Chương 32: Chapter Thirty-One

The campus had a lot of green space between the buildings. Mostly grass cut to a uniform height, with a smattering of trees breaking up the monotony. Through these fields, stone pathways ran between the buildings. Most of them had flowers blooming alongside them, even though it was getting late in the season for them. It was strange that nobody was walking on the grass between the buildings to shorten their walk.

The question of what would happen if I stepped off the pathway flitted through my mind, but I ultimately dismissed it and followed Narith towards the girls' dormitory. Now wasn't time to investigate it. Maybe Gavin will visit, and I can push him off. I nodded to myself as we approached the building. From what I could tell, all the buildings were made in a similar fort-like style with at least one tower climbing from them into the sky.

Each had large banners showing the school's colors and sigils, as well as smaller banners that I assume identified the building's purpose. The girl's dormitory had a unique sigil I recognized to mean'women'.

"This way, Miss Lyra." Narith said, holding the door open. I walked in.... And was immediately disappointed. It was a common room. Wood chairs arranged chaotically around a handful of small tables. A few girls were clustered around a table talking and giggling around a pot of tea. I didn't need to get closer to see the damage a lot of the furniture had. Narith didn't pause and led me to the stairs leading to the next floor.

"The floors are denoted by caste. Servants are on the ground floor, unless their master warrants a room for their servant to be included in their suite. The first floor is therefore for commoners. The second is for nobility. And the third royalty." Narith explained.

"Will you be staying on the first floor?" I asked as we ascended. A couple of the girls glanced at me, but no one stared longer than it took to confirm I was there.

"No. Your suite has an attached servant room, which I will be staying at. Your parents wanted me close at hand to provide you a safe avenue to ask questions you might be embarrassed to ask someone else, while allowing me to guide you before I have classes of my own to attend." She led me up the stairs that ended in another common room. This one was as far from the run-down common room on the first floor as you could get. Thick carpets sprawled along the floor with elaborate stitching.

Tapestries hung from several walls, along with paintings of rich-looking people or scenic views. Luckily, whoever chose the paintings was smart enough to know that people wouldn't want to be near images with dead bodies in it. A couple of plants were placed between the furnishings. Above them hung a large chandelier, providing additional light to the massive colored windows. The panes were arranged to depict people in armor and elaborate dresses.

The multi-colored lighting sprawled over the three groups of plush-stuffed chairs and gleaming tables. Honestly it looked fancier than what we had at home. But maybe that's just more gaudy. I couldn't see Mom liking this color combination. The circular room was significantly larger than the room downstairs and had four doors and a hallway leading off it. The doors had lettering A – D above them in gold.

"We're in 'A'." Narith reiterated then nodded towards the hallway.

"There are private foyers down the hallway along with a public bath. Of course, your suite will have a bath as well. That's meant for single occupancy." I nodded at the explanation. Even with the time traveling with Mom, I had not gotten used to public bathing and was relieved to know I wouldn't have to rely on it. I would have to seriously consider using a bucket otherwise. I thought about baths. I would have to just have to find times other people weren't occupying the bath.

Narith walked over to room A and opened it, holding the door for me. I walked past her and got my first look at my room. Or the first room. It was as large as my room at home but only contained a short table with five chairs around it, and a desk pushed up against the far wall. The rest of it was just space… and things. Plants, vases, and other things were placed out to give the room a feeling of not being empty. But it really broke down to the table and desk.

A set of double doors were on one side of the room, with two other doors on the side. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

"This is your sitting room. Your bedroom is through the double doors, which will have your closet and bathroom. The toilet is through there." She pointed at one of the single doors.

"And my room is through the other one, if you need me for anything. But you can just ring the bell on your desk or bed-table and I will hear it wherever I am on campus." I tilted my head.

"How does that work?" I asked. My stomach was still unsettled, but I could ignore it if I concentrated on everything around me. So that's what I was doing. I was not thinking about the carriage growing smaller with Mom and Dad in it. I wasn't.

"It's an enchantment that's linked to my mana." She said simply. Wait.

"So, you're forever tied to those bells?" Narith scoffed, before catching herself and putting back on a mostly expressionless face.

"No. I can break it easily. I'm not a slave." The latter came out almost angry and I held up my hands.

"I didn't know how it worked, that's all." I explained and she looked at me. Really looked at me. For perhaps the first time.

