The college professors were constantly surprised by her intelligence, quickly surpassing many of her peers, most of whom were two or three times her age. The six-year-old had, under their guidance, already reading and writing, but that was nothing compared to comprehension of simple math problems. Of all her abilities that annoyed her fellow students, Zoe’s near-flawless memory drew the most ire. She would remind the professors about tasks they had said they were going to assign and it was Zoe that reminded them every time ignoring the glares and boo’s from the rest of the room.

Most of the other students did not care that she was a girl, it was not uncommon for girls to be the educated ones in many families so that the men could keep up with the physical tasks of the village. Zoe had made herself an outcast because of her intelligence, the men enrolled in the college all had the ego and air of superiority, and the fact she was the only child enrolled in the school and was surpassing many of them in their studies, the closest student to her was just turning twenty, so none of them wanted to be stuck dealing with a small child outside of class, especially one smarter than they were.

“She is kind of doing it to herself,” Tilton Brightwater said as the professors sat in the teacher lounge discussing her isolated behaviours, “She is so smart that she embarrasses new students by being smarter than they are.”

Anrod Netheridge, the headmaster of the college sat listening to what they were saying before offering his opinion, “Is it the magic coursing through her that has caused this intelligence?”

“Well, that is the thing there is no residual magic in her system as far as our tests can tell. Whatever the reason she is this smart it is her.” Tilton said.

“Perhaps then simply her age, it might be worth considering to try with more students.” Anrod pondered, the gears ticking over inside his mind.

The first lesson of the day was always one of the worst ones for Zoe, while she was often up early, her motivation often lagged. The lesson choices did not help with the boredom, the college chose this time to put the morning mind-numbing subjects into her schedule. “No not like that! Writing a letter is an important skill, a young lady such as yourself needs to know how to fit in with society.” Professor Brightwater lectured.

Zoe felt her mind starting to wander, her eyes soon becoming heavier and she struggled to stay awake. Her head began to fall as she dozed off but she managed to catch herself before she slammed face-first into the desk, the jerking movement causing several strands of her shoulder-length brown hair to come loose from the ponytail it was usually kept in. She hated having her hair done, it always hurt so she just pushed the strands back behind her face before they immediately moved and fell back in front of her face. When the door to the room burst open it all changed and she was snapped back to attention, storming in was an elderly and heavy-set man. The charcoal in his hair covered it, making it look like his hair was naturally that colour. “Are you Brightwater?” he said with a gruff voice.

She nodded in response, not expecting the sudden intrusion herself, “She is your problem now! Get in here girl!” He screamed.

At his command, a young girl with dirty blonde hair slouched in, exhaustion clear to everyone in the room as she was barely able to stay upright and filthy with torn, ratty clothes. Zoe could not help but think this child had been thoroughly mistreated.

Tilton Brightwater looked over the child with sadness, “Come with me dear. We will get you cleaned up and a good meal into you.”

The gruff man turned to face the professor once again, “Don’t bother. This devil child is nothing but a waste of space. I will not take her back when she inevitably fails here as well. You will do best to toss her on the street and let her starve.”

“You can go Mr Silver.” She said bluntly dismissing him, “Do not listen to him child we will get you cleaned up and we will get you trained correctly. How could someone mistreat a child like this, what kind of father are you.”

That comment stopped him dead in his tracks, his hand on the door handle, “I am not that wretched thing's father, she was sold to me by that lying, no-good orphanage. They lied to me and said she actually had some talent. Stupid girl can barely conjure a light and even when she does manage, she almost burned my shop to the ground. So long and good riddance you little brat.

He left after his rant and Zoe couldn’t help herself, “What a dick!” causing both the professor and the girl to smirk.

Professor Brightwater dismissed the class quickly after, taking the girl out before the rest of the class could fumble out. With no other classes before lunch, Zoe decided it would be a perfect time to go find her favourite spot in the yard where she could spend some time away from the other students. It was her place when the world became too much for her that she went and hid away with a book. In between the roots of an old oak tree she nestled in, just contorted enough that she was comfortable, long ago stashing an old blanket in a small gap in the roots she threw it over herself and settled in for a relaxing break.

Some hours later, she wasn’t exactly sure how many, she found herself waking up still curled up at the base of the tree, the sun had begun to set for the day but had yet to fully fall beneath the horizon. It was time for her to make her way back to her room. Her room was arguably the best room in the entire college, once upon a time it had been the headmaster's office but needing to be closer to the rest of the school it became another storage room when the school expanded. For as long as she could remember the room had been a dumping ground for all the books the college library had been unable to find a place for and so she had piles and piles stacked in all manner or precarious spots around the place.

The only spot that had been left clear was the large circular window that dominated the room making the room at all hours of the day. So when Zoe climbed the stairs to the third-floor room and started to see the many books she loved piled in hurried stacks on the stairs leading up she became quite concerned that something strange was going on. Opening the door to her room she stopped suddenly as she was greeted by two people.

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Professor Brightwater was the first to speak, “Zoe. Good. I am glad you are here.”

The other person waiting for her was the girl who had been brought into class earlier and ended her learning for the day. It was in that moment that things clicked for the rather intelligent young girl but she still wanted them to say it hoping she was wrong.

“Let me introduce you to Izora, she will be your new roommate.” Professor Brightwater announces much to Zoe’s disappointment and annoyance.

Unable to hold back Zoe just blurted out, “Why does she have to sleep in my room?”

“Zoe, we needed somewhere near the handmaiden that looks after you and this is the only space available.” She answered.

“Put her in there. I don’t want her in my room.” Zoe demanded.

