Her Speech

"I expected to find you here Mari. The dorms are a little too clean aren't they?"

"Yes, but the gardens don't feel much better."

"No, they don't. A lot of the plants are kept alive through circles and the soil is shallow and lacking in nutrients. Can you feel the nature speaking to you?"

"No, I wasn't aware that was something I could do."

"Think of how it feels when you're with Telperion, your Mother Tree. Focus on a moment while you're meditating that feels similar to that and you will gain a deeper understanding of why the garden feels 'fake' to you."

Taking in her words I breathe slowly and focus my attention on the feelings of artificiality. Sure enough there's a greater depth to my growing sense of unease than I initially thought. The flowers are struggling to grow and the environment is too weak to support their life. What I felt after was disappointment regarding the care of the garden.

"So you felt it Mari? I live in these dorms too so we can fix it together if you want. I haven't done it yet because my family has no influence in the Academy."

"You live in these dorms? Where's your dorm?"

She gives me that smirk that tells me she's up to something and then chuckles when I stare at her to continue.

"It's right next to yours. We're separated by only a wall."

Now I realize that these next two years that Venna stays here are going to be the hardest two years of my life. She's going to tease me at every possible opportunity she can.

I honestly welcome every moment of challenge and every teasing line. Maybe I can work to make her fall as deeply as I'll probably fall.

I should focus on what she brought up about the garden first.

"I'm happy that we'll be so close to each other. I can get in touch with my family and we might be able to slowly change this garden into something more beautiful."

"For now you should focus on the welcoming ceremony in the assembly hall. I'll see you there."

"How will you see me in that large crowd?"

"Did you forget that you have a welcome speech as the highest scorer among the incoming students?"

"Oh…"

"I wish you luck in that!"

She only means that as a teasing remark. She's probably hoping that she could spot a new reaction from me. I wasn't nervous about it before but her words make it difficult for me to not be distracted. Venna just has a way of doing that to me.

And she had already run away before I could give her one of my deadpan stares.

_________________________

As a speaker during the assembly I had to come a bit early so that I could take a seat near the front. The professor in charge of organizing this had already reviewed my speech. This was probably to ensure that it wouldn't go against the standard policies of the school at the bare minimum. I'm not one to break from traditions typically. Maybe I get that from my father.

Sighing in my heart I sit patiently as the remainder of the school slowly shuffles in, filling up the seats and making the previously huge assembly hall slightly crowded. There was still plenty of room as there was only around fifteen hundred students along with the professors lined up, but it was amazing to see. It was a testament to the size of the venue that there was enough room to move easily between the chairs and aisles.

When everyone who was going to assemble had arrived and taken their seats the Headmistress of the Academy stepped forward. A hush fell over the crowd as they waited for her to address them and begin their new year here.

"As some of you well know I don't expect much from you. Most of you will pass out of our doors with the bare minimum of knowledge to go on to lead lives that are slightly better than the average commoner. Some of you will go forward and succeed in whatever field it is you desire, whether that be politics or the science of magic. Finally a small number of you might even shine brightly enough to bring honor to your own names, maybe even surpassing some of the names in history. I do not ask that you credit this Academy for your own achievements, only that you remember that the work you put in here is directly related to your own successes.

"For the incoming students I hope you remember to focus on this aspect as there will be many distractions in your lives going forward. You are considered adults in the eyes of society and yet your minds are still young and impressionable. Keep your positive experiences close and learn from your negatives. I will not reprimand any of you for making mistakes in your youth, I will only ask that you learn from them."

Her speech was short but I thought it was impactful. I almost feel like my own might be lacking.

What followed were speeches from the student leaders of each grade interspersed with a few department heads speaking on their relevant specialties. Their speeches were short as well, probably because of the Headmistress' requirements. She seems like a practical person to me.

When it was my turn I moved toward the podium, walking forward with the air of confidence expected of someone in my family. Even now I refuse to let my bias against my father affect the Duchy. I will be my own person and not leave behind any regrets.

That doesn't mean I won't say anything subtly negative about my childhood environment.

"As my first day of my first year here begins I will focus on the broad path ahead of me, knowing that each day that passes my choices will either narrow or widen it. Before I began this journey there were not many expectations placed upon me; however the more I achieved the more those expectations grew. We will move on together during these years, constantly widening or narrowing that path before us until it becomes a road that will be difficult to change.

"Eventually there will come a day where we'll have to accept the path that we have paved through our early years. Sometimes that path will have stones laid by the people around that love us. Sometimes it will have its edges chipped away by those that want to see us fail. Every day we can choose to focus on the stones under and behind us, or we can look forward and try to find a way to widen that path alone. We may even try together with those we know or ask for the help of strangers.

"That is not to say that those behind us with ill intentions will not affect our futures. No, they can even turn our paths forward into a perilous tightrope. But it is still we who choose to walk forward or stand terrified of that next step. I will go forward with my head held high no matter how dangerous or narrow my path becomes. I come here today not as who I was born but as who I have become. Learn from those around you that have suffered or endured and move forward with me.

"I will, however, ask that when you find your steps faltering to remember there is no shame in stopping to find your balance. There is no shame in asking for a hand to pull you forward. There is no shame in being scared of what's ahead. All of our paths will be different and maybe even divergent. But the only person who can judge your path is you. Even those who help you through cannot accurately judge it. Do not be ashamed to step forward or to stop. Just try to remember to look forward."

When I stepped down there was an awkward silence. I could feel a certain tension in the crowd, their gazes judging me while I moved back to my seat.

