Before Saragossa, there was Saraqusta a little Muslim girl who was the personification of the place. Saraqusta eventually grew into a weary old woman who was often mistaken for a gypsy. Saraguasta had lived through much since the Arabs took over the originally Roman city and she came into existence. At one point she was the biggest Muslim-controlled city in all of Spain! She'd lived through sieges, wars, famines. But when Spain took over, Saragusta vanished, and that was when Sara was born, taking her place. Saragusta wasn't the first to personify that area, before her it'd been the roman girl Caesaraugusta, and before her there was Salduie an ancient Iberian personification. Saragossa is made up of a bit of all of them. Her ancestors
Saragossa was personified as very pleasant well mannered little girl who would never do harm to anybody. There was a kind of magic about her, in a subtle way. Some called it gypsy magic others called it ridiculous.
After he'd given up being a pirate, Antonio settled Sara down in a rural Spanish village. He figured it would be a good place for her to rest, and the country air would be good for her worried about her lack of education he was reluctant send her to the village school because the school master was brutal harsh man he would scare the little province rigid.
Toni eventually buckled after her health had improved, and he agreed to take Sara to the village school. It was in the village hall, and tiny building. It prided itself on being rather avant garde because it actually taught boys and girls together. Something that was rare during the current time period, were most girls weren't given an education at all. But the truth was they only put on mixed classes because they had so few teacher. It was a tranquil summers day when Antonio took her along to the school and enrolled her with headmaster she was put in the same class as young Romano who promised to look after his Sorella.
Toni had to make Romano promise he wouldn't get into fights, the little nation was a hot-head and he often blurted things out in anger without thinking. Things that got him into fights he couldn't handle. Toni was sick of the boy coming home covered in bruises, with angry tears in his eyes.
When they arrived, the school master looked the little province up and down with a suspicious eye he knew that her brother, young Romano was full of monkey tricks.
Sara may have forgotten the incident with England, but she still wasn't the bubbly ray of sunshine she used to be. She shied away from strangers and still felt panicked in crowds. Sara said very little which earned her the nickname mouse on her first day.
"Because your so quiet!" Romano explained to her.
Pretty soon, Sara fell into the routine. She was in school three days a week. It was only her first week when trouble started. Mr Hernandez worked out the arithmetic problems on the board and turned to the class with his usual patronizing smirk "Can any of you work this out? or are you all too stupid?" He sneered.
Sara knew the answer, she went to put her hand up, but felt an irrational fear grip her. She didn't want to seem like a swat, she wanted her classmates to like her! She didn't want to be the center of attention, either..
Maria got the question wrong. Sara felt a pang of sympathy for her as the teacher berated her.
"Your stupidity never ceases to amaze me, Miss Aragon." He laughed, but it was devoid of any kind of Mirth. His deep-set grey eyes scanned the class with a barley- concealed sadistic glee. Finally his eyes settled on Sara. "You girl- whats the answer to the question!?"
Sara felt her face redden as all eyes turned to look at her. It felt as if the classes stares were melting through her flesh
"187." She mumbled, her voice hardly audible. Her throat felt dry. Mr Hernandez narrowed his eyes.
"What did you say?" He shouted, making the class jump
"187!" Sara chocked out, trying desperately to make her voice louder. Mr Hernandez looked at her as if she were a piece of filth.
"If there's one thing I can't stand, it's cheating." He said, his voice low and dangerous. He wasn't shouting anymore, and somehow that was worse. Sara felt her heart plummet- he was accusing her of cheating.
"How can I see the answer when I'm sitting right here at the back- surely you would of seen me move from my place, sir." Sara said, trying to be polite and respectful- obsequious, even. Whatever it took for her teacher to leave her alone.
Mr Hernandez grunted, an animistic, guttural sound that made Sara feel sick. "Fine, I will excuse your cheekiness as it is your first week but in future just answer the question."
Romano's blood boiled, but he remembered his promise to his guardian that wouldn't get into fights, especially not over Sara
Sara sat back down, her face still bright red.
Maria shot her a sympathetic smile "Don't worry, it gets easier, you know."
Sara simply nodded, mutely, still too shaken up to talk.
Mr. Hernandez from that day took a dislike to Sara and made her life hell. Sara Said very little in class, she was even quieter than before, she was terrified that even the smallest of provocations would entice her teacher's rage.
Romano watched her like hawk to made sure she didn't get ill again. He wanted to tell Toni, but Sara made him promise not too- she knew the Spanish nation was already dealing with enough and didn't want to bother him any more. Besides, he was away from them a lot now anyways. He always had a lot of traveling to do.
Mr Hernandez was always grumpy and irritable, but he could also be downright cruel if you provoked him badly enough.
