Chapter 19
"As you know, King Toma united the five kingdoms and helped establish the first United Confederation. In the year 392, however, rebellion broke out–"
Professor Porlyusica scribbled notes and dates on the blackboard. Levy watched her back carefully, jotting down her own set of notes in a separate notebook.
I need to send word to Commander Gildarts that we'll be visiting later today. Maybe he has a spare spear somewhere in their armory that Gajeel can use. And I need Lucy to talk to the stables and rent a carriage…scratch that, we could go there together instead, Gajeel would love seeing the horses! And we'll have lunch at Toma's Coffee, and buy a souvenir at Book Land and…wait, what sort of things wouldn't deteriorate with salt water–
"Princess!"
Levy jumped in her seat, yanking her notebook under the table. Professor Porlyusica stared at her from over her spectacles. Levy blinked innocently.
"Yes, Professor?"
The door to the study creaked open, saving Levy from the impending lecture. Gajeel peeked around the corner of the door, Lucy's blonde hair waving behind him, and slowly entered the room. Professor Porlyusica gave Gajeel a startled look and the merman shuffled to an open seat at the table next to Levy.
"I told Lucy to fetch you as soon as you woke up," Levy leaned over to whisper, "I wanted to do it myself, but she practically dragged me to the library."
They shared a silent chuckle, but startled in their seats when Professor Porlyusica rapped her pen on the whiteboard.
"Princess, would you be so kind as to introduce your…interesting guest?"
"Certainly," she answered, fighting back a smile.
While Professor Porlyusica was renowned for being calm and collected, she didn't take kindly to her lectures being interrupted. Levy still remembered the fright she had the first time the professor chased her around the room with a spare broom the servants left in study; she didn't intend to revisit the experience any time soon and quickly made the proper introductions. After Professor Porlyusica's curiosity was sated, the older woman resumed her lesson.
Her stiff voice rang in Levy's ears, but Gajeel stared at the blackboard with rapt attention. Levy watched her merman, seeing him soak up the information. With the way Gajeel eagerly listened to the monotonous lecture, Levy knew he would have a multitude of questions once he was able to speak again. Paying attention was the least she could do after the lengths he took just to visit the human world.
Levy silently opened her notebook and flipped to a tabbed page. Question after question lined the front and back of the paper. After adding another mark on the side, she made a note for mermaid lessons. She closed her notebook and drew her attention back to her teacher.
After what seemed like hours, Professor Porlyusica took off her spectacles and closed her book. Levy stood and stretched, fighting back a smile when Gajeel startled and quickly copied her movements. Lucy coughed where she stood by the door, her own lips twitching.
"This way, Princess," she said, sharing a look with Levy.
Levy groaned and trudged towards the door, waving for Gajeel to follow her.
"There's no need to act as if you're heading to your own execution."
Levy glared at her friend, "No, just torture."
"It's only dancing lessons."
Levy sighed, taking her sweet time to walk through the hallways. Gajeel watched her carefully, a furrow forming on his brow.
Her dancing instructor, who simply went by the title of Mr. Bob, was elated that Levy finally had a partner to pair with during her lessons. But Gajeel's obvious lack of experience sent Mr. Bob into such a tizzy that he ordered Levy to a chair while he dragged Gajeel across the ballroom floor. The balding teacher spent nearly half an hour trying to teach Gajeel the first simple steps of a waltz. Levy took full advantage of the rare respite and called out directions to Gajeel from her spot at the edge of the room. Gajeel bravely attempted the complicated steps, despite having only learned how to walk the previous day, but Mr. Bob inevitably banished him to a chaise along the wall. Gajeel huffed and pouted, his arms crossed tightly against his stomach. Levy held back her giggles, not wanting to earn her apparently competitive merman's ire.
With her instructor's attention fully on her once more, Levy suffered another hour of torture before Mr. Bob called a stop to the lesson for the day. Before the jovial teacher could change his mind, Levy ran across the ballroom, grabbed Gajeel by the hand, and bolted from the room.
Lucy gave up her usual chase after one hallway.
The two ran through the castle and towards the servant's entrance near the back of the castle. After double checking to make sure Gajeel's new, black boots were still tied tightly after his impromptu dancing lesson, they hurried into the gardens and made their way to the stables.
As she predicted, Gajeel stared in wonder at the horses. After several minutes of coaxing and encouragement, Gajeel finally ducked under the fence next to her. She taught him how to hold out his hand to feed the animals sugar cubes and the horses quickly warmed up to the former merman. Soon they were following him around the pasture, foals nudging his sides for more treats and their mothers nibbling on Gajeel's headband. Levy waved Gajeel over towards the pasture gate, saving him from being trampled by the overly eager animals.
The clank of metal against metal rang in the air. Gajeel startled and looked around the area with a furrow in his brow. Levy grinned, grabbing hold of his arm.
"I think I know exactly where to go next!" she said, dragging him across the stableyard and towards the training grounds.