famous paintings," the teacher explained. "You can choose about any painting really. Just don't make it extremely complicated ok?"

We got into our groups and at first it was awkward because it was the first time being all together. I just didn't really want to talk. I just wanted to finish the work quickly.

"So what kind of paintings do you guys have in mind?" Andreas asked. Andreas was one of the top students of this grade.

"I don't know," I answered.

"There are way too many good ones..." Charles muttered.

"I have like five good paintings in mind." Joa said.

"Ha, we can't really summarize one right now can we? How about we just search about some paintings and come to get one painting we choose to present. Good?'' Andreas said.

"Yeah that's a good idea." Joa agreed.

Although the next lesson was three weeks later, I finally found a painting I wanted to do.

"So what are your thoughts?" I asked.

Over the past few weeks we have become much more comfortable and closer, not because of the team project but just as a class. So naturally the room was very noisy.

"I thought maybe 'Under The Moonlight' would be good." Chares said.

"I also vote for 'Under The Moonlight.'" I said.

"Well, what about 'Alluring Aurelia" Andreas chimed in.

"Yeah, I thought of it too!" Joa said.

"Wait, was there a painting of Rela?" I asked.

"Were you listening to class Reyna?" Charles chided.

"Uh…..But i was studying!" I protested.

"Anyways, you see there are only two paintings that survived. And there's one here and another in the national museum of Rela." Andreas explained.

"Does that mean that there is actually a painting in this academy?" I asked hopefully.

"Yes. although only you can see it." he said.

"How come?"

"Rela blessed only the female student's eyes to see the painting of her face. You can only be a female student to see the portrait." Charles said bitterly.

Suddenly I felt bad for the males. Even though we were supposed to be treated equally, the only thing different here was that they couldn't see the portrait. That was unfair. I sighed.

"I guess, it's not really fair if i just ask you to show it to me, when you guys cannot even see it. I feel bad. Why don't we strike a deal?'' I always loved deals. Hopefully they did too.

The bell went. Recess time. But we stayed put.

"Like?" Joa asked, rubbing his hands.

"I don't know a small battle or something.'' I said.

"Hey how about doing a duel in fencing or archery?" Charles suggested.

My eyes brightened. This was exactly what I was waiting for.

"Yes. that's a great idea!'' I cried. The atmosphere became tense, as if they had realized that of course I would win. I mean, we haven't officially made a practice duel for fencing, because we were all still training. But they probably saw me in training. How I easily did some moves and stuff.

"So,'' I flipped the piece of paper for the assignment ready to scribble some rules and the deal. "If i win you show me the painting, if i don't win then what do you benefit?"

"How about you will do your opponent's homework for 2 weeks." Joa suggested.

"All of his homework?" I asked.

"How about two or three subjects, since showing a painting isn't such a big deal." Joa added. I was quite impressed that he tried to make this deal fair.

"Ok. now who wants to?" I waved the contract paper.

"Are we going to duel now?" Andreas asked.

"I mean we have 50 minutes 'till break ends. Isn't it enough time to duel and then go to the painting?"

"Andreas, you up?"

"Yeah." he tossed me a wooden stick. When did he get these? From his backpack or from under the table or from one of his friends who were watching from behind?

I stood up quickly tying my hair, as the other people who were still in the room making space.

"Can i make some rules?" he asked.

"Yeah sure."

He tossed me a handkerchief. "Wrap that around your left arm. If this wooden stick touches it then the colour should change."

"Is this one of the new gadgets we got yesterday?" I wrapped the handkerchief on my arm.

He nodded.

"So, if either of us touches the handkerchief they win?"

"Yes. and the time would be 3 minutes."

"Thats fast." I scoffed.

He smiled as our audience watched as the referee.

"On your marks… GO!"

The first hit was pretty damn strong and I had to remind myself not to lose focus. I actually had to concentrate hard on this game! He kept on trying to go sideways, and I blocked them all easily as I was wondering why. Then I remembered that I had to hit his handkerchief, and not try to disable him. I smirked as I pushed him back, pressuring him. I found an opening and hit his harm-- a bit too hard but his face remained neutral showing no pain. He dropped his stick and quickly made a 'i give up, have mercy on me' sign. I smiled, actually pleased with myself. The audience murmured.

"The time?" Andreas asked.

"Two minutes fourty-three seconds. That was quick" Joa said.

"So," I tried not to look excited. "The painting. Guide me please."