We woke late in the afternoon, just about when the rest of the Maidens who had gone to class came back from their lessons.

We were getting ready to point at their shell-shocked faces and laugh, only for the laughter to die in our throats as we saw that none of them looked any worse for the wear.

Scanning them again, we confirmed the lack of sooty faces or the twisted expressions that should have adorned them.

Instead, they were excitedly chattering away as they walked with a spring in their step toward us.

Hesitantly, we called out to them, “You guys… you’re alright?”

“Alright? We’re better than alright!” they exclaimed as we stood even more puzzled.

As we listened to them, we grew even more confused as we heard stuff like,

“That teacher was so good? Right?”

“Did you see that beast? It was so huge!”

“I think I’m going to remember today for a long time!”

Finally, we couldn’t hold it in and we shouted impatiently, “What happened today? Can somebody tell us too!”

Exchanging looks, they quietened down, and then they began recounting their day.

Apparently, they didn’t have the subjects that we had the previous day.

Instead, the other three teachers; the arts teacher, the world teacher, and the beastology teacher had taught them today.

Confused, we looked at each other as they continued to describe the lessons and how amazing they were to us.

Finally, they quietened down and looked expectantly at me and my assistants in hopes of food.

Shaking my head and setting aside the many questions that I had; I joined my assistants in setting the fire and soon the sizzling of meat could be heard.

As everyone tore into the food, I walked over to Sia, who stood with a thoughtful look as she said, “We were right to initiate a study session. We’ll be able to prepare for tomorrow if we study from the ones who attended the lessons today. And vice versa.”

“Mhmm. They really do place a lot of value on teamwork in this academy, don’t they?” I remarked as I passed Sia a haunch of meat.

Accepting it, Sia said with a frown, “I don’t know about that. Because year 2? They’re not exactly all that enthusiastic about teamwork… right?”

Chewing on my own piece of meat, I swallowed as I said, “That’s a good point, actually. In fact, I don’t quite understand how this Academy works even now.”

Agreeing, Sia said, “One thing I don’t understand is… where do all these students come from.”

Pausing, I tilted my head as I considered the question, and then I realized it was true.

Yamal only had maybe a couple of thousand people living in it. But the number of students in the Academy was already close to 200 from what we saw… including Year 2, the newbies, us, and the year 3, which we hadn’t seen.

As Sia looked at me, I shrugged my shoulders as I said, “We can ask our Maidens their story, but that’d be rude, won’t it?”

Nodding, Sia said, “Let’s leave that for now. After this... I’m starting work on the equipment while you should begin the drills.”

“Run the drills by me again,” I said, as I kept the plate down and gave her my full attention.

After close to ten minutes of my eyes widening and narrowing; I left Sia to round up all the Maidens apart from the tailoring and weaving team.

And we began our drills while Sia’s side did their own thing.

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The next day, it was the turn of my group to attend class, and we were curious as to which teachers would be teaching us today.

To our surprise, it was the arts teacher, the world teacher, and the beastology teacher who had taught the other group yesterday.

Understanding the schedule now, we exchanged glances with each other as we once again thanked ourselves for studying together yesterday.

As the teachers called out our group numbers and headed to their classroom; I followed my group into classroom 1 for our first lesson with the arts teacher.

Seating ourselves, we saw that there were no materials in the classroom, and puzzled; we looked at the arts teacher who smiled back.

Softly, she said, “Today’s lesson shall be musical theory.”

Perking up, we looked at her as she continued, “Musical theory is difficult for most people, but it is a necessary subject. After all, what are you going to do if you want to woo that romantic interest of yourselves?”

Laughing as we blushed, the teacher said, “But today… today I just have a simple task for you. I want you to sit… and listen. Listen to me sing.”

As we stared suspiciously at the teacher, she smiled again as she said, “There is no catch. I want you to learn music… and for that, you must first appreciate music.”

And with that, she began singing… and we sat spellbound as her voice lilted and the words floated toward us in sweet melodies.

Entranced, we lost track of time as the teacher sang on.

And when it was over?

We wished it wasn’t over.

Smiling at us gracefully; the teacher clapped her hands softly as she said, “Today’s lesson is over… tomorrow, we shall sing together. Yes?”

Breaking out of our trances, we nodded strongly, and we left the classroom, understanding a bit of what the other group had felt yesterday.

Our steps were light as we walked to our next class, and our minds were still filled with the teacher’s melodious songs.

If this was how people taught others, then everybody would be interested in learning, was the thought that ran through our heads.

Thoughts that were reaffirmed as our next class with the world teacher started.