Fall of Autumn, Week 5, Day 1

The rest of class was uneventful and mainly included me rushing out the door as soon as I dropped my training daggers into the weapons bay. I gave the Mithril kids a quick goodbye, and Louis reminded me that I owed lunch on Third Day. I nodded quickly, practically running out the door and into the entrance hall.

Thankfully, Klein was already there, a rude smile on his face.

"See? You did pretty—"

I rushed past him, straight out the front door. "No time. We gotta go."

"Wait, my Lady!" He called, jogging to catch up, "Why are we bolting?"

Catching sight of Dame Arella, I waved. When she arched her brow and glanced back at the Academy, I read her question and shook my head, mouthing 'later.'

"Get in the carriage, Klein," I commanded.

He did as I said, opening the door just barely before I slammed into it and jumped into the carriage. Slamming the door behind us, he looked at me, bewildered. Before he could get out another question, I snapped the curtains closed and climbed atop the far bench, opening the window to talk to Dane Arella.

"We have to go." Was all I said.

Dame Arella huffed, but snapped the reins and off we went.

Turning around and plopping down, I finally looked at Klein. I scrunched my nose as I spoke, "The nobles were lining up to hound me. I wasn't about to get caught in a trap that simple."

Klein closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead roughly. "Lady Nora, the point of the Academy, the Tower, the etiquette lessons are for you to socialize with others of adequate standing."

"Yes, well," I clicked my tongue, "not on my first day, after I've not even learned a Skill! Or-or-or shown my prowess!"

"Your prowess, my Lady?" Klein arched a brow.

"Oh, you know what I mean. Skill and skill and whatnot." I waved off his condescension; it was simply how he was. "We don't have anything to discuss. And I'm on a schedule, right?"

"You're just using that as an excuse." He accused.

I crossed my arms. "Am I wrong?"

"Just because it's true, doesn't mean you're not using it as an excuse."

Giving a smug smile, I leaned back into my seat as the carriage continued rushing back towards the manor.

Arriving back to the manor saw Gristle standing outside, his arms crossed and a frown on his face. I almost didn't want to get out of the carriage. Actually, I didn't want to get out of the carriage.

Running my fingers along the edge of the window, I flipped the lock.

"My Lady," Klein said sharply.

"Yes, Klein?" I replied lightly, as if I wasn't opening the window and preparing for a daring escape.

"Please close the window." His voice wasn't quite as calm as I could tell he wanted it to be.

I glanced between the open panes of glass and the offended crimson-haired menace across from me and sighed, "Fine, just this once—and mostly because it would stress out Gristle."

As I slid the window back down, the carriage came to a full stop. Before I could prepare myself, Dame Arella was pulling open the door.

"Nora," she said, half with disappointment and half with fondness. I chose to focus on the fondness. "You cannot simply jump out of moving carriages. Or avoid the other nobles at the Academy. Both of those things are rude."

Scrunching my nose, I watched as Klein climbed out of the carriage, pushing past Dame Arella.

"I thought the whole point of being a Dawn was that I was the one in charge."

An undignified snort erupted from Dame Arella. "Absolutely not. First of all, there is not a point to being born. Second of all, being a Dawn means more than just 'being in charge.' It's power and duty, both. But you'll learn more about that in your etiquette lessons, won't you?"

As Dame Arella spoke, her brown eyes grew warm and her voice became gentle. I couldn't stop the small smile that bloomed on my face in response.

"Yeah. Okay. Next time I'll say a proper goodbye to the Horus boy and his clique."

Dame Arella cracked a smile and held out her hand for me to grab. When I reached for her, though, she lowered herself and scooped me up entirely. I yelped in surprise, but wrapped my arms around her neck, careful not to tangle her blonde ponytail.

"Good," Dame Arella laughed, swinging us around and lowering me down in front of Gristle. "Now, despite your masterful avoidance, my Lady, I believe you owe Gristle a report."

I straightened up, gripping my bag tightly and meeting Gristle's dark eyes.

"Gristle," I said tightly.

"Lady Nora," he replied, holding out his hand. "The next Monster Manual, please. I will have the librarian create a copy and return it to you after your Arithmetic and History lessons this evening."

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I rummaged through my bag, shifting Noir out of the way and grabbing the booklet. Handing it over, I smiled. "Thank you, I'll study it well."

Gristle nodded severely, and, for a moment, I thought that was it. That I was free to go—to lunch, or relaxation, or isolation. Just. Free.

"Like you studied the list of your classmates?"

My expression fell, "I–"

"Didn't think it was important, right? My Lady?" He interrupted.

Gristle has never cut me off before, I thought, chewing on the inside of my cheek.

"Well–"

"Did you read about your instructors for Arithmetic and History?"

I swallowed the defense I was going to put up, because the answer to that was no. I hadn't thought twice about the informational sheets Gristle had given me regarding my instructors. I refused to hunch over, though, to lessen myself. I refused to pull out Noir, as if I needed a shield from Gristle. Gristle, who has only ever done his best. Gristle, who has only ever shown me kindness and care and —well, good things only. He has never spoken down to me or treated me as irrelevant or lesser. He has always, always, always let me know all decisions were within my right to refuse.

