I took in the sight of the synchronised twins. They have a blue and white colour scheme. The boy's hair starts a silvery white and gradually fades into a nice sky blue by the ends. His hair is long and straight making him look rather handsome in an androgynous way. Yet he's almost expressionless, making him seem like the hard to approach type.

The girl's hair is the opposite. Only shoulder length but it curls up at the ends. It starts off crystal clear blue and fades to white at the ends like the foam of a rolling wave. She's a little more expressive looking around in wonder. She also rather slender making her figure not too dissimilar to her brothers.

"I'm Mel, by the way. What should I call you two?" I ask.

"Sky." "Sea." They answer together. Seemingly unaware that they answered differently.

A wry smile forms on my lips as I try to figure out their deal. They're either the stereotypical twins, who are so close that they answer in union, or there's something more to them...

The murmur of voices has picked up again. Much to my relief. Although I can still feel his eyes on the back of my head. Willing myself to ignore that idiot's gaze I try my best to socialise with my two new class mates.

"Have you two been at the Academy long?" I ask looking from one twin to the other.

"Not long. First class." The one I assume is Sky answers.

"I'm sorry if this offends but... can I ask, are you two beings or one?"

They look to one another as if in confusion until they both show a look of understanding. ""Don't know?""

Sky looks off to the side wistfully while Sea's gaze flickers back an forth.

"Ah! I didn't mean to upset you!" I raise my hands attempting to do damage control.

"We... we? We are unperturbed." Sea says, tasting the words on her lips. "But we are unused to this form."

They're not use to this form? This was a huge clue for me. Perhaps this would bring me closer to figuring out my own body trouble. How do other students relate to their Academy forms. Are they generally different to their home worlds form? Or are they almost always identical unless there is some issue.

"Y-Your different? How so?" I ask, trying to hold back my excitement.

"..." They look back to one another and have a silent conversation with their eyes. Or at least that's what it looks like. ""Not this."" They reply.

My smile slips a little. Trying to contain my disappointment I'm unsure how to parse their confusion. How is it difficult to describe the differences? They just seem stranger and stranger as we talk. But I suppose their bodies are partially transparent. Perhaps they have a more nebulous form back home? I can only wonder.

"Easier to say, what we are not. We think." Sky ponders. "Not land, not fire, not void, not people. We simply are. We hug the rest in our embrace and protect ourselves and our charges."

Sea nods in agreement. "Although that has become difficult lately." Sky cringes in self admonishment. "Then we awoke here. This form is restrictive but... unique. Fun almost?" She cocks her head.

"So..." I ponder for a moment. Sounds like they literally represent their namesakes. Oh god, that would make them either divine deities or spirits, wouldn't it? "Y-You represent the sea and sky?"

A look of recognition crosses their features. I get a synchronised nod in response. "That seems to be what most people call us." I totally underestimated the students here. I didn't expect to meet this type of entity. They seem nice enough though...

Sky observes me for a few seconds, giving me a once over. "Are you not the same? Out of everyone here we feel the most kinship to you."

Eh?! "Em, I'm not sure I understand?" Do they some how feel how awkward I feel in my changed body? Or is this because they also straddle the line of gender? What do they mean!

Sea smiles at me. "Kin. Will you join us in learning new things?"

I open my mouth to respond but I'm interrupted as the door opens at the far end of the room. From which a bird like teacher enters the room. Her plumage is the very definition of loud colourful hues. Her head has peacock like feathers that cascade down her back. A hooked bill on her face gives her what looks like a perpetual frown. But it's the beady black eyes which have no soul to them that send shivers down my spine.

While her form is ostentatious her aura is chilling. Devoid of warmth it gobbles all joy from the surroundings hording it for herself. She makes no sound yet commands attention.

"Class! I am your teacher." She scans the room. With an almost begrudging sigh she introduces herself. "Call me Teacher Quill."

"Tch... lazy bird-kin..." Sky? What was that about?

Shaking out her arms talons appear out of the loose sleeves. Feathers fan out from her revealed arms. The wicked claws on the end of her talons look more like weapons than delicate tools to draw intricate circles with. However as she approaches the central stage she deftly picks up a stick of chalk before doing the impossible.

Drawing where no surface should exists she marked out a perfect circle with the chalk. Meeting exactly where she began with no blemish or discontinuity. Moving on she added countless miniature circles in concert with the large one in some unknown logic only known to her.

The pattern was entrancing. Faster and faster she moved as the circles grew smaller and smaller until she moved onto the straight line segments that drew out stars and segmented the circles. Misgivings about the teacher forgotten I stare in wonder, imaging what on earth she could be building to.

