As it turned out, the arcane classroom was on the other side of the academy.
"So what sector are you from?" Luana asked. Right... what sector should I say?
"What sector are you from?" I fired back. She laughed.
"Smooth. I'm from Sergei, now spill," she stared into my soul.
"I don't remember honestly. I lived out in countryside, so I never really paid attention," I lied on the spot. She seemed to believe it enough to not say anything.
"Do you know anyone else in here?" she asked as we entered the classroom. I scanned the room. Eris waved at me. I waved back as Luana tracked my eyesight.
"Ah, Mr. Remiel isn't teaching today," she commented as we walked up some stairs to sit by him.
"Is he a teacher?" I asked. Luana shook her head.
"Not technically. Oh, Vee!" she cheered, alerting another female at the table. This Vee looked up from her paper.
She glanced at me before saying hi back.
Eris nudged me, "how was Swordfighting?"
"It went well, I know how to hold and move properly," I replied.
His voice dropped to a faint whisper, "and do you know of your branch yet?"
I shook my head no. He patted my shoulder and told me it'll come soon.
"Is everyone here?" a voice echoed from the front of the room.
"No!" a student shouted, breaking the silence that had spread across the room. A few giggles followed suit, including a chuckle from the professor.
"Very funny Mr. Gillig. Now then, to understand arcane you should-"
"Master your branch!" a female shouted out. The professor smiled patiently.
"Very close Miss. Rudiberg. But to come to an understanding of the arcane, one must look within themselves. So today... I will have a sound-bubbled area in the front where students can meditate. For those of you who cannot bring yourselves to -ahem- focus," he paused, staring briefly at Gillig before continuing, "you may chat among yourselves. Appropriately."
Geeze, that last bit sounded like it'd be in bold or something. A handful of students made their way to the front, including Vee. Honestly, there were more than I thought.
"Since you haven't figured yours out quite yet, maybe we should just sit and chat," Eris spoke softly to me before Luana came back. I nodded.
Eris looked over my shoulder.
"Why hello Cree!" he called out cheerfully.
"Eris, good evening. And it's Mr. Hecate here."
I turned around to find myself face to face with our teacher. We locked eyes.
"Hello," I said. He studied me for another moment before smiling.
"Hello. R, the new student right?" Mr. Hecate asked. I nodded.
He continued, "your branch appears to be very... peculiar... perhaps Branch Mimicry. Or could it be something else all together?"
"I- I actually have no idea..." I admitted.
He gave me a look of sympathy. "From Earth right?"
My heart stopped.
"How do you know what Earth-"
"My branch is a version of Telepathy," he explained before taking his hand and slowly elevating it down.
"Given the circumstances, I will offer you extra lessons. It's up to you to take them," he announced before walking away.
I stared at the table.
Earth... is anyone really supposed to know I'm from Earth?
And do I actually have a branch?? What was it he said... Branch Mimicry?
I should take up those extra lessons though...
"...R... R!"
I snapped out of my thoughts.
"There you are. We wanted to introduce you to Vee," Luana beamed.
"Properly," Eris added.
"Hey," Vee said. Not much of a talker huh?
"Hello, nice to meet you. I'm R," I stuck out my hand. She didn't shake it.
Okay, ouch...
Eris leaned over and whispered, "don't worry, they don't hate you. She just doesn't open up right away."
I nodded, trying to take his words to heart.
Luana then asked Eris if he wanted to join her in the sound-proof-meditation-zone-thingy. He agreed, leaving me with Vee.
"So... what do you like to do?" I asked. She pointed at her sketchbook. In it were drawings of animals I have never seen before. As I was admiring it, she asked me a question in turn.
"You're new right? Who do you know?"
I thought for a moment.
"I just met Luana, Charity, and you today. The others are Eris, Neo, Lyn, Rae, Remus, and a few teachers. I guess I haven't really socialized that much," I admitted.
The next words out of her mouth threw me off guard. "Hmm... did you know that there's a ball coming up?"
A ball??? Wtf is this school??
Regaining my composure, I shook my head no.
"I see..." she trailed off before looking back in her book, "it's a great way to meet people."
"Oh... do you go to balls often?" I asked. She shook her head.
"You should go though, you might have fun. And with the people you know, they won't leave you lonely."
Is she trying to persuade me?
"I have no idea who'd I go with though..."
"So go as a group," she deadpanned, going back to drawing.
"Why don't you go, if you're pushing it so hard?" I fired back. She paused for a small second before shading.
All she had to say was "bad dancer".
Before I could ask her more, the bell rung.
Eris walked me to the cafe. Along with him was the boy who shouted during class.
"Did you like the class R?" Eris asked. I nodded. I was just sitting around talking the whole time...
"R huh? I'm Philip," Philip took my hand and shook it. I smiled awkwardly.
"Philip here is gonna pay for our meal," Eris beamed, putting an arm around his shoulders.
"For them too? That wasn't in the agreement," Philip mumbled. Eris winked at me.
"C'mon, for a newcomer..?" Eris stuck out his bottom lip. I decided to join in.
Philip sighed and nodded reluctantly.
