Witches of Mellgrah

Maya didn't think she would be able to joke about anything related to pistachios since her father died, so she appreciated Keith's light-hearted banter distracting her from painful memories.

They made their order and sat down. The interior of Éclat was a charming blend of warm colours and elegant furnishings. Soft jazz music played in the background, creating a soothing ambience that complemented the rich aroma of coffee beans. The low hum of conversations and the clinking of silverware added to the sophisticated yet cosy atmosphere.

They engaged in light conversation while Maya indulged in sweets. Keith ordered a caramel Frappuccino, and Elena drank an iced Americano, adding her own twist from her thermos bottle after they refused to spike her drink with alcohol at the counter.

Strangely enough, Maya found that she and Keith led most of the conversation. Suddenly, aware that Elena hadn't spoken a word for a while, Maya glanced at her to see if she was perhaps sulking or having a jealous fit, remembering her outburst after the infirmary visit. However, all she saw on Elena's face was boredom.

And then, without warning, Elena got up and walked away. Maya didn't think much of it at first. Perhaps she just had to use the bathroom. But Elena didn't return no matter how long they waited.

'Where did she disappear to?'

When enough was enough, Maya brought it up and Keith shrugged and assured her it was just Elena being Elena. A little worried, Maya glanced at Leo to what he understood what she wanted him to do. After a short while, he reappeared and said:

"I couldn't find her."

It meant she wasn't in any of the usual places one would expect her to be. In the meantime, Maya and Keith parted ways so she could finally speak to Leo out loud while making her way back to the dorms.

"The day's still young so we don't have to worry, yet," Maya spoke quietly.

"You concern yourself with that psycho too much."

Then a sudden scornful voice startled Maya.

"Heh. What do we have here? Now you even steal other people's belongings?"

 Maya looked behind to see two familiar faces hanging out on the streets of the dorm complex.

"It's not stealing if they are sharing him, Price," the other one added sarcastically.

It was Pricilla and Hailey, two of her fellow air mages who recently have gotten a habit of using every chance they got to be mean to Maya. Although it wasn't like they had no basis for it since Maya was partially responsible they were a duo instead of a trio right now.

This time, instead of just talking to each other out loud knowing Maya was within earshot, they were throwing remarks directly at her. Maya clenched her fists and started walking faster.

'Did they see me with Keith at Éclat?'

Maya didn't want to cause trouble in the relationship between Keith and Elena if weird rumours started to spread. She already had to listen to all kinds of accusations during Elemental Practices every time Tanya turned her attention to the fire group. Even her own group members wouldn't take her side; Burcu joining in on the harassment and Samiya turning a blind eye.

"I heard she whispers curses when she's alone. Calling up the devil to give her everything she desires."

"I wonder how far she goes with her offers. Is it just other people or does she… You know…"

"Who knows…"

"She has Headmistress on her speed dial. Even Keith gives her the time of his day if she asks. Coveting other people's things isn't beyond her."

"He did personally carry her to the infirmary recently. Like a knight in shining armour."

"I bet that fight at the start of the semester was her doing, just to have him give her his attention."

"What an attention whore."

"I wonder if the two of them share him since they're all so chubby."

Maya had already heard all kinds of wild comments about herself, and it didn't just stay between those two. Sometimes she would hear whispers in the hallways, people who she didn't even know gossiping about her. It went so far that Leo began deliberately shifting her attention elsewhere so she wouldn't overhear people talking about her.

"I'm talking to you, Your Highness," Pricilla yanked on Maya.

Maya's gaze fell to the floor. She was cornered and frightened. Not wanting to think about them doing something to hurt Maya, she couldn't deny that they had a perfect opportunity as they were alone. Her throat quickly dried out, making her unable to speak even if she could think of a response.

"Feeling guilty? Is that why you can't look us in the eye?"

They got her with her back against a wall, and Maya regretted not running as soon as she first heard their voices.

'What do they want from me?'

"I have an idea of how you can make up to us," Priscilla smirked and pulled out a notebook from her bag. "All groups have the same assignments. Do ours."

She shoved the notebook into Maya's arms.

"Don't you feel guilty? We can't even concentrate on homework because of what you did to our friend. You can help out, right?" Hailey invented justification, preying on Maya's sense of guilt.

"Yeah. We're not forcing you. We just thought you must be feeling bad about it and wished to help you alleviate your sense of guilt. Right? Something like this isn't even hard for you."

Maya, caught between the grip of fear and guilt, found herself nodding in reluctant agreement. The weight of their accusations pressed down on her, and the idea of making reparations seemed like the only way to pacify the storm brewing around her. In her mind, she justified it as a small sacrifice, a way to mend the fractures she had unknowingly caused. The fear of retaliation coupled with a desperate desire for their approval led her to rationalize their demands. 

'Maybe this is a way to make amends,' she thought, convincing herself that complying with their homework request could somehow ease the tension and guilt that loomed over her.

The duo smiled in malicious victory and stepped away.

"It's due on Monday. Better hurry up," Priscilla waved her hand as she was taking her leave.

Leaving Maya to wallow in self-pity, they walked away snickering to each other, acquiring themselves a slave, helpless against their conscience not to give in to their demands.

'I'll do it this time. Just this once.'

Maya put all of her energy into not shedding tears as she made her way back.

'This is bullying, right? There isn't anything else it could be.'

Back in school at VO, Maya couldn't brag she was particularly popular or significant, but she was never bullied. Maybe it was because she was always invisible, lacking the presence to even become a target. Should she be glad that she'd grown her influence enough to become one? Are those fruits of her effort to change her life? It didn't feel rewarding. Not to mention, being harassed in front of Leo was mortifying.

"Maya, are you going to be alright at school?" Leo was looking at her with concern. "This seems to be only getting worse."

"It's just this one time… They will leave me alone after this is done," she gripped the notebooks she was given tighter while climbing Delta House stairs.

"You believe so? It's only been a week and they already got you doing homework for them. If it is this bad already, how are you going to deal with it later?! You should report them!"

Maya shook her head while pressing her lips together. She had finally reached her room on the top floor.

'No. It's just this once!'

"Maya?! This is something you should cut in its root. Don't do it, and report them!"

"It's my fault, Leo!" Maya snapped at him, holding back her tears. "Don't pressure me. They will only say worse things if I report them and it will only confirm I hide behind the Headmistress."

Leo sighed. "If only I could, I would slap those bitches!"

It was understandable he would get angry on her behalf, but there wasn't anything else he could do about it.

"It's all that guy's fault. That council rep… He shouldn't have dragged you into this, now look at what you have to deal with!"

Again, Maya felt like she could cry, wondering why was this happening to her. What did she do to bring forth such fate?

'I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time.'

That's all there was to it.

'I was going to do the assignments today anyway. Better start working if I'm going to finish all three until Monday.'

Maya sat down and decided to focus on the task.

'I'll do this to pay them back and then they'll finally leave me alone. Yes… that's it. That's all I need to do.'

The class assignments were much easier than holding back the surge of tears coming upon her in waves. Maya didn't know how much time had passed when the sudden sound of scraping behind the room door appeared.

Before Maya could stand up, Elena burst into the room with a loud bang of the door, giving Maya a mischievous smile when their eyes met.

"Havens, what is that!?"

No, her eyes weren't deceiving her. Elena was dragging in an enormous, old but thick piece of straight wood. Maya stared at her in complete disbelief as she dragged it across the room and propped it up beside her as if looking at her proud achievement.

"What else? It's a plank."