Airin flinched when Liska tackled them in front of the door to the music theory room just before fifth period. She was red-faced and out of breath. “I didn’t think I was going to make it! Math was on the other side of the school!”

Just my suitemate. Nothing to be scared of. She’s just being nice.

Music theory was their last class before lunch. They both took seats near the front.

Airin stiffened as a familiar boy pushed through the door and plopped right in front of her. Oliver is in this class, too?

“Airin! How do we have a class together?” He sniffed and slapped his notebook on the desk. “I should get my mom to move me to advanced music theory because this class will be way too easy for me.”

Airin felt like they had been coated in ice. They tried to shrug, but it came out more like a flinch.

He eyed Liska and sniffed.

Liska snarled at him, “Who are you?”

“Airin didn’t tell you about me?” Oliver puffed out his chest. “I’m Oliver Darklighter.” He rolled his eyes at Airin. “Airin’s family serves mine. My family has been famous for their enchanted magical items for generations. You’ve probably heard of us.”

Liska’s head swiveled toward Airin, eyebrows raised. Airin put their face in their hands. Oliver was being Oliver.

He rolled his eyes and went on. “I’ve been playing the violin since I was two and the cello since I was five. I study privately with Adolphus Magister. Since I didn’t see either of you in orchestra this morning, I assume you’re in one of the lesser music groups. Only the elite players are in the Eclipse Arts orchestra.”

“We’re both in chorus,” said Airin, though they were certain Oliver already knew that.

“Well, of course you didn’t even make it into show choir.” “No middle schoolers are in show choir!” Liska protested, agape.

“Middle schoolers aren’t usually in orchestra, either, but I am,” said Oliver. “And my suite is going to win the quad talent show, too.” “What talent show?” asked Liska.

“You don’t know about the quad talent show? Well, it’s actually called a battle. Each quad puts on a talent show. The winning suite gets a pizza party and no lunch duty for the rest of the semester. It was in the seventh-grade welcome letter. Didn’t you read it?” He smirked at Airin. “Oh, I guess Mom forgot to tell you, since she enrolled you. And everyone is required to do it; you get a participation grade for it in your performance class.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The air seemed to thicken, refusing to flow into their lungs. Airin shrunk into their seat. Competing against Oliver would mean trouble with the Darklighters. My parents might not let me stay.

An elderly elf in a tidy suit and bow tie entered the room, a conductor’s baton and a small bundle of books in his hands. His expression was serious. The class quieted down quickly. Oliver spun around and folded his hands on his desk.

Airin had seen Adolphus Magister before at the Darklighter estate but had never been allowed to meet him. Oliver talked more about Magister than anything else.

The deep lines etched on his face showed his age. Airin wondered how old he was. Elves can live a long time, so Magister may be four or five hundred years old.

Magister set his bundle of books and baton on the front desk. “Greetings. This is Music Theory, Level One. If you are not enrolled in this class, I suggest you find the correct one.”

One student, a lanky shifter boy, exclaimed, “Oh!” and, leaping up, ran out of the room.

Magister shook his head. “There’s one every year.” Titters rippled through the room, but at a glance from Magister, everyone went silent.

“I am Adolphus Magister. You may call me Magister or Maestro.”

“I have played the cello and conducted orchestras for over two hundred and eighty years. Wherever you are sitting now will be your seat for the rest of the year.”

Great. Stuck behind Oliver all year.

“There will be no magic in my class. We are here to learn how to listen to and understand classical music so you can become proficient musicians. Those who have studied an orchestral instrument or piano will find this class easier than those of you who haven’t.”

Oliver turned around and smirked at Airin and Liska. Airin glanced at Liska. She was scowling.

“This class will be difficult for everyone, but particularly for those without previous music theory training.” Magister began to hand out textbooks. “I expect you to read the first chapter tonight and return to class tomorrow able to distinguish different types of notes, from quarter notes to whole notes.”

Oliver made a scoffing noise. He probably thought that was easy.

Magister gave him a stern sniff and continued, “There will be a quiz every Tuesday and a test every Friday. I will hand out staff paper notebooks, but they have been delayed. I hope we will get them by the end of the week. Until then, you will have to use notebook paper for your exercises.”

Airin had never studied music before, except to learn the seven basic banshee warning songs. Their parent Sola had told them that they would learn more advanced songs once they were an adult.

Airin opened the textbook and read the first few pages. Strange symbols covered the pages, most of them with very short explanations. Is this a different language?

Liska paged through the textbook making soft humming sounds.

Airin realized that she must be reading the notes on the page.

“Your first quiz is tomorrow,” Magister announced.

Oliver turned to smirk at Airin once again. Airin felt like Oliver had punched them in the chest instead.

This class is going to be hard. Very hard.