The Secret of the Maiden (#1 Witch academy)

Chapter 1: Diary of Change

"The future's in the air
can feel it everywhere
I'm blowing with the wind of change
take me to the magic of the moment"

Wind of change - Scorpions

___

"Leonardo, are you even paying attention to my lecture?" The young boy stirred, lifting his head from dozing on the desk. Exhaustion clung to him from the extended hours of study. As his gaze met the teacher's, his striking blue eyes shimmered in the light. The teacher, sluggish-eyed like a fog, displayed irritation, his beer belly protruding comically, his flaring nostrils a familiar sight. Leonardo always thought that the man resembled a toad, maybe a bit like the pink villainess from Harry Potter. Only the man before him was dressed in beige and spoke with a deeper voice.

"I was paying attention, sir," Leonardo replied, leaning back in his chair, with a casual shrug. His classmates chuckled at his antics, even if he wasn't funny. He had built a vast social network, a quality deemed popular. He was the type who mingled at parties and acquainted himself with the other partygoers. And he had known some of them intimately.

Their support warmth his veins, fuelling his playful behaviour. And quenching his judgment.

"Then, by all means, you can answer my question with no problems." The teacher's complexion reddened further, creating a rather amusing picture. His breathing became elaborated and Leonardo bit on his tongue to keep his laugh inside his mouth. Even if Leonardo dozed through most classes, he did the work at home and ensure he never fall behind. But he could have some fun in the meantime.

"Twenty-four, sir." He said with a confident smile lit up his face.

"Mr. Bauwens," he was in trouble when his teacher called him by his last name, "this isn't the math class; this is French." His teacher became so red that Leonardo didn't think a human being could become. His arms were shaking, his teacher was imagining shaking the boy till some sense fell out of him.

"Ah... right, vingt-quatre then, twenty-four." That was the moment that the teacher exploded. The veins protruded out in his neck and smoke seemed to come out of his ears.

"Mr. Bauwens, you can stay in detention instead of sleeping in my classroom. And afterwards, I recommend you pay a visit to the principal.'' His eyes were bulging like the eyes of a frog, as his rage surged. And Leonardo tilted his head, a smirk playing on his lips, which only fanned the flames of his teacher's ire.

"Whatever," Leonardo said under his breath. He should have kept a neutral expression, nodding submissively and keeping his head down, or saying 'yes, teacher, it won't happen again'. But he wasn't known for his common sense.

"Out!" his teacher yelled so loud that the windows were trembling, "Get out!" he pointed at the door, and Leonardo slowly stood back up, leaving the room with a wave aimed at his classmates. Their reactions varied from amused to mortification. In the back of the class, a girl was looking down with her face covered by her dark hair.

He didn't know her name. She was new and hadn't any friends. She kept to herself and ignored all the other ones. Leonardo rarely paid her a thought. Why should he? She didn't bother him and he let her be.

As he stepped into the hallway. He entered the hallway lined with dented and scraped lockers that urgently needed repairs. The floor echoed with the squeaks of his shoes and the sound of his name being called.

Jana's voice, like nails on a chalkboard, reached his ears, and he involuntarily winced before turning to face her. Jana, a girl he briefly had dated until he found out that she was completely mental. A frown tugged at his lips, and he resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Leonardo left the door ajar behind him and walked in the playground's direction, trying to escape from her into the warm sun.