Song choices for this chapter:
Exhale (Sabrina Carpenter)

Gray's Point of View

"Councilor, please. We've been at this for an hour. This is exhausting." I panted to my Inflicting Mentor, Councilor Bronte.

"No, you need  to perfect your Inflicting. As of now, it is moderate at best. It needs to be better." He sat down in his chair. "So go ahead, inflict on me."

I gathered all my rage.

Every time I got stuck peeling curdelroots.

Every time Fitz made fun of me and my family.

Every time I had to deal with the whispers of "Bad Match" and "Talentless" whenever I walk through the halls.

Let's just say Bronte was on the floor.

"Y-you're dismissed."

*****

"How'd telepathy go?" I asked Lie, as I sat down at our lunch table.

"It was alright. Um that new guy is coming over here." She fixed her hair.

"Lie, relax! Watch and learn!" I fold my hands on the table. "Hi! Thanks for hailing Gray Dizznee. How can I help you today?" I ask Keefe once he's close enough to hear.

"Well, Ms Dizznee, I'd like to sit at your table." He sat down and copied my hand actions.

"Why?"

"Because you two look lonely. And who could cheer you up more than Lord HunkyHair himself?" He smirked.

"Alright, you're hired. When can you start?" I ask.

"Today's good, Boss." He settles down.

"So why were you in detention, yesterday?" Lie asks him.

"A). That's a little creepy that you know that, considering you weren't there. B). I turned Lady Galvin's office into sliver." Keefe explained.

"I tell her everything. Well mostly. That's kinda sick!" I laugh when Lie mumbles "What do you mean 'mostly?!'"

"The real question is, why were you in detention?" He leans towards me.

"I shoved Revered right in front of you. You heard Lady Alexine tell me I had detention." I quirk an eyebrow.

Lie, I'm not so sure how I feel about this kid.

Girl....you gotta admit he's kinda cute though. (This is Lilac transmitting to Gray!)

"No!" And "Telepaths." Tumbled out of mine and Keefe's mouth at the same time.

This is going to be an eventful lunch....lucky me!

*****

"Hey! Gray! Wait up!" Sencen called as I left to go to my Mesmer class, which my mentor and I called "Ability Detecting".

"What?" I don't turn around, but I slow my pace.

"Where are you going?" He reached out his hand, but dropped it.

"Ability Detecting." I reply sharply.

"I thought you already have an ability." Keefe threw me a quizzical look.

"I do," I say, whilst doing a perfect imitation of him. "Polyglots rarely have only one ability."

"That's pretty freaky. My mom does that to my dad sometimes." He looked down at the mention of his family.

"My mom is a Froster," I say. "She has to keep the triplets in line some how. I remember this one time, she stopped Rex from taking Lex's stuffed jackolope by using her abilities."

The bell rang and I cursed under my breath.

"Sir Arden is so going to kill me." I mumbled and fled up the stairs.

*****

"Sorry I'm late Sir," I walked into the classroom. "I got caught up with something."

"Don't let it happen again, Miss Dizznee." Sir Arden rolled his eyes.

"Today, you'll be learning how to control. Watch." He narrowed his eyes and my arms flapped up and down like a bird.

I concentrated and his arm flew up.

"Dismissed! I look forward to see what you've practiced, next week."

*****
Midterms are going to be a nightmare this year.
Keefe walked into my Universe class.
"You are late, Mr. Sencen. Detention tomorrow." Our Mentor announced.
"Of course." He mumbled while I smirked.
******
Lady Cadence walked into our Polyglot session.
She's late
I smirked. She always put me in detention for that.
"Since you seem so happy, mimic the person you're thinking about." She scoffed.
"Fine!" I thought of the closet person. "I've got detention tomorrow." I mimicked Keefe perfectly.
"You're right you do, you're lucky I'm not the Mentor." She smirked at me.
I groaned.
*****
I trudged to the Leapmaster.
"Hey! Gray!" Keefe called. "You wanna come over later?"
"Sure?" I walk with him instead of alone.
He grabbed my sleeve and ran.
"Shores of Solace!" He shouted as we whisked away.

Thank you to MDjarin17  for this lovely board!!!

Published: 10/14/24

Edited: 3/21/26