"What?! Already? Have I done something—"
"Last day of class. Sorry. You look older, and I assumed the more reasonable outcome."
Gwyn's heart rested.
"Ah, I was about to say."
"Hold on, you aren't out of The Wilds yet. Firstly, I must congratulate you on showing up before lunch. I was beginning to think you were incapable."
"Well... I did have a little help with that."
Mrs. Farcroft nodded.
"I figured. The test tomorrow is no coincidence. Sure, you are roping the other children in with it, but truly this is a test for you and you alone."
"What do you mean?"
"You are being advanced to the next level of curricular studies." She hid her frown. "They wanted you to be able to use lesser magic when you arrived, and have only notified me of this yesterday. The test will be on flame lesser magic, hence the lesson earlier."
A surge of nervousness overwhelmed Gwynevere.
Am I ready? I just got here...
"Thanks for the tip, but why so soon?"
Gwyn's heart ached; she was starting to enjoy this class, despite Griffith's antics. If only she had a properly sized desk.
"Yes. Tomorrow is pass or fail. If you do not pass tomorrow's test, they will deem you unworthy of attending Kaldere Academy." Mrs. Farcroft wore a serious expression to convey the nature of the situation. "Which is something I do not want to happen."
Gwyn's stomach dropped.
"Do you think I'm ready?"
Despite Gwyn's rising anxiety, Mrs. Farcroft smiled.
"If you weren't, I wouldn't have assigned this in specific. I could've done a dozen different lessons, but this is something I know you are capable of, Gwyn." She leaned back in her chair. "Just make sure you show up on time tomorrow."
She gave a stern look, but then winked.
"I will, ma'am."
Gwyn gave a slight bow and left the classroom; Griffith was arguing with Rodrick outside the door.
"What do you mean you are here for Gwyn? You are one of the red knights!"
Gwyn approached the raging child.
"What's going on?"
"Ugh!" He stormed off, stomping his little feet the whole way, his golden hair bouncing with each step.
What was that about?
Gwyn didn't care about Griffith or what he thought, so she focused on the more important task at hand.
"Ready to get some lunch, Rodrick?"
He gave an eager nod.
"I am quite hungry, madam."
"Let us find the cafeteria, then."
Gwyn and Rodrick followed the stream of students heading in the same direction. Eventually, they came to a large room with wooden tables and enough chairs to seat a thousand students, it seemed.
Stained-glass windows depicting historical events were positioned toward the ceiling, streaming in various colors to illuminate the cafeteria.
Rodrick lifted his visor and wiped a tear from his eye.
"This takes me back, madam."
"Oh? Rodrick, you used to go here?"
"When I was a wee lad, before I was inducted as a knight of the Kosmairian Order. This place is as it's always been." He pointed to the opposite end of the room. "See, that's where I got my first weggie."
Oh?
He pointed to the trash can.
"That's where I was shoved into almost every day." He let out a long sigh. "Good times."
"Right. Were you um... bullied, Rodrick?"
"Nope. Why do you ask?"
"Just curious, I guess."
"I see, well, that's where we got our food! Come!"
As they walked through the crowded cafeteria, it was obvious that people were beginning to stare. Rodrick's armor clanked with each step, making him sound like a walking armory.
"Holy shit, is that a knight?" One student muttered.
"Not just any knight, a royal Kosmairian knight! What's he doing with her?" Another student gossiped.
Soon, the whole cafeteria was abuzz with the fact that a royal Kosmairian knight was with the new Chosen One.
Gwyn suddenly felt safer with Rodrick, even though she was secretly doubting his abilities. The two of them reached the back of the line and waited as those continued to sneak glances and gossip around them.
"Oh my god, she is so pretty," One elven teenager gasped. "I bet she can shoot lightning from her eyes!"
Uh… I don't think I would do that, even if I could.
"I think she's ugly," Another student whispered. "She can't even see normally. Glasses? Really?"
What an odd thing to make fun of someone for.
"Why is there a Kosmairian knight with her? Those are for defending royalty. Did you see her at the Meeting of the Chosen? Absolutely worthless."
