Rueln Layheart

“Welcome students,” the old man began spreading his arms to include everyone present. “My name is Calagrin Luthur and I am the director of this academy. It is a pleasure to welcome you all into the new year.”

While the teachers and staff behind the robed man lead the room in applause, I leaned toward Tagen. “I thought he was a priest.”

“I heard from my brother that he used to be one. He’s from the capital temple and everything.”

“What is he doing here, then?” I wondered, more to myself than to Tagen, who shrugged. Beside us, a girl turned and shushed us just as the applause died back down. When she saw me, she blinked, then hurriedly turned back away, looking flustered.

What’s her problem? I wondered and leaned back into my chair, crossing my arms.

“I see a lot of new faces this year,” Calagrin continued when the hall fell silent again. “I ask returning students to be courteous and answer questions. I will also remind everyone that the staff here at West Point are here to help, so there is no need to feel shy, especially in these first days of our year.”

He went on and on, but after only a few minutes, I got bored and stopped paying attention. Instead, I kept shifting in my chair, ready to get on with the day. It wasn’t until Calagrin had introduced every teacher and gone over the expectations of the dress and behavior of the students that he gestured to the side of the stage. Only when the entire assembly began to murmur and talk, that brought my attention up from where I was marking out random doodles with my thumbnail on the back of the chair in front of me.

My eyes widened and everything in me went still as a familiar girl my age walked onto the stage dressed in the West Point uniform. The blood drained from my face and stared in shock as he introduced Bria Gracy as the famous reincarnation of Empress Vhal Aairith. My fake was attending West Point too.

Every instinct screamed for me to leave, that the whole school thing was a bad idea.

“Do you know her, Rueln?” Ghus asked me after seeing my face.

I adamantly shook my head no, denying it. No one needed to know I was there when she got her recall and had met her in line. I doubt she remembered me, anyway. All I remembered of her was that she was the one who was stealing my identity and was really pompous and talked my ears off in line. “No,” I said, even as I slouched in my seat, practically ducking out of sight. “I don’t.”

My friends gave me odd looks of amusement, but let it go. “I thought she was going to the capital this year, but I guess not.” Kead said, pulling at a lock of his hair. “Why is she here, though? She’s been treated like a noble, as far as I know.”

“I don’t know. This is her third year, isn’t it? Why start at a new school?” Tagen asked.

“Probably to show off more,” I muttered, and my friends snickered in agreement. I knew I was right. It was the obvious thing to do if you wanted to be in the spotlight as much as the liar obviously did. Who put it in her head anyway to not tell the temple they had it wrong and that she wasn’t the empress? There was no way she could keep up the pretense forever. Someone was going to figure out who she-

I sat up and stared at Bria again as the thought struck me. Who better to figure out who my fake was but me? I was the real one, so I would know literally everything about Vhal. I could figure out all her lies and maybe even get an idea to the truth.

I got so caught up in this idea that I missed the dismissal and Tagen had to poke my side to pull me out of my daze. “Come on, Rueln. You need to go get tested. This is your first year.”

I pulled myself up to my feet and looked around, watching as the students were all leaving, some including a majority of the little kids, going out the back to where a teacher was giving them instruction.

“Maybe you’ll be in one of our classes,” Ghus said hopefully. “If not, we’ll see you at mealtime. You can sit with us.” Ghus and Tagen waved and left me and Kead to our own devices, and we followed the crowd of littles.

“Am I the only one to find this embarrassing?” Kead asked, looking down at the shorter kids.

I laughed. “No. Do you have any idea what this testing is?”

“Basics I think. They have a dozen staff ask us questions. Check to see if we can read or write, magic, the like. Then they figure out where to assign our classes.”

“I can’t read or write,” I said, frowning.

“Did your past life?”

“Yes, but what does that matter?”

“It means you won’t be at the bottom class,” Kead said, pointing to some of the other kids. “Lucky really. Not everyone will have a recall as an advantage to learn that.”

“Can you?”

“Oh, I read and write already. My mum taught me at home. She likes books and hoped I would like them too if she taught me.”

“Do you?” I asked, curious.

“No,” Kead grinned.

“Alright, children,” a staff member called, cutting off our conversation. “Please get in line, little ones over here and older students over there with Miss Matridge.”

I looked over to see a dumpy woman pointing to either side of the room. There were fewer kids our age and older, so there was only one staff member helping us get situated. When me and Kead walked up to her and got in line behind a teenage boy who looked to be the older boy I had seen earlier, we were all greeted warmly.

“It looks like this is all of us,” Miss Matridge said, smiling at us all and picking up a notepad. “Now, one at a time, please come up and have a seat. I have just a few questions to ask you before you’ll be on your way.”