Maybe I went too far, but I don't regret it. Some of the subtle jabs I threw into the speech might be quickly caught by people that know about my birth. Maybe they'll rethink trying to harass me. I doubt it though.

I did manage to see Venna in the crowd, her smile stretching from ear to ear as she listened intently to my every word. I think she's proud of me for it.

The closing remarks from Mrs. Lomaunt were brief yet again. I enjoy her business like attitude. I was surprised by her last words though.

'The new representative for our incoming students should be commended for their drive to move forward no matter the obstacles in their way.'

I guess Venna wasn't the only one who liked my speech.

Only after the crowd had dispersed did I stand up and step away from the stage. I needed to head to my dorm and prepare my materials for the classes that will begin after the weekend. I'm not worried about struggling, I'm just unsettled if I don't prepare things in advance.

While I was stepping down I heard Venna call out to me again. She wasn't alone this time as two other Elves stood to her sides. Their facial features looked incredibly alike and I assumed they were brother and sister. Even their postures seemed similar.

The first to speak was the girl to Venna's right. She kept a guarded posture but didn't seem too hostile.

"Venna is this the girl you're always talking about? She's pretty small so it's impressive that she came first in her exams."

The fact that she's calling Venna by her nickname causes a pang in my heart. I try to ignore it and focus on something else.

The only thing I can really pull from that was the comment about my height. I guess I would be short to an Elf. Most Elves reach on average between 190 to 200 cm, with some as tall as 215 cm. Venna might be on the shorter side for Elves as the brother and sister pair seem just slightly taller. They might be older than her though.

The boy was glancing at me too but his gaze was a bit more judgmental. I think there might even be a hint of something else. I'll try to ignore it for now.

"It doesn't matter how she does on the admission tests, and her height is irrelevant. I don't see anything positive about a frail Lestryal noble like her."

His comments earned a nasty glare from Venna. I'm glad she's not going to accept someone's words just because she might already know them from before.

"Sonatar, shut up. You don't know anything about her and you're just going to judge her for being a noble here?"

Sonatar seemed offended that Venna would defend me but judging from the way he's biting his lip he'll probably keep it to himself.

"Yeah, you might not like her but that's going too far Sonatar. I'm not even sure what she's like yet."

I'm not sure of the female elf's name but she did stand up for me a bit. I turn my attention to Venna and try to keep my tone civil.

"May I ask who these two individuals are Venna?"

"Sure Mari, this is Solana Elphyra and Sonatar Elphyra. They're the twins who gained admittance to the Academy the year before me and two of the only six Elves here. They're also the only two that know me from back in Feyris."

I decide that since they might be close to Venna that I should be polite for now. I don't want Venna to think less of me. So I performed a deeper curtsy than usual to show some deference.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Sonatar and Solana Elphyra. I'm young and lacking but I hope you can guide me well."

I could see Sonatar sneering behind Venna's back. I hope it won't be too difficult to get along with him later but I won't keep my hopes up.

"I don't need your twisted Lestryal curtesy, smiling and saying kind things to my face while clenching a knife behind…"

Before he finished his sentence he was punched in the face by his sister.

"You're such an idiot! Venna already told you to shut up and you have to say shit to make things worse. We have no idea what she's like. If she turns out to be a snake like those other nobles than I'll come after her but until then I'll trust Venna! Idiot."

I can't believe she said idiot twice. I guess important things have to be repeated.

She finished up by spitting at her brother's feet.

"Don't mind them Mari, they're always like that. I'm not happy with what he said but I think he'll come to understand you soon enough. If not… Well I won't let him talk about you like that."

"Thanks Venna, I hope I can settle this on my own though."

She gave me a wry smile before grabbing my hand and rubbing her thumb across the back.

"There you go trying to conquer everything on your own. You're not invincible Mari, you can ask me for help. Especially when it comes to that idiot."

She motioned behind her with her free hand to Sonatar who's lying on the ground clutching his nose and cursing his sister.

"Is he going to be okay?"

"Maybe? Those two fight like that constantly. He might need healed this time."

I step over to take a look and before he can move away I grab his arms. He's strong but it's not difficult to pull them away from his face.

"Can you set your nose? It's broken and to heal it without leaving it crooked you'll have to do that first."

He jumps up and then steps back from me, staring in disbelief. Then he looks to Venna who just gestures and gives him a sympathetic look.

Finally he grabs his nose and tries to move it before crying out in pain and giving up.

I guess I'll have to take charge even if my actions make him uncomfortable.

"Come over here and I can set it and heal it at the same time, that might reduce the pain."

He glances again at Venna who's now giving him a 'go ahead' gesture while rolling her eyes. I'm getting a better idea of how these three interact now and I'm slightly amused.

He does eventually step forward but his distance is causing me to have to stretch my arms out and lean forward a bit. Is he really afraid of me that much?

Ignoring his glare I begin my circles and then hold his nose firmly between my hands to straighten it. As soon as I can feel the circles beginning to release I immediately set the nose in place.

He cries out briefly but is quiet not long after. He looks stunned that his nose is completely healed and then stares in admiration. What he follows up with doesn't match his gaze though.

"Don't think this'll make me like you."

"I would never."

Venna laughed loudly at my follow up comment. Her laugh is always so light and joyful, I don't think I'll ever grow tired of hearing it.

Venna put an arm over my shoulder then motioned for them to follow us before leading me out of the assembly hall.

"Well you two, that's the first of many surprises that I'm sure Mari will show you. She's amazing after all."

I can't believe this person will be by my side.