“This is not up for debate Zoe. She will be staying in her and you will get used to it, like most of the other students in the college. It has been a privilege for you to have a room to yourself for so long but now you get to share and you will.”

“But…”

“Zoe! This is not up for debate. Izora, Zoe will take you to breakfast in the morning and we will collect you afterward for class.” Professor Brightwater said.

The small quiet and timid girl had been standing the entire time listening to the rant and waiting for her chance to speak up. She stepped forward hand outstretched, “It’s nice to meet you. I hope we can be friends.”

Zoe looked at the outstretched hand and then turned away from her moving back to her bed against the far wall, “Just don’t touch my stuff.”

The pair did not speak much the first night, Zoe choosing to spend the night in bed reading, sulking the entire time about the new living situation. Izora on the other hand spent a few hours setting up her part of the room. At some point two meals were delivered to the room for them, most of which Zoe did not eat, Izora quickly scoffed down her own and eyed off the food on Zoe’s plate.

It took some time for Izora to build up the courage to talk to Zoe again. “Hey it’s still early, did you wanna go for a walk and show me around?”

"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE WHY DON'T YOU!" Zoe screamed frustrated at her.

Stunned into silence, Izora was all too familiar with the anger in her voice, the weeks she had spent with Mr Silver selling the goods in his shop. It was a common occurrence to be yelled at when she messed up some of the magic or lost a sale and cost him money. Izora instinctively retreated backward to her bed, it was only when Zoe stopped stomping around the room and went to leave with the young witch cowering against the wall trying to get as far away from Zoe as she could. Zoe saw what Izora was doing, but the anger in her wouldn't let her stop just yet.

"Why do you have to be here? This is my room." Zoe complained

"I'm sorry" Izora whimpered, tears welling up in her eyes afraid that she would lash out at her again. Zoe stormed out of their room and left the frightened Izora alone to calm down, crying in bed, unable to stop. She was too afraid to leave, paralyzed by fear until she eventually fell asleep. curled in the fetal position.

Zoe did not understand why she was so angry at Izora, she knew she shouldn't be, it was not her fault but she could not calm down, storming the college corridors in the dark, avoiding the other students as they were returning from dinner. The halls were darkened and the last students had returned to their rooms for the night by the time she calmed down enough for her to bring herself to a stop and breath at a normal pace.

“Why are you out of bed at this hour miss?” the soothing voice of Katherine Mercer the college healer asked appearing from the dark as if she was using magic to move about.

Almost jumping out of her skin at the surprise, all she could utter was an apology, “Sorry miss.”

“How are you and Izora doing? Are you getting along?”

Zoe could feel the anger starting to build again as she was asked the question. Butting before she was able to go off on a rant, Katherine said, “You need to be kind to that girl, she has not had an easy life, her family abandoned her when her magic started to appear and she has bounced from home to home, most of which abused her. She will need someone kind around.”

"Fine!"

"Zoe. I am warning you, do not mistreat this girl, you will regret it. Do I make myself clear!"

"Yes miss."

"Good. Now go to bed. Quick, run along."

Most of the time there wasn't much going on in the forest. The local monsters and other wildlife tended to avoid the area around the college and the vast amount of foot traffic that entered through this gate, although not as much as the hospital entrance. The college was always busy with scholars coming and going for various studies around the continent and today was no different the numerous people entering the ground were increasing despite the rain. The sudden appearance of a royal entourage was a curious thing. Despite the College of Silversong being one of the greatest repositories of information in the known world it was still rare that a member of the royal family visited its doors especially unannounced. So When Zoe saw more than a dozen members of the royal guard on horseback trot through their gates followed by the most expensive carriage she had ever seen she knew something big was up. Painted wood, strengthened with steel plates to protect from attack as they traveled. Even the horses pulling it along were a different class from what the average person could afford. Their white coats were only muddied by the days of travel on the dirt roads of Fraoveth and the heavy armour covering the vulnerable parts of their bodies. The carriage and its entourage blew past her barely slowing down as it flung mud up in her direction. Zoe jumped back just in time to avoid wearing more than a few patches of mud, instead watching it hit the seat

"Great" She scoffed to herself wiping herself down, failing at it as well.

She made her way back inside continuing to wipe the mud off her She barely got inside before she was stopped by Professor Blackburn, "Hold up. The corridor is off limits while they pass by." The professor told her as the royal guard walked by focusing on guiding the woman they surrounded by towards the headmaster's office.

"Who is that? "Zoe asked.

"That is the queen of Adrelalind," He said," Be careful while they are here. They aren't to be messed with."

Once the royal guard had passed by Zoe was allowed to make her way upstairs to her room. or rather, their room. Izora sat on her bed staring out the window, clearly having just watched the royal arrival.

"Hey." Zoe said, "Did you see them?"

"Yea. There were so many guards."Izora answered, "Why do you think they are here?"

"I don't know but it must be important. I have never seen a member of one of the royal families turn up here."

"Wow."

"Hey. So umm. I'm sorry for how I treated you. I shouldn't have been so mean to you." Zoe stammered through.

"It's okay, but now we can just get on being best friends." Izora cheerily said, "Come take a look at this."

Zoe walked over to the window next to her bed, the large circular glass window allowed the pair to see everything below. The window overlooked the area where the carriage was parked. From their vantage point, they saw the guards helping to unpack two more carriages that had since pulled up. Together with the queen's servants, they were lugging in dozens of suitcases with all the queen's things.

"How long are they staying?" Zoe asked. "Looks like they staying forever," Izora said.

"Let's go get something to eat," Zoe said suddenly.