Aili

I was deeply bored with the lessons. I was good at math, yes. So good, in fact, that my teacher despaired of not being able to teach me anything anymore, while the rest of the class failed at the simplest tasks. Well, it was easy for me. Not for the others.

But I wasn't allowed to skip class. Unfortunately.

My dear, good teacher was of the firm belief that students would only do nonsense if they were not strictly occupied with lessons and homework. Therefore, he regularly gave us more than enough homework to help us become reasonable adults. The others moaned about all the tasks to be solved, I ignored the homework. I got nothing out of it. This, too, annoyed the ambitious teacher. After all, I didn't have to fear any consequences. No extra homework, detention, or whatever else he could think of. He knew that the tasks did not help me in any way. Nevertheless, he was happy to lecture me on the importance of fulfilling one's own duties in order to achieve an exemplary existence as an adult.

He had tried to set me up with tasks from the third year, but even those were too easy. He considered whether I should switch to third-grade math class, but my schedule didn't allow it. And there, too, I would only be bored. So I stayed where I was.

Maybe I should bring my request to the headmistress? A free lesson instead of boredom? However, I did not dare. She was part of the royal family and closely guarded. Getting an appointment with her was possible, and also desired, but you had to pass her guards...

There were only two. But the two of them regularly intimidated me when they watched each student fiercely. An occupational disease.

After math, I went to fencing lessons. I decided to continue attending the subject after the first year. Just like the lessons in sword fighting. Did I want to be a soldier? Heavens, no! But I liked the feeling of being able to defend myself. I couldn't do anything with magic but with a sword in my hand? It made me feel like the nation's next heroine!

My teacher was very pleased with me and called me a true talent. However, she also suggested a career as a soldier to me. She didn't like my 'no' so much.

Our current queen had the former military school completely renewed. And also the requirements for the various courses. Previously, those who showed talent at the academy were sent directly to the military school after finishing school. They could refuse, but that was considered scandalous. This regulation no longer existed. And the school was now called the "Royal School for Soldiers and Guards". The course for military doctors and nurses ended. This could now only be learned at universities or, in the case of nursing staff, in hospitals.

There were also changes at the academy: the two subjects 'fencing' and 'sword fighting' were offered as electives from the first year on. In three courses: Beginner 1, Beginner 2, and Beginner 3. The beginner's course 1 could also be chosen in the third year. The subjects were intentionally referred to as a 'beginner's course', as it was not the aim of the academy to produce strong soldiers. Not anymore. It was about discipline, self-confidence, and recognizing one's own limits. All three were also important for the use of magic. Because whoever crossed their magic limit endangered their health. But some people couldn't get used to these changes. Teachers, like parents. For too long they had lived with the idea of producing good soldiers for a tyrant.

In addition to the 'traditional' subjects, art was offered and there was a school choir. These two subjects were also electives. I could sing, but only for myself. When someone listened to me, my voice failed. And drawing? No. I lacked the talent.

My three best friends had chosen art, one of whom was in the second year, which took place at the same time as fencing lessons. I saw the other two in class much less than in the first year because I didn't attend magic classes anymore.

But now that the break was finally arrived, we sat together under a tree. As long as it was still warm, we always ate outside. Today we had a stew that we spooned hungrily. Our simple school bags were leaning against the tree.

"And? How was it?", asked Silya. "More difficult than in the beginner's course 1?"

"No, not really. But the course has only recently begun. But at the end of the school year, there will be a big tournament. I'm looking forward to it", I replied.

Silja's twin sister Menka rolled her eyes. "Of course you do. You're going to win!" Laughing, she winked at me.

Silja and Menka Noß were both sixteen-year-old healers. They had received their magic right on their twelfth birthday and planned to work in a hospital later. Their older sister Maiken, like me, had received her magic just before her sixteenth birthday. She was a seer. Her greatest achievement was to foresee that one of the teachers would fall into one of the bushes in the garden. An hour before it happened. Because Maiken could only see into the future. But never more than an hour ahead. And just like me, she stopped attending magic classes in her second year of school. We, therefore, had free hours together.

"What's next? Do we have a free hour?", she asked me now. Maiken never managed to keep her timetable in her head. I, on the other hand, knew not only mine but also that of my friends.

"Indeed! Do you want to go to the library? Do homework?", I suggested.

"You're so boring!", growled Menka. She and Silja looked almost identical. They were of plump stature, with brown hair and brown eyes. Maiken, on the other hand, was very petite, with short brown hair and large blue doe eyes.

