So I'm wondering.

“Um, Beatrix, this is Cavanaught,” Meadow attempted to ease the tension.

In that moment, Cavanaught and Beatrix seemed to be locked in a silent contest, each assessing the other’s power. The tension escalated to an almost suffocating degree, causing Aiden, Korr, and Meadow to shift uncomfortably.

“This man, he’s a completely different level from any other good-looking man. This man is dangerous,” Beatrix thought to herself.

“More people fear me, huh? Let’s go,” Cavanaught remarked coolly, sensing the effect he had on the others.

The comment struck a nerve within Beatrix, and her protective instincts surged. She gripped Meadow's wrist firmly and pulled her away. “That man is dangerous! You shouldn’t trust him!” she insisted, urgency lacing her tone.

“But I’ve been friends with him for two years!” Meadow protested, sharing a look of confusion.

“If he does something wrong, he will blame you!” Beatrix felt a deep need to protect her new friend from this potential threat.

Meadow stared at Beatrix, trying to process her fierce protectiveness. “If he does something wrong, he will never blame anyone. He’ll be honest; people are always by his side.”

Beatrix was relentless, pretending she hadn’t heard. She swiftly led Meadow into the school, staying vigilant as they went about their day.

In their swordsmanship class, the teacher Aaron decided to showcase Beatrix's skills by calling her to spar against Cavanaught. Whispers filled the air about Cavanaught's invincibility, heightening Beatrix's determination to prove herself.

As they started their spar, Beatrix's combination of strength and speed served her well, and for a moment, she dazzled her classmates. Cavanaught appeared calm but calculated, his movements sharp and precise. The room was thick with excitement as they fought.

Yet, for all their prowess, Cavanaught made a critical mistake, and Beatrix seized the opportunity, claiming victory with a triumphant flourish.

“If you come near Meadow, don’t think you will end well,” Beatrix warned as she stepped away from Cavanaught, who merely kept his cold expression.

In the aftermath, Beatrix was bombarded with admiration, a flurry of questions from fellow students who now idolized her. However, as she scanned the crowd, her gaze found Meadow once again approaching Cavanaught.

“Don’t!” Beatrix yelled, grabbing Meadow’s wrist to stop her. “I told you not to come near him.”

“Why are you so worked up?” Meadow questioned, exasperated.

The lunch hour brought together Beatrix, Meadow, and her new female admirers. Beatrix tried to focus on her companions, but her heart remained heavy with the thought of protecting Meadow.

“Beatrix... I don’t like fighting...” Meadow revealed softly.

“I’m sorry, but this is for our good,” Beatrix countered, sadness punctuating her tone as she looked at the gloomy expression on Meadow's face.

“Okay, Meadow. Tell me what you want, and I will give you anything, just stay away from Cavanaught,” Beatrix proposed.

“I just don’t want you both fighting,” Meadow replied.

Before Beatrix could respond, Cavanaught approached with a steely demeanor alongside Aiden and Korr. “So, you have some nerve disrespecting me. Because you say if I come near Meadow, I’ll not end well. Let me remind you that those who disrespect me never have a good ending.”

Tension crackled between them, and even the air grew heavy with the weight of their unspoken words.

“We’ll see about that,” Beatrix challenged.

“Guys, please,” Meadow pleaded gracefully, trying to ease tensions.

As they moved toward class, Beatrix weighted down by a mix of frustration and responsibility, whispered to Meadow, “What is he to you?”

“He is my friend,” Meadow replied, her eyes filled with earnest warmth.

Beatrix turned her head, purposefully ignoring the response that she found hard to accept.

After school ended, Beatrix loomed with unease watching Meadow prepare to leave. “Where are you going?” she inquired.

“I forgot something at school,” Meadow said, avoiding eye contact.

“I will follow you,” Beatrix declared sternly.

“It won’t be too long; I can go alone,” Meadow insisted.

Beatrix locked her gaze on Meadow, and with a begrudging nod, allowed her to leave—only to follow her surreptitiously from behind.

As they drew close to Cavanaught, Beatrix's protective nature surged, and she grabbed Meadow's wrist once more, dragging her away from the confrontation. “How dare you lie to me?” Beatrix whispered.

“I’m sorry, Beatrix; I just want to apologize to Cavanaught,” Meadow stammered helplessly.

“There is no need,” Beatrix retorted, pressing her against her bed, frustration sparking between them.

A long moment of silence stretched, before Beatrix, driven by emotions, leaned forward and pressed her lips against Meadow’s in a forceful kiss that lasted a minute, leaving Meadow breathless.

“If you don’t want me to escalate things, stay here, please,” Beatrix warned, momentarily overwhelming her senses.

Hesitant, Meadow nodded, feeling the weight of Beatrix's desires paired with her own confusion.

The remaining hours of the day passed, with the essence of the kiss hanging heavily in the air between them. As they settled into bed, Meadow couldn’t shake the moment, the first kiss forever etched into her memory.

The dawn of the next day unfolded, and as they walked to school, Meadow finally broke the silence, her cheeks turning the color of autumn leaves. “You know about yesterday... it was my first kiss,” she said softly, almost shyly.

