Precious Commodity

"I am sorry for wasting your time, Mrs. Lefebvre. I guess, I am just overwhelmed with a lot of new information," Maya was convinced and felt bad for even having a problem about this.

"I assure you, there's no need to apologize. Your concerns are perfectly valid and understandable," the Headmistress said soothingly. "I apologize for your receival being so rushed and insufficient. You had to absorb everything faster than everyone else. It's normal to feel a bit overwhelmed. I regret not having the time to explain everything to you properly from the outset. But I'm glad we gave you an opportunity as I can see you're a bright young woman. You'll find your footing here in no time."

As the Headmistress smiled kindly, Maya truly appreciated her words. How many people had such faith in her?

"Here," she said, reaching out to take Maya's phone that had been nervously clutched in her hand, resting on the imposing office desk. Swiftly, she typed in her number. "It is my contact. You can call me at any time. You needn't restrain yourself."

Maya nodded, feeling rather burdened that the Headmaster herself would give her her own private number and permission to call her at her leisure.

'Does she do that for all students?'

"Now, there is another matter I wanted to discuss with you."

Still staring at her hands, Maya was a little surprised. It was she who sought out the Headmistress, not the other way around.

"I haven't gotten a chance to assign you a guardian yet," Headmistress began. "As a person responsible for bringing you into this world Daria's name is there by default. Assigning a guardian is a sensitive matter and I cannot approve it without their consent. And since you arrived so late, regrettably, I have no one prepared for you in advance."

Maya took a deep breath and continued listening.

"However, I've been thinking," the Headmistress elegantly connected her fingertips before laying out her preposition. "I haven't assigned a ward to myself for years now due to my overflowing schedule, but it is too valuable of an experience to miss out if it is just a single ward. What do you say?"

'The Headmistress as my guardian?!'

"Of course," the Headmistress continued, "As my substitute and vice-headmaster, Daria sometimes takes over my duties. You could view this as joint guardianship. Having someone provide a student's perspective on attending my academy would be immensely beneficial to me. Rest assured, I would fulfill all my guardian duties adequately."

"I am really honoured, but I don't want to be a bother. I'm sure you are busy all the time. I am fine with Daria being my guardian."

"You must understand, Daria spends most of her time in Vetus Orbis searching for children that have been chosen by the Elements."

"It's not just summertime?"

"Oh, how convenient it would be if it only happened during summertime," the Headmistress chuckled. "Elements choose quietly and Daria is one of few people who can recognize it so we rely on her greatly," she explained.

"However, she is also my close confidant," the Headmistress added. "We have worked closely together since our academy days, and she assumes the headmaster position whenever I am absent. So, no matter how you look at it, we are a package."

So the Headmistress was saying that if she did not write her name in those documents, she would still take that role at times.

"Don't worry about it," she reassured Maya. "You need a guardian here. I won't let you be without one. You needn't worry about my time. We will both benefit from this arrangement. Your insight will help make everyone's time here more pleasant."

The Headmistress was quite persuasive.

"Of course, if you're uncomfortable with it, I can look for other suitable guardians among families that regularly assume such roles."

"Oh. Th…then, if it's okay with you… Thank you."

The Headmistress smiled warmly. But somehow Maya felt as if she had achieved what she desired in the first place.

"Is there something else you want to talk about?"

"No. Sorry. I've wasted enough of your time already."

"Alright then," she said, kindly escorting Maya to the door. "Also, I want you to be cautious with your roommate. She's a troubled young woman. I'm confident she'll rehabilitate here, but if she shows signs of veering towards a dark path, let me know immediately. I don't want her to pull you down with her if things escalate. Do you agree?"

"Um… Okay," Maya affirmed, insecurely. Then she gathered the courage to ask. "Why is she like that?"

The Headmistress stared into the distance thoughtfully. "Some had it rougher than others. She didn't grow up very civilized. But I am doing my best to show her that the world isn't as cruel as she had learned it to be. I even assigned her our best guardians to show her a loving family."

Despite her stern outer look, the Headmistress proved to be quite a considerate woman.

 "I just want you to be careful around her. She is repeating the patterns of those troubled students I told you about. I am trying my best not to let it play out like it did with them."

"I understand."

"If she exhibits any extreme ideas, please, I am the first person you should tell."

"I will notify you."

"I have great faith in you," the Headmistress let her out with a comforting smile.

🜺🜺🜺🜺

Maya quickly left the personnel wing of the academy. In the courtyard, a few students were practising, still under the impression of today's first lessons. She rushed not to bother them and approached Elena who was smoking by the gates.

"Were you waiting for me?" Maya was surprised.

"I wanted to hear what Amanda said." Elena flicked away the cigarette bud and walked with her.

"She calmed me down. She was very kind and motherly."

To Maya, Amanda gave an impression of a regal but benevolent woman. It was clear she cared about the lives of her students.

"Yeah, right… She's an evil bitch. There's nothing motherly about her," Elena responded harshly.

Her words took Maya aback that needed a moment to collect herself.

"She may seem cold, but she has to manage the entire school and the town. You can't expect her to make sure that every individual person likes her."

"Whatever. Did she say anything about me?"

'Can this girl read minds?'

"Why would she say anything about you?" Maya knew she wasn't a good liar, but she tried her best.

"Cause I'm your roommate and a thorn in her side. It seems like a great opportunity to recruit you as her little informant."

"She didn't mention you," Maya fumbled, nervously.

Elena looked at her suspiciously. 

"Okay, then… Oh, yeah. I didn't tell you. We should probably go downtown for job picking. We were supposed to do it right after school."

"What!? Why didn't you tell me sooner? You let me sit around on the pavement and visit the headmistress…"

"I'm not here to think for you. What does it matter, anyway? We'll go now. It's just some petty jobs."