"Very boring! You might as well just have fun!" Silja announced, rolling her eyes. "Being a nerd must be hard..."

"Or we'll do our homework and have a little more time for fun this afternoon!" Maiken stuck her tongue out at her two sisters. Then she looked at me. "Or do you want to go to the capital?"

"Is there enough time for that?", I asked.

"If we take a carriage now, we'll have half an hour in town before we have to go back. I think..." She frowned. "Probably. Yes. Probably!"

"What? Without us?", protested Menka immediately. "That's so mean! You're having fun while we have to endure magic with Candy! Candy!"

Silja nodded sadly. "I have to sit next to her in magic. It's bad."

But even before we could continue planning, a pleasing change of plan came our way. Nio Braumann. My boyfriend! His light hair shone golden in the sunlight. He carried his leather school bag over his shoulder.

"Aili! Girls!" He winked at us. "I can kidnap Aili for a moment, right?"

"If need be?" Maiken grumbled annoyed. "We might have wanted to go to the capital."

"You can do that another time!" He held out his big hand to me and helped me up. "I desperately need my girlfriend's attention  ."

I loved it when he said that. His dark green eyes were always shining. "You look particularly pretty today!", he whispered to me.

"That's it for your trip!", announced Silja almost solemnly.

I looked at Maiken apologetically. "Next time, okay?"

She nodded.

Then I held onto Nio’s arm, to go for a walk with him until the break ended.

"And your food?" Menka shouted after me. "Your bag?"

"Will you bring it away for me? Thank you," I replied. I had left my bowl of half-eaten stew with my friends. "I'll get my bag later! Thanks for watching!"

"Aili!" Menka protested, shaking her head as Silja made helped her to the rest of my food. Nio grimaced.

"Today's stew tasted horrible!", murmured Nio. "Potato, peas, and Brussels sprouts. I don't like Brussels sprouts."

"You don't? I like Brussels sprouts." A few birds chirped as we walked along the many rose bushes. I saw a fairy among the branches. She stuck her tongue out at me.

"Well, yes. Don't you think the taste is strange?"

"How so?", I asked.

"Brussels sprouts always taste like the wooden boxes in which they are stored. You did notice that too, right?"

"Like wood?" I nodded. "Yes, you're right. This is actually not so tasty. The stew tasted a bit woody." He was right.

"They should remove Brussels sprouts and stews from the offer!", he concluded.

"Hmm..."

"The kitchen could put a little more effort into it. This is where nobles go to school. And we are all witches and wizards! We deserve better than wood. You agree with me, right?", he snorted now. "We are the elite!"

"Probably..." Were there any low-quality vegetables served here? It had never felt that way.

"What would you like to have on the menu?", he wanted to know. "I think pancakes would be great!"

"Oh, yes. Who doesn't like pancakes? With a lot of sugar!"

"We understand each other!" Laughing, he kissed my cheek. "Have you had fun so far? In class?"

"Math was boring. Otherwise, yes. And you?"

"Kind of. We have math around the same time. Maybe you will be allowed to switch to my course. Then we could do the math homework together", he suggested. "In your course, your potential is wasted. You should be a math teacher, what do you think? Can you explain well?"

"I think so. I have several younger siblings whom I have often helped with their homework." Syltje in particular had difficulties with arithmetic. As soon as the numbers were bigger than a Hundred, it was very difficult for her to imagine them and solve the tasks. Even now.

"Wonderful! That would be nice! You become a teacher. You've already got practice and teachers are sexy!" He grinned broadly.

"Are they?" I raised my eyebrows. "Well? We have some teachers here!"

That made Nio laugh. "But they're all not as pretty as you. We ask, shall we? You come to my class, we do homework together, you can show me your skill in explaining...", he continued euphorically.

"Do you need help with your math homework?" Or had I misheard?

"Sometimes!", he admitted, his cheeks flushing. "You will have some free time, right?"

“Yes?" So he needed help. I sighed.

"Well... We had terrible homework that I didn't quite understand... Maybe you can take a look? But only if you have time. You wanted to do something with your friend..."

"I can look at your homework, yes." I would just take his homework to the library. "But I can't change in those math classes."

"What a pity! Thank you!" Nio kissed me a second time. "You're the best, honey!" Then he reached into his leather school bag and handed over a few crumpled sheets of paper.