As I activated the Brand of the Slave, I first thought that this whole thing had been a joke on me.
Nothing seemed to change. Not in my body, and certainly not in Claudia's. In fact, I saw the girl leaning over to whisper in her friend's ear, probably giggling about the spankings I was about to receive.
But then I checked the system again. According to it, Claudia should now have to listen to my every word, as she now wore my brand.
"If you make me say it again, William, I swear to god I will make you receive these spankings naked. You will strip down to your underwear, and this wooden ruler will tear the skin off your behind."
Before the professor was able to get any angrier, I finally rose to my feet. As I did, I saw the looks of excitement spread across everyone's faces.
Slowly, I made my way towards the front. I watched everyone carefully, to make sure I remembered who exactly found my humiliation so humorous.
There were only a handful that did not laugh. I would make sure that they never met my wrath.
As I passed Claudia's chair, she stuck her foot out to trip me over. I allowed it to happen, fell on my face, and earned myself a black eye from the floor.
This time, the students couldn't contain their laughter, and the professor didn't even seem to care. It looked like she wanted to join them.
"By the gods, William. Is walking that difficult when one does not have access to Atherstrom?" Professor Igritt said.
[Igritt Tulip has become your bully!]
[100 BP Earned]
[50 BP Earned]
There we go...
I stayed face down on the floor for a few moments, so that no one would see the smile that spread across my face.
Just like that, my teacher had become my bully. The woman who was meant to protect and look after the students in her care.
Nevermind. In due time, she too would receive her punishment.
I pushed myself to my feet, dusted off my clothing and sighed.
"Sorry, professor. You are right, controlling my body is difficult without Atherstrom."
My words earned new laughter around the class, exactly how I wanted them to. It covered up the words I whispered into Claudia's ears suddenly.
"Receive my spankings for me. On your bare skin." I said to her calmly, without anybody hearing me.
It was a risk. If this system was actually a trick being played on me, then Claudia would laugh at my request, and ridicule me even further.
I would be called a pervert, or even worse.
I clenched my teeth in hope as I watched the woman's reactions to my words. First, her face became confused, but then...
[Brand of the Slave Activated]
[Your command has been heard by "Claudia Eagleton"]
I watched as Claudia fought against her own body. Immediately she rose to her feet, but the way her face twisted told me that it was not of her own decision.
The entire class turned their attention towards her, and the laughter slowly died down.
Her hands clutched at the skirt of her white uniform, and she bit her lip, trying to bite back her words.
"Is everything alright, Claudia?" Professor Igritt asked with a raised brow.
She was unable to bite back her words.
"Professor Igritt, please allow me to take William's punishment for him!"
They blurted from her mouth out of her control.
"..."
The class were left in a state of confusion. I had to pretend to share that same confusion, incase some one suspected something of me.
Why is the beautiful, elegant, Claudia Eagleton, offering to take my punishment for me? Me, a simpleton who cannot use Atherstrom.
In truth, I was ecstatic.
It worked... It actually worked...
I'll have to find time to thank the dragon rider later... She has changed my life.
"Now, why would you want to do that?" Professor Igritt asked, waving her hand dismissively. "Stop being silly Claudia, sit down."
Everyone expected the brown-haired girl to obey and take her seat. She might have been trying to. Her face was red and she bit her lip until it bled.
No!" She eventually shouted. "I will take his punishment. And it must be on direct skin!"
Then she stormed towards the front of the class to stand in front of Professor Igritt defiantly.
"Bare skin?" One of the students laughed. "Have you gone crazy Claudia?"
"Yeah, this is not like you, Claudia. Should I take you to the infirmary?" Chubby Harriet said, as he rose to help the woman. "Maybe you have a headache."
"Sit back down!" Claudia shouted. "Professor Igritt, please, I beg of you... P-punish me..."
Those last words left her mouth like a whimper.
Finally, for the first time in the academy, the entire class burst out in laughter that was not directed towards me.
Instead, they were directed towards Claudia.
Everyone was so distracted that they did not notice me sneak back into my seat and lean back on my chair, watching as the show took place.
Professor Igritt sighed and rolled up her sleeves. Then she shrugged her shoulders.
"If you insist, young lady. Though I can't see why you would want to help that boy... You are better than this." The professor said.
Oh, don't worry miss. Your time will arrive soon. I just need to figure out which brand will suit you best.
Claudia wanted to talk. She wanted to explain herself to the entire class and let them know that she wasn't a weirdo. She would never help me of her own volition!
But she couldn't...
"Well then, bend over. I will not hit your bare skin, as it would mean you would have to expose your behind in front of the boys. I do not think you deserve that, even if you insist."
Oh, but it doesn't matter what you think. My word is absolute.
Without saying a single word, Claudia grabbed hold of her skirt and lifted it up in one swift motion.
Just like that, her generously plump behind was exposed to the class, only hidden by her lace red panties that clung tight to the soft flesh of her buttocks. Her cheeks were flushed the same colour.
As I watched, I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows.
Those are hardly decent underwear for a noble lady to wear at school.