Sophie straightened her unwrinkled clothes, lifted her chin, and pushed open the classroom door—
**SPLASH!**
A massive water orb hit her square in the chest. "Gah!" The icy shock sent a shiver down her spine. Dripping wet, she glared at the room. "Who did that? Step forward!"
The class froze. They hadn't expected their new teacher to be this stunning—or this furious.
No one moved.
"What? Too scared to own up? Cowards!" Sophie taunted, scanning the room. *Someone's ego will crack.*
A smug, well-dressed boy leaned back in his seat. "That was *me*. So what? You picked the wrong time to walk in." His tone dripped with entitlement, as if *she* were the inconvenience.
*Rich kid. Typical.* Sophie's eyes narrowed. *You're going down.*
"Oh, my mistake!" She smiled sweetly. "I'll replace your water orb with a bigger one next time. What's your name?"
"Yax," he sneered, missing her sarcasm. *Why isn't she running away crying?*
"Class, review your notes. I'll be right back." Sophie stormed to her quarters, slammed the door (not her problem if it broke), and changed clothes. *Maybe I should transfer Charles to my class as backup... No, focus. First, revenge.*
---
Returning, she launched into her lesson with icy calm. "Understanding magic's origins is *vital*—"
The dismissal chime cut her off. Before she could react, Yax led the stampede out.
*No respect.* Sophie's smile turned wicked. *You'll regret that.*
During break, she emptied half a bottle of ultra-sticky glue onto Yax's seat.
Chaos erupted when class resumed. Yax shot up with a **RIIIP**—his pants fused to the chair. The room exploded in laughter.
Sophie feigned concern. "Yax! Did you *mean* to flash the class? Though I hear open-back pants are in style this season."
Purple with rage, Yax hobbled out, trailed by his snickering lackey.
---
The war escalated.
- **Day 3:** A snake slithered onto Sophie's desk. She grabbed its tail, spun it like a lasso, and tossed it out the window. Yax's glare at his accomplice could've melted steel.
- **Day 5:** Sophie's chair collapsed under her—except she'd swapped seats with Yax last minute. His yelp was music to her ears.
- **Day 7:** She arrived to find her desk floating midair. A casual wave dispelled the spell, dropping it neatly into place. "Cute. Next time, try *levitating* your grades."
---
**Midnight, Week 2**
Yax crept into the empty school with two guards. "Hollow out the podium—one meter deep. Make it *just* sturdy enough to collapse when she steps on it."
---
**Next Morning**
**CRACK!**
Sophie plunged into the trap. A sharp pain shot through her ankle as Yax's laughter rang out.
Her parting snarl stunned the staff rushing to help: "You're *dead*, brat!"
---
In Libor's clinic, Sophie brainstormed while he bandaged her foot. "Got any itch powder? Five minutes' effect is enough."
Libor paled. "You're not—"
"*Yax's* laundry is getting a *special treatment* tonight."
As he handed her a vial of Bool Flower pollen (harmless but maddening), Libor whispered a prayer for the boy.
Sophie's grin chilled the room.
**Game on.**
**Who will win this battle of wits?**