First Day p7

The next two classes went by quickly. Tactics was uneventful and honestly a breath of fresh air when compared to my first two classes.

After it, I found that I finally didn't share a class with the Princess! Things seem to be turning for the better. The interaction went a bit like this.

'Where to next?'

'Painting.'

'I see. I have Practical Combat.'

'Okay.'

And then we went our separate ways. I was relieved to finally have some time to myself, and it only continued when I found that like Practical Magic, Combat did not start until tomorrow.

I didn't get any sort of confirmation for this, but the classroom was locked so I just left.

Now I am on my way to Alchemy, my final class of the day. Hopefully this goes by quick as I have several things to attend to this afternoon.

This class is far across the campus in a dedicated science building, so I'm glad I had extra time to figure out the route. I should be able to make it here on time from Combat, but it might be tight.

The classrooms here feel vastly different from the ones in the main building. They have the same 'bigger on the inside' feel, but the rooms themselves are structured entirely differently.

They're flat, and there are black stone tables in rows across from a typical chalkboard. Each table has two seats, so I assume we'll be pairing up. Instead of a podium there's a demo table, and a desk for the teacher beside it. Like the Practical Magic room, there's a door on the opposite wall from the entrance.

Every room I've looked into from the hall has looked this way, but they've also been completely devoid of people. There's probably variation around here somewhere.

I arrive at the Alchemy classroom and I can hear faint talking from through the door, so I assume class is still in session. Time to wait for the bell.

Doing just that, I wait a few minutes and the bell tolls loudly through the campus. Doors begin open in the hall and students slowly trickle out. I wait for a moment longer, but the door to the Alchemy class doesn't open. Maybe I heard wrong?

I approach the door and hesitate for a moment before opening it. No reason not to go in I guess, it's my next class regardless if there's anyone inside.

It's just like the other classrooms I saw earlier, but there's only one person in here. At the teacher's desk is an older woman who I assume isn't just sitting there by coincidence. I guess I did hear wrong as there's no one else present.

The lady who I assumed is the instructor notices me as I walk in and looks up from the desk.

"Ah welcome, my first student of the last class." She says with a bright smile.

"Hello." I walk to a desk in the middle of the wall near the door.

She looks back to her desk, presumably working on something that I can't see from here. We sit in silence while students enter the room one after another. No one has sat down next to me and the room is filling quickly.

It's a breath of fresh air after the Princess' constant presence, though it's also a little disconcerting. Do I look so unapproachable that I'd have the last open seat directly next to me, despite being the first student in the room?

Seems like it. Soon the class has entirely filled, except for the other seat at my desk. Students have stopped coming in by now, and I can't help but be a little down about it.

The instructor stands up from her desk and walks to the center of the room.

"Welcome to Alchemy. This class will likely be your introduction to the subject, as we've never had an Alchemy class at the Academy before. For those who already have experience in the field, this class will likely not have anything new for you." She explains the course quickly with an emotionless expression, in stark contrast to when I walked in. A little odd but alright.

"An Advanced Alchemy class will be introduced next year since the Academy is currently lacking the proper personnel."

"I am your instructor, Madam Valerie De Vance." She puts an incredible amount of emphasis on 'madam'.

"You will refer to me as Madam Vance."

Another obnoxious person huh. Well at least she seems serious about her job. Madam Vance returns to her desk.

"We will review the syllabus tomorrow, for now just sit and wait for the bell." She finishes, looking back down at whatever she has on her desk.

... We're done? I guess I'll just sit then. Other students pass the time by talking or play games, but soon the door opens and someone frantically rushes in. It's the short girl. I really need to remember her name, referring to her by her height feels wrong.

She rushes in and is confronted by a stare from Madam Vance.

"Late on the first day?" She asks with a hint of disappointment and something else I can't figure out.

"I-I'm sorry, this is very far from my last class and I got lost." The short girl... Ana! I remember now, her name was Ana. Professor Zeal said it during the Tour. Wasn't she the top ranking first year in Science or something? Ana stutters with her head hanging low. By now most of the class has they attention on her.

"Don't get lost next time. Take a seat." Madam Vance sharply responds.

Ana nods and looks out into the class, eyes eventually landing on the seat next to mine. She shuffles over and sits awkwardly. The rest of the class almost immediately goes back to whatever they were doing before.

"Hi, it seems we'll be partners from now. I'm Morgan." I break the ice since, as I said, I think we'll be partners in this class. Even though neither of us exactly chose it.

"Hello... I'm Ana." She mutters.

"I remember that we also have a few other classes together, so maybe this is a good thing. We can help each other out."

She simply nods. I hope I'm not being too overbearing.

With that in mind, and seeing that she clearly doesn't want to talk, I go back to sitting quietly. Soon enough, the bell rings once again.

End of classes for the first day, but there are still things to do.