Chapter 36: Postscript

"Elise, wake up. You still need to pack." Mhm? I reluctantly open my eyes. "Ellen?", I mutter, while rubbing my eyes. I reluctantly raise myself up. "What time is it?", I ask her confused. Virginia seems to be up already. How unusual, normally I wake up first and not last. "9 o'clock. Breakfast will end in half an hour.", she informs me. Geez, I'm late! I immediately stand up and dress myself, while trying to suppress a yawn. "So how was your evening?", Ellen asks me, while I brush my hair.
A tinge of red appears on my cheeks, while I think back about how I kissed Hieronymus. I kissed him! And he kissed me back! We're in a relationship now!
No wonder, I couldn't sleep last night...
"It was nice…", I try to evade the topic. "Really? I didn't see you after the first dance…", Ellen comments nonchalantly. "Maybe, it's because you only had eyes for Donald?", I counter teasingly. "Maybe… Or maybe you left early? To visit someone else?", she teases me back. I turn around to her and smile. "Maybe I did."
Ellen eyes widen in surprise. "What happened?", she asks me curiously. "Oh, we just cleared up some misunderstandings…", I evade her question, while grinning like an idiot. Ellen raises an eyebrow at me. "Is that all what happened?", she probes teasingly, since it's obviously not all what happened.
"No. But that's all I'll tell you for now. Anyways, how was your evening with Donald? You came back pretty late…" Ellen's cheeks turn red upon hearing my question.
As I thought, the two of them definitely did something. I chuckle at her embarrassment. "You can tell me later in detail, I'm late for breakfast…", I bid her goodbye and head off to the canteen.

While eating breakfast, I can't shake off the feeling, that I forgot something. After breakfast, I pack my stuff. I still have time left, before my mother will come to fetch me. Shall I go and bid my husband goodbye? But we already bade goodbye yesterday, didn't we? However, the thought, that I won't be able to see him for the whole summer deeply depresses me. There is no way, that I will waste this last opportunity to see him, since we won't be able to meet up during the holydays!
Having made my decision, I head towards his quarters. I timidly knock on his door. "Elise! Good morning.", he greets me. He seems happy. Yei .
"Good morning, Hieronymus.", I greet him back, while stepping inside. "I just wanted to properly bid you farewell, before leaving.", I explain to him, as he closes the door behind me. "I see.", he replies with a soft smile. I step closer to him, and he embraces me, without hesitation. "I will miss you.", I confess to him.
He tightens his embrace, but stays silent. I bury my face in his chest with a sigh. He will need some time to warm up, of course, I need to be patient.
Suddenly, his soft fingertips are stroke my cheek. I look up to him, and he kisses me. Surprisingly smooth…
Ah, for a moment, all my sorrows are forgotten, but soon his lips depart. "You may consider not spending your whole summer with your parents. I'm sure, that you want to spend some time with them, but you could still attend some summer classes.", he suggests. This means, that he will miss me too, right?
Otherwise he wouldn't propose this. "I will consider it.", I answer him with a smile. I leave after another deep kiss, since my parents will arrive soon.

