Okay, I've decided to introduce something. Whenever a word in Selene's speech is italicised and underlined like this, it means she's speaking in English instead of Geolunan.

Updated: October 17, 2016

Chapter 8

The lesson was quite interesting. We were starting a new unit, one I knew all too well about-treating burns. Easy peasy.

While I can't be burned by fire (it's weird, I know, but my brothers and I just assume it's because of my abilities with it), I can still get sunburn (because the sun can burn anything-it's the flippin' sun after all) and get scalded by steam and hot water. I was asked what plant is the best for treating mild to semi-bad sunburns. It was so easy, anyone could have gotten it-Aloe Vera. You use the gel-like substance inside it's stalks to rub over the burned area after washing it gently with cold water, reapplying when necessary.

After that, I had a class on practical magic taught by Professor Schuyler. It wasn't easy peasy.

I got called on again to use this magical water jewel thing-the name of which I can't remember for the life of me-to help me make it sprinkle inside the classroom. Have I ever mentioned that I can't really use water magic? Both Elias and Yukiya were called to do it before I was. Elias did it perfectly and got praised. Yukiya accidentally made thunder clouds. My try was worse.

I somehow made it, instead of sprinkle water, cause warm little light drops to fall and putting small gold-shimmery splatters on everything (they did blow right off). I got a zero for incorrectly doing the assignment, though my classmates thought it was cool (and that I somehow did it on purpose-which I assured them I didn't. At least I didn't make it rain frogs or anything…right?).

The next class gave me a start-the headmaster was teaching! It was my Gedonlune history class. I enjoyed this lesson, and I wasn't even called on! In fact, we learned about the Tower of Sorrow and the Dragon of Time. It really was a fascinating story-I just love it when history is able to become a tale that even the barest truth of a tale is mesmerizing.

My last class was taught by a very young professor, who was maybe twenty-one or so, and was called Professor G by most of the students because his full last name, 'Giovanni', was difficult to pronounce. According to Elias, he had just started teaching last semester. This was my class on Types of Magic. I thoroughly enjoyed this class-summoning magic wasn't something I've studied before. Since they were in the middle of a unit on summoning magic, he pulled me aside and gave me a list of some books and other materials that would help me catch up, as well as an offer to help me with any questions I had. He was a very nice teacher, clearly well liked by most of the students, myself included.

I was about to go skip off to replenish my food cache in my bag (I had forgotten to eat breakfast this morning in the midst of everything-a mistake I won't make again, because it meant that I ate a lot more of my stash than usual between breakfast and lunch) and go find a nice place to study-then I remembered that I had to go to the office of His Rudeness.

I groaned internally at the thought. I'm just going to have to make do with what I have until dinner. Then my stomach grumbled. I grumbled and dug a granola bar out of my bag. This morning, snacks made up 80% of the weight in my bag-now they were nearly gone. I ate my chocolate and peanut butter chip granola bar as I made my way to His Rudeness's office. I found a door that was labeled "Prefect's Office" by a brass plaque on the door. I knocked my own signature knock 'knock-knock knock-knock knock knock-knock bang!'

The door flew open to reveal a glaring Klaus. "Was that really necessary?" He growled.

I raised my palms upward and shrugged, the picture of innocence, "But that's how I always knock."

He rolled his eyes and stepped back, "Come in." It was a command, not a request. Jerk. I stepped in anyway-the sooner this is over, the better.

I sat on the arm of a chair and looked around. "Nice place you got here."

He didn't respond, just went and sat at his desk. He started looking over some papers, "I heard you messed up a simple water spell in Professor Schuyler's class."

"Water magic has never worked for me. It's the opposition to my natural element, fire."

He still didn't look up, "That's no excuse."

"It is when I attempt ice magic. I've only tried a few times, but each time it blows up in my face and knocks me out."

He looked up at this, "That's just sad."

I glared, "But my abilities with fire more than make up for it."

He rolled his eyes and looked back at the papers, "I'll assess your abilities after I'm done here."

Klaus's POV

"Don't you roll your eyes at me, young man." She sounded like a mother just then. I resisted the laugh that wanted to be let out.

"Yes, mother." I deadpanned without looking up.

"Thank you." She humphed, "And I'm going to ask you to stop being a jerk, otherwise I might just get fed up with your attitude and singe your eyebrows off." I snorted.

I glanced up to see her pull out that device that she used yesterday. She put the little buds in her ears and tapped the front of it a few times. She then closed her eyes and started moving her lips to the lyrics of a song and swaying to a beat I couldn't hear. I decided to ignore her for now. Strange girl.

I finished up the task I was on and looked up to see her studying me, her weird device still playing, only one ear occupied.

"Do you need something?"

She looked as if she was holding back laughter with the tight and twisted smile she had on her lips.

"Is something funny?" I glared.

