Run Away ✧ Sebastian Sallow

𝓇𝓊𝓃 𝒶𝓌𝒶𝓎: chapter one

"Miss Wynters?" The professor called out, snapping her attention back into the classroom, "Perhaps you'd like to provide the class with an answer today?"

Antheia looked dumbfounded around the room in hopes that someone to come to her recuse. Astronomy had never been a passion of hers, the long dark nights in the windy tower always left her feeling cold and alone. She had done her best to avoid having to retake the course during her final year, but at last, her grades decided otherwise.

In truth, Antheia wasn't sure what the teacher had even asked her about this time. It was a bitter cold night for September still and her focus had been on the window rather than the board. A dark chalkboard that had just been erased of any clues that might help her.

"My apologies Professor Shah," Antheia offered shyly, "I didn't hear the question."

The dark eyes of the teacher ran her over in disappointment. A look that she had been growing used to since her sixth year.

She wanted to turn back to the window and daydream about anything else that night. It turns out that after you save the school from an attack and spend a year trying to fix everyone's problem, things become less interesting. Magical classes were still just classes and she still struggled to pay attention most of the time. Waiting impatiently until the clock rang for their dismissal. 

After class, she'd be able to run back to her dorm where the fireplace would be burning bright. Maybe she'd curl up in the common room with a book or write a letter home, she hadn't decided yet. Anything felt better than reading star charts at that moment.

Her poor owl had brought plenty of letters from home already in the few earlier weeks of the school year, but she didn't have anything to write back yet. Every day during the fifth year, it was as if she had always had something to say to them. Countless stories and wonders about everything. Then things became less magical and more normal. By the sixth year, it grew into every other week. Now in her final year, she hadn't answered one yet. 

Now she read the letters from home and realized she had nothing to say anymore. I hate Astronomy and I can't wait to come home for winter break, would surely have a different change of tone from her last letters. Her mother would not approve of that. 

Maybe she'd read a book instead and worry about that later. 

All she knew was that she was looking forward to the heat of sitting anywhere warmer than the Astronomy Tower. And the cold disappointing glaze of Professor Shah. 

"Since Miss Wynters is unable to provide me with a sufficient answer, then perhaps someone else would like to volunteer?"

Antheia had tried to turn her head away from her peers. Already feeling her cheeks burn with embarrassment at her failure.

Then Shah called out, "Yes, Sallow, please go ahead!"

"Orion is the hunter. It is often confused with Sagittarius, who is the archer. Since both are commonly referred to as types of warriors, they are often mistakes for one another. Orion will be visible by the end of this month according to the chart. And Sagittarius won't appear until November."

"Wonderful as always," Shah cooed, "Thank you very much Miss Sallow."

For just a moment, Antheia's eyes met Anne Sallow's as she sat back down after answering. Even from across the other side of the classroom, it was more of a cold glare that met hers and made her look away. More disappointment.

"Orion, not Sagittarius, will be in perfect viewing in a few weeks! Providing the weather holds out then we will be doing a special class on the night of the twenty-ninth to observe." A Saturday, a weekend class, as if there wasn't anything else that they rather be doing on their day off than spend another cold night in the tower doing an assignment.