Seth and the Prometheus Guild

Cernunnos

Francesca fussed with his hair for the fifth time that morning, leaning down to look into his face. "Alright, just remember if someone's mean to you, tell me immediately. And you don't have to prove anything to anyone, if it gets to be too much, just come find me. I'll deal with the director ... My, but I have to say, the uniform really suits you quite well, that dark blue contrasts neatly with your eyes, and I have grown to like your hair braided like this, it gives off an exotic flair, ah, I think I'm more nervous than you are. Don't worry, the other children will definitely like you, you're such a sweet boy, and you already know Mary Ann, I think she's a very nice and diligent girl, maybe apologize to her for disappearing yesterday, won't you, and - oh, I think you should go in now, we don't want you to be late and make a bad first impression, right?"

"Right," Seth said. They were currently standing in front of the classroom, in which the first lesson of the day would be held. School had already started two weeks ago for the other children, the time during which Seth was still diligently learning the language, so he would be the only new student.

He didn't really give it any thought. This was just a requirement so he could continue to live here and be fed, and maybe learn a bit more about humans and their ways - after all, he would probably never be able to distance himself from them completely.

Allowing Francesca to straighten his blazer one last time, he turned around and entered the classroom. A scent slapped his face, painfully familiar. It smelled like home - which could only mean the girl from the balcony was here.

It didn't even take Seth a second to spot her. She was sitting in a back corner of the classroom, talking to a slight boy with gleaming, moist-looking skin, her strange hair-decoration prominently jutting out above the other student's heads. She hadn't noticed Seth yet, focused on her bench-partner.

Seth thought it was clever to choose a spot at the back of the classroom. The thought of someone, even someone as unthreatening and inept as these human children, sitting so close behind him made his skin itch. Better to have his vulnerable back protected by a wall and keep an eye on them instead.

His curiosity about the strange girl hadn't really ebbed. He still didn't know why she smelled like home, why annoying little birds just settled on her and why she hadn't told Gregory about him sitting in the rafters.

Seth started walking towards her, past the other students. The human kits already sitting at their desks raised their heads at his passing, giving him a curious once-over, but no one got up or challenged him. Talking about challenges - Braeden was also here, his scent more tolerable than the last time Seth had smelled him. Maybe he wasn't as aggressive at the moment or maybe he had performed one of those human cleaning rituals. Braeden was also sitting at the back, at the desk next to the girl and her damp friend. Contrary to the girl, he had spotted Seth as soon as he had walked through the door and was now watching his approach apprehensively.

When Seth stopped in front of him, his bushy eyebrows furrowed. "What do you want, freak?"

"Your seat."

At the sound of his voice, the girl's antler-decorated head snapped around. As soon as they landed on Seth, decked out in the marine blue school uniform with silver buttons, her light eyes rounded. "What? But - You? What?"

Seth had to deal with Braeden first, so he ignored her. The bigger boy was standing up, his expression strangely calm. At the scrape off his chair, other students in the room turned around as well, interest flickering to life in their eyes.

"You want my chair?" Braeden asked. "Why?"

Seth indicated the last row with his hand - the students sitting in those chairs almost simultaneously scooted back when Braeden's eyes followed his gesture. "All are taken. You know me." Seth smiled. "You give me your chair."