I was now thoroughly convinced that an eternity of chopping a log that repaired itself after every hit was my personal hell. By the time the hour Prudence had allotted me to attempt this task was up, I was so soaked in sweat my clothes clung to me like I’d decided to take an ill advised dive into the ocean. I could barely hold my screaming arms up- never mind continue to swing the axe that now laid on the ground beside the demented wood. I slowly walked into the house where Prudence was making yet another large plate of food. I was grateful for my impossibly fast metabolism in this body or I would look like Santa minus the jolly good will to all. 

Prudence watched as I scarfed down another meal and asked, “What was your life like before now, Nelia?”

I swallowed and replied, “Kind of boring. I grew up in a fairly well off family that expected perfection and got… me.” I shrugged and resumed eating. 

Prudence frowned and asked, “What were your interests? How much do you recall?”

‘I can remember being rejected by the only person I ever loved, getting called a generally terrible human being, and being crushed to an ashen pulp by a meteor the size of a football field.’ “I had a dog named Spotty.” I answer.

“Ah, touchy subject?” She asked.

“You could say that.” I answer. Prudence let me finish my food in silence. 

“Why don’t you go and take a bath and we’ll begin our lesson in magic?” She asked. I began to choke on the gray paste that actually was quite delicious. 

“What did you just say?” I ask.

“Magic! I intend to have you learn how to do it.”

“Prudence, no offense, but I feel like my head's about to explode. Do you think we could call it a day on learning new things?” I was hopeful that the old girl would have some pity on me and let me take a nap. 

Sadly, it seemed she was devoid of the emotion known as ‘empathy’ because she shook her head. “You only feel tired because you think you’re tired!” She said.

Now I seriously began to doubt her sanity. 

I guess it showed in my new expression because Prudence quickly said, “You only believe you’re tired because in your past life you would’ve fallen over dead by this point! Dead I say! But you must think beyond your old self. Do you really feel tired?” She asked.

“Yes, Prudence. I am exhausted.” I say very slowly.

“Spoken like a true quitter! Take your bath and we’ll begin your lesson!” I walk up the stairs to my room. Prudence has already laid out a towel and a new pair of clothes. With the items in my arms I go to the bathroom contemplating my escape from this loony taskmaster I’d made the mistake of assuming to be a decent person. I came to a circular room where the only object was a bathtub on top of a drain. It was filled with water that steamed and bubbles. I climbed in and let out a groan at how amazing heated water could feel against a sore body. 

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

While I soaked, I thought a little more about my life before. I hadn’t been lying to Prudence. My Mother and Father had expected nothing less of me than to get perfect grades, the perfect job, the perfect boyfriend, the perfect everything. I learned quickly that I was anything but and exploited every method I could to keep my parents away from that knowledge. I’d even paid a guy named Keith to be my ‘boyfriend’. Ah, Keith. We’d had some fun times pretending to have fun.

After a good twenty minutes of soaking and cleaning I get out of the tub. The clothes Prudence has selected for me are a sleeveless shirt and a pair of loose paints. Both white. I shrugged and walked out of the bathroom… into the garden again. The door closed behind me and Prudence appeared. “Are you prepared to learn about magic?” She asked.

“No.”

“Wonderful!” She snapped and one of the trees bent over so she could take a scroll from it. She unrolled it and cleared her throat. “As I told you before, Magic is accessible to everyone but only a select few are extremely good at it. There are different schools of magic that originate from the five elements recognized in this world-Wind, Water, Fire, Earth, and Lightning. From there, you can specialize. Necromancy, Enhancement, Stealth, that sort of thing. Since you aren’t a Beastman I’m going to assume that Nature isn’t your strongsuit.”

“ENGLISH.” I say.

“What’s English?” She asked. 

I let my head fall into my hands and sighed. “Explain it slowly. What the hell’s a Beastman? Why wouldn’t Nature magic be my… whatever you said?”

“Beastmen are… what is the word you would use? They’re like humans but their mastery over natural magic allows them to transform into animals and control nature. It’s a valued skill that they seem to be born with. Since you don’t have a tail or antlers I’m going to assume that isn’t what you’re good at.”

“You really know how to make a girl feel special.” I mutter. Prudence teaches me about the different uses of magic and how it was outlawed after the Fifth War to be used in a military situation. I was surprised to find that I retained everything she told me. Maybe I’d gotten lucky and become smarter in this life. It would explain the strange array of vocabulary I’d taken to using. When she finishes up her first lesson, she hands me the axe and vanishes with a wink. If it was possible to hate someone who only did positive things for you I think I’d discovered how to.