One day he was in a foul mood and nobody could anything right for him. He stormed around the classroom, seething like a mad man.
Thomas, a good lad on whole, made the mistake of pulling an innocent prank on Mr Hernandez, Sara bore brunt of his temper. He blamed her for leaving the tacks on his chair, even when Thomas admitted it was him in a guilt-fueled outburst
Mr Hernandez lashed out at Sara by giving her beating in front of the class.
Sara was glad when school over to say the least.
Later that day, when Natasha came to walk Romano and Sara home from school, she sensed that something was wrong. Sara looked disorientated and terrified, on the verge of being sick, even.
"Did something happen?" Natasha asked, her gentle voice saturated with kept her mouth shut, but Romano looked at her and sighed.
"We can't keep hiding this sis- it's going too far."
"But- I don't want Toni to worry over me." Sara mumbled, her voice a pathetic whisper.
"Hide what? whats gone too far!?" Natasha asked, frantically.
"It's that goddamn bastard teacher." Romano growled. "He beat Sara- damn I really wanted to show that fucker who's boss..!"
A dark look cast over Natasha's usually kind face. She pulled Sara into a hug. "That does it! your not going back to that school. Even if Toni and I have to home school you."
Sara let the tears she'd been holding in free, she clung to Natasha, sobbing against her shoulder. She felt safe in Natasha's arms, cocooned in a protective cage. She'd never had a mother, but Sara imagined this is what it'd feel like to have one.
When he found out about what had gone on, Toni had wrote a letter to the head respectfully explaining he was withdrawing his charge from the school. The head sighed exasperated, he was losing students hand-over-fist because of mt Hernandez.
Antonio wasn't done with Mr Hernandez though, he was still seething after he'd found out that man had hurt Sara. In a wild rage, he stormed into the classroom one day, when the teacher was in mid-lecture.
He slammed open the door, which almost swung of it's hinges, and strode across the classroom, and look of almost feral rage replaced his usual smile.
Mr Hernandez looked at the man before him "Excuse me! I am trying to teach I- "
Toni grabbed him, and swung him over the desk with an almost impossible strength. "Well I don't like your teaching methods, sir." Toni hissed into his ear. "And I don't think you will either once you've experienced them yourself. Si?"
"W-What do you mean?" Mr Hernandez stuttered. The class watched in a stunned silence. Spain grabbed the ruler, scraping across the desk.
"Let me show you."
By the time Toni was done, the class was cheering and the teacher was lying on the floor, groaning in pain.
"This might be the most important lesson you ever learn." Toni said, addressing the class. "Don't you ever hurt Sara. Ever!"
With that, he turned and left.
Maria asked Romano if Sara would be re attending school since the head had announced that the board of governors would attending the school to see how the school was doing.
She explained that Sara was still on schools roll and would have to Attend.
Thomas also explained that her brother would Fined 8 sovereigns each day she didn't attend then he would have to pay sixteen Sovereigns for the time she was absent.
Ella then said also if he refuses to pay he will have to go the town magistrates to face questions as why His sister is not in school.
Then if still refuses to send her.
He will face 10 days in prison and Sara and any other members of the house hold will have to go into the work house for two weeks.
Romano explained this all to Natasha who shook her head she said they cannot do that to Toni
Toni got the letter from head saying that Sara would b required to reattend the school since Mr Hernandez and had gone over his head and contacted the school board.
Toni sighed he wasn't exactly happy about trusting his charge back to the care of that man.
Romano knew Toni had enough problems with Nations Business and needed to catch up paper work that his boss sent j him.
Francis being and adopted uncle/ brother to Sara offered to take her along here what the head had to say.
Romano being older chose to go by himself he didn't want to seem like a little child.
Natasha smiled Said to Francis he growing up so he going want be independent and be seen relying on adult to walk him to school.
Romano made his first and last mistake where Sara was concerned he still adored his Sorella but he couldn't been talking her now he was the big children's class.
Edward said do you have to take your sister back home at the end of school Romano.#
Romano said nah she just an annoying little kid who is the baby class.
Sara over heard every word he said she fled the school grounds crying and headed as far possible away from Santeria.
Romano went to fetch his Sorella from Class.
Miss Carez said she never came to class Romano since from I got maria that Sara over heard you calling her baby and didn't want to be seen with her
Romano realized he done it again let his mouth rule his head he didn't mean to upset Sara and if Toni found out he would literally lose it and Romano knew that if Argentina and chile found their sister was missing they would kill him even before Toni did.
Sara headed for the palaliceia De Saragossa her home fort the place that was her province the place she felt Safest.
Luisa and Kali two other Provinces about year older than her they had agreed to meet to up there in case of emergency along with Maria or Aragon the four of them had become fast friends and they vowed to protect eachother.