The classroom was a study in hierarchy.
Twelve seats, arranged in a semicircle, faced a podium and a board. The room, stone-walled and high-ceilinged, was lit by enchanted lanterns that cast a warm, even glow. The windows, tall and arched, looked out over the academy grounds. The desks, polished and individual, were spaced for comfort and status.
Elena entered first. Her uniform, pristine and pressed, was immaculate. Her hair, dark and straight, fell to her shoulders. Her face, beautiful and composed, was the face of a woman who knew her place in the world and found it satisfactory. She walked to the far end of the semicircle. The seat, isolated from the others, was the seat of a woman who did not mix with commoners. She sat. Crossed her legs. Opened her book. Did not look at anyone.
The room filled around her.
