I even stopped chewing and asked:
– What do you mean?
– You see, Mirre, we are like an irritant for them. Or a challenge,” Lisel explained. “Sooner or later they will try to put us in our place.”
– What for? – I frowned in bewilderment. – We don’t touch them.
– That's it for now! – Vilde broke into an insidious smile.
Khvoyana shook her head disapprovingly.
“We don’t have to touch them, Mirre.” It is enough that we exist. As soon as school starts, we will have to prove our worth every day,” Lisel explained.
Hvoyana nodded in agreement, and Yumi covered her face with her palms and squeaked:
– Mommies!
“But I can’t wait to put someone in their place.” For example, that curly one over there. Look how he's staring! – Zikki said, and then added louder: “What are you looking at?” Your eyes will fall out!
“Zikki, if anything happens, I’m in,” Ada phlegmatically supported her.
– Girls, why are you here? – I moaned.
I didn’t have enough problems this morning, and I also didn’t want to make enemies among the guys casually.
– Don't worry, Kyari. You just don't know men's habits. Their friendship often begins with a good fight. Never show them that you are afraid. They feel fear and uncertainty like animals. They will chase their prey until they catch it.
–Where will they take you? – I batted my eyelashes.
Adalbjorg did not answer, she just said something inarticulate, rolling her eyes to the ceiling.
– To bed! It's clear! – Zikki explained for those naive like me, which made half of our company blush.
Even Lisel's cheeks turned pink.
Today no one was in a particular hurry; there were no classes. But this did not mean that we could sit still. It was necessary to have time to look into the library and get a textbook. View the schedule, prepare for the start of classes and settle into your room. Otherwise there won’t be any time because of lessons.
– Is everyone finished? Maybe we should go? – Lisel suggested.
– Mirre? – Ada turned to me.
– I finished eating. Thank you for waiting.
Rising from her seat, she followed the others towards the exit. A small queue formed at the locker room. I was the last to receive my coat, but didn’t put it on. Remembering that she had left the Focus here, she belatedly became afraid for its safety. A whole treasure trove lay unattended in my pocket while I calmly ate my porridge! What a fool!
He instinctively grabbed me by the waist and barked right in my face: Succumbing to panic, I climbed to check if the artifact was in place, but when I felt a hard round ball through the thick woolen fabric, I exhaled with relief. The girls had already left, so I hurried after and at the door ran into the same guy I had seen earlier. I literally encountered it. You could say I ran into him with a running start!
– Be careful!
– Sorry, essher. “I accidentally…” I stammered in surprise. And then I remembered the girls’ instructions.
“You can’t show fear and uncertainty…” Ada’s voice rang out in my thoughts.
“To bed! It’s clear!” – followed by Zikki.
I blushed and said:
– And, in general, watch where you are going!
It didn't turn out as confidently as I would have liked. Yes, it was rude, but it was still pathetic, which made it even more awkward. Ugh!
I had never been so close to a stranger, and just the fact that I was pressed against his body in an inappropriate way was enough to make me burn with shame. At the boarding school we were taught not to allow this to happen. As far as I knew, this is only permissible with a husband; in all other cases it causes irreparable harm to the reputation of an unmarried eshsheri, especially if everything happens in front of witnesses.
Judging by the fact that the dining room was almost full, and we were among the first to leave, there were plenty of witnesses to my fall. It seems the damage to my reputation has been fatal. I even felt dizzy from shock. From shock, I say! And not from the look of eyes the color of molten gold, a little stern and somehow appraising. And not from the sight of perfectly defined male lips, which are so close to mine that… This is unbearable!
– Let me go! This is not appropriate! – I squeaked in despair and tried to free myself.
Useless. Only the grip on my waist became stronger, and the guy’s muscles seemed to turn to stone. He leaned down slowly and I closed my eyes, frozen like a rabbit in a trap. For some reason, I thought that he was going to kiss me, but instead a hot whisper scorched my ear:
“You don’t know what’s indecent, baby.” It would be indecent if you and I were without clothes right now.
It would be better if he kissed me than listen to this!
Unable to bear it, I found the strength to push him away and, crimson with shame and indignation, jumped out of the dining room. From behind I heard the friendly laughter of the guys, giving me acceleration.
Chapter 7
Ethan Derberg, onyx dragon, adept of the Academy of Wind and Storms. Border of Onyx Rocks and the Steppe of the Seventeen Winds.
We approached the building where the new ones were supposed to live. The small terrace for relaxation was littered with all sorts of rubbish. There was only a small passage to the door.
– What a mess! – Kayu grimaced with disgust.
And Freckled kicked the leaky bucket, and it rolled with a roar along the wooden flooring. I winced, reacting to the unpleasant sound, and asked:
– Don't be demons! And so my head hurts.
We didn't have to wait long for the girls.
– Hey, guys! They are coming! – Aze stated the obvious when the delegation of adepts turned onto the main street of the campus.
–Who is it with them? – Kayu asked suspiciously.
Human vision was inferior to that of a dragon, and he could not see details at such a distance.
– All the creatures of the Ancient Forest! It's the Ogre! – I cursed at the sight of the dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering.
No one at the academy liked Estella Krieger.
– If she sees us here, she will deduct points! – Having lost all his bravado, Freckled became worried. “I almost got expelled that year because of her.” The father was very angry and did not want to listen to anything!
“But we’re not doing anything bad.” “We just came to meet you,” said Kayu, not too confidently, whose charm turned out to be powerless against this woman.
