“All the world's a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed.”

- Seán O'Casey

Sunday dawned in golden autumn colors, the girls slept in luxuriating in the freedom to do so which they had not had the rest of the week.

Then they did the tests that were generously handed to them and cursed the devious teacher who came up with those questions.

And soon it was time for lunch and Mireille groaned as she remembered, she had tutoring with an unknown elder student appointed by professor Arkenbracht the younger or Ark as he had wanted to be called. Saying her goodbye she let Adam take her to the academy using the coach. It was by far the most sensible mode of transportation available. Walking would have taken much too long and not been as safe.

So the early afternoon found her standing in front of professor Arks study. She hesitated got a grip on herself and knocked.

“Yes, come in please.” A muffled voice sounded.

The door opened easily on well-oiled hinges. Inside was a spacious study with bookshelves lining the walls.

“Ah, it's you." He raised his head straining to look behind her. "The siblings did not take my offer it seems?"

He nodded and continued, "It is a difficult decision for a more rounded magus to specialize and forsake a part of his abilities. It is nearly tailor-made for you my dear. So, I requested an upperclassman by the name of Aldrick Connor to be your tutor. He should be available from four and a half to six bells in the afternoon every Sunday until you can manage on your own. He will be found in the Arts of the Storm classroom because that is the safest and most elementally charged area open to the public for this endeavor. He should be there already, I wish you well in your studies child.” He waved her off.

“Thank you, professor Ark! I will be going then.”

“Yes, yes. Make the most of this opportunity!”

The door clicked shut and Mireille hurried along the mostly deserted corridors. Arriving at her destination, she raised her hand to the knob, and as was the case last time sparks shot from her hand and the door opened.

A lone figure paced back and forth in the courtyard then stopped and turned to her, “There you are! I was getting tired of waiting.”

“Well, professor Ark did not mention an exact time! So I simply came by in the afternoon.”

“That is so like him.” The person speaking was a young man, still a boy really of perhaps seventeen with tousled brown hair, a hawkish nose, and eyes of light grey. He wore the dark green school uniform with belt pouches and half cloak but also a staff.

He rubbed his forehead and sighed, “I am Aldrick Connor, pleased to meet you. You should be Mireille is that right?”

“Yes Mireille Annirstochter, Mireille is ok though.”

“So, Mireille, you know my classmate Maximilian don’t you?”

“Yes, we met while beating back bandits. A true bonding experience that.” Mireille grinned. “It seems that is the story of my life, I even met my best friend Alyssa while fighting for my life.”

The student raised an eyebrow. “A lightning attunement will serve you well there. Ok. You are here to learn about raising your affinity with lightning, which is mostly an elemental conglomerate of air and fire. You will be damaging your affinity with everything else, so please be sure you want that before we begin.”

“Yes, that is perfectly alright, I will never use anything other than lightning in a meaningful way so go ahead.”

“Why is that? I have an affliction that makes it desirable for me to damage my water and earth affinity but that would not be the case with you too?”

“No, I simply mean what I said, I come highly specialized. If you really must know, I am a Branded.”

“Ah, that explains it. We did not have someone like you in the academy before. So color me impressed you managed to interest them enough to allow you to study here.”

Mireille nodded with a half-smile. “So, how to begin?”

“Do you have a source of lightning?”

“Someone said I have a gate-thing inside of me, so that should not be a problem. I always seem to have enough lighting, my strength and endurance is another matter though.”

“Then you need to focus while I explain the technique. You will force lightning energy into your body and try to alter it to better work with instead of against it, then when this is satisfactorily concluded you will work on your soul. This is a combination of spellwork, visualizing techniques, meditation, and perseverance.”

He began to explain the concept in depth. Mireille listened and to her own surprise found it relatively easy to follow.

After that began the practical application of what she had learned. Opening the gate inside of her was not a science but an art and at first, she did not manage for more than a few seconds, but as soon as she got it to work for her the necessary infusion of lightning into her veins was very familiar from the way her haste and even the lightning bolt felt. Then she began the visualizing and meditation exercises and that is where she hit her first big snag.

“Try to feel the rune as you build it in your mind, it should respond to your intent and you should feel the lightning energy react. If it does that you are on the right path.”

She nearly had it!

“So, we have to stop for today. We will see each other in a week, please make sure to practice.” Aldrick nodded and waved over his shoulder.

Mireille still reeling from the meditation and the changes forced on her body waved back until she realized he could not see her and she called after him. “Thanks! Until next Sunday.”