"Hey, quiet down. He's staring at you."
The elf referred to Rodrick, who looked down upon them with contempt.
They quickly found somewhere else to go, suddenly deciding they were not hungry.
Right... Meeting of the Chosen.
Gwyn did not think fondly of the event, but tomorrow she would show everyone what she was capable of.
The gossip continued, spreading like wildfire.
The knight and Chosen One eventually reached the front of the line.
"I'm sorry. This is my first time being here. Do I just tell you what I want?"
She asked the man behind the counter, holding a catalyst shaped like a wooden spoon.
"Oh! Chosen One." He suddenly stiffened, especially when he glanced at the knight who was towering behind her. "Y-yes… You j-just s-say what y-you want and we trans-trans-transfigure it."
Gwyn just laughed, which confused the man.
"You don't have to be nervous around me."
Her lips curved.
I can use Rodrick to build my reputation.
"Honestly, this is more respect than I deserve. Thank you."
He gave her a confused stare and looked down.
"Yes, ma'am… whatever you say. Just say what you like, and we will make it for you."
Gwyn thought, but nothing came to mind. People gave Gwyn and Rodrick a wide berth and moved to the next person behind the counter.
"What should we get Rodrick?"
"If I may recommend, madam. Peach pie."
"For lunch?"
Rodrick nodded so rapidly his visor slid open, but he quickly slid it back down and said in a muffled, mousy voice.
"It's very good, madam."
She gave a soft chuckle, holding up two fingers.
"Okay, two peach pies then."
The person gave a confused look, but then took a handful of green leaves and placed them on a tray. He held his wooden spoon over them, then two peach pies manifested, steaming as if they had just come out of the oven.
Seeing the process up close was so shocking. Magic was so fascinating to Gwyn; she couldn't wait to be able to do that herself.
Rodrick's mouth was watering.
"Those look fantastic, madam."
"What do I owe you?"
"Nothing, lunch is free at Kaldere Academy."
He said, losing that nervousness from earlier.
"Thank you so much."
She gave him a polite bow. The people all around her were absorbing every word and action from that little interaction.
"She is so polite, oh my goodness."
"I heard she was worthless and can't cast magic, but at least she's nice!"
Wow, that was almost a compliment.
Rodrick held both plates of the peach pies.
"Where shall we sit, madam?"
"That's what I am trying to figure out, Rodrick."
She looked at the whole cafeteria, and it seemed they were all staring back at her, but when her gaze reached a particular table, their heads quickly whipped away.
"I don't know if we are going to find meaningful company here."
Gwyn clutched the vial around her neck, wishing Elise were here.
An elven student with blonde hair bumped into Gwyn, causing the Chosen One to stumble into Rodrick. He dropped the pies, but saved them with lesser magic.
"Watch where you're going, Chosen One."
The woman hissed, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
Rodrick righted Gwyn as he put the pies back onto the tray.
"What was that about?"
"I didn't see her, but she does not like you. If it weren't for these delectable peach pies, I would've stopped her. Would you like me to go after her?"
Gwyn looked through the crowded cafeteria, losing the assailant in the sloth of people.
"No, no. It's fine. Probably some nobody asshole who is jealous I have such a handsome knight."
Although there were enough tables to seat a thousand students, every table seemed to be occupied by their cliques, some of whom were children, while others were young adults. Black outfits and robes often denote a ranking system that Gwyn didn't understand.
Gwyn remembered hearing something about a playground or garden outside.
"I think we should maybe find a seat outside?"
"Yes, there is a nice garden outside where we can enjoy our peach pies."
He commented on the peach pies with a desire most reserved for a lover. It made her chuckle. She was beginning to like Rodrick more and more by the minute.
They exited the cafeteria with their head held high. Getting lost for a moment, but reaching an area that resembled a walk-through garden, children were screaming at one another as they played with jubilation. Playground equipment was scattered in the massive area.
"They have slides and monkey bars."
Gwyn fawned at the sight of the generally unexciting, yet familiar earthly thing.
