An early morning drizzle welcomed a new day in the Elysian district. Sitting at her dining room table, Hazel Macht watched the drops fall on her balcony.
'I have to leave soon if I don't want the rain to catch me on my way...' The young green-haired lady noted as she put down her cup of tea, which was now empty.
While the sealing of the apartment was some of the best her family's money could buy, the cold could still be felt scratching uncomfortably at her skin.
"I don't want to imagine what winter will be like here..." Muttering a little, Hazel adjusted her thick scarf a little closer to her, covering her mouth.
At that time of year, it wasn't uncommon that on the early hours of morning for temperatures to drop to 4 degrees. The highest it would get being 10 degrees at noon, and that's if the sun comes up.
Remembering the clothes she had brought, Hazel sighed.
'While the temperature differences in Backlund and Lenburg are considerable, the wind coming from the Lumea Forest makes it seem much higher than it really is...'
She would have to go shopping for thicker clothes if she didn't want to turn into a popsicle once the first snowflakes began to fall.
Such a thought quickly jumped to another, and her brown eyes gained a certain sparkle.
'I have to ask Teacher Flora to come with me! This time we can talk better than last time!' Unable to help herself, Hazel clapped her hands happily, a big smile on her face.
Due to the somewhat special circumstances of her first teacher in the beyonder world, the most she had gotten to talk to her was about how she could act better as a Maraduer, as well as some mysticism lessons.
And Sunday's meeting, she didn't get to talk much because she was getting to know the new members.
The most she knew of her first teacher as a person was her first and last name; beyond that, they were practically strangers.
'Not that there was much to discuss either. While interesting, it's hard to talk normally to a rat in a sewer... Oh, that...' Hazel stopped her train of thought, her lips tightened, and a strange expression formed on her face.
If she ever said that out loud, at the very least, she would be looked at funny.
Not wanting to wear a white vest with many belts and with her breakfast finished, the Macht rose from her place and, after cleaning the mug she had used, went to her room and prepared to leave to attend her classes for the day...
With a thicker strapless dress and dark brown gloves warming her hands, she held a medium-sized briefcase with her various books and supplies.
One hand grasped the doorknob and turned the door, but she didn't open it.
Turning around, Hazel's brown eyes swept across her living room in search of something, something familiar.
But as had been repeated over the past few days, there was nothing to be seen aside from yellow parades and closed glass doors being pounded by the morning squall.
"Sigh..."
Shaking her head, the young Macht only opened the door and stepped out of her lonely apartment.
With her umbrella clutched tightly in her left hand, not letting the wind blow it away as she had seen it do before, Hazel stepped outside and set off on her way to the university.
Within 15 minutes of leaving, the drizzle increased to a light rain, and this only made Hazel thankful again that her overprotective father had chosen an apartment that was extremely close to the university.
The symbol of the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom appeared through the mist generated by the downpour, and the young noblewoman quickened her pace to a light trot that bordered on a jog.
She passed through the massive gates of the university, followed by several other ladies and gentlemen who had just arrived, escaping the rain that was now falling with regular force.
"Huff... Hufff..." Pretending to be out of breath, Hazel took a moment to collect herself, looking around at the various people who entered with her.
Same as on the day of the entrance exam, there was a great variety among the students. Easily differentiated by the clothes they wore or by their height and bodies.
The tall feysacians were wearing shirts and vests that showed off their strong bodies. The Intisian were easily recognizable by their usual blue eyes and black hair, along with a style of dress similar to the Loenese but more colorful. The same Loenese were recognizable by their elegant standing and dark clothing.
There was no need to mention the Lenburg; their brightly colored tunics and bright colors made them stand out naturally.
Ignoring, as each group began to engage in conversation with their classmates, Hazel started on her way to class.
Classes were starting at 9:00 a.m. She still had 30 minutes to spare, so she didn't rush her pace.
Several other students seemed to share his thoughts, as once they were inside the safety of a roof, they walked with all the calmness in the world...
Arriving at classroom 404, Hazel ignored her classmates who were already present and took her seat in her place on the right side of the classroom, placing her briefcase with her supplies on top of her desk.
A soft sigh escaped her lips, and knowing that she still had time before class started, she closed her eyes and used semicogitation to rest her mind.
Suddenly, she felt a presence approaching from the side, her disinterested step already telling her who it was.
The footsteps stopped in front of her desk, and knowing she wouldn't move until she said something, Hazel opened her eyes in boredom.
In front of her, looking at her with folded arms and a slight sideways smile, a young woman about two years older greeted her. Long black hair, round face, and an elegant temperament. She was wearing a dark purple robe dress with black gloves.
This beautiful young woman smiled amiably at her, "Hello~"
Hazel looked flat at this, but keeping her politeness as a noble, she nodded, "Good day, Miss Anna."
Anna Roleffes laughed a little, voice sweet, "I've already told you that you can just call me Anna, no need for formality between friends."
"We are not friends," Hazel said simply.
She had barely known her for 2 weeks, that being positive, how could they have such a close relationship?
There was no aggression or evil in her voice, but the quiver in Anna's smile made it clear she didn't like them.
More, ignoring that, Anna laughed softly and took her place at the desk beside her, "You have a heart of ice, Miss Hazel. But it's okay, I'll play along with your little game."
"If it helps you sleep better." Hazel watched out of the corner of her eye as her classmate began to pull out her books and pencils with a slight hum.
It had barely been a few days into class when the woman next to her had approached her one day at lunchtime, wanting to strike up a conversation, something Hazel had personally avoided or ignored for the most part.
The young Macht expertly contained and controlled the annoyance she felt and didn't let it show as she herself also began to pull out her supplies.
I had already seen what she was doing in the first few days when classes started. Anna had approached several interesting young men and women at the university, trying and succeeding in gaining their interest; whether they were male or female, they all liked her.
That's why she annoyed Hazel so much. The young Macht had already dealt many times with people like Anna Roleffes, people who clung like parasites to others, praising them with sweet words or good deeds to gain their trust and be able to manipulate them more easily as they pleased.
This was a game she had already played many times, as the only daughter of one of the most important men of the New Party of the Loen Kingdom, she already had to deal with other young women who approached her with the sole purpose of getting information of her father.
Adding to the experience she already had, the evasive and detective nature that came with being a Swindler, Hazel could easily see that Anna had no good intentions with her, no matter how bright that smile might be.
'I knew there was a chance this would happen, but I didn't think it would be so quick. I guess this would be bad luck? These last few days I've had a lot of good luck with my acting and digestion of my potion, so in a way my luck had to swing...' Sighing soundlessly, Hazel settled back in her seat, just as the clock above the blackboard struck 8:59.
A second before the time passed 9, a man in his mid-thirties with an academic air and square glasses entered the room, closing the door behind him.
"All right, open your books to page 129!"
Already a natural, Hazel turned her attention slightly away from the professor's voice and began to write down what he was saying, her mind moving a bit to what she would be doing tomorrow.
It was a day off due to Sunday being Day of Knowledge, and for the moment, the most she planned to do was relax on the couch and sleep in front of the campfire.
She may be Sequence 8, but even for her, these classes were extremely draining to her mind...
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Okay, long time no see... Hehe. Busy life, sorry for that.
I just wanted to take this opportunity to say that Flora's reference sheet is finally ready!
Adryan's will be ready by the middle of the month if all goes well, along with the symbol this week, but let's focus on Flora for now!
As the first time you brought her to life, it was meg_greeny520 who made the sheet. Please give her lots of love!!!!
It's posted on my Twitter page, if you like, you can go check it out.
@TheWitnessFoD