Lore Masters

Chapter 1

The sun shined through the window, filling the classroom with buttery warmth. The birds were chirping outside and the soft bean bag chair I was sitting on was very comfortable...

"Holly! Pay attention!"

My head, which had been dangerously sagging into my chest, snapped up and I instantly began to look for the source of the sound that had woke me. My eyes finally fell upon Teacher Nomad at the front of the room, a squat little man with a belly that was taller than he himself was. He had greasy hair that fell in is face when he spoke and his voice reminded me of a squirrel'. And he was not happy. His hands were one his hips and he was tapping his shoes. He was glaring at me so hard I silently wondered if he was trying to make lasers shoot out of his eyes to fry me, but I didn't get the chance to ask.

"Miss Holly, this is the third time this week that you have nearly fallen asleep in my class! Does a two-hour class on the subject of World History bore you?" he squeaked.

Of course, this was exactly the reason why I had fallen asleep. But I couldn't tell him that. So instead I said, "Of course not, sir. I am so sorry. I've been up all night reading and I'm a little tired."

This excuse worked for every teacher. They were all delighted to hear that a pupil of theirs had been increasing their knowledge outside of their classroom, whether it was true or not.

Teacher Nomad appeared to be shocked. It was well known throughout the Learning Place that I didn't much study or have much of a knack for learning.

"Oh," Teacher Nomad said. "Holly, you should know better than to disrupt your sleeping patterns, young lady. I believe Teacher Brooks is teaching you the importance of eight hours of sleep in her Neurology class?"

"Yes, sir," I said quickly. On the inside I was thinking, Is that what we've been doing all week? " But you see, sir, I couldn't sleep, and I don't believe we've covered how to overcome sleep-block."

"Alright, Miss Holly, I will let it slide this time. But I expect you be up and ready to learn tomorrow morning."

"Yes, sir," I said gratefully.

"And no more late-night reading."

"Yes, sir."

The rest of the class went on uninterrupted and I managed not only to stay awake, but feign a look of interest as well. It's an acquired skill.

Finally, the bell rang, releasing the class go to breakfast. It was also a very supported theory that learning before breakfast let the mind wake up. We may not remember everything we had been taught, but the Lore Masters hoped that our brains would begin to take in what we had learned over a delicious, healthy meal.

I raced out of the room to the mess hall before anyone could even start to get themselves out of their bean bags.

Practically running, I rushed to the mess hall and threw book bag down at one of the many small tables set up around the room to save my seat.

The mess hall wasn't anything special. There were large double doors at the entrance and two smaller doors in the far corners where the cooks and kitchen hands came in and out of when needed. Against the far wall was a long serving counter, behind which a few woman were prepared to dish out breakfast.

I ran to them as fast as I could and accepted a large bowl of steaming oatmeal with banana slices, a slice of toast, and a large, cool glass of apple juice.

I sat down with my bag and began to shovel food into my mouth. I hated the class-before-food thing. I mean, I guess learning's not that bad, but I like food too much to wait until ten o'clock, especially since all students were expected to be in their first classes by six.