The line was slow, taking around five minutes for each student. Considering Kead and I were toward the end of the line, it gave us plenty of time to talk. It turns out I liked him. Once I got past the strangeness of the glass, he wore on his face, which he called spectacles. It turns out he was pretty knowledgeable and funny.

An hour had passed by the time Kead took his place in front of the staff member and answered her questions. I listened, more out of caution on what I would need to prepare for than to eavesdrop on Kead’s answers. It was interesting to learn, however, that Kead was the reincarnation of a famous painter. I had never heard of him, but the staff member seemed impressed.

“Next,” the staff member called.

“See you, Rueln,” Kead called to me after the staff member gave him the assigned classes. I watched him go, not daring to think I would be lucky enough to share a class with him. The nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach was coming back, as I was once again left alone to figure it out on my own.

“Next.”

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“She said next,” a kid grumbled behind me, pushing me forward. I stumbled, then looked back, scowling at the boy before straightening my uniform and taking my place in the seat in front of her. My mouth was dry, and it didn’t take long for all the plans I had tried to piece together scattered away as I looked up at the woman. She didn’t look nearly as kindly when I was this close to her, but maybe that was nerves talking.

Closing my eyes, I calmed my breathing and in a moment of genius, activated my soulforce and let Vhal’s calm wash over me. She would never ruffle over something like this, and I needed that assurance right now with so much riding on what I said here.

“Name?”

“Rueln Layheart,” I answered, my expression growing neutral. It was as if all of Vhal’s experiences had trained me for this, though I hoped it would last long enough for me to get through the questions.

“Read this on the back of my board, please.”

“I can’t read.” I told her and watched as she scribbled down in her notes.

“Alright dear, what about this? Can you tell me what these numbers are and add them together?” She wrote out something else on the board and turned it around so I could see.

I stared at it, then shook my head. “I don’t know.”

“Are you aware if your past life had an education? Can they read and write?”

“I think so,” I answered, though I knew for sure Vhal could. I probably could even figure out how to do it myself, but I was still unsure how to answer the more important question I knew she was about to ask. Trying to control my racing heart, I knew I had to lie, but lie with what?

“That’s very good. What about a name? What should we register your reincarnation under?”

“Uh,” I said, swallowing, my eyes shifting away from the woman long enough for me to take another calming breath.

“There’s no need to be shy,” she assured me, as if that were the problem.

I opened my mouth, and a name fell from my tongue that nearly had the woman drop her pen. “Lanarie Aairith.”

“Excuse me?”

I stared at her, my mouth shut, refusing to repeat myself. Outwardly, my expression remained the same, neutral, confident in my answer. Inside, I was panicking. How could I be so stupid as to say that name of all people?! Vhal’s mother?! I don’t want attention brought on me! I couldn’t afford that, especially with the fake Vhal attending the same school as me. What would Master Esra think if she knew? Would the school contact her? Why did I have to say that and not some random soldier which had been my plan?

The strangest thing was, the part of me that was Vhal was pleased. It was as if I had willingly stuck bait on a stick for the fake to want to pluck. The cold assurance coming from her helped to calm my racing heart. I distantly felt I should be afraid, even while the staff woman excused herself and hurried away to speak with someone above her in rank.

The surrounding silence brought my eyes over to the few who remained in line. They were all staring at me. Shifting my attention away, I looked down at my feet. My soulforce all but dissipated, taking that calm confidence with it. This time, I really messed up. I just knew it. I was going to be locked up. Hung as a liar and a cheat. I didn’t even bother to find out if Lanarie Aairith had been reincarnated yet, not that I had access to temple records…

After several minutes, Miss Matridge returned with a new staff member, a man who looked to be in his twenties. “This gentleman is Rodri Carper and he will take over. He will get you all settled in. I apologize for the delay.” She was quick to settle Rodri into his place, handing him her notebook, and waited until he called for the next kid before turning to address me. “Rueln, I need you to come with me.”

I’m going to be sick, I thought as I trudged behind her, out of the room and into the large reception hall of the building. She didn’t so much as glance back at me as she lead me down the long corridor and into a large office that was lavished with luxury. I was wondering where she was taking me until I saw a door open and the plump priest guy stepped out to greet us.

“Is this the boy?” He asked, looking me over. My hands closed into fists behind me, knowing instinctively that if they saw I was nervous, they would doubt my story even further. I’d told my lie. I had to stick with it now.

“Yes, Sir,” Miss Matridge answered, stepping aside and curtsying to him. “This is Rueln Layheart.”

“Bring me the paperwork his guardian filled out on him,” Calagrin Luthur said. “I want to have a look at his background.”

