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Sharp pain runs through my back. I gasp, cry out. The pain sears, shooting up and down.

How can this kind of fighting even be sanctioned by the academy?

I bite my tongue and press on toward my weapon. Agony envelops my body, tearing through both arms and my back.

My parents are going to hear about this when this is over. How dare the academy allow this when I have no training? No preparation whatsoever?

Something slams into my back.

“You think you stand a chance against me?” Earwig yanks on my hair. “Think again!”

“You’re the one who needs to think again!” I spin around and shove her.

“Can’t attack without a weapon.” She pins my arms behind my back, digging them against my wound. “Mr. Brant, doesn’t that mean I win? She hit me with her hands!”

“Penalty against Marra!”

“Just a penalty?” Earwig scowls.

“You hit her in the back when she had no weapon.”

Earwig’s brows draw together. “You’re going down—and everyone’s going to hear about it!” She thrusts more force on my arms, enough that my shoulders feel like they could snap. Then she forces me to the ground. Presses her spear against my neck.

I struggle against her, but it’s useless. One wrong move and her weapon will slice me.

“One … two … three!” Earwig holds her spear in the air and swims away. “I win! I beat the princess!”

People crowd around her, congratulating her.

I sit up and rub my arms, trying to figure out what just happened. Fury burns in my chest. My face flames with embarrassment.

Halen comes over and helps me up. “You better get your trident.”

“Did that really just happen?”

“Yeah. We’d better get you to the infirmary.”

“The only thing I want to get is her.”

“One thing at a time.”

“And him! That teacher is going down. How dare he do that?”

“Hurry,” she urges.

“They’re both going to regret this.” I storm over to my trident and pick it up. A warmth radiates from it, going up and down my arm. Yet it does nothing to help my wound. “Some good you are.”

Power surges out from it and throws me across the gym. I crash into a wall.

Earwig laughs so hard she drops her spear.