After the Entrance ceremony, the boys were sent to their classes. Ezra saw a teacher approaching out the corner of her eye but he stopped dead when Hayes put an arm around her shoulders. He retreated to the other teachers and whispered something before going off the other way. She was given a number of curious looks after then but no one tried to approach her.
Hayes took a look at her schedule and grin, “You’re going the same course as me.”
“Course?” she asked.
“Every year has four classes, each class goes a different course to keep from getting in the way of other classes. You’re third year, class A. Just stick close to me and you’ll get through the day.”
“Right.” Ezra spent a moment wondering what would get her sent home. What would, short of ruining them, get her out of this academy? Her feet carried through the halls of the building but she didn’t hear a word of Hayes’ commentary. She was wondering if maybe ruining them was her only option. The charade was ridiculous enough when she had rooted at home. She didn’t want this burden any longer.
“And this is the lesser known library,” Hayes announced, as she left the confines of her mind, “A couple of years ago, a newer one was built and since then, this one has been thoroughly forgotten.”
Ezra looked up at the elderly oak door and committed it’s location to memory.
When they arrived to the classroom, the twenty odd students that shared the class had already arrived.
The teacher was a young man, appearing to be in his early thirties, and stout. His square jaw clenched slightly as the walked in the room. “Class started five minutes ago.”
Hayes shrugged off the rebuke, “I was showing the newcomer around.”
“Right, the newcomer, Ezra Ketea,” his eyes slid over to Ezra, “My name is Lionel Crestmon. I will be your instructor this year. Hopefully, this will be your last time being tardy. The next will warrant disciplinary action.”
Ezra nodded, “Understood.”
“Good. Sit down, both of you.”
Hayes spotted the two empty seats in the back first. He clapped Ezra back and walked on back.
She glared at him but followed, ignoring the eyes tracking her every move. She was already a specimen and they didn’t even know her gender.
“As I was saying before we were interrupted,” Mr. Crestmon continued, “This is not the time to be complacent. Every year of this school will either lead you to success or send you down the dark road of failure.” His eyes swept over the classroom. “I am here to help you on your journey to adulthood but keep in mind, I am neither a peer nor a friend. Your interpersonal squabbles are none of my concern.” One last sweep of the classroom, his eyes lingering on Hayes, before he turned his back and picked up his chalk. “The first lesson on your course is history. Who can tell me why we build on your knowledge of the past year after year?”
Hands went up and class was in progress.
Ezra allowed her mind to stray. The first day was merely introductory classes, shortened to allow the students to visit each lesson in the course before going to the dorms to unpack.
So Ezra allowed herself to slip out of the guarded front. Class carried on while she looked out the window and watched the clouds form and float by. The bright blue sky was met by trees at the horizon. Flowers dotted the campus grounds, slipping in shades of reds and purples into the view. Then orange and black wings came out of nowhere, landing on the windowsill. Her shoulders relaxed when she saw that it was only a monarch butterfly. Or, she thought critically, a viceroy. The impersonators were hard to distinguish with the naked eye.
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A hand landed on her shoulder and her head snapped over to Hayes. The boy smiled, “You’re weren’t paying the least bit of attention, were you?”
“What?” She looked up to see Mr. Crestmon was gone, “Where’s the instructor?”
“Gone to get the science instruments.” Hayes leaned on his fist and smiled at her, “Exactly what were you thinking so hard about?”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the butterfly fly away. “That’s hardly any of your business, is it?”
“Well, I suppose not,” his smile remained as he turned his attention to twirling his pencil. “I just couldn’t help thinking you’d make a pretty girl. If you weren’t so prickly.”
Ezra scowled, “You can keep inconsequential comments to yourself.”
“Inconsequential,” she watched curiously as he let out a rueful laugh, “Yes, that’s the word for it. To think I just called a man pretty. God, this is going to be an interesting year.”
After their classes for the day were done, Hayes led her to the third year dorms.
“The first floor is recreation,” Hayes explained, walking through the grand parlor. Boys were already reclining on couches as they came in, apparently unconcerned with unpacking. There were a few card games started up, gambling games by the looks of it. He led her to the back of the parlor, around a wall, “The mess hall is open from five am to seven pm. The dormers stock and maintain this kitchen so if you’re a midnight eater, this is where you can prepare whatever your heart desires.” He was greeted people as he walked, clearly well known, and introduced Ezra in turn. The farther they went, the more it irritated her.
“This is the communal bath,” he announced. Steam came pouring out when he opened the door, “We occasionally have meetings here.”
Exra furrowed her brows at him, “While bathing?”
“What’s a little nudity among men? We expose ourselves and strengthen bonds and all that,” He winked playfully then was off again.
He led her to a set of stairs and started the journey up. “What room are you in?”
“16C.”
Hayes snickered, “Top floor. You'll resent that once we really get into combat.”
He walked up two flights of stairs, nodding and greeting peers. It was why Ezra was surprised when, as they ventured up the third flight of stairs, a gloomy looking boy with shadow black hair came down and was treated with cold disregard.
The boy responded in turn, walking pass without a word until he caught sight of Ezra. Curious hazel eyes followed her.
Ezra tore her eyes away and continued up the stairs. The room Hayes took her to was halfway down the hall. He went on in and introduced the room with a grandiose wave, “Welcome to your new home for the next three years.”
The room had already been arranged and unpacked for her. She wasn't surprised. Their head house keeper, Miranda, had demanded to travel with the men to make sure none of them touch her things. Otherwise, it'd be hard to explain the feminine artifacts that could be found. Ezra expected to find them in a neat box beneath her bed. The room was bare beside the bed, wardrobe and trunk. The trunk was the most decorative piece in the room, a family heirloom from her father's side. It was gilded in gold and had stories of sea monsters and adventures etched into the sides.
“Nice trunk you got here,” Hayes commented, eyeing it. “Is this your security blanket? I suppose on entering Nobilis can be intimidating. It beats keeping a plushie.”
“My mother,” she growled irritably, “It’s my father’s heirloom and she insisted that I take the thing with me. It'd be at the bottom of a lake by now if I thought I'd get away with it.”
“Oh,” his eyebrows were up and he could barely repress a smile. “I would hate to be too forward but you don't seem to like either of your parents.”
She leveled him with a flat glare, “Get out of my room.”
“Alright, I'm obviously not needed anymore,” he held out a hand and waited patiently for Ezra to shake it. “Dear Mr. Ketea, would you happen to be the finest wine in the country?”
She stared at him, confused and curious despite herself, “Why would you ask that?”
“Because now that I've met you, I'm sure I'll be keeping you close.” He left her with a cheeky wink and a clap on her shoulder.
Ezra touched her shoulder, feeling the lingering phantom of his hand. There were tones to touch, she was starting to realize, and she couldn’t quite figure out what was behind Hayes’. Was he an ally or another battle front?
While she brooded over this, she caught sight of the key left on her bed. There was little point to staying in the room to contemplate something that had no immediate answer. She wanted to get to know the new land she had to navigate. Starting, she supposed, with seeing if there was somewhere to retreat to besides the room.
Like an outdated library.