The next week was interesting. Valeria spent a lot of time socialising with other students. What I did not see her do was train. Magically she might have been ahead of us but combat wise? I had my doubts. She was not in the same class as Helena and myself. So I did not see her fight. She did not share an advanced magic class with me either.

“Valeria is annoying.” Skadi said. It was Venday evening and we were in the mess hall. We had just sat down.

“What did she do?” I asked.

“She spends too much time trying to talk to me.” Skadi replied.

“You share a class? You did not mention that.” Helena said.

Skadi shrugged. “It’s not that interesting in general. But she is just so… exhausting. She should spend her time with weapons practice. She is almost as bad as you were at the start of the year.”

“Huh. You know, she mentioned that she needs to pass the mid-year exam. It’s part of the deal for joining now.” I said.

“I doubt that the academy would let her fail.” Skadi replied.

“I am not sure.” Helena said. “The headmaster is not someone who is easily pushed around.”

“They did let her join mid year.” Cassie pointed out.

“At least you two are now roommates. So there is something positive about her showing up. Assuming she is responsible for Clara leaving.” I said.

“True.” Skadi agreed.

“Valeria is a typical noble. She spends most of her time forming connections. The Royal Military Academy has a lot of nobles who don’t inherit. Or are not that important. Or their parents want them to learn some discipline. Politics are not a big focus here.” Cassie explained.

“You would think your mother would prefer the Academy of Neth.” I mused.

“If I had been a typical noble, yes. But I would not go out and socialise anyway. Mom hoped I would find a husband here because the school tends to have more men.” Cassie said.

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“You are not actually that good at combat. Or were, at first. Maybe she hoped you would fail.” Skadi suggested.

Cassie looked at her. “I… I have never really considered that.”

“Why would she want you to fail?” I asked.

“It would make Cassie less independent. Her mother might see Cassie as rebellious and wanted her to learn discipline and duty. Either she succeeds here, in which case the military might change her, or she fails and her mother can use it to guilt her into changing.”

“Well, you are not going to fail. And I'm glad that you are here.” I told Cassie.

She smiled. “Thanks.”

“You have made a lot of progress since we started training. Shows you how much hard work can do!” Skadi said.

“That and Koyuki’s technique. I think it really helped.” Cassie said.

“We all seem to be improving a bit faster since then.” Helena remarked.

“You are right. It does feel like I am learning spells faster now.” Skadi agreed. Then she frowned and seemed to stare at something. I turned around and saw Valeria approaching. She was not alone.

“Hi! Can we sit with you?” She asked with a smile.

“You want to sit with them?” I heard a familiar voice. It was Florence.

“Why not? They are hard working and talented students!” Valeria replied.

“They are nobodies. Someone is clearly helping them and the poor princess fell for their farce. It’s all Hailstorm’s work. He should not be the headmaster.” Florence sneered.

While they were talking Archibald arrived with his sycophants.

“What is this? Surely we can find another table. One with…a better smell.” He looked at me while he was saying that. Nyx was curled up in the middle of the table. One of her eyes opened and stared at Archibald.

“I am sure Nyx is a wonderful and clean undead. But maybe it would be a bit crowded with all of us here. We can eat together another time!” Valeria clearly tried to defuse the situation. I was sure that Archibald was implying that I smelled, not Nyx. “I think I see an empty table!” Valeria said and left. The others followed her.

“Valeria is friends with Archibald’s group?” I wondered.

“He might not be the heir but he is still the son of a duke. And Florence is the daughter of a duke. Those are precisely the kind of people she is used to hanging out with.” Cassie said. “They probably knew each other before she came here. I am surprised I haven’t seen her with Leo yet.”

“Archibald was wounded in the Korrah Forest. That is her family’s territory. I bet she is trying hard to smooth things over.” Helena added.

“This is a momentous occasion.” Skadi said.

I frowned. “How so?”

“For the first time ever, Archibald was useful. He saved us from having to talk with Valeria.” Skadi replied.

Helena and I laughed, Cassie snickered.

“You know, talking with people is not that bad.” Helena said after she finished laughing.

“As the daughter of merchants, shouldn’t you like talking?” I asked.

“Business is different. I can haggle, or negotiate. But small talk just for the sake of talking? With strangers? No, just no. Our group is ok. Everyone else can go away.” Skadi said.

“She has a point. Most people are just not fun. They get all weird when you want to explode things. Or talk about poisoning your suitors.” Cassie said.

“I don’t mind people that much. But most would not understand the beauty of an undead army wading through a blizzard.” Helena added.

I looked at my friends. Then shrugged. “Clearly we are the best team.”

“Meow.”

Nyx agreed.