Back in my dorm room, I take my luggage and head to the entrance, where Ellen and Virginia are already waiting. Donald is also waiting with them, holding hands with Ellen. I join them, relieved that it's not too late to bid them goodbye. "Where were you?", asks me Virginia warily. "Biding my husband goodbye.", I truthfully answer her, without trying to feign an excuse. "Oh great, now you're all lovey-dovey as well.", Virginia complains playfully, while rolling her eyes.
"Don't worry. For every pot, there is a fitting lid.", I teasingly try to comfort her. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?", she replies. I tilt my head in confusion.
Did I phrase the idiom wrongly? Maybe she simply never heard this idiom before? The magical society seems to have their own language peculiarities.
"That every person can find a fitting partner…", I explain to her. "Ha. You're weird.", she says with a laugh.
Suddenly Virginia turns serious. "But I will have to find a fitting… lid. I already told Ellen, so I thought I should tell you as well…" Virginia starts to fidget a bit.
"Donald wanted to tease me with an old marriage promise, I wrote as a child, together with Jacob. Turns out, the promise still counts. Fortunately, I don't have to marry Jacob, but I'll have to marry SOMEONE when turning 18, otherwise I'll lose my magic.", she explains to me sorrowfully.
I see. Sounds harsh, but I suck at comforting people. "So… uh… do you already have someone in mind?", I ask her delicately. "Well, you're already married, Pastel likes to flirt with everyone, and Ellen is in love with Donald… However, Balthasar offered to marry me, should I not be able to find someone…", Virginia hesitatingly replies. Balthasar? Is that why she danced with him on the May Dance? "I see. Ah, don't worry, being married isn't as bad as it sounds. Even if you don't have feelings for each other, you can be married in name only.", I try to comfort her. "Sure, your marriage isn't bad, you love him after all, for some reason.", she teasingly remarks.
"At the beginning, I thought that he would hate me… At least Balthasar definitely likes you, and would marry you completely voluntary.", I retort.
"Yeah… I guess he's better than Grabby." … not in my opinion, but it's good if she thinks that way. "Well, only the hard get into the garden.", I tease her.
She'll have to simply go through with it. "What the? You're saying weird things today.", Virginia laughs.
Somehow this time, the idiom I used was definitely wrong?
"Virginia, your parents are here.", Ellen interrupts our conversation, and they hurriedly begin to grab their luggage. So Ellen will go with them again, as expected…
"Ah, I also want to visit the Danson family…", I mumble. Virginia gives me a surprised look. "Wanna come over during the summer?", she asks me playfully.
Ups, embarrassing. "I would like to, if it wouldn't bother you…", I reply, still embarrassed. I didn't invite myself to come visit them, right?
"Course not. Let's go ask my parents." And with that Virginia drags me over to her parents, who are already loading the car with William's luggage.
Virginia's father is surprisingly ripped, he kind of looks like a warrior. And her mother fits the image of an amazon, she's also well-build and very energetic.
Virginia's father is rather calm and silent, on the other hand. I wonder, what their occupations are…
Soon after my roommates left, my mother also comes to pick me up.

While we drive home, I scan through the yearbook. Apart from the pictures of all students, there are also pictures from the various clubs, the fundraisers and normal school life. When were these pictures taken? Next to the single pictures of the students is their poll result for the future career and what they're most likely to do. Apparently, my classmates think, that I would become a memory collector in the future. But I suck at white magic… Is it because they think, that I'm cold, so I would be suited for such a heartless job? How rude. Furthermore, I'm voted most likely to be the first to divorce. Well, I saw that coming, so I'm not really upset.
I look at Ellen's picture. Her future career is magic researcher. That is actually quite fitting… And she is most likely to get spaghetti sauce on her head. How rude! Virginia's future career is duel instructor, and she is most likely to go regimental. Well, she is extremely good with red magic, and she was a bit bossy in leading the sport club. Donald is most likely to become the leader of a rebellion, and his future career is cat burglar. Suki is most likely to talk with things and her future career is spirit mediator. Manuel's future career is healer, and he is most likely to safe an injured Hodag. The last page of the yearbook is for exchanging signatures and wishes with classmates. Virginia wrote 'Go horses!' and Ellen thanks me for being a great roommate. Minnie also thanked me for helping her.
And Potsdam wishes 'us' the best of luck in the future. No comment.
But most importantly, my husband also demeaned himself to write something for me. He looks forward to seeing me again the fall.
Well, or earlier, should I wish to attend the summer classes, but he didn't mention that in the yearbook. I already miss him…
I close the yearbook, stuff it away and start reminiscing about the school year. A lot of stuff happened, I got tricked into marriage, got abducted, was hunted by the whole student body for gossip… But despite all the mishaps and dangers, it was a fun year.
Thinking about my abduction and Damien… how did I manage to figure him out again? I was wary of him since the beginning, but why did I decide to confront him after the winter holydays? I get pulled out of my thoughts, as the car stops. I'm home.
I get out of the car, to grab the rest of my luggage and look up to the house I grew up in.
Summer vacation is going to be long…

THE END