She looked at her fingers and saw her veins and arteries outlined in a slight electric glow shining through her skin. She decided to continue her training for the moment and it was surprisingly comfortable to simply let the energies of the tempest surge through her, changing her bit by bit.

If she could have seen herself in a mirror she would have seen the brand on her shoulder glowing brightly even through her thick uniform.

It was late in the evening when she returned to the dorm, grabbing some leftover bread from a basket near the kitchen she pondered what she had learned. She plodded along the corridor and opened the door to their room. It had been some time since last she had a room all to herself she mused.

The silence was unfamiliar, even in the army, especially in the army there had always been some noise, someone snoring or chatting quietly before going to sleep. She tossed and turned and fell into an uneasy sleep.

Alea and Alyssa ate in the townhouse and went directly to their morning lesson, Mireille did the same at the dorms.

Mr. Glames nodded as they entered. “Ah, the second week. You all look as if you had a good rest. Good. I had a talk last week with my colleague Josef Turm who administered the academic portion of your entrance examination. Good thing we choose because of magic criteria, some of you would not be sitting here today if it were otherwise.” He let his gaze roam and Mireille had the distinct impression it lingered on her for a second longer, but there were several others for whom that was true too.

Clearing his throat he continued. “It would be deplorable when our newly minted magicians would not even know how to multiply, much less our history or Meloris forbid lack proficiency in reading comprehension and writing.” He looked disappointed and gestured at them. “We will have remedial classes at the end of the week, each week on Friday, and for those who are especially challenged it might even be necessary to open up some hours on Saturday. Don't make me do that. We will have another test at the end of the month which will decide that matter.”

He went to his lectern and gestured. A piece of chalk levitated and began to write on the blackboard. “Now to something more pleasant. We did not have one for the last three years but our leadership decided that it was time for another Arcane Exhibition. This will take place in two months. Even you first-years will have something to show by then I am sure. An Arcane Exhibition was the most important event of the year in old Allisair. Here it was decided who would gain or lose patronage and the best of each year had the chance to be acknowledged by the God-King himself and possibly bestowed a title or some other boon.”

He sighed. “As with everything not related to our struggles on this continent, it has much diminished in importance and it is not even held every year. I heard from some sources that we can expect royal attendance this time.” He looked at Lieseleta and Carl her brother as he said that.

“But now without further ado, we will continue with the runic alphabet of Allisair. Who can tell me the meaning of Keruz. Anyone?”

They hurriedly ate at the mensa. Mr. Glames had run his lesson later than usual and there wasn't much time. Then they split up for their afternoon lessons.

‘Alchemical Arts of Healing’ Alyssa looked at the words on her schedule and the map. She should be in the right place. It was in the building to the left of the main structure. The door was reinforced and some old runes circled the border. They seemed to be burned into the wood. Opening the door she found herself in a large circular room with a stone platform in the middle on which a deep firepit glowed with heat, above the pit hung several cauldrons on chains and pulleys beside the pit were several workbenches stacked with glassware. The walls were lined with shelves on which ingredients both mineral and plant-based were stored in an orderly fashion. The ceiling boasted some dark holes probably for ventilation purposes. A fresh breeze kept the air breathable in spite of the flames, most likely magically induced.

A young woman in her early thirties stood beside one of the workbenches and sorted some ingredients. She looked up as Alyssa entered and revealed dark green eyes with black hair and a tanned complexion. She wore dark brown robes with the academy symbol and a belt made of copper links. She wore some copper jewelry adorned with agate and tigers eye.

“Come in, you are the first to get here.” She smiled.

Alyssa bowed and went towards her. “Thank you. I hurried because we had less time for lunch, morning lessons took longer.”

“If you want I can explain the workstation to you while we wait for the rest to arrive.”

“That would be great. Thank you again.”

“So, let’s see, you are familiar with the instruments?”

“Yes, my mother was an apothecary.”

“Then let me explain the setup. The fire pit you see outputs a constant heat so you need to adjust the temperature in the cauldron with the pulleys here. The farther to the center the hotter the fire.” She began to demonstrate and explain the function. She had a slightly scratchy voice, probably because of the fumes that even the magical breeze did not completely dispel but seemed enthusiastic and Alyssa began to look forward to the course.

The rest of the students arrived in small groups and soon the room was mostly filled. There were about a dozen students including Valens who nodded towards Alyssa but otherwise avoided interacting with anyone else, his sister being notably absent.

A taller brown-haired boy entered with some friends and looked towards Alyssa before excusing himself and walking up to her. "Alyssa nice to see you again. How are things." He smiled brightly.

