In the blink of an eye, Uriel found herself eating a serving of food she couldn't possibly afford as from the looks of it, it's already expensive. Not only that but across the table she's sitting in are two young men, one is the person she met at the gates and the other is someone she's never seen before. Beside her is Leo. Not knowing how she suddenly ended up this situation, she attempted to stand up to excuse herself only to find herself sitting in the table with them once again. 'Ah, it's happening again', she thought. As she expected, the young men didn't notice and are still bickering.
It was a sight she never thought she would see. The attention of the three men were all directed to her as if it was natural. The watchful eyes of the people around them pierced every part of Uriel's body. Sure, as someone that the people here would consider as a commoner who was lucky enough to squeeze her way into such a prestigious school, she was at least prepared tp receive some stares but these keenly observing gazes just because she sat in the same table as these three young men whom she had hardly known was something she found difficult to welcome. Finally, the nerve wracking meal she hardly swallow was put to an end by the bells that signaled the continuation of classes.
Unlike what she was expecting, a loop nor a skip happened and she reached the classroom with a hint of relief in the corner of her heart. As she was about to make her way in, she bumped into a classmate at the door. In hopes of apologizing, Uriel turned to her right only to see the young lady who helped her this morning. Knowing that this might be her last chance for the day to befriend her, Uriel introduced herself and expressed her gratitude towards her. Unexpectedly enough, the lady expressed her concerns for her saying that Uriel left in a hurry because of something urgent to which the latter found strange.
" I don't remember saying that " Uriel responded.
" How odd, I'm certain you did, I'm Charlotte, by the way ", the lady replied.
The rest of the class went by without any strange occurrences. Uriel realized her strong points like despite having no proper basic education, she was quick to grasp the complex concepts of ancient language, algebra, alchemy, and of course, philosophy. She thanks that teacher who taught her and the other kids in the countryside, had they've been given a chance to learn, would they have also found themselves enjoying these lectures? Once again, her passion to become a professor had grown firmer and firmer.
Knowing that she lacks knowledge in economy studies, law, and etiquette, Uriel searches the library for the books she could find. The fresh smell of wood and paper enveloped her. It was air different from what she breathed outside in the countryside. it was not fresh, rather, it was that of old things yet something about the nearly molding smell of the library cradled her. As she was about to reach for the book she wanted, a hand beat her to it.
" you know, you could ask for help if you can't reach it " a voice of a man said
' I'm pretty sure anyone can reach that ' was what she thought but her mouth said different things.
" Thank you, I wouldn't have gotten that had you never reached it for me " she said.
Her mouth was fighting against her mind and that was enough to spread horror in her. ' What expression could I be making? ' she can't help but wonder.
" Would you care for a walk? " the young man reached out his hand.
How can someone refuse a handsome young man of tall physique and flowing long black hair as black as midnight, to be exact, how can someone like her refuse someone like him. As if her purpose for visiting the library was forgotten, her body just agreed to the invitation.
Night fell and it was late when she snapped back to her senses. She never knew how she made her way to the school and she does not know how to go back, ' how could I have been so stupid? ', she kept criticizing herself. Simeon, the one who was with her earlier was called out by the prince and so, she was told to wait in the garden.
" What kind of..... person would wait in the middle of the garden for who knows how long???? " Uriel said as if her pent up frustration started seeping out of her mouth.
" Why would someone even leave a young woman after asking for a who knows how long stroll that the sun had already set?? " refreshed by her first complaint, she added.
As if she was liberated, Uriel thought of other things to complain about today, like how it was strange when Charlotte acted as if she didn't know her which she also eventually justified, how those stares were really shackling, as if they were looking at an unrecognised animal, like how the dry things that came out of her mouth were nowhere near what she thought, she never even managed to do what she originally wanted to do in the library. She was like a puppet with strings strung on the whims of whoever is controlling her. As she thought of that idea, Uriel halted her steps.