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Chapter 10

Fortunately for me, it wasn't a dream. Time, which dragged so slow back home, seemed to pass very fast here, and before I knew it, I had been at the Collegium for a week. All of my classes were very interesting, though I didn't like Geography that much. I had never like the memorizing maps my old teacher back in Horn made me do. I was good in the areas that didn't need maps, though. My favorite class, other then riding, was history. It was like one long story, which made it very easy for me. Another class I had was Maths, which was kind of hard, but Herald Sylvan's enthusiasm for the subject made it easier.

I was starting a new class today, Courtly Graces. Fortunately for me, the book they gave me for the class was the one that my village's teacher had taught me out of, until I proved competent, though at the time I complained about having to know how to treat diplomats. I thought I would never need to know the stuff! Hopefully, I could test up to a higher level, and not do the basics, again. That would be no fun!

When I walked into the class, I took an empty seat in the front of the class, while Talia slunk to the back. She was probably nervous, as she was Holderkin, and they weren't taught this sort of thing. Well, at least the girls weren't. I didn't know about the men, but probably not. Holderkin were rather inclusive.

After the class was over, I walked over to the teacher, Gaytha, who was the also the housekeeper. "Hello, Giselle." she smiled "What do you need?"

"I was taught all of this, out of the very same book, and I was wondering if I could test up to a higher level." I told her.

"Once you are done with this, there really is no higher level, except to come and practice every once and a while in your free time." she told me.

"Oh. Ok." I responded, thinking that there would be more to this class then there was.

"How about, after dinner, you come back here, and I give you that test?" she asked.

"That would work." I smiled. "Thank you."

"No, thank you for telling me. I've had people not tell me before, and I wish they would've, as I could give more attention to the people who needed it." she smiled. "Now, go to your next class, or you are going to be late!"

I smiled, thanked her again, then ran off before she could answer. After dinner, I came back and passed the test. I was then put in the Language class, a class designed to make everyone learn to talk like they were noble born, and since I still had my farm girl accent, I definitely needed it. That was where I learned something I hadn't known about myself until then. Something that completely redefined my future. What I was able to do was called mimicking, and it definitely wasn't magic. I was able to pick up the noble born accent within three lessons, though I still need to work on the grammar and phrasing bits. A teacher that my Language teacher had brought in, Herald Garrick, a happy go lucky man, who taught Rethwellan in between riding circuit. He had been born in Rethwellan, but came to Valdemar when he was young. He was Chosen a few years later. However, he still had a thick Rethwellan accent, if he wanted to. I could imitate him perfectly, with a little bit of practice.

"I'm going to suggest you become a diplomat."

"Because everyone knows that Diplomat is just a fancy word for spy?" I asked.

"Correct, though you didn't hear me say that." he winked. "Now, I have to go and take over my friend, Derrick's circuit. He broke his leg, poor man. Good luck, childing." he smiled, and somehow I knew I wouldn't see him again.

My first month at the Collegium rolled by quickly. I had finished the Language class in record time, and I, instead was put into a class that taught Iftel. However, my new class wasn't all of my worries. Talia had begun acting more shy then ever, and suddenly became very klutzy. She accidentally ruined several of her things, including her textbooks, though I still have no idea how she knocked over her ink pot while she was talking to me! Fortunately, it stopped when midwinter came, though I have no idea how!

Finally, the day before midwinter break came. I had started packing, and Talia was helping. "I'd offer to take you with me, but I have a feeling that I'll be back here by Midwinter. My parents didn't really approve of my Choosing. Jana and I are only really going so we can shove the fact we were Chosen in our parent's faces. She had a childhood about on par with yours, I think. Her parents are the town drunks, and only work so they can get drunk. And they are mean drunks, too." I explained.

"Thanks." she smiled lightly. "I hope your parents are better then you think they will be."

Jana scoffed as she walked in. "That's doubtful. Thanks for the thought, though." she smiled at the shy girl. "Anyways, I wanted to tell you, Giselle, that I want to leave by first light tomorrow."

"Ew." I groan. "Annoyingly early morning."

They both laugh. "Yep." Jana grins, wrinkling her nose. "I'm not any happier then you. I'm going to go get some sleep. You should, too. Goodnight."

"Night." Talia and I call as she leaves. We finish packing, and Talia leaves. I take a quick bath, then fall into my bed, dreading the days to come.

Hey everyone! I finally got to chapter 10! Hey, have any of you published books/ knows how to? I have this book that I really want to publish, but I don't know how to! Thanks for reading, and please review!