"Yes, I believe it's a symbol of a healthy society. Although we have the Red Death around us at all times, seeing things like this reminds you that the world isn't so bad."
Gwyn nodded in agreement as they found a bench under a tree. Rodrick pulled utensils from his armor and started to dig into his peach pie.
"Where did you get those, Rodrick?"
"Oh, you never know when there is going to be pie, my dear." He raised the spork. "You have to be prepared at all times for pie!"
She shook her head and looked at her food, wishing she had brought something to eat it with.
Rodrick held out a second spork.
"Here. You have to eat, get big and strong."
"I'm pretty much fully grown.. And I don't think pie is all that good for growing."
"Nonsense!" He said, through a mouthful of peaches. "Keceo magic makes foods like these healthy." The words came out slurred and garbled. He swallowed. "All the nutrients come from one food, while the flavor is of another. Very practical and useful in times of conflict."
Gwyn already knew this from Elise, but humored the royal knight. She lifted the pie to her face. It had a light, aromatic smell. She stuck her spork in its crust. It cracked and gave way, revealing the peaches in a thick syrup. She got a small amount on her utensil and cautiously put it in her mouth, as though it might contain poison.
"It's good!"
She covered her mouth as she chewed.
"Mmhmm!"
Nearly half of his pie has already been consumed.
It was sweet and full of peach flavor, just like those on Earth. The similarities between here and Earth made her feel somewhat at home. She stared out into the gardens at all the kids chaotically acting up, while other students made out under the trees and gossiped in tight circles.
"We aren't all that different, are we, Rodrick?"
"Not at all, madam." He already finished off his pie. "Ugh, that was soooo good."
He sat, patting the plate of his armor where his stomach was.
Gwyn took a second bite and slowly chewed, taking in all the environment. She breathed deeply; the air itself had a soft, pleasant smell.
Before they knew it, the bell rang a second time, signaling the end of lunch. Gwyn barely got a quarter of the way through her pie.
Rodrick didn't say anything, but he stared intensely at the barely eaten pie on her lap.
"Would you like to have the rest—"
But without even finishing her sentence, he snatched the plate and started stuffing his face with the remaining three-quarters of the pie.
"I'll take that as a yes."
"Can't waste good pie, madam."
"Can't waste good pie, indeed."
Rodrick stood outside the classroom as he did before, but when Gwyn entered the room. Griffith was suspiciously missing. A picture of a four-legged, wolf-like creature was on the board as Mrs. Farcroft waited for the rest of the students to arrive.
"Welcome back, class. In the second half of the class, we will be learning about deadly magical beasts, ooooooooooo. Followed by a coloring session." She waved her fingers as if she were mystical; some of the class echoed her gesture.
"What's that on the board, Mrs. Farcroft?" a student asked.
"I'm glad you asked, because this is a legendary beast said to be sighted only once every thousand years."
"Wow! A thousand years!"
"Indeed! It's called a…" she drums her hand on her desk. "A Kindread!"
"Wow!" The class exclaimed.
The picture on the board animated and howled. It sounded deep and monstrous, far more terrifying than the howling of wolves on Earth. The class was ten times more excited than the children outside at recess.
"A Kindread is a legendary beast that resides exclusively in the enchanted forest known as The Wilds. It is said that once every thousand years, it hunts and kills the Gods who have betrayed their purpose. Keeping the balance between the divine and the mortals."
The Kindread on the board was filled in with color. It had raven black fur and a white skull with blue and red runes carved into it.
Gwyn raised her hands.
"How do we know this? Do you have people who study the creature?"
"Yes! Although one has never been killed, to our knowledge." Mrs. Farcroft said skeptically. "Whisperers have witnessed the beast; even one was reborn after being eaten alive by one!"
"Ewwww! The Kindread sounds scary." A student said.
"And they are, but that is what this lesson is about, my dear students. There is always a bigger fish. Just as we learned about the Wabbajacks last class, there are things even the Kindread, who kill Gods, fear."
A kid whispered to another in front of Gwyn.
"Whoa, I wonder what it could be,"
Gwyn couldn't help but wonder the same thing.