Well... there isn’t much there to look at, I thought, knowing how invisible my family was to these people. One look at Papa and they would disregard anything I said. “Yes, Sir. Right away,” Miss Matridge said, before she hurried away to another office.

“Come inside, child. I would like a moment to speak with you,” Calagrin Luthur said, opening his door and offering to hold it while I entered. Inside, his office was even more lavish than the reception outside. Every inch of the place held something valuable. Bookshelves lined the walls, more copies than I had ever seen, or expected to see again as expensive as they were. I knew a book could sell for a few gold alone to the right noble. It made me look at the man more wearily than before. If he was this well off, what was he doing in a school like this?

“Have a seat,” Calagrin advised, moving to sit behind his desk. I still had my gob open, looking around at everything when it registered what he said. I took my seat, then looked up to see that he was watching me with cold eyes.

“Do you understand the gravity of the name you claim is your past life? He asked, his voice heavy with an unmistakable threat. How could I take it for anything less? If I’m found out, then the inside of a cell would be the least of my concerns.

“Yes,” I answered, daring to meet his eyes.

“Hmm,” he harrumphed, unsatisfied with me. I don’t think he believed a word I’ve said, but considering it was a lie, I couldn’t exactly blame him. “Very well, Rueln,” he began, and I had a moment to recognize he had bothered to remember my name before he continued. “I will review your file and be present while you answer a few questions for Miss Matridge. If I deem your answers sufficient, we will call upon the temple to complete the registry.”

Just as he finished, Miss Matridge hurried into the room, carrying a few pieces of parchment. “Here is the paperwork we have on him, my lord.”

Lord?

Miss Matridge gasped at the slip and received a menacing glare from the plump old man. Guess that wasn’t supposed to be common knowledge, I thought, then glanced at the room. But how could anyone not guess that after seeing this? You big show off. Why is it always about how much money you have and not how you use it?

“My apologies, Sir,” Miss Matridge said hastily, trying to correct her mistake.

I pretended as if I hadn’t heard and remained quiet as Calagrin looked over the document, already guessing at what it was. Master Esra had registered me here and had filled it out with what little she knew about me. The largest part of it was probably the part where she claimed she held guardianship over me and that I was her apprentice. They would have to go through her at the very least. Don’t let me down, Master Esra. She had to scare them off. I’m not interested in nobles and their politics. I didn’t miss the fact that it was my mouth that got me to this point. I deeply regretted it. Bait or not, it was probably more stupid than anything to let my mouth run.

“Everything seems in order,” Calagrin Luthur said, setting the parchment facedown on his desk. Knowing what was coming next, I enveloped myself in soulforce again so I had Vhal’s memories, praying that was enough and that I could answer with some kind of accuracy. “Now, Rueln, I have a few questions. Shall we begin?” He didn’t bother to wait for me to answer before he started with the first Miss Matridge scrambling to get her pen ready. “What is your past life’s name?”

Do you seriously think my story will change that quickly? I thought sourly. I’m not stupid. “Lanarie Aairith.”

“Were you married?”

Trying not to show my distaste at this question, or the answer, I said, “I was married to Lord Naphel Aairith, lord of the Eastern Plains of Bohemia.” I could hear Miss Matridge’s pen scrambling to keep up. I tried to resist looking at her, wondering if her tongue was sticking out with concentration.

“He seems to know his history at the very least,” Calagrin Luther said, frowning at me. “Very well. At what age were you when you passed away?”

“Twenty-four,” I answered, plucking the number from Vhal’s memory and adding for effect something he didn’t ask. This I knew all too well, considering how it had affected Vhal as she matured. “Vhal was only five years old.” Vhal had only a few more years with her mother than I did. I wondered if that was something that repeated itself in any of her other lifetimes. I still had no answer for that, either.

My remark seemed to at last catch Calagrin’s attention, that or the moment my sorrow slipped through my expression. He nodded, running a hand through his beard. “One last question, Rueln, if you would,” he said, sounding more polite to me than he had just moments before. “Under what circumstances was your engagement arranged with the Lord of the Easter Plains?”

“An alliance,” I answered. “With the clans of the northern mountains, the Vhalari People.” I hesitated, then added another detail. “Vhal was named after my people upon her birth.”

Calagrin Luthur nodded before he pushed himself to his feet. “Miss Matridge, please escort Rueln into the reception room to wait. I need to write a letter to the temple. Once they arrive through the portal, have a carriage, bring them to West Point Academy. They will review the boy again and submit his name into the registry. I do not doubt they would like to speak with his guardian as well.”

Oh, no... I thought and followed Miss Matridge out of the office. As she set me down and offered me snacks while I waited, I slumped back into the cushions. I didn’t think I was going to be going to class today.