Honor of Euroka

Chapter 8 - Starting School

Honor awoke to hear the others talking quietly in the living room. He slipped out of bed and, once he was ready, opened the door just a crack before leaving.

"-not even an option at this point, however." Sekena was saying to Gryffin. He was nodding along.

"But even if we don't do it, how are we supposed to..." He turned and saw Honor standing awkwardly right outside his door. "Hey, Honor. Morning."

"G'morning... What were you guys talking about?"

They exchanged a glance, so Honor knew he hadn't been meant to hear that. Gryffin looked back at him.

"That's... uh... disclosed information." He seemed aware of the fact that he probably shouldn't have been discussing private things right smack in the middle of the living room. Honor snorted.

"Why are you up so early, anyway?" Sekena said, checking a weird round thing on her wrist.

"What? I didn't even know it was early. Why, what time is it?" He looked out a window. It was raining and gloomy, so he had no way of knowing if it was closer to 5:00 in the morning or 8:00 in the morning. He wouldn't have been able to tell without hearing the latest bell ring the time.

"3:49 in the morning," Sekena said. Honor was shocked to his core. There was absolutely no way he could've woken up so early. The beds were just too comfy.

"I'm kidding," she confirmed, albeit sarcastically. Honor sighed in relief. He was so relieved, in fact, that he conveniently forgot how he had actually believed her.

"It's just after five in the morning. Still, given your past records, you're up remarkably early, all things considered."

He shrugged. In truth, he had no idea why he was up so early. And, perhaps, he was still thinking about how relieved he was to not have gotten up closer to four in the morning. If that had been the case, he would've been convinced that he was going through some mental problems.

"Well, you might as well eat breakfast now. There isn't much of a point in going back to bed." Sekena said, handing him a plate of food. He didn't need to be told twice.

While Honor was eating, Yennefer and Evelynn came out. At the same time. They didn't seem to find this shocking. In fact, they appeared to be more surprised that Honor had woken before them.

"G'morning," he mumbled to them. Their staring was making him self-conscious. Evelynn was the first to look away, being the polite girl she was. Yennefer looked away a little later with an eye roll.

Once they had received their breakfast, both girls sat on either side of him.

"First day of school today," Yennefer said. Honor and Evelynn nodded. He could see they were nervous. He didn't show that he was nervous, too.

Sekena looked at that mysterious round thing on her wrist again. It was like a bracelet, but nobody would pay for such a weird-looking piece of jewelry. Suddenly, it started glowing!

"6:45," Sekena said. She then proceeded to grab a book and start reading. She turned the pages so quickly that Honor was beginning to doubt she was reading it at all.

"I wish Gryffin was here," Yennefer said, to which Evelynn nodded mutely. Honor was confused.

"He's right th-" he said, only to falter. "Where did he go? He was just here..."

Sekena half smiled. "Magic." She stated without inflection.

"Well, yeah, but... he was right there just a moment ago." He said again. Sekena frowned. She was beginning to think that Honor didn't quite understand the concept of magic.

"Yes. He left using magic. Just because he isn't an apprentice anymore doesn't mean he can just do whatever. He still has to work. In fact, it's nearly seven now. I rather think you'll be leaving just like him." She said.

Before any of them could even open their mouths to protest, she snapped her fingers. Suddenly, the view changed. They were now kneeling on the damp earth right outside their school.

"She couldn't have been nice enough to put us inside the school," Yennefer grumbled. "She just had to put us on the soggy floor while it's still downpouring."

Honor stood and walked inside hurriedly. The less time spent in the rain meant more time that he was comfortable.

Going inside did little to comfort him, however. He had forgotten the truest sense of school, and, in particular, this school. The layout of the inside reminded him of a donut.

The different floors of the school could be seen by the somewhat obvious hole that dominated the middle of the building. You could see the people walking on the different layers. You could also see the roof from all the way down on the first floor.

Apparently, the school was divided into four sections-one section for each corner. They consisted of potion-making, spellcasting, wand/ staff usage, and rituals. Later on, a witch was supposed to choose a main course. But apprentices had to learn the basics of each one. On top of that, they would have to keep up with their regular studies. It would be that much harder to negotiate the floor plan, it seemed. Honor sighed.

***

"Alright, I'm not going to go over this stuff; you should've gone over it last year, if not the year before," said Mr. Dunwillkins (what kind of name was that?)

This posed an inevitable issue for Honor. Unless the class was learning how to count sheep, which he seriously doubted, he was behind by several years. He hadn't learned what the rest of the people in the same room as him had learned.

All throughout the lesson, Honor remained thoroughly stumped and sat hunched in the back of his seat awkwardly, the only one not answering. He knew it was only a matter of time before the teacher asked him the ans-

"Honor, what is the answer to this problem?"

-wer. Honor looked down and mumbled incoherently. Mr. Dunwillkins clearly knew he didn't know the answer.

"Since you haven't been paying attention, you can go to detention. Oh hey, that rhymed!"

Honor sighed. The first day, and he already got a detention. School was so complicated.