Silver Snow

Chapter 2: Praise


Stowing away under one of the tables in the mess hall, a tiny figure did her best to hide from view. Her only barrier between life and death was a tiny book, which she clutched onto for dear life, hoping that it would conceal her features from any potential predators.

It was only yesterday that Petra had compared her to prey, after all.

"Ah, Miss Varley. There you are."

"Eep!" shrieked Bernadetta in response. She had failed, and now she would meet her untimely end at the hands of whichever demon had found her.

"Forgive me for intruding upon your leisure time like this, but I was hoping to discuss your assignment before the end of the month."

"Ack!" she yelped, refusing to meet Death's cruel gaze. The words barely registered in her mind, but the coldness and sheer apathy behind them could only belong to a veritable demon.

"No! Begone, foul beast! I'm too young to die-e-e-e!"

With that exclamation, the girl proceeded to place the book on top of her head, curling up and making herself as small as possible. If she could not see the demon, then surely, it could not see her either.

"Nyah!" she squealed, when suddenly a dull thud resounded in her vicinity.

This was it, Bernadetta told herself. Death was about to perform the deed, raising whatever horrific and unspeakably evil weapon it had at its disposal. In mere seconds, she would be cut down, and the miserable life-form known as Bernie would cease to exist.

Instead, an exquisite aroma assaulted her senses.

"Would you care for some lunch?"

Against her better judgment, Bernadetta slowly peered between the pages of her book. She was not yet dead, and her stomach growled from the sudden scent.

Her professor stared at her blankly; his eyes portraying no more emotion than any other day of the week. The corner of his lips, however, were twisted upward ever-so-slightly. It was the first time she had seen him smile, and for some reason, it filled her heart with warmth.

And then, in an instant, the moment was ruined. With widening eyes, she remembered her previous behavior. Her outbursts, her suspicions, her damnations and her actions.

"Aaaaaaaargh!" she screamed, immediately growing beet red in the face. "I'm sorry, Professor! I didn't mean it, I don't know what I was thinking! Please don't kill me-e-e-e!"

In response, Professor Eisner placed a steaming bowl of food in front of her crouching form. He then sat down next to her, and began to dig into his own portion.

The sheer absurdity of the situation hit her only hours later, when she realized her professor had shared a meal with her on the floor, underneath a table, in full view of tens of other students.

"Now, where was I..." he began. "Oh, yes. Your assignment. Good work, Miss Varley. Your archery skills are improving at a remarkable rate."

Stunned into silence, Bernadetta hoped the hotness in her face was not as visible as she feared. Professor Eisner, oblivious to her internal struggle, seemed to ponder something for a while, before his lips twitched once more.

"I'm proud of you."

That night, for the first time in years, Bernadetta fell asleep with a smile on her face.