Right after lunch Heath had found Violetta and walked her to the orientation area. He would have to start his class soon, but he was happy to walk with her.
"You got Mrs Felida right?" Heath asked.
"I do," Violetta blushed a little and looked downward.
"What happened?" Heath asked. He knew that face. She made that face when she did something wrong.
"I called her a catkin!" Violetta quietly exclaimed as she covered her face with her hands.
Heath looked at her shocked for a moment, and then cracked up laughing. Violetta pushed him against the wall and covered his laughing mouth with both hands. "Don't you laugh at me! I didn't know!"
Heath tried to calm down his laughter as he said, "It's ok, We humans are weird… We call all of the races something they don't call themselves. Most of them just roll with it. But the Malkin are different. They expect respect wherever they go. They demand respect. I can't help but admire that part of them."
"You knew?" Violetta raised one eyebrow.
"..." It was better not to speak or move at this moment. He had let her make a fool out of herself by not telling her what he had learned. In his defense, he didn't expect her to Mrs Felida as her Head Teacher her first year. She taught the 5th grader's last year, and he figured she wouldn't need to learn it right away.
She rolled her eyes at him and started to walk off. He followed her. "V, I'm sorry. She was the 5-grade Head Teacher last year. I didn't think it would come up so soon."
Violetta paused her hurried steps, and looked back at Heath. She nodded her head.
"Besides V, You're lucky to have her," Heath continued," I have Mr Spurwhirl as a Head Teacher. He's a Dwarf."
Violetta smiled. Dwarves were known to be very strict teachers, you did it right. Or you did it over and over and over again until you got it right.
"You're smart, you'll be fine." She patted his head as they walked.
"See you at dinner." Heath left her at the door to the small auditorium. He had to get to class. "I'll meet you out here."
Violetta nodded. They had discussed eating together for school. They would likely eat all their meals together.
…
…
When Violetta walked into the small auditorium, there was a table set up with some older kids helping the 1st graders check in.
"Lady Violetta," a happy voice rang out. "Come over here, I'll check you in."
"Hello Victor," Violetta said smiling back. His smile was infectious. He helped her sign her name, so she could get a packet with a map of the school, her orientation test, and her new student ID.
"Wait to open your test until you are asked to begin." She nodded. He smiled at her as she went to find her designated seat.
Victor had been asked by his mother to be one of the attendant leaders so he could help his sister adjust to school life. She had already checked in and was sitting in her designated seat. He didn't want to do this job at first, because it required him to attend all the first grade events to help them coordinate. But now he was happy with it. His mood had improved, and he asked the next student to come over with a smile.
…
...
Chloe Greyhart had a crush on Victor for 2 years now. She volunteered when she saw his name on the list of volunteers. She wanted to use this as an opportunity to get to know him better. She had watched the way he interacted with all the other students. He treated most of them like air. He had been a grump the entire time except when his sister went through, and now he showed that same enthusiasm for this girl? Who was she? Once they were done checking in the students, they could go to their class. They had taken their placement tests in the morning.
…
…
Violetta sat at her designated seat, and waited to begin. She smiled at the paper packs in front of her. Paper was rarely used. Most things were digital, but this was a very old traditional school. Using paper for a test was a novelty. She was 2 rows ahead of Ruby. They always claimed that during their school years rank was not important, as none of them had inherited a rank yet. But the school was a huge contradiction. The children of higher classes got the better dorm rooms, and during orientation and other school events they sat closer to the front. Yet they still claimed rank didn't matter. Ruby watched Violetta sit down 2 rows ahead of her, and remembered that Violetta was indeed, a higher rank than herself. As much as she had tried to convince herself that she and Violetta were on the same level, they were not. No matter how much money her family had, they would still be below the Noblis Family.
Rank might determine what row she was in and what her dorm room was like, but it could not determine the class level she would be placed in. The test they took today was their placement test. Their scores would determine what level they would be in. Advanced. Those that could place in this level were considered to be a child Prodigy. Exemplary. This level contained those who were above average, and could potentially be genius with hard work. Standard. Those in this level were average. They knew exactly what they should at their age. Foundational. Foundational level was for those who did not have the average level of knowledge required to be in their level. They need a little extra attention to catch up to their peers. Their foundation is weak.
Once you are set in a level you still have the opportunity to move up or down. If you are in the Advanced class, but do not succeed, you may be moved down to the exemplary level. If you are in the foundational level then you can move up by getting more knowledgeable. There are people who are moved up or down periodically throughout the year. Generally kids that move up are seen as good students. Those that move down... might be made fun of by their peers.
Ruby wasn't sure where the divide in knowledge was, but she knew rank still determined a lot when it came to which level you were in. Most children of higher ranked families had private tutors, and would be in the exemplary or advanced level. There were a few exceptions to this rule. She heard there were 3 commoners who made it to the Advanced level last year. But she also knew her parents could afford the best tutors for her. She would definitely be in the exemplary level, but she did not know if she could make it to the advanced level. She hoped she could just beat Violetta's score.
…
…
The test was pretty easy. Violetta had no idea why other students seemed so nervous. She had breezed through it, and there was very little in it that she did not already know, or could not figure out. Now that the test was over it was finally time for dinner. The test might not have been too bad, but all that concentration still took a lot of energy.
She waited for other kids to go out first. She was pretty close to the front, and wanted to be able to see Heath. He had said he would wait for her.
"Violetta," a sweet voice called out to her as she was waiting for the flood of students to exit. She turned. 2 rows behind her she was Ruby waving to her. "I'll wait for you outside," We'll eat together."
Before Violetta could turn her down, she was gone. Violetta sighed. She still had not forgiven Ruby for what she had said about her father. She logically knew it was what Ruby had been taught, but she did not agree with it. And even if Ruby truly felt that way, she should never have said it out loud.