"Your face." she started laughing this weird giggle, like she was trying to keep it silent but wasn't doing a very good job-she was shaking with the effort. She wiped away an imaginary tear, "Sorry, that was mean. You were just so serious looking, it was like you were handling some grave life-or-death matter, but the thing is, it isn't. Just ignore me. I find the strangest things to be ridiculously funny."

I shook my head, "You are a strange girl." Huh. I actually said it aloud.

"Yup." She grinned, and I felt a twist in the pit of my stomach, "and proud of it."

"You're proud of being abnormal?" Strange, strange girl.

"Yep. It's no fun being normal." She winked, "I like to live life like I'm going to die soon. It helps me be far more positive and grateful for what I have. Besides, why spend any of a precious life being boring? It's senseless."

"I think your logic is flawed. One should always be preparing for the future."

"I agree."

"Then aren't you going back on what you just said?" I was confused. 'What is with this girl?"

"No, I said to live life like you're going to die soon-I didn't say not to be prepared for the life you may have left. Live like you've a short life, prepare for a long life. Expect the worst and hope for the best."

That actually made some sense. I'm surprised.

I double take. Something's different than yesterday. Her hair's not braided and is it…"Did you cut your hair?"

"Actually, I did. It was far too long so I whacked it off this morning before school. It was getting annoying." She looked back at her thing. Her cut didn't look half bad, actually. It made her look older. How old was she? Yesterday she looked like an older fourteen-year-old with those childish twin braids, but with the shorter hair that was down, she looked nearly seventeen. Since she's in Elias' class, I'm going to guess that she's an older fifteen. She's definitely a bit older than my brother.

We've gotten off topic. "Put whatever that is away and get your wand out. We have testing to do."

Selene's POV

Finally. I was ready to get this over with and leave. I have homework to do…or would it be considered dormwork, since we don't actually do it at home? I think I'll keep to calling it homework, to keep things simple. Or should I call it dormwork, just to be special? Nah, I'm 'special' enough naturally without adding to it.

I wound my earbuds around my phone and pulled my wand out of the waistband of my skirt, since there was no pockets or beltloops on this dratted thing. "Ready, Freddy."

He gave me a strange look, "Who's Freddy?"

It was my turn to roll my eyes, "It's a rhyme expression thing, idjit."

"What did you just call me?" His facial expression was annoyed, and I found it funny, though I refrained from laughing.

"That's for me to know and you to look up later." I smirked. Oh how I love being bilingual-it means I can insult people without them having a clue what I'm saying. At least, unless they're bilingual with the same languages, like the rest of my family, but hey, I don't usually need to insult them. In addition to that, Klaus looked miffed that I knew something he didn't. He-he-he the fun of being me-me-me.

"Moving on from your strangeness, shortie…"

I was a head shorter than him, "I'm not short, you giant-I'm just not extremely tall like you." He had found something to annoy me with. Oops. Oh is Well. I'll just have to find something to hang over his head that annoys him more.

He smirked. Oh how I've come to loath that smirk. And I haven't even known him for twenty-four hours. "I'm going to be putting you through a series of magic drills and testing you on book knowledge. Prepare yourself."

Oh joy. This is going to be fun. Not.

Klaus's POV

I put her through various tests. The results:

Can't even use water magic and failed completely at the basics. Even attempting ice- or cold-related magic made her weak-had to take a break.

Can summon wind, but has a hard time controlling it (had to have her clean up office-moved the rest of the tests outside).

Is able to use weak earth spells, mainly for cleaning purposes.

Did well with light- and heat-related spells.

Uncanny ability with fire magic, is able to manipulate it very well. No problems here.

Uses a different language for spells-some words are similar, like 'ventos' and 'ventus' for wind, others, like fire, she uses 'ignis' instead of 'flau'-she claims that it's an old Terran language that works better for her spells, called 'Latin'. I've heard of wizards using this language instead of the usual spells words. Must research this.

Is fairly competent in some forms of book knowledge. Is best with plants and animals-especially herb uses and canines.

History knowledge is severely lacking, at least in Myulan History. Is excusable in this part because of where she lives and because she has a strong desire to learn more of this subject.

Has an interest in magic tools, but is unfamiliar with many from Myula.

Math skills are average, has little motivation to care about subject.

She does have a large amount of magical energy, but it's wild and uncontrolled-as well as easily drained by ice- and water-type magics. Need to focus on the basics in her training.

Also, her stance is off on all but fire. Her stance when using fire magics is far more natural for her, and it works. The others not so much. She seems self-taught in most of her magic. Have her sibling's taught her nothing?

Note to self: drill the basics into her skull.

And yes, I will have to train her. Not only because I don't want her to affect my grade, but because of the offer that the headmaster made in our conversation this morning. If I can get her to pass her Judgement and get decent grades for the rest of the year, I'm guaranteed my dream job. Dealing with her attitude and quarrelsome tendencies may be worth it for that. Plus, I may as well consider it training for myself in dealing with difficult students.

Yes, it just might be worth it.