WITCH - The Queen

Chapter 42

Marie

Marie was in the shower.

Each of her muscles hurt and she felt exhausted. Fortunately for her, the training for the elite course was canceled today, as several of her classmates and also the two teachers of the course had caught the flu.

She planned to shower until the last hot water was used up. The showers were equipped with large water containers that allowed the previously heated water to seep through the shower head. Marie was grateful to the servants who heated water for the students until late at night and filled the water containers. Therefore, she always thanked the staff.

She couldn't wait to finally enjoy a free evening. But unfortunately, she didn't know what she wanted to do. In the last few weeks, there had been nothing in her life except training. Her previous hobbies felt foreign. The time at the academy also felt like a dream.

Time had flown by.

As she was getting dressed, she heard two more students coming to the showers. She knew one of the two voices. Helga. But the other voice was not known to her.

Helga first entered the girls' large shared bathroom. "Oh. Marie!" She smiled kindly. "I didn't expect you... Usually, you are never here at this time. This is my friend Shiyan. I share the room with her when I'm here during the week."

A young woman with a round face and thick black hair smilingly pushed past Helga. "It's nice to meet you", she said quietly.

Marie sighed and put on the nightgown she had taken with her. "Likewise."

"Marie and I were at the academy together", Helga said. "We did a lot of fun stuff together for a while."

Yes, until I wasn't good enough for you anymore. Marie curbed herself to roll her eyes.

"Then you're a witch, Marie?", asked Shiyan. "I'm mortal. I learn how to organize an army together with Helga. Will you be a soldier?"

Marie nodded. "I'm in the elite course", she said proudly.

Helga smiled. "This is really impressive Marie. But we don't want to bother you any further."

Shiyan nodded. "I desperately need a hot bath!", she said with a sigh. "These showers are horrible!"

"The bathroom in our room is broken. We can no longer pump hot water into the tub", Helga said. "We only have cold water left. Of course, we have already complained, but everything takes time here. Terrible! Servants are constantly heating up the water and we have no access whatsoever."

"I'm sorry for you. I'll leave now", Marie said goodbye. Secretly, she didn't feel sorry for Helga. But she did feel sorry for Shiyan. Would she soon find out how quickly Helga said goodbye to 'inappropriate' friends?

Leopold

Julia laughed. Marko had just told her a joke he had made up himself. The first tent was standing, but the second still had to be set up.

Josefine's stomach growled loudly, but because of the storm, she and Fiete did not dare to leave the group alone.

The tarpaulin was torn, how this had happened they could not explain. Finn had to mend it. Leopold was securing the first tent and watched as the others tried to set up the second tent as quickly as possible. The sandstorm was getting closer and closer.

When the first tent was securely anchored to the ground, he rushed to the others to help them set up. The wind had already increased in strength and made the construction difficult.

Leopold scolded as he prevented the tarpaulin from flying away. "I don't like sandstorms!", he shouted.

"You've never experienced one!", said Fiete.

"So what? I still don't like them!" He reached for Julia's hand, as a gust of wind had thrown her off balance. Cleo helped Finn into the first tent, as he was not up to the storm. He claimed that everything was fine, but Leopold had not escaped the fact that Finn held his left hand close to him protectively.

Leopold hoped that they would all survive this adventure safely.

In the night Julia dreamed badly again. But she didn't want to tell him what she dreamed about. She was startled from sleep, pale and trembling. And he couldn't do anything about the dreams. And then the visions...

She said that the harpies were waiting for her.

Some days, he wished he had never been swept away from his village. On others, he wished he was still at the academy with Julia, Marko, and Finn. Carefree and clueless. Sometimes he wished he had never listened to the elder from his village.

And on other days he wanted to wrap Julia in a soft blanket and run away with her. So far that no war could reach them. He loved her so much that it hurt. He would do anything for her.

Everything.

Lea

Chloe and Benjamin had fallen asleep on the sofa. They had wrapped themselves in a thick blanket and slept soundly. It was just afternoon, but they were exhausted.

The staff in the castle made the two work more than they were used to. Lea wanted to talk to Mr. Mühe about it. She didn't like the fact that he overworked the two teenagers.

Lea planned to leave soon, but her mother kept finding new reasons why Lea had to stay. Sometimes she needed Lea's presence in the council, sometimes she needed help answering letters.

For Fritz, it was no different.

In addition, tradition required that the family stays together for some time after a funeral. The family. For Lea, this also meant Chloe and Benjamin, but the two were servants. And so they were obliged to help in the castle. Just like Shay. Fritz had somehow managed to free his two servants from most of the work. Lea wondered how he had done it.

Shay was also asleep. In Lea's bed. He had wanted to change the sheets, but instead, he had fallen asleep. Smiling, Lea had covered him.

Friedrich was dead. She could hardly believe it. How did this happen?

Her mother said he suddenly collapsed. Fritz and Paula, on the other hand, were convinced that it was murder. Lea didn't know what to believe.

There was a knock at the door. Since her best friend and servant was asleep, Lea personally opened the door in front of which Paula stood.

"Hey." She smiled shyly. "Would you like to come with me for a walk through the palace garden?" asked Fritz's wife. "It's already a bit dark, but..."

"Gladly. Why not. I'm bored right now!" Lea put on a thin jacket and accompanied Paula outside.

"Is there a reason why you want me to accompany you?"

"I... Yes and no. I want to spend a little more time with my husband's sister. Chatting?"

Lea nodded. "You're right. We spent far too little time together."

(c: sasi)