"No?"
Mr. Verim turns his head, nodding side to side with his eyes closed in mock disappointment.
"Then, "
He holds his hand in the air, with three fingers raised.
"- What about a 3V3?"
This suggestion is met with the highest applause and cheer, clearly Mr. Verim's expectation.
Most students have already formed teams among their friends. In the year previous, where not much combat experience was allowed, students worked in teams as per regulation with their beginner's licenses to hunt Faith's and Blights.
Those teams were loose interpretations of what was to come in Year-two of the Blessed course. It's a well-known fact that most hunters work in crews or guilds to hunt the larger and more dangerous Blights or Faiths. This year is when that is to come into focus and really let the individual learn what it is to become a proper team.
Melody gathers this now, realizing that as a sole combatant, she can only do so much by herself. She curses under her breath, realizing why this task will be hard to learn. No one would want to team up with her.
Already, across the wall of students, teams begin to cluster in threes, and Melody is left far to the side by herself, in contrast to the friendly and jovial Blessed Class.
"Excellent!"
Mr. Verim calls out to them, seeing their excitement and clamor to join up. He takes a look around, seeing several teams already forming. Off to the far side, he can see Melody standing confident by herself. Wanting to keep her situation quiet, he reaches into her thoughts.
"Not eager to fight alongside your classmates?"
His voice sinks into her thoughts, feeling a slight chilling effect from it now.
Melody looks at him, keeping her solid stance on the wall.
"It's not so much me not wanting to, it's them who'd probably rather not fight beside me."
Melody nods at him, then back front-facing.
"Hmm. It's not mandatory to participate, the non-combatant students are welcome to watch, and if you can't find others to join you, I'm also willing to pair you with others."
Mr. Verim pulls away from her thoughts and steps towards the gathered class. Before Melody can object, Mr. Verim quickly points his fingers at a duo. Following his slim fingers, paired off and pointing at two beautiful young ladies, Mr. Verim picks out Emily and Vera. Emily's eyes open wide in shock, seeing her teacher pick her from a crowd.
"Y-Yes, Mr. Verim?"
Emily answers shyly, taken aback at his silvery gaze. Emily's cheeks rosen, softening and heating with embarrassed glee. Vera beside her tugs at her sleeve, just as excited for her to be getting such attention.
"Kyaaaaa!"
Vera squeals to her left.
"You two."
He brings them closer with his voice alone, pulled by his gravity before him.
Standing closed in, Emily and Vera await what his voice has to say. Looking at him and cooly breathing slowly to temper themselves. Mr. Verim chuckles and lets his cheek rise in a small humble smile.
"I'd like to see you two…"
He slows, or at least, the air around him begins to go pink and fluttery in their combined heads, seeing this moment as slow as possible to drag it out as long as their perception will allow.
"- team up with Melody in this exercise."
His crushing words shatter their cherry-blossom world, throwing their expectations out. Mr. Verim smiles sweetly, softening the blow.
Emily and Vera quickly agree, but behind their smiling lips, their teeth grit and grind.
Melody across the space kicks her foot out quickly, hearing what Mr. Verim just announced to them. Hurried, she puts her foot back in line as the two of them turn to see her. They both shine in gross leers at her, pouring hateful intent, waving off of them in purple and gloomy vibes.
Mr. Verim wafts his hand in a gathering motion, circling Emily and Vera until Melody joins and he puts his arms down. Mr. Verim smiles at the three of them, tilting his head to get them to likewise smile. They all share a heart-eyed look at their handsome and pretty mentor.
Melody is the first to take herself out of the loving gaze, snapping back to attention, upright and proper. Emily notices her now as if picking up the scent of prey. Emily turns to Melody and in her most sickly sweet voice says,
"Melody! We're glad to have you!"
Vera snickers beside her, her hand firmly placed on her hip as she steps to view Melody too. The two girls keep looking at Melody until she nods, leaving all of them to look back at Mr. Verim.
"I think this could be good."
Mr. Verim smiles and leaves them, heading to pair some more students who look lost.
Melody tries to leave, but Emily tugs at her sleeve, pulling her back to face her.
"Did I say glad? I meant disgusted."
Emily sticks her tongue out at Melody.
SWHOO
Melody's fingers pinch at Emily's tiny tongue, almost pointed- or at least, if it wasn't before, it will be now at how hard Melody's pinch is. Melody pulls her closer and keeps her cold stare past Emily to Vera.
"If you two screw this up for me… I'm going to hurt you."
Melody speaks softly but thoroughly heatedly. She won't let something as silly as their jealousy of her or their dislike of Cursed stop her from growing into someone capable. Someone who could surpass the limitations set on her. Those small ideals will only pay to be stepping stones.
"W-wet go ob me! (Let go of me!)"
Emily screeches, trying to pry her face away but only causing herself more shrill pain. Vera tugs at her, trying to get away from Melody's threatening aura. Emily slaps Vera behind her, forcing her to let go and stop tugging at her. Emily then leans in closer, letting her tongue fall into her mouth with Melody's fingers.
"Yech!"
Melody lets go, whipping her hand back and forth, working hard to rid her of Emily's mouth germs.
"That's gross, Emi!"
"You're the one who-!"
Emily tries to argue, holding her tongue to irrationally feel if anything is wrong with it.
"Ohh, poor baby. Want me to kiss it?"
Melody leans in close again, showing more of what Emily doesn't have in her armor. Melody mocks a blowing kiss at her.
Continued in PART FORTY-SEVEN…