“I’m sorry that I stole it,” Beatrix muttered quietly. “But it was also my first.”

Meadow blushed deeper. “You better take responsibility since it was my first kiss...”

“What?” Beatrix replied, unable to mask her surprise.

“N-nothing,” Meadow stammered.

Awkward silence enveloped them as they maneuvered through the hallways, their friends and admirers buzzing with curiosity but unaware of the new dynamic blooming between the two girls.

As they sat during lunch, Beatrix’s female followers noticed the tension wrapping around Beatrix and Meadow, eager to lighten the mood.

“What happened between you two? Come on, cheer up a bit,” Juliet suggested, her smile infectious.

“We’re good, thank you,” Beatrix replied, attempting to sound nonchalant.

As the day progressed, Beatrix realized it was essential to address the gravity of her feelings toward Meadow before the window closed. “You guys stay at our usual lunch table; I have something to say to Meadow,” Beatrix instructed her friends, leading Meadow to a quiet area away from prying eyes.

“Where are we going?” Meadow asked.

“Just follow me,” Beatrix stated gently, inhaling deeply, gearing up to share what was weighing heavily on her heart.

However, as Beatrix prepared to confess, a glimpse of Cavanaught peeking from around a corner caught her eye. “Wait, I saw someone,” Beatrix said abruptly, then shouted, “Cavanaught! Don’t think I didn’t see you!”

But Cavanaught vanished, leaving Beatrix in a whirl of frustration. She paused, weighing whether now was the right moment. “Let’s just head back,” she decided, her heart pounding.

At the conclusion of the school day, Beatrix couldn’t shake the feeling that Cavanaught was lurking nearby. “Can you wait for me at the dorm? I’ve got something to do,” she instructed Meadow.

“Okay...” Meadow responded reluctantly, confused as Beatrix walked away.

Once alone, Beatrix deliberately headed toward a secluded area, aware that Cavanaught was sure to appear. Soon enough, Cavanaught confronted her, dagger in hand, eyes full of malice.

“STOP THERE!” he shouted.

Beatrix turned, ready to face him head-on. “Are we really going to do this?” she coldly asked.

“I told you. Disrespect me, and you won’t see the sun tomorrow,” he threatened.

“Fine, let’s settle this with hand-to-hand combat,” Beatrix retorted, throwing her dagger aside, confident yet internally anxious.

Cavanaught followed suit, discarding his weapon. “If I win, you’re out of Selta Academy,” he challenged.

“And if I win, you stay away from me and Meadow,” Beatrix countered.

They took their stances, focused and ready. Cavanaught, tall and fierce, charged forward, while Beatrix, agile and fierce in her own right, matched his ferocity with skill. The battle raged with fervor, each carefully observing the other’s movements, a ballet of strength and strategy unraveling before the gathered audience.

The air crackled with energy, and Beatrix found herself trapped in a chokehold. But with her unique skill, Execute, unlocked, she felt a surge of energy and power course through her. In a burst of strength, she escaped Cavanaught’s grip and took him down before locking his head.

Defeated, Cavanaught surrendered, and Beatrix helped him up, a gesture of unexpected camaraderie. Confused by the turn of events, Cavanaught chuckled. “Why did you help me?”

“You didn’t grab a weapon—this proves you’re not the enemy I thought,” Beatrix replied, trying to establish a mutual understanding. “Let’s be friends.”

But Cavanaught only laughed dismissively, spitting blood onto the ground. “Friends? Don’t make me laugh.” With that, he walked away, leaving Beatrix frustrated.

Returning to her dorm room, Beatrix found Meadow waiting, concern etched on her face. “Where did you go?”

“Just dealing with some of my business,” Beatrix replied curtly, her thoughts swirling with frustration.

The next day, when Beatrix led Meadow to the male dorm, confusion reigned. Aiden, Korr, and Cavanaught were once again present.

“Good morning,” Beatrix greeted, yet Cavanaught's cold demeanor held sway over the group.

“What happened here?” Aiden asked.

“What just happened?” Korr echoed, his brow furrowed.

“I honestly don’t know either,” Meadow admitted, her brow knit in concern.

Beatrix turned to Cavanaught, intent on establishing a new understanding. “We’re not fighting anymore; now we’re friends, right Cavanaught?”

With an amused yet arrogant smile, Cavanaught responded, “So, we’re friends? Don’t make me laugh.”

“Let’s go,” Beatrix pressed, leading the group to school.

As they walked, Meadow turned to Beatrix. “What happened between you and Cavanaught?”

“Isn’t it better if your friends aren’t fighting?” Beatrix asked, holding a firm resolve.

“Yeah, but I’m still confused,” Meadow admitted, glancing between the trio of boys and Beatrix.

While their paths intertwined with Cavanaught, Aiden, and Korr, Meadow felt the intensity of their relationships forming. Beatrix, fiercely committed to keeping her and Meadow safe, was prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead at Selta Academy, her heart throbbing with new emotions. As they walked toward the shining gates of the school, both girls sensed that an important chapter was unfolding—one that would test their bonds and reveal the true depths of their hearts.

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