Reaching for the Stars

Chapter Twenty

Waking up to the sound of a bell donging loudly wasn't exactly pleasant, nor was it something I was particularly used to, after spending months in the Silver Woods and waking up either as I chose, or when Orpheus got hungry and decided to start biting me for amusement, the loud noise startles me awake easily enough though.

After dropping off my payment for the year, I was given two gray herbalist uniforms, until they could give me a full set that were tailored to my body, they went into the closet I hadn't noticed blending into the wall, it was made of the same type of wood, so it kind of melded with the wall, I had been too overcome by everything else in the room to even notice it.

But once I had the rest of my clothes were placed on one half with the other half reserved for the uniforms I would soon receive, the closet even had a small shelf for my shoes, it was a rather ingenious design. Today being my first day as an herbalism student I was rather excited, so it didn't take me very long to get changed at all, I made my way to the mess hall, feeling a little eager to see the other students, after all I had spent almost an entire year in the Silver Woods mostly alone, because I didn't really count Orpheus as company.

I wasn't sure whether I was eager for human companionship or just eager to meet people who also had the same interest in herbalism as I did. I am admittedly surprised to see the crowded mess hall, though I knew it wasn't anything compared to the other divisions at this school, this was the most herbalism students I had seen since I arrived here.

I get my food and look around, unsure where to sit, I see three similarly looking awkward students all off to the side, making me assume they were the students who passed the test before me, I go to head towards my fellow first year when a shout grabs my attention. "Elianna! Over here!" I glance over and see Atticus waving from a particularly crowded table, that all the others seemed to both keep their distance from and get as close to as possible, was this the popular table?

Hearing Atticus calling me over, I can do little else but wander over to him, he eagerly shoves someone over so that I can have a seat, I do so with a little hesitation unsure as to why exactly he called me over here. "This is Elianna everyone, the last first year to join us this year." I wave awkwardly at them, unsure where exactly he was going with this, they all give me a slight look of interest, but it isn't long before they are staring at Atticus expectantly as if knowing he has more to share. "Now I know she isn't much to look at, but she received Snow Ink Mushroom poison, and after drinking more than half a bottle, cured herself in just a little over an hour, and she is only at third common qi level, Professor Savo can't stop talking about her, they were so impressed. She's Khiradian, not only that but after she was banished by her family to the Silver Woods, she survived there alone for nine months before coming here." I can feel the stares now and it makes me incredibly uncomfortable as Atticus blurts out everything I told him the other day.

"Did you really survive in the Silver Woods alone for nine months?" I nod shakily, feeling uncomfortable under all their gazes, I am quick to eat my food, because when my mouth is full I don't have to answer any of their numerous questions. Once I'm done my food, I quickly excuse myself and head towards the building I was told first year herbalism students go to by the main academy staff member that gave me these uniforms.

I am the first student to arrive, though the professor is already here, and it is a person I recognize, Professor Kresmir, the one who thought I should have a higher level of purity in my potion. I wasn't offended by his words, I saw them as fair, I would gladly learn from him if it taught me how to keep the purity of my potions higher. There were ten large wooden tables in the room, empty of supplies, I knew that this was for the students, so I chose one at random and brought my herbalism out of my spatial tattoo and onto the table, though I'm sure it looked like it came from the cheap spatial ring I wore.