Alyssa did not have a strong impression of him and tried to remember his name, something with an 'L'. "Leonhard?" She nearly surprised herself by speaking her conclusion out loud.

"Yes, Leonhard Poroskar at your service." He made a bow. "I knew you would remember me."

A clapping sound interrupted them.

“It seems that all students are present." The teacher smiled at the gathered students. "My name is Valeria Jangres and I will be your teacher. I am an apothecary and own a small shop in town maybe you already know of it? The 'Natural Remedies' in the market quarter?" Some students nodded at that and some seemed appreciative. "I was asked to provide guidance and insight towards alchemical means of healing.”

She gave a friendly smile. “I will explain the instruments and the heating arrangement. Then I will go over the most useful and common plants and compounds that we will be using and then if time permits we will try our luck at a healing salve. It would be best if you team up with another student.”

Leonhard leaned towards her. "I think we should team up." His voice became a bit boastful, "I can help you, my uncle is an alchemist and taught me a lot." As Alyssa hesitated he added. "There would not be many who still want to, you know, work with someone who harbors so much void in a healing class."

He grinned, "Luckily I would be okay on my own, simply keep away from the more delicate reagents and I will do the rest, what do you say." He raised his hand to grab her shoulder intending to pull her towards one of the benches but she evaded him with a twist of her torso.

Cyrus hissed at him sensing his mistress suppressed anger. "I will be fine on my own too. But I have seen a friend who is without a partner. If you will excuse me."

Without waiting for a reply Alyssa hurried over to where Valens was standing who seemed a bit distressed at the prospect of teamwork. She whispered. “Should we team up? I am hesitant to team up with someone I don't know. And this Leonhard person was very pushy. Please?”

Valens sighed and nodded. “Yes. Let's.”

Leonhard had been taken by surprise as he had not thought her to be so decisive, she had seemed shy and easily led. "Hey wait!" But she was already standing beside the half-elf. Shaking his head in disgust he went towards one of the friends with whom he had come to the classroom. "Conceited bitch. She should be thankful someone still wants to associate with her." He mumbled. "Uncle won't be pleased, but I have some time still. And when she needs my wares I will put her in her place."

The teacher explained, as she had indicated, the different instruments for preparing the ingredients and told them about the fire pit.

“We seem to have some time left so I would like each of you to take one recipe and try to follow the instructions. If there are questions please ask.” Valeria distributed a paper with written instructions.

Alyssa knew a similar salve and had even worked on such before so she was pretty confident and began to work alongside the taciturn Valens. The salve was prepared and cooked to an even green color.

Valens scraped it out of the cauldron into a waiting wooden bowl. “Looks good.” He nodded.

Valeria came up to them and inspected the salve and nodded. “Yes, it looks fine, you said you had some background and it shows.”

As she went and inspected the other products Alyssa sighed in relief. It had been difficult to only use her right hand and keep the void in her body in check. ‘If I slip up it will be as it was in Firswending with my mother, unpredictable effects and most likely not beneficial to the one using my potions. But I will not give up on this.’

Asandria looked at this and shook her head. ‘You could have taken another class, fire for example. And a bit more added mayhem would not go amiss. But you want to learn something which runs contrary to your nature, so be it. I will assist you.’

She exited the class in the company of Valens who did not talk much but neither was he as uncomfortable in her presence anymore. Leonhard eyed her with irritation.

The trio met up at dinner in the dorms, Madam Gosling's cooking was delicious as always and soon they were back in their room. Lucille had given them a friendly greeting, the rest of the girls were still hesitant even a bit unfriendly.

“It was strange not being with you two. But the tutoring was sort of fun.” Mireille was lying on the bed and stretching her legs.

“I missed you too. Strange how you get used to something like this. In Firswending I had no close acquaintances and now I miss having you around if you are gone for not even a day.” Alyssa mused. "I would like it if we had more classes together. There are some unpleasant people around. Remember the boy that accosted us in the mensa on our day of enrollment" She looked at Alea.

"Yes, he had brown hair and was somewhat tall?" Alea scrunched her nose. "I do not think I would like to deepen my acquaintance with him."

"He tried to get me to work with him in alchemy class, but he made it seem as if he was doing me some great favor and I would have to be thankful to him. Thoroughly unpleasant fellow." Alyssa grew angry while remembering this.

“Let's try to stay together for as long and as often as we can. You are members of my household already I foresee no difficulties there.” Alea smiled. The spider moved from her shoulder to the tabletop.

They worked together on their homework and then went to bed.