– And when did Estella need someone to do something to take off points? – I grinned.
– Stop talking, guys! Let's hide! – Ezeroth commanded.
Without hesitation, the malachite prince jumped over the balustrade and disappeared into the bushes. It never occurred to any of us to make fun of him. Without talking, following his example, we dashed there.
– Move over! – Jed whispered.
– Don't push! – Kayu snapped.
– Are there not enough bushes for you? – Aze hissed with displeasure.
The guys began to push each other, getting more comfortable. The bush really turned out to be too small for four, but it was too late to hide, and it was not worth using magic at all. But if you sit quietly, it’s unlikely that the dean will think of looking for someone here. She is still a household magician, not a combat one, and this difference in thinking often helped us avoid her attention.
– Stop it! They're close! – I hissed at my friends. “The Ogre has hearing like a dragon, so don’t even breathe!”
Estella Krieger also noticed this, judging by the unpleasant smile that played on her thin lips. A few minutes later, the girls, led by Ashsheri Krieger, were nearby. They began to look around in confusion at the housing provided to them, and almost everyone had a look of bewilderment on their faces. Of course! They had no idea where they were. They probably believed that everything here was made entirely of precious stones and silks.
– This is where you will live for the next year. In the attic there is a storage room, where you will find everything you need: bed linen, mattresses, spare furniture. In the basement there is a laundry room and everything you need for cleaning. Yes Yes. You'll have to clean up yourself. You see, the renovations have barely finished, and it’s still a mess, but I’m sure you can figure it out easily, you’re girls,” she added in a tone that made me cringe.
In fact, if adherents were removed from the academy, it was in two cases: as punishment and out of love for art. How will the new kids feel when they find out about this?
– How should we deal with this? – asked a girl in a man’s outfit and with black and red hair casually braided in braids, in whom I recognized a pure fire magician.
She stood with her back to us, and I didn’t see the expression on her face, but I still thought that someone like that would rather burn down this hut than start cleaning. But I could clearly see the Ogre’s face, and his expression did not promise anything good for the firewoman. Of course! They dared to ask her unnecessary questions!
– Listen to the first rule, adherents: do not interrupt teachers! But you're in luck. Today I will not deduct points for misdeeds, and from tomorrow do not expect mercy.
The girl with blue locks in her braids raised her hand.
– Do you have a question, Adept Holtz?
– Yes, eshsheri dean. How do we understand what is considered a violation and what is not?
– Code of Academy Rules. Each of you has it on your nightstand. Study it carefully, and it’s better today, when you’re done with cleaning. Now, watch and remember: call on the elements and tell them to perform everyday actions.
The dean, with several passes, without using spells, called up the air and, carefully picking up the bucket that was still lying on the path, lowered it into a large trash bin.
– You are capable of such simple actions, aren’t you? If not, then you have nothing to do here! Classes start promptly at eight. Don't oversleep! There is also a penalty for being late. Everything about the point system is described in the code. Have a productive day! The cannibal simply left, leaving the newcomers completely at a loss.
– That's it! – Kayu hissed, barely restraining himself from swearing at this unpleasant woman.
– What should we do now? – a pretty girl with short blue hair stammered.
It looked like she was about to cry.
“Get started cleaning,” the tall, strong girl answered her. Looks like a northerner. “Come on, girls, let’s see what’s inside.”
“As you wish, I won’t set foot in this bedbug infestation!” “I already have a place to live,” said the beautiful blonde in a mannered drawl, who impressed Jed so much that he didn’t even mind getting married.
Actively wagging her beautiful butt, she stomped away.
– This is Mallory Ritchie. Her father is not very noble, but rich. Industrialist. He got his start in the construction of gas tanks and the installation of lighting artifacts. Not your kind of bird, Jed. She catches bigger fish, like Aiz or Ethan,” the all-knowing Kai enlightened us.
– And these? – Jed pointed with his eyes at the retinue of guys waiting for her at a distance.
– Fools who are ready to serve for a smile. Some just like to rub shoulders, others hope to gain trust and get a chance, if not to become related to a wealthy family, then to stake out a warm place by the end of their studies. And Mallory just uses them.
– Wow! – Freckled said in surprise.
“Ethan, do you understand which one is yours?” – Aiz suddenly asked.
– Don't know. I don't feel anything. Perhaps we need to take a closer look at the girls. Almost all of them have their backs turned.
– So what are we waiting for?
Jed almost jumped out of the bushes, but I tugged at his sleeve.
– Quiet! We'll embarrass ourselves.
– Why?
“Because hiding in the bushes is unworthy of two princes and such glorious magicians as you and me,” Kayu patiently told him. – This is not very good for the reputation of the toughest guys at the academy.
– Understood. I'm sorry.
Jed sank down into his seat, and one by one the new girls filed into the building, only Beate H?gel remained on the porch. When the door closed behind the girls, she called:
– Hey, get out! Stop hiding!
My distant relative from the younger branch noticed us a long time ago, but did not show it.
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone that you’re peepers,” she said, smiling indulgently when we emerged from hiding.
– Hello, Bea! I didn’t expect to see you here, and even among the new ones,” I told her.
– Hello, Ethan. “I didn’t expect you to spy on these newest ones from the bushes,” she retorted.
Beate H?gel was such a badass, and she didn’t mince words. I walked over and we hugged.
– So what destinies? – I repeated my question
