Sunlight came in through the windows at the perfect angle. Slamming into the sleeping girl’s eyes. Grumbling to herself, she rolled over, bunching her thick blanket around her head. Finally in the smooth embrace of darkness once more, she sighed as sleep began to embrace her.

“Evelyn!” Someone shouted, banging on her door.

“Go away Luke!”

“You’re gonna be late again!”

She sat up, grumbling to herself even louder. She did not really care about being late, but she was already awake now, thanks to the sun and Luke. The young girl didn’t need to care about being late. She had the best grades in the class, and due to her special constitution, she casually aced all the physical tests.

“Come on! Wake up!” Luke shouted through the door again.

“I’m up! Now shut up!”

Evelyn was likely the only one that would dare to talk to him that way. After all, Luke was the son of Duke Redmond, cousin and direct advisor to the King. The only reason Evelyn was able to talk to Luke that way was because she was being endorsed by the Duke, who treated her like his own daughter.

As Evelyn got up and prepared for the day, she thought of her constitution, the reason she was there in the first place.

It was called the ‘Celestial Maiden’ body, or Body of the Holy Maiden. It was extremely rare, the last user dying of old age over four hundred years ago, and the Maiden herself had lived to be nearly two hundred.

The body was naturally closer to the Gods. Apparently, Evelyn should expect to interact with the Gods from time to time. She would be more sensitive to the world and more Intune with it. Due to her age, and not having a Class. That basically meant that she learned things very easily and her body was in perfect shape. Many of her other friends constantly complained about how unfair it was, but did so jokingly, even if silently they meant it.

However, when she got her Class, and leveled up, her special body would allow her unique abilities and opportunities, many of which the system didn’t even recognize. But for now, she just breezed her way through her classes, helping those who asked for it.

Evelyn finished braiding her hair and opened the door, where an ever impatient Luke was waiting, hopping from foot to foot like he needed to pee.

“Finally! Let's go!” He exclaimed, grabbing her hand and running as fast as he could to class. Evelyn easily kept up.

They were currently in the Female Dorms, a place that technically the young noble shouldn’t be in. Even as the son of a Duke, if he was caught by one of the teachers, he would be severely punished, then handed over to his father, who would do even worse. However, he had only ever been caught once. Since then, he had always been too stealthy, going as far as to memorize the patterns of the teachers.

The stone halls of the Academy were decorated with beautiful paintings, engravings, and statues, but the students rarely had time to admire them.

The pair made it to class just as the teacher began the lecture. So while they were sternly stared at, they hadn’t actually been late.

“Ah, Luke,” In the Academy, titles were ignored outside official occasions, such as dances or ceremonies, “Since you are so excited to be here, perhaps you could tell everyone the titles of the five Elven rulers?”

Evelyn sat down at the desk as Luke froze in the aisle. The classroom, much like all the others, were an auditorium styled, with rows of desks, each one higher than the one in front. As such, the teacher was at the lowest point in the room, with a large board they would write on.

As Luke stammered through his memories, trying to figure out the answer, Evelyn quietly waved to her friends on the row and took out her books, which were mostly filled with her drawings.

“Umm, Seasonal Protectors?” He finally guessed.

“Close but no. Now sit down. Evelyn, what are they?” The teacher dismissed Luke and turned around to face the board, already knowing Evelyn would supply the correct answer.

“They are called ‘The Guardians of the Forest’. Each one is granted a title for the area they rule over and is granted additional power during their season. Currently, the most powerful is the Lord of Winter, who rules the South of the Elvish Lands. Then it will be the Lord of Spring, who rules the East. Then Lord of Summer, who rules the North. Finally, completing the cycle, is the Lord of Autumn, who rules the West.

The fifth lord is the overall Royal family of the Elves. They govern the other lords, ensuring peace between them and speaking for Elves as a race. However, Civil wars between the Elves still happen occasionally. Typically, between the Lord of Autumn and the Lord of Winter.”

“And the Ruling family is called?” The teacher prompted.

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“The Aehana. Which is also their family name.”

“And in Elvish, that word means?”

“Everwood.”

“Very good!” The teacher congratulated, not that he expected anything else. Evelyn always knew the correct answer, especially after she started to read the books for later in the year.

“Now, Adam! What sort of society do the Elves have?”

“Matriarchy!” Adam was excited to finally be asked a question he actually knew.

“And why is that?” The teacher asked, writing ‘Elvish Matriarchy’ on the board.

“Because Elves have a very low birth rate of males.”