As she finished she had the whole room in rapt attention. With a confidence that could only be earned through countless hours of study she stepped back and reached out with one talon like hand.

A mist of vibrant colours issued from her open hand and sinks into the chalk lines. Light begins to emit from the pattern like a particularly psychedelic screen saver. The colours flow down the chalk lines, shifting and changing as they go. A wry smile formed on my face as my awe quickly crumbles.

The gaudy display only grows as the pompous effects become more and more apparent in their artificial nature. Why can I tell it's so artificial. Then I notice the clear bad acting the teacher is doing while the magic display continues. Fake gasps of exertion and shaking of her hand as if fighting the effort of creating the illusion. She's completely haming it up. I also note the faint light coming from the platform below her. Centring on where she's standing. Ah, she's totally a show off and a fraud.

She obviously has the skills to do the technical portions of the subject. But she seems to prize something else over that fact. Perhaps she's overly concerned with her image...

The circle fills out before being obliterated in an explosion of glowing chalky dust. Which subsequently implodes into a point before her. She stands proud before clawing at the ball floating before her. Ripping her hand away amorphous blobs follow her action. Again and again she rips these forms from the orb making great pains to dramatically perform the task.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The blobs condense into solid forms. Little bird like humanoid figures flit around the room. Like fairies but with feathered wings rather than insect ones. One lands on our desk much to Seas delight, but not Skys. The classroom fills with excited murmurs from the students and playful giggles from the miniature bird-kin.

It's like 3D TV. The bird-kin have a little bit of that artificial flavour. Repeated designs from a small selection. Feathers that look identical and are placed in rigid rows. Parts that don't seem to fully connect to one another. The little flaws become apparent especially under the eyes of someone who dabbles in 3D modelling myself. But it's still neat. Kinda want to try this myself. In fact the recognition that it's artificial fills me with the excitement that I could possibly do this myself one day. It's just not the awe that Quill seems to want to elicit in the students.

As the small bird-kin start to dissolve the audience gives out a small disappointed cry. Quill doesn't take notice however as she's already begun something much bigger. Wrenching the orb apart it hatches into an inferno that covers the stage engulfing her entirely. Some of the students cry out at the sight cowering behind their desks. Sigh, how melodramatic.

The flames coalesce into a familiar form. A bird of fire, born from the ashes of chalk dust that made up the orb and were scattered by her performance. A phoenix is born.

It soars into the dark ceiling illuminating it for the first time. I almost laugh as countless black circles struggle to shroud the ceiling back into the oppressive darkness that was there before. So that was all fake too. The bird eventually dive bombs back towards the stage. Which is now seemingly empty before exploding upon impact.

Flames sweep over the audience who scream in shock. Many hiding beneath their desks. The twins don't move however. I'm too busy thinking of applications to care. It's like VR, no AR, it's a perfect implementation of AR isn't it?

When the flames finally dissipate the teacher is revealed once more. Completely intact. "That is the power of The Art. Otherwise known in the Academy as Universal Geometries. But I only recognise it as The Art, the one and only art form."

Students start to emerge from behind their desk. I even see a skittish Noble emerge before he straightens his robe and pretends to be unperturbed. I hold back a snort of amusement.

"In this class we will be learning the basics of the Art. From form and technique, to construction and elementary aspect theory. However I will not abide by an ugly circle. If you do not perform to my expectations you shall leave!" Oh fudge. I did not like where this was going. She can do that? Wait... can she do that? I was under the assumption that once I paid my points I would receive classes in the subject.

I had not heard that the teacher could unilaterally remove students from the class. The exam at the end of the class would determine whether they earned, lost or retained the same number of points. What would happen if you left the class? Is there an option to refund the points?

"It is my belief that only certain mages have what it takes to perform the Art. I will not waste my time with uncultured curs. So that is why we will be administering a simple test to begin our class."

She reaches out again with the chalk in her hand. Tracing out a new circle in the air vertically. It's less elaborate than the original but no less daunting to attempt to draw. Why do we have a drawing test at the beginning of class! This seems totally unfair! I grumble under my breath. A quick glance around the room shows I'm not the only one caught off guard.

Once she finishes she takes a claw and taps the side of the circle. Rather than scattering the loose collection of chalk dust the entire circle begins to slowly spin. "If you tap the white circle on your desk a length of chalk will be summoned. Now chop chop! I shan't be waiting forever for you to finish."

Snapped out of my daze I look for the white circle. The first circle on the left is the one I'm looking for. A quick tap creates a little light show before a length of chalk plops down onto the desk. OK, how should I go about doing this?

