The next week I choose to attend green magic, magical history, magical species, white magic and black magic. Those three are where I'm strongest in that order followed by blue and red. It forces me to be a bit more creative since I can't just blast my way through a problem like Virginia might. Ellen is strongest in blue so we're a pretty good pairing in the group exams. I wonder if Potsdam knew that when she put us together. I always had a feeling that she knows more than she is letting on.
In Green magic we are all sitting out in the forest with at least ten meters between each other doing what is looking like meditating. Actually we are connecting to the nature around us. A strong green witch or wizard can not only feel the nature around them, they can almost make it talk to them is this strange way where you are connected to every plant and creature around you and can feel, see, smell, taste and/or hear the same thing they are. If a living branch breaks you "feel" it and can then react to it. Not only that but depending on how good you are at this you can draw energy from the nature around you to either heal or give you more mana. This is incredibly difficult and the best of us in the class can currently only get a general feel of the nature one meter around us. The reason for the big gap between us is to help us concentrate. Professor Moor is walking between us helping where needed. Though it is not meditation is sorta feels like it to me. I am always completely relaxed feeling the natural energies brushing over my body. I can't grasp it but it is still a soothing feeling. I get a feeling that I've done this before a long time ago but the memory is just out of reach.
"Focus Miss Murray,"
I'm snapped out of it by Professor Moor's voice and goes back to what I was supposed to be doing though the feeling doesn't leave me.
The next day in magical history we're learning about a territorial war taking between a group of Necks and Kelpies who both wanted a certain part of the Tweed River because is was a good hunting area. There were losses on both sides and they ended up making a truce and dividing the area equally between them. What I'm quickly realising is that a lot of magical history is about things like these. Disagreements that turned into war which were solved by either a truce between the parties or utter defeat of one part. Though in more recent times the council has been involving themselves with these disputes to avoid detection.
The rest of the week goes by without any incident until friday. This is the day I have to decide if I want to try for treasurer again. I've been giving it a lot of thought and decide that I do want to. The juniors have even more responsibility than freshmen and sophomores for example the prom and next year's initiation and I want to be a part of it. After class I find professor Potsdam leaving a classroom and I run up to her.
"Good Day Professor Potsdam. I wanted to talk to you if you have a moment,"
She turns around and her eyes light up as she looks at me.
"Well hello Isla. Of cause I have a moment. And how many times must I tell you to call me Petunia?"
I hate it when she does this. It's like she insists on placing me apart from the other students and I'm already isolated enough as it is.
"Yes well, I just wanted to submit my papers for the treasurer election,"
"Oh of course dearie! I'll take those and let Hieronymous know,"
She smiles at me like I just told her I was going on a date or something. She is really far too optimistic about us. I mean really! We're divorced!
"Um, thank you Professor," I shuffle awkwardly in front of her ready to get the hell out of there.
"Isla," she look at me in a mildly admonishing way.
"..Petunia," I reluctantly say as quietly as I can without being rude. She brightens up and I run of before things get worse.
The next day is the apple festival. Last year was pretty great and I even hung out with Hieronymous for some of it. Right after breakfast all the people going are rushed into some school busses that I have no idea where are usually kept though it should be impossible to hide them. I notice Hieronymous entering one of the other busses. It takes us about an hour to drive to the next county over where it is held. The first few hours there go by in a rush with all the smells and sounds making your attention switch constantly. Virginia runs around from booth to booth tasting all the food. Ellen is more interested in the craft booths and drags Donald around with her though he seems less than reluctant. At some point we stumble over an eating contest and Virginia and Donald enter after Virginia challenges him. I take this chance to walk off by myself. I find an apple pie booth I found last year which had the most delicious pie, buy a piece and sit down in the grass under a nearby tree. I don't realise someone else is standing under it until I hear his voice.
"Enjoying the festival?"
I freeze up for a moment, then look up with some trepidation. Hieronymous is standing next to me looking out at the people walking past. He glances down when I don't immediately answer. I quickly look forward before he can read my expression.
"Yes.. Though it becomes a little much after a while,"
"Yes all the people are quite headache inducing,"
I can almost imagine the frown on his face and despite myself I can't quite stifle a giggle. I look up to see him frowning at me, then sighs and looks out at the people again. For a moment he says nothing.
"Petunia was quite happy to inform me yesterday that you'll be running for treasurer again this year,"
I look down, suddenly very uncomfortable.
"Yeah, I really like the work so thought I'd just continue doing it again this year," I glance up at him to judge his reaction. After a moment he nods.
"I'll expect you to have decided on your campaign strategy by monday. Good day,"
He then walks off and disappears into the crowd. I watch him as he walks away wandering whatever could be going through that man's mind.
After finishing my pie I meet up with everyone again and predictably Virginia won the eating contest. That girl's stomach has no bottom. We languidly enjoy the rest of the festival and all dance in the contra dance. I end up dancing with another junior. When we're finally home we're all exhausted at fall asleep almost immediately.
On sunday I consider my campaign strategy while drinking some of the apple cider I brought home. I decide to go with free hugs and badges like the other years. Why fix something that ain't broke? I suppose I'll go as Lady Lampshade Head again as well. In the speech I'll focus on how well I've done the other years so the students can comfortably trust me to make decisions that everyone is happy with. On monday after class I hurry down to the mailroom to deliver the papers with my decisions. The next few days pass quickly and aside from Catherine and Co. using the opportunity to degrade me, something along the lines of "pathetic desperate girl", they pass painlessly though I once again had a rather awkward hug with Pastel. That girl just takes every chance she gets! I mean every damn year! Election Day comes around and obviously, according to several people, I win Junior Treasurer. So still up far too early on saturdays..