"I didn't," I confessed, and I had to fight a recoil when Gristle's frown deepened. "But I'll grab the sheets for, um—"

As I floundered for the names of today's instructors, Gristle released a huff, "Primrose Apoplos and Captain Radir Ridan. Ms. Apoplos is from Fellan, and she went to one of the foremost academies in Adeline. Captain Ridan is the Captain of the 67th Contingent of the Dusk Knighthood. He is a distant relative of yours, but did not inherit the Dawn name—though his grandmother was a true Light of Dawn."

"Yes, them!" I said abruptly, unease filling me at the knowledge that Captain Ridan was a relative. I didn't have the best track record with other Dawns, after all.

"All right. Then, off to lunch and getting a bath with you." Gristle used the Monster Manual in his hand to shoo me away, and, rather than take offense, I simply went about my way—heading straight toward the dining room.

I wasn't particularly cold standing outside the manor, but it wasn't comfortable. The breeze had chilled my nose, so I pressed my palms to it as I settled into my seat at the head of the table. I'd been so focused on warming myself up, I was very nearly startled by the maids in the corner giggling lightly.

When they noticed me noticing them, they stopped, covering their mouths and bowing deeply before running into the kitchen. Pulling my hands away from my nose, I pulled out Noir and took the moment alone to summon one of the spirits.

[Shadow Animation]

A wisp of shadow appeared, worming its way into the center of Noir, before the knit bunny came alive.

"Nora!" The vibrant voice of Entertainer filled the dining hall and I grabbed Noir, pulling him close to my chest.

"Stay with me, please." I felt my voice break as I dug my face into the top of Noir's head.

I felt the soft arms patting my shoulder. "You never need to command that. I'll always be with you—unless you will it any other way."

"It's been a long day, and I missed you all. I can't wait to grab Haze and Shade, as well." I pulled my head back. "It's so hard not having you all with me, especially you, Noir. Next time, I'm animating everyone and you're all tagging along."

Noir's laugh resounded, and it was the sound of chiming bells. "Don't be silly, you can do anything—anything at all. You're Eunora Killian Dawn. The God of Nora. You are your own Domain… Right?"

I swallowed thickly, putting Noir on the table where he promptly wobbled to his feet and began an odd little dance.

"You're right. I said I wouldn't break. That I would bend, always. I would not snap, not again. I would remain mindful. I am the God of Nora. And I'll only get better at being so."

Noir twirled around, both his arms above his head, "Exactly! You're amazing, and you'll only grow from here."

I huffed, holding out my hand to twirl Noir like I did all those months ago —when he was nothing more than a knit bunny I controlled. Before he was a spirit, with a part of me and the world fused together. Before he had thoughts and feelings.

"Sing to me, Nora! I want to dance to a song." Noir called.

I smiled, glancing at the kitchen door and the sound of footsteps approaching, "Later, when we're back in the room. I'll sing you a song only we know."

A memorial for those lost, in a way. A celebration of the life I lived. I'll share it all with you, my friends. I thought, but did not say aloud, because as Noir nodded, a member of the kitchen staff rolled out a cart filled with my lunch offerings.

Primrose Apoplos

Occupation: Scholar of the Fellan Conservatory

Specialty: Runic Equations and their Practical Applications

Age: 32

Origin: Fellan, Dawn, Maeve

Publications and Research History:

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Captain Radir Ridan

Occupation: Captain of the 67th Contingent of the Dusk

Specialty: Strategic Operations and Covert Actions in the Western Borderlands

Age: 48

Origin: Third Rim, Adeline, Dawn, Maeve

Promotion History:

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Primrose Apoplos and Captain Radir Ridan were both exceptionally overqualified to teach a freshly Awakened child, whether that child was of the Dawn or not. Then again, that may have been the point. Gristle had preened when giving me my schedule initially. It had been him and Melinda, the head maid, who had gathered the instructors for my time at Fellan.

They must have wanted me to do better than the Countess expected. They wanted me to thrive, and when that happened, they wanted me to have the resources to continue to thrive. These were instructors that would be able to meet me at any level. Primrose Apoplos especially—she could very likely meet me at where I truly was when it came to mathematics.

That… changed things.

If I had looked them over days ago, would my preparations have changed? I thought to myself.

No. I decided. I would have done it all the same. I had, after all, worked through the entirety of the Arithmetic courses already. And the History lessons. And the Monster Manuals.

I nodded to my, This just means I excel from the start. Primrose Apoplos, I can't wait to see how you'll help me grow. How will you handle [Quick Calculation] and what such a Skill means?

I felt a sharp smile spread across my face.

That was the moment a knock came at my door. I turned just as Juniper and Syvlie came in.

"Are you ready, Lady Nora? Your instructor is here, and she is waiting in the sitting room."

My smile didn't dull, didn't dim. Instead, it grew.

"I'm ready."

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