Voiceless Bird

Chapter 4

How Slowly Did I Walk Up the Stairs?

A loud bell chime rang, playing out a small tune and pulling me out of deep sleep. I could see the morning sun peeking out from behind the curtains and I yawned sleepily. As I walked out of the bedroom, I noticed noted a heavy piece of elaborately patterned paper on the marble kitchen table.

To Miss N. Willow,

There are only a few simple rules in the Academy we wish you to follow:

Do as you are told in class.

Believe in yourself.

Make the most of the Academy.

To make yourself at home and express yourself.

You are free to decorate your room in any way you like, requests for new room decor are available every weekend from 9am-5pm.

Lessons start at 9am and end at 3pm, when the bell rings for breakfast at 8am, lunch at 12pm and dinner at 7pm, you are expected to be at the Gathering Hall in 10 minutes. Bells will also signal you to wake up weekdays and when you are expected to be in bed on weekday nights. They will also signal the start and end of lessons.

Enclosed you will find your weekly timetable, which will change every week, and map, as well as what to wear for each subject and your Academy Partner- who will be with you every step of your Royal journey.

Lastly, visitors are allowed in the Academy from 9am to 4pm every weekend but they will only be able to enter with a special pass. Five special passes are enclosed, any requests for more will be accepted.

Yours Faithfully,

Mrs R. Golds, Academy Headmistress.

The subjects we had to take were:

Magical Animal Study.

Basic Arithmetic.

History of Anatosia.

Royal Arts.

Special Power Study.

Basic Physical Education.

Royal Etiquette.

and Identifying Poisons.

My eyes scrolled cautiously down to the bottom of the page and hoped strongly that Meraella was my partner, not someone who hated me...

Robin Rochards.

Great.

**

All six of us were seated around a large table, it was one out of five tables- which were filled with the older years— all scattered around the Gathering Hall. Seated across me was Robin and I was between Amie and Meraella. While Meraella looked overjoyed to be beside Remi, it was the exact opposite with Amie and Primo.

"Who's your partner?" Amie whispered to me, eyes glinting slyly.

I nodded to Robin and Amie leaned back into her seat.

"So Meraella has got my Remi."

Unfortunately, Meraella overheard this.

"He's not your Remi." Her eyes looked angry.

Amie smirked confidently, "What? Are you saying he's yours?" 

Meraella blushed prettily and scowled, "He belongs to himself, you idiot."

Uh-oh.

"What did you just say?"Amie's smirk froze and she leaned over to Meraella.

Meraella realised her mistake to late and started to bluster, "I-"