The Ballet of the Swans

Act Sixteen

The next morning, Ahiru couldn't remember how her date with Garhyn had ended. Her memory of it began to fade when she fell asleep while they were dancing. Ahiru could still recall Garhyn's words regarding his feelings for her. The way to school was normal. Fakir, Ahiru and Akiro left the smith's house on time, and met with Mytho and Rue at the bridge, as usual. Though the four of her friends were worried about what had happened the previous day, none of them had asked yet about it, and Ahiru thanked them for it, since she didn't really want them to know about Garhyn, and she was still hesitating on telling them about her grandmother. Yet, the girl continued walking with her friends, and following Rue's conversation about the main cast, which had also been published the previous morning, helped her to get her mind away from her problems, and so, she continued to smile.

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"You will join our class starting today, Runa." Said Julia to her servant, as the silver haired cooked and began serving their breakfast. Runa looked surprised at her mistress, and Julia looked sharply at her, before beginning to eat. "What you heard, the temporal transfer papers have already been arranged." Continued the Icy Dancer.

"I thought dancing was forbidden to me." Runa muttered, staring at Julia, the blue haired rolled her eyes.

"It is forbidden" she agreed, "but just this once I will let you, for the sake of our plans, and our ballet."

"The ballet?" Asked the silver eyed "but I will be completely useless!"

"Not with your skill, Runa" replied Julia "we both know that your blood allows you to learn anything more quickly than any creature in the world."

"Well, that is true, Julia-sama, but why?" insisted Runa.

"Because I said so." Julia answered, finishing her breakfast; her servant took the dishes away. "Besides, isn't that what you want? To watch over me, every single second of the day?" she said before leaving the house.

"That is not it!" whispered the silver haired, as she washed the dishes. "I am just following Madelaine-sama's last wish."

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When Ahiru and Rue got into the class, it was normal. The students had divided in groups, and were practicing already, the publication of the cast list the previous day had caused the chattering to lower a little, but conversations among friends could still be heard. Rue and Ahiru quickly joined their friends at their usual spot, and began stretching for practice.

Suddenly, the doors to the classroom opened and Neko-sensei came in calling his students' attention.

"Today," he said as the class looked at him "we welcome a new student to our class. She was transferred here from our academy's music department, for the sake of the upcoming ballet. Please, help her to learn the basics properly, and let's welcome miss Runa Darkehearst!"

From the shady corridor, the shy girl came in. Since she didn't have a practice outfit yet, she wore the academy's standard uniform, partially covered with the long, black cape that hang from her shoulders, such a cape, seemed familiar to Rue, but none of them was as surprised as Akiro, who was stunned at the sight of the silver haired girl.

"Please, be kind to me." Runa said bowing to her new classmates. As she looked back up, her eyes moved swiftly from Julia to Garhyn, and finally, her silver gaze fixated on Akiro, trying to hide the fact that she felt as stunned as he did.

Having introduced the new student, Neko-sensei gave the usual instructions and menaces for practice and the class went back to its usual, except for Runa, who sat in the classroom's darkest, corner watching the rest as they practiced, and glaring subtly at Garhyn every once in a while.