*sigh* "Oh....my foolish little sister...." Violet shook her head.
(Violet Vera Gardiner-the eldest daughter of the Ophelia family, Terla's aunt's only daughter.)
Angelina was sitting beside her observing the sense.
"Should we have interfered?" she asked as she put another sausage into her mouth.
Violet: "Why bother? You know who Monica is. She is one of the royal family members left, after the fall of Baldwin royalties."
Angelina: "And she's still in the princess mode, ha." *snort*
Terla put her lunch box back onto the racks and came back to her classroom.
It has only been 15 minutes since the bell rang.
The room was typically quiet since students have gone for lunch or to play.
Terla sat down at her desk, pulled out some books, and began copying or skimming through the pages.
About what happened? Everyone will forget in a while and she didn't mind or maybe, she didn't even know she should care. All that matters to her now is to finish the assignments before the bell rang.
Another 15 minutes passed...
Some students came back and the quiet room earlier starts to fill with chatters.
"Terla.., homework?"Angelina sat down beside Terla.
Terla: "Nope. Just reading."
Angelina: "Wah...! Don't tell me you've finished it all!"
Terla: "Finished."
*sigh* Angelina: "Then why are you still reading it?"
Terla: "Why not?"
Angelina: "uhhh....let's play! Yesterday, I learned a new game that tells one's feelings and compatibility."
Terla: "Boring."
Angelina: "Come on... here, write a name."
Terla took the paper and wrote down...
"Maxi...Luther....Forger?!" "Huh...!?" Angelina spelled out and looked at Terla with suspicion.
"What...? I only know his name..."
It's true. Terla really did not know any other boys. For, why she knew Maxi, without a doubt, because he is her monitor.
"Yeah...I know you never talk to guys...you don't need to make it obvious, really." Angelina replied bleakly.
"So..., let's see....hmm..."
*scribble* *scribble*
"O.M.G...!" "TT, tell me the truth. You like monitor?"
Terla: "Huh.....?"
" Here, look at this!"..... "You got 100% from your side!!" "Are you having a crush on him secretly..?"
" Mmmm...I don't know.... He is good-looking, tall, and not a bad leader...?" Terla shrugged.
"Oh dear..." Angelina sighed.
After school...
Terla picked up her brother and they returned home.
Although Ophelia is a ruling family, they are quite humble.
The house they live in is a two-story old stone house without a proper yard or a garden.
No passers-by would think it is the Town Lord's house.
"Mom..., dad.., we are home."
"Oh, young master's here..." an old lady greeted. The old lady, namely Nora Heather, is an old maid of my mom who is also the caretaker of my brother. She was first left in my mom's hometown until Jack was born. But she was sent here then to help my mom and now she is in charge of the household. Well, she and I are not on good terms.
Terla left the two and went upstairs.
"Where's mom and dad?"
"Lord is in the study and madam said she would be checking the fields on her way."
"Oh..okay."
*clack* *sigh*
Terla changed into her nightgown and went straight to the library.
The Ophelias have always been like this. Everyone was busy with their own duties and the family barely converse with each other. Terla grew up by herself. She studied by herself, took care of herself and she is the daughter of Ophelia only on occasions. She didn't even have a personal maid. Books and fantasies were her only companions.
Nevertheless, Terla thought it was normal. She has her parents, a home to return to, and almost everything she thought she needed. She studies because she wants to be praised. She takes care of herself because no one would do it for her. She too seeks attention but she is ok as long as she is known as the daughter of Ophelia. Her parents are always busy but she is proud of them. The maids always stay on her brother's side but she doesn't complain because she is the big sister. She teaches her brother and takes good care of him. Anything responsible for her, she gets it done. She always does her best to fulfill her duties as a daughter and a big sister. It was her world and it was perfect.
Time flies...and the school year is over, it is already summer.....
At the farewell party..., entrance...
"Oh, it's TT!" Angelina ran to Terla pulling her parents along.
"Hello, Uncle and Auntie Arthur."
Uncle Arthur: "Hello..hello.., girl, where is your father?"
"Ahh. He is at his office." Terla answered with a smile.
"Hahaha...of course, Lord Ophelia must be busy." Lady Arthur glared at her husband as a warning.
*awkward*
"Mom, dad we are going now."Angelina comments.
"TT, let's go!" Angelina grabbed Terla's hand and ran toward where the party is going on.
"Okay darling, go on. Make sure to have fun!" Lady Arthur shouted, waving goodbye.
The two took an open seat for three and shortly after, Violet arrived at the two.
"Hey girls."
"Hey VV" Terla greets with a nod.
*chatter* *chatter*
"Hello...123...123, it's doing good." mic checking.
"Hello everyone," *silence* "good afternoon. So we are here to celebrate your last year at this school, reward the outstandings and...."
"Aaaar....I hate long speeches..." Angelina whispered.
"TT, have you talked to your parents about the 'Ancient Tongue' summer class?"
( 'Ancient Tongue' - language found in an antique tome, which explains the law of the universe, nature of magic, and spirits. It is said that no one could ever comprehend the whole tome. / One must at least understand the basic words to learn magic and sorcery.)
"Nope...I couldn't catch their time." Terla whispered back.
"Talking about 'Ancient Tongue', what about that old-looking book written in 'Ancient Tongue'," Angelina asked with sparkling eyes "you've got a grasp of it?"
"Yeah, but a portion of it..? I asked my grandmother but she said it's a book my deceased grandfather collected, and she hasn't read it herself."
"Oh...., what a loss. But fighting! You have read more than enough of them as a girl of our age." Angelina cheered her up, "VV, what about you?"
"Nah, I am not that interested."
"But VV, you will need to learn it if you want to be a sorceress." Terla tried to convince her.
" I don't know," Violet answered, uninterested.
"But...."
*shh* "You two, stop talking. The ceremony is going to start."
"So, here comes the most exciting part of this party.....are you ready?"
*roar* "Yes....!!!!"
"Then..., the year's most outstanding award goes to...."
*badamp* *badamp*
"Dorothy Malone Hodgkin"
*clap..clap* *clap*
Dorothy received the medal and starts her gratitude speech.
"Wo.. isn't she the exchange student?"
"Yeah...I heard she won first prize in the 'Spell Reciting Competition', second prize in the 'Ancient Tongue' calligraphy, first prize in an essay writing contest, and wah... my fingers won't be enough to count."
"Imm... and she is also a member of the National Scout Troop."
"Wow....impressive! And look she is very beautiful too!!"
*chatter* *chatter*
" Now, the second prize and the most hardworking prize goes to...."
"Terla Tanysha Ophelia"
*clap* *clap*
"Hey, it's you TT.!"
"Me?"
"Yeah!"
Terla walked up to the stage and took the prize.
*chatter* *chatter*
She looked down at the crowds but she was not the center of attention.
'Well...,' she just went back to her seat.
"Wo...good job TT! We know you were the first prize winner of the 'Ancient Tongue' calligraphy contest. And others, you just didn't take part." Angelina comforted.
"Thank you, Angel..."
"Wow...at last, we are going to leave this damn school. I'm already wondering what our lives would be like at the Academy next year."
(At school, they learn basic education like reading and writing.)
(At the Academy, they will be assigned to a specific subject according to their natural bent.)
"Yea...I am excited and actually, looking forward to it."