“Good. And what has that led to within Elvish Families?”

“Uhhh, I don’t sir.”

“Then let class begin. Elves are a long-lived race, who, on average, live until they are one hundred and fifty. However, just like any other race, upon becoming an Expert, their Life spans are increased drastically. Elves also maintain body strength until they are roughly one hundred, while humans gradually begin to lose their health after fifty and typically die of old age in their sixties.

Humans are a primarily Strength based race, while Elves are a Dexterity based race. Now, can anyone tell me what the Dwarves are? Holly?”

“Constitution?”

“Correct. Of course, this only means that the stat has more of an impact, not that you can't use other stats. Elves see more of an impact when their Dexterity raises than humans do. They are very quick.

Moving back to the Elvish Society. While women rule, in truth, the males still hold a significant role. Not even the Queen of the Elves would casually ignore the Elvish men. Despite the longer life, Elvish children still mature at the same rate as humans do, however, they are not considered actual adults until they turn twenty.

It is the Male’s job to teach and protect the children. Each Elf is expected to master at least one combat style, and one craft or art. As such, while every Elf is highly skilled, a Male Elf is a master in the art of killing. Due to their low rate of birth, each child is highly valuable and the Male will slaughter anything that threatens a child.

However, most of the time, the Male spends their time in the home. They are usually doing one of three things, training themselves, teaching the children, or in the act of making children.”

Most of the children blushed, while many let out awkward chuckles. They were all twelve or thirteen.

“Due to the scarcity of children and the rarity of males, it is each male’s duty to create a family. To do so, each male will typically have between three and six wives. However, the King is only ever allowed to be with the Queen. Yes Colin?”

One of the students had raised their hand.

“So the guys spend most of their time with multiple women?”

“The particulars are each different per Elvish family, nor are they what I teach. Though I do believe your Health classes start next semester, where they will teach you those particulars. Moving on!”

The rest of the class taught of the Society of the Elves, as well as their political standing, allies, rivals, region, and Military strength. None of it was very in depth, but it was meant as an introductory lesson, as the rest of the month would be about the Elves.

Classes took a break for lunch, then resumed until four in the afternoon. Every two hours, the teacher would change, where the student would stay in the same room. After class, the students were expected to return to their rooms and study, but it wasn’t enforced. As long as the students stayed on campus, and out of restricted areas, it was free time.

Luke and Evelyn sat at one of the cafeteria tables with a bunch of their friends. Most were studying, but they were all just talking.

“Hey Holly, what are you going to do during the break?”

Each school year was broken up into quarters, with a week-long break between each and a month-long break at the end of the year. They were only a week away from the break, where afterward they would be in the second quarter of the school year.

“My family is planning on traveling through our territory. My father wants to see the state of them personally and decided to make a family vacation of it. What about you, Adam?”

“I don’t know. My father keeps pestering me about learning what he does. So I’m pretty sure I’m going to be watching and helping my father. What about you Evelyn?”

“No idea. It's too far to return to Pinefall. It takes two weeks just to get there. Not that I’d want to go back.”

“Still mad?” Adam asked.

“Of course I am! They gave me over to the Knights while I was still sleeping! I wasn’t even able to say goodbye to anyone.” Evelyn exclaimed, drawing some attention from some of the other students in the cafeteria.

“Come on Eve, you know they only did what they thought was best. Perhaps you should forgive them and write to them?” Luke tried to calm her. This was not the first time he had suggested this, either.

Evelyn slumped in her seat, resting her chin on her propped up arm. She toyed with her necklace as she responded, “I know. But its super expensive to send a letter that far.”

“And, as I’ve told you before. My dad would have no problem with it. He might even send it with one of his personal men while they went somewhere nearby.”

That was true. As an Advisor to the King, the Duke constantly send agents throughout the Kingdom to report the situations of the area.

“Yeah, but that would still take at least a month to get a response, and there is no guarantee that the letter will get there.”

“Why not try? Just write the letter and give it to Duke. He will send the letter the next time he sends one of his agents in that area. And then maybe perhaps, eventually, you will get a letter from your family. It would only take you a bit of time to write it. So why not?” Holly suggested, trying to be helpful to her friend.

“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll write the letter tonight and give it to the Duke during the weekend.” Evelyn stated, promising herself, as she glanced at her necklace.

Compared to the rest of her belongings that the Duke had given her, the Necklace looked shoddy and out of place. But the necklace her brother had given her was the most valuable thing she had.

It was all she had to remember him by since she had left.