The first class of the year is Basic Knowledge. Looking at my schedule yesterday, I realized that I won't be in class with Mike and Zephyr, but with Nicole and her gang instead. Just thinking about it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth…
This morning's class is in the first building, and the interior looks like a mini amphitheater where teachers usually speak on the stage while students listen from the stands. Sitting at my desk, going over my schedule for the day in my head, I remembered that my classes start at 8 am and end at 6 pm. I have morning classes from 8 am to noon, a two-hour break, and then another four-hour evening class, after which I'm free. I like the schedule because I'll have plenty of personal time between and after classes.
At 7:30 am, the professor arrived. He climbed onto the stage where his desk was and started getting his things ready. Meanwhile, the students talked amongst themselves, while I observed everything. The group contained about twenty-five people. At first glance, there was a pretty good balance between the number of girls and guys. As I observed the students in my class, one of them caught my attention since he was sitting in the front row, lying on his desk with a bored expression. I wondered if he stayed up late or if he was just like that. After quickly scanning the class visually, I sat in the middle row, not too far and not too close to the stage. I didn't want to look like a nerd in the front and didn't want to be too close to Nicole and her gang in the back.
"Is this seat taken?" asked a female voice, pulling me out of my thoughts
.
"Sorry," I replied.
"Is this seat taken?" another girl asked me.
Looking at her this time, I could see that she was pretty. She had an oval face, almond-shaped eyes, enhanced by a multitude of freckles, red hair, and was wearing a light blue skirt that reached mid-thigh with tights and a small beige jacket.
"N-n-no," I stammered. "My name is Heolstor, but my friends call me Heol!"
"Nice to meet you, Heol, I'm Pepper, Pepper Lyptus," she replied with a beaming smile.
"Look at the plebs gathering, haha!" I heard Nicole say, a little too loudly for my liking.
As I gave her and her friends a stern look, I heard the teacher say, "Attention, attention, class is about to start, please take your seats!"
The students hurried to their seats, and the teacher continued, "Now that everyone is seated, I'll begin. I'm Albertus Archivo, your teacher for Basic Knowledge this year. Raise your hand and let me know, one by one, what you think we'll be learning this year."
Several students, including Pepper, raised their hand, but Albertus continued, "You there, second row with the beige jacket and red hair, introduce yourself and answer."
Pepper stands up and responds quickly:
"Pepper Lyptus, Alchemist. I think the course will allow us to see everything related to fauna and flora. But also other subjects to familiarize ourselves with our environment."
"An Alchemist's response," I think to myself. "But more than that, besides fauna and flora, what else will we see? You there, in the front row with the checkered shirt," he continues, pointing to someone else.
"Hmm, hmm," the student hesitates, caught off guard because he hadn't raised his hand.
"Start by introducing yourself and then give us an idea," Albertus continues.
"Ummm, my name is Filou Mascovitz, Astrologer. Um, I don't know, we should see, um, the stars and maybe also, um, things in general," he responds a bit timidly, looking down at his desk.
Clearly, he's uncomfortable being the center of attention, I think as I hear his response.
"Hmm, interesting answer, Filou. You should focus here instead of getting lost up there," Albertus declares, pointing to the sky.
"Your answer is vague, but it's not bad in itself. In this course, we'll learn, and I quote Filou: 'things in general.' Ahah, indeed, we'll see fauna, stars, different types of professions, equipment, geography, politics, different associations and cultures. We'll explore the world on the surface…
"Each week, we'll discuss a different theme and during the year, we'll take a little trip to broaden your horizons. Do you have any questions?" he asks, once his long monologue is over.
As some raise their hand to ask him questions, I turn to Pepper and say:
"Phew, it's going to be a packed course, I feel like we're going to see a thousand different things."
"Really, let's hope it's not too boring. Some things seem interesting and others really don't. But at least the professor doesn't seem too bad. He reminds me of my grandfather with his curly blonde mustache and leather suit!" she describes, making a funny face as if the memory wasn't so pleasant.
After the questions have run out, Albertus continues his explanations:
"Let's get started for real now. Today I'll explain how the classes work. The courses run from Septum to Junius with a mid-year vacation period. A school day lasts from eight to eighteen hours with a lunch break at fourteen hours.
"On the weekends, you're free to do what you want and if you look in your agenda, you'll see your dormitory number on the first page. Don't worry, someone will guide you at the end of class..."