A woman with flowing white hair with a blue inner hue blurred into motion like an unseen force of wind. She snapped an open palm forward, and a blast of air exploded in all directions, its focal point smashing into Alacard’s chest. The whipping wind knocked him backward, continuing to unleash as she stepped in his direction, her expressionless eyes held on him. The torrent knocked Mizuki, Isabella, and Vincent backward, even rearranged some desks. Then, as quickly as the wind came, it suddenly stopped with a quick whooshing sound, a soft breeze blowing about as a residual.  

Alacard had toppled to the ground, his legs over the top of his body in an awkward backward tumble. As the wind stopped its onslaught, he let out a grunt, his legs falling forward as he lay on his back.

They all watched the beautiful woman as she stood over Alacard’s body, her eyes not moving from him. She had a youthful face of a senior student even though her body and the way she stood was quite mature. Her expression gave nothing away, yet her eyes were as mysterious as her sudden appearance and unleashing of her whipping wind abilities.

She brushed her waist-long hair to the side, and Vincent inhaled a scent of lilac and rain. “While I admire the vigor of young beings fighting one another, I kindly ask that you refrain from engaging in such things.” The tiniest of smiles crossed her face. “At least for now.”

The woman wore a high-waisted gray pleated skirt with dark pantyhose, a white dress shirt tied with a cyan ribbon, and brown dress shoes that gave her the appearance of a girl in a school uniform. Was this lady a teacher? She must have been, because only a teacher could have dismantled Alacard with such ease.  

Alacard groaned as he sat up and rubbed his neck, looking confused and disoriented which made sense as that wind had, ironically, knocked the wind out of him. That thought made Vincent chuckle.

The woman was suddenly at Alacard’s side, kneeling next to him, hand on his shoulder. “You should rest for a moment. I did not hold back when I struck you as you were in quite the state.”

How did she move to him so fast, and without Vincent noticing? Was it that mysterious wind power of hers? Did it make her light and quick on her feet as well?

“I’m fine,” Alacard said with a growl, pulling himself from her grasp as he stood and winced at the spot where she had struck him. Apparently, he had no respect for anyone, not even teachers. As he gained his footing, he wobbled and stumbled forward, the woman moving around him like a feather on the wind, assisting him to a sitting motion in a chair. He looked dazed and confused as he just sat there. Luckily, for him, it was his desk, so he just sat there like a baffled idiot that had no idea why he was not able to stand.             

The woman stared at him with perceptive eyes as if trying to read his energy, her face straight. “My strike was only meant to temporarily incapacitate you. In a few moments, you will find your bearings.” She held her eyes on him, and for some reason, he looked up at her as if caught in a trance. Was it because of her abilities, or something else, Vincent wondered? “Rest for now.” 

He just gave her a silly nod, or was that his head bobbing from his stunned state? It was nice to see him get a taste of his own medicine. Perhaps he’d think twice before being such a punk to others from now on.

Vincent’s curiosity was peaked. “Who are you?”  

She turned to him in a sort of gliding movement, her voice direct and clear. “My name is Chikaze. I am a teacher.” She tilted her head at Vincent. “What troubles you, Vincent?” She really did have perceptive eyes. Eyes that felt like they were looking into you. It gave Vincent goosebumps.

H-how did she know that? “What?” Vincent said, stepping back and shifting nervously. “How did you know my name? And what makes you think I’m troubled?”

Was that a flicker of a smile? “Your heartbeat is elevated, for one, which would make sense following what happened.” She tilted her head slightly, her eyes staying on him, thinking. “But yours has a different motion to it, as if you have taken in something far more disturbing than a fight amongst peers.”

Her eyes were doing something to him, and her distinct beauty and engaging nature made Vincent’s face get hot as she watched him in an unblinking manner. He couldn’t help but turn away, and she tilted her head as if she was a robot, analyzing the movement. And it wasn’t just her oval face and cheekbones, either. She had some sort of captivating and alluring energy about her. Her body, too, while skinny, had the curvature of some kind of supermodel – toned and fit all the way down to her smooth legs. She exuded a raw attractiveness, a rare and true beauty.

Vincent gulped. While he had turned away from her, the corner of his eye was still watching, still pulled to her, still yearning. What was this effect she had?

She stepped, more like glided, forward, her eyes staying on Vincent yet addressing the rest of them, a small smile forming. “I was only stating a fact from a simple observation.” When she finally turned from Vincent and moved to the front of the class, he felt himself able to breathe again. “If it has not been said already, welcome to Crescent Academy.”

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