I've never been great at drawing. I've dabbled in 3D but that's different. A lot of 3D modelling can be done in exact increment, with modifiers, with undos and, in the worst case, tweaked over and over until your satisfied. Drawing is such an inexact process in my eyes, which usually means I loose interest in perfecting the skill rather quickly. Ugh! Why do we have to make circles with such a backward process, let me use CAD or something! Please!

I start with the largest circle. Using the largest guide as my template. Peaking at Sea and Sky shows they have much more confidence as they go about their own task. Sea is flowing and beautiful as she sketches out the circle. Not so much joining the ends of the circle as artistically copying the form of the circle. Sky only make light touches as he dots out the extents of the circles in the pattern. Will they be OK, will that type of circle work?

I use a much more mechanical approach. Using wide sweeps from my elbow or shoulder for the larger circles. While using my wrist to mark out the smaller ones. It's not to bad. Thanks to the guides.

I wobble slightly. Rubbing out the uneven sections before filling them in again with a smoother stroke. Around the room I spot both confident students and one who are panicking just like me.

Just as I'm on the home straight she begins to patrol the classroom. While trying to flip the rotated circle in my head I hear her berate her first victim. This is not the way you teach people. A silent anger bubbles inside of me. Throwing a test at an unprepared class is absurd. Bullying students because of her own failure to teach is monstrous. But that selfish hungering aura sends shivers down my spine.

She has little empathy for those she deems unworthy. A slow trickle of students begins to leave the room. I catch the sight of Smug McSmug Face from before stand proud before his circle as she praises his work. Ugh, of all the people to pass, why him. I feel her approach as I finish my last stroke.

"Hmm, beautiful, lovely flowing strokes, my dear. However the circle will not activate without one continuous line." She speaks over our shoulder. I hear the clack of talons as she passes behind us. That was Seas circle wasn't it?

"And a lovely airy quality to this circle. You have the same problem though, work on completeness, the both of you. You two pass."

A shadow falls over my circle. I daren't turn to look behind me. A snort of breath tickles my neck. "Sterile. Completely without character. I can also see you've redrawn some sections. Leave."

What! That's it!

My heart catches in my throat. I feel like throwing up.

I can hear her footsteps moving away. Wait! If she leaves that will be it. My magic education would be dead in the water. I turn. Her disinterested face comes into view. Eyes empty of empathy look around for her next target. All thoughts of my work have been discarded.

"Wait!" I call out. Heart thundering in my chest.

She turns in annoyance. "I said leave."

My eyes fall to the floor unable to hold her gaze. "I've paid my points, I want to stay." I squeak. Hating my weak voice. This is nothing like standing up to Noble. She's a teacher. She has authority, experience and power. But I can't give up now, please!

"You what?!" Her presence looms over me. "I've already told you to leave twice I will not ask you again."

I dare to look up. Those orbs of blackness tolerate no rebuke. Her stance is firm and unyielding. She knows best, her time is worth more than mine. Her posture says. But I've met people like her before. If I don't stand up for my right to stay, no one will.

She turns to leave. Confident that I wouldn't dare contradict her again.

"Is that the rules of the Academy or a personal request?" I ask.

The room goes silent. I feel goose bumps raise along my arms. "Excuse me?" she asks feathers puffed in agitation.

"I can't believe that..." I squeeze the words out. "The Academy allows... for such unilateral... decisions." I'm not certain where exactly this conviction comes from. But from my experiences so far, points are almost held in sacred regard.

"You..." She's seething.

"Our friend stays." A voice beside me calls out calmly. My eyes open wide. I look over to see Sky standing firm. He doesn't cower like me. His gaze is steely cold and even.

They lock gazes for a tense few seconds. Until she clicks her tongue.

"Quite frankly." She turns back to me. "I don't think you've got what it takes to pass this course. Ha!" She barks an unpleasant laugh. "I have the points. See what I care. Stay and lets wait and see how you humiliate yourself when the time comes."

She turns to leave finally. I gasp for breath, having forgotten to breathe. What did that mean? The teachers need points too? I feel sort of vindicated. The points certainly mean more than I originally thought.

"Thanks. You didn't need to do that." I sigh in relief. "But thanks. I'm glad to have a new friend... or two?"

"We have a friend!" Sea seems rather giddy. Bobbing her head back and forth. Tasting the word friend on her lips.

Sky just smirks to himself. "Hmm, a friend. This will be... novel?" Only just realising what he said himself.

Ha... I have some strange new friends. Nothing new there. I watch as Quill continues around the room. Much to her annoyance other students have taken to refusing her when she asks them to leave. Her feathers become more and more ruffled. Not only that, but some of the students who were leaving have returned.

I see her shoot a withering glare in my direction. I think I'm going to need all the friends I can get.