"Miss. Lyra… You really didn't know… wait, your Dad told me. It's true?" She asked looking surprised.

"You grew up in a failing town in the middle of nowhere and really don't know things like this?" Her words tumbled into each other. I scowled at her.

"I wouldn't say I don't know anything. But yes, it's true. I was an orphan that managed to live. And could you please stop calling me Miss. Lyra. Lyra is fine." She tilted her head and brought a finger to her chin.

"No." She declared after a moment.

"Even if I addressed you informally in private it would increase the risk of me doing so in public. So, you're stuck with me calling you Miss. Lyra. But I can drop the maid act if you want. Though, I will do my duty even then." Smiling at the small win I nodded and relaxed only for Narith to grab my shoulders and straighten them.

"None of that now. You can slouch when you go to bed, or for a moment after standing like a royal comes naturally to you." She didn't let go of my shoulders until I corrected my posture.

"But…"

"No buts, or complaints. I have my orders." She said promptly.

"Dad wouldn't…"

"Your Mom absolutely did." I closed my eyes. Mom. I believe that.

"Okay, I wasn't going to go over the basics. But you probably need it." I could only nod, my eyes still closed.

"The dining hall is in the main building along with the student store. Which we should go to soon so you can purchase your books and other things you will need. Like a bag. Papers. Pens, ink… The list is probably long. Commoners will use the library, and school-supplied materials but you're be expected to have your own." I looked down at the pouch I was still carrying in my hand.

"I'm sure it's more than enough." Narith stated primly.

"Tomorrow's a day for you to explore and get settled. Then your classes will start. I have a copy of your classes and a map, and will lead you to your classes until you know where to go. Okay?" I nodded as a worry that I didn't know I had eased out of me settling my stomach some.

"Good, then let's go get your things." She turned me around by the shoulder and gave me a small push to get going before falling in behind me. She's like a shorter version of Mom. I can see the family resemblance. We headed out and back to the main building where the line of carriages was still unloading new students. A lot of people were already in their school uniforms. I had thought Mom's advice would make me look anxious, but apparently it was fairly normal.

I recognized the next carriage in line from seeing the king and queen off last night, and sped up. Which didn't mean much with my silly short legs! Narith didn't even need to jog to get in front of me and open the door for me. Luckily, I slipped inside before their turn came. It opened into a rather empty area with a dining hall at an angle to my left, and a… shop at an angle to my right. I could see desks and people who dressed importantly up the stairs.

Narith urged me to my left, and I quickly entered a bizarre collection of things after stepping past a counter with a pair of older students standing behind it. Inside books lined the walls, while papers were stacked on free standing shelves among bags, uniforms, ink, and so many other things that my eyes became crossed.

"I don't need all this." I said, more hopeful then sure. Narith pulled out a packet of papers from somewhere and started reading.

"You have four core classes, and two free slots for applied courses. Have you thought what you wanted your focus' to be?" She asked flipping through some of the papers.

"If not, one of these has a list…"

"Potion Making and Healing."

"Have you filed that yet?" She asked coming to a stop in her paper flipping.

"Of course not. I'll file it for you and get an updated schedule tomorrow. For now, we need to pick up six books. Starting with Humanoid Anatomy, Healing Focus by Laritha Spellsworn." I grimaced at the name of the book but followed as Narith started looking through the books along the wall until she came to a thick tome. Tome. That's what you call thick books that push the boundary of what a book should be. This one qualified. Definitely." Basics of Mana Manipulation …"

Narith was already onto the next title as I used both hands to carry the single book as a dawning horror started to knot my gut. In under an hour, I was carrying a stack of books that extended past my chin when I held them as low as I could. A bag was over my shoulder, and it was full of paper, pens, and inks. And that's not including the stationary set Narith added so I could 'write letters'. I couldn't tell how the stationary paper was different from the other paper I had gotten. But Narith said it was.

I was feeling rather bogged down with things, and she was still staring at her packet of papers indicating that we weren't done yet.

"Lyra?!" A voice I recognized called from near the entrance causing me to turn to look. And topple. Or I would have if Narith hadn't reached out to steady me as though she had been waiting for it. Wait, was she waiting for it? I narrowed my eyes at her and I swore I saw her smirk.

"Stella!" I called, looking away from my cheeky maid.