The encounter with Ziggy Ratt in the courtyard delayed Fenrick’s arrival to the principal’s office. He wasn’t overly concerned by his tardiness though, for he didn’t plan on heading straight there anyway. Fenrick was quite well known as someone who took his time doing things—especially things he didn’t want to do.

When he slowly opened the door to the office and peeked in, he saw the principal of Hardires High typing away on her computer. The nameplate on the desk read Principal Eppers. She was considered young for being the principal of a high school, but had the reputation of excelling at her demanding job. Despite the stress of running an entire school, she was a radiantly-beautiful woman with a glowing complexion and long golden hair, much like the color of Fenrick’s. She was usually the first crush of every male student that freshly arrived to Hardires High—but that would quickly end when she unleashed her strict puritan demeanor upon the uneducated freshmen. Hanging from her necklace at all times was the Six-Armed Cross of Ephyreon, the universally-recognized symbol of the Grand Father of Light.

“Fenrick! So glad you could take the time to stop by,” Principal Eppers said with dripping sarcasm as she heard the creak of the door when Fenrick opened it fully. “I received a call from Mrs. Hydraslaughter nearly fifteen minutes ago. It should have taken you no less than three minutes after that call for you to get here.”

“Sorry, I ran into somebody along the way,” Fenrick responded, but didn’t bother to go into any more detail.

“Just sit down. I’ll deal with you in a moment,” the principal ordered. Fenrick took a seat in one of the two chairs in front of her desk and bit at his nails while Eppers clacked away on her keyboard. When she was done with her business on the computer, she turned her full attention to Fenrick.

“So, what did you do this time?” She asked like it was a question she had repeated many times before.

“It was awful, Angela!” Fenrick cried in feigned dismay. “Mrs. Hydraslaughter just can’t handle my colorful vocabulary. She got mad when I expressed my humble opinion about the subject we’re currently studying and then sent me here as punishment.”

“What have I told you a hundred times before?” the principal glared at the student across her desk. “During school hours you’re to call me Principal Eppers.”

“Oh, right. Sorry.”

“It’s okay, just don’t forget again. Anyways, what exactly did you say in class? And please be honest.”

Fenrick proceeded to tell her about the incident, being surprisingly truthful to what had transpired, but tried his best to make it appear that he was the victim. Principal Epper’s frown deepened the more she listened.

“Fen, what am I going to do with you?” She sighed. “The situation is getting pretty dire. Your grades are lackluster across the board and you’re constantly getting into trouble for your behavior. I’ve done all I can to keep you on the gladiatorial team, but you’re constantly pushing the limits of suspension or even full-blown expulsion. I hate to say it, but you’re incorrigible, and I’m running out of options. On top of that, you really need to brush your hair and wash your uniform more than once a month. You always come to school looking like a rapscallion.”

“Oh, come on, Eppy, it’s really not that big a deal,” Fenrick pleaded. “There wouldn’t be any problem if everyone stopped making such a big deal out of everything I say!”

“Have you considered that there may be a reason for that?”

“Cause everyone here sucks,” Fenrick responded bluntly. Eppers rolled her eyes.

“Okay look, if you decide to not punish me, I promise that I’ll lay off the naughty words that everybody uses anyway but I’m the only one not scared to use openly. Oh, and I’ll make sure to brush my hair and clean my uniform at least once a tenday. Deal?” Fenrick smiled and nodded like he truly believed he made a compelling offer.

“False promises are not going to work anymore,” Principal Eppers shook her head. “Remember last year, after you ‘promised’ to improve your behavior? Just a day later, you left me no choice but to suspend you for three school days plus a match, jeopardizing your team’s now two-and-a-half year long winning streak. Do you want that to happen all over again in your final year?”

“No…” Fenrick admitted and shot his eyes downward. His mind couldn’t help but drift to two semesters ago, when he got into a shouting match with his math teacher over a failed test and was suspended from a highly anticipated match with Arbires High, their archrival school. Luckily for him, Caleo, the team captain, managed to find a substitute at the last second and Hardires High narrowly got the victory, keeping their winning-streak alive. Regardless, Fenrick was not easily forgiven, and had been on thin ice ever since.

“I don’t want that, but dammit, Archie just won’t stop pissing me off! He’s always wanting to answer the questions I get wrong and it gets really irritating.”

“Archie—I mean Arcanus—is your teammate. Don’t you ever stop and think that he’s just trying to support you the same way he does while the 2 of you are fighting in the arena together?”

“Oh, believe me, that’s not it. He does it because he just loves being the teacher’s pet to every grownup in this place.”

Principal Eppers couldn’t help but let out another deep sigh as she tried to reason with the student. “I’ve given you so many passes over the years, Fen. Not just because you happen to be my cousin, but because you’re a very talented and bright individual, not only in the arena but intellectually as well. You just don’t apply yourself enough when it’s not about fighting. Once you do, a whole new realm of possibilities will await you.”

Fenrick loudly scoffed at the compliment and pouted in his chair.

“I just can’t help but hold your parents partially responsible for your behavior,” she continued. “Living out in the forest and raising you among animals most of your life must have had major negative effects on your psyche. I’ve tried so hard to convince them to come live in modern civilization, but they just won’t listen,” Principal Eppers leaned back in her office chair and clasped her hands together. “Well, I suppose I should be thankful they at least let you come to school.”

“Okay, okay, enough about my parents!” Fenrick blurted, “let’s just get to the point already. What are you going to do with me?”

Principal Eppers slowly leaned forward and looked the student straight in the eye. “Please, Fen, if you can stay out of trouble for just the rest of this day as well as tomorrow and make it to the ten-end, I will be willing to overlook this minor incident. I’m sure Arcanus and Mrs. Hydraslaughter will as well. But! You need to cause no more trouble. Of any kind. Please, Fen, do this for me.”

“Whew!” Fenrick let out a huge breath of relief and jumped out of the chair. “Thanks a bunch Eppy… er, I mean Principal Eppers. I assure you I’ll be on my best behavior from now on. You made the right choice!”

“I really hope so, Fenrick, I really do.”

Fenrick turned around and made his way to the door with a pep in his step—but before he could make his exit—Principal Eppers had just one more thing to say.

“Before you go,” she stood up from her desk as Fenrick apprehensively turned back around. “I just want to mention that we are all the grand-children of Ephyreon, and he’s always there to look out for us. I sincerely believe that choosing to walk his path will change you for the better. All you need to do is accept and embrace him and let his light shine down on you. This coming Sunday, I’d be more than happy to take you to the Eternal Flame Cathedral Service I go to tendaily and show you all the wonderful things being a follower of Ephyreon will bring to you. In fact, I can give you a copy of the Tome of the Blind Witness for you to read in the meantime,” she knelt down to open a drawer from her desk and began rifling through it.

“No thank you, Principal Eppers. I personally think you should give all that preaching stuff a rest. No one’s buying into all that bullshit. See ya later!” Fenrick waved goodbye as he exited the office. He quickly closed the door before Principal Eppers got the chance to give him an earful.

Fenrick managed to escape not only Ziggy Ratt’s ambush, but also a harsh punishment from Principal Eppers. He can’t wait to tell his teammates the good news, but will he be able to STAY out of trouble ‘til their scheduled matchup with Gungannon? Find out next time on Clubs and Stubs!