HUMAN - The Son

Chapter 16

Aili

The whole class was excited. The Academy's big anniversary was just around the corner. Each class was asked to think about what they wanted to offer to celebrate the day. But that wasn't why my classmates almost freaked out. No. The Queen would honor us with her presence on this special day.

And this was really special. After all, this was just a school. Yes, 'the school' for all witches and wizards, but also just one school. Our class teacher hardly concealed her own excitement and used the lesson to introduce us to the history of the academy. And with it, to all the royal visits that had ever taken place. This would be the sixth visit of a queen.

Before that, the previous ruler came to the opening, to the first major tournament in sword fighting, when a storm ruined one of the buildings, and to two small anniversaries. This would be the first visit of the new ruler. Queen Julia von Sonnenhof.

Menka and Silja hoped to see Her Highness up close. I doubted this. She was the queen. Presumably, we only would see her from afar. Maybe her husband too? The elf? He often stayed away from larger events. He had once been Her Highness's servant until they found each other romantically. At least that's how my history teacher described it.

My parents didn't like the queen. Mother often called her deceitful, and Father doubted her ability to govern a country, and that she looks like a teenager. Like a child. He couldn't imagine ever being able to take her seriously. As far as I knew, she always did the best she could for the country. What was she like? Private?

During the break, my three friends continued to talk about the royal visit. Menka and Silja had whispered the entire lesson. And now that Maiken had joined, the conversation went into the next round.

"If some students will be allowed to talk with her?" Maiken wondered. "My father was at the military school. At that time, the previous queen granted an audience to the best students. Unfortunately, he wasn't one of them."

"But the previous queen was also a slave driver!", snorted Silja. "Our father belonged to the rebellion!"

Menka nodded eagerly. "And even if there is a possibility, we certainly wouldn't be the lucky ones. None of us are among the best students."

"What about Aili?", Menka immediately objected, looking at me hopefully. "Would you get me an autograph?"

I sighed. "I'm smart, but I'm not a particularly gifted witch."

"But a pretty one!" Nio walked up to us and put an arm over my shoulder. His best friend Arne von Kleedamm accompanied him. A few drops of water danced over his hands. Arne could use manipulative magic and he did so whenever he could. And he was one of the most gifted students. "What are my beauties talking about?" Nio asked. "Can we be part of it?"

"About the Queen. And whether we will see her up close", I enlightened him. If anyone had a chance of an audience, it would probably be Arne...

Nio snickered amusedly. "The queen isn't interested in the common people, Aili. We will all only see her from afar."

"We are witches! We aren't the common people", Maiken grumbled.

"Are you sure? If students are allowed near her, then at most the nobles." Nio pressed a kiss on my hair. "It's a queen. But my good Arne here has a chance!" He winked at his friend.

Arne frowned. "She's supposed to be very nice. My parents were once invited to one of the balls. They said that Her Highness had been very polite. And very assertive."

That sounded very different from anything my parents said about her. Which of these was true?

"Well, my beauty!" Nio pulled me close to him. "Let's go for a walk. You can talk more about girl stuff later! I miss my sweetheart!" He winked at me and then looked at Maiken, Menka, and Silja. "You'll lend me the beautiful Aili for a moment, won't you? I'm in withdrawal!"