The assembly's over and all the headmistress talked about was decorum and giving the school a good image, she even muttered something about being better than other branches. Elena thinks she has an arch nemesis in the other branch.
As soon as the assembly is over everyone is headed for class but Fran grabs Elena's hand to show her around since classes won't start right away because the teachers will be having a brief meeting. For a princess her hands are really hard, Elena thinks. But maybe she shouldn't be thinking that all princesses should have soft hands. This is the twenty-first century after all. Women should have any kind of hands they want especially princesses.
"I think it's rather elitist that they chose me to show you around simply because we're princesses," Fran says and Elena can agree. Well, she does like Fran and thinks she's cool but it would be nice to have someone who isn't a royal to show her around.
"But although I am less of a princess than some of the princesses here so I'd say it's not that elitist and they did make a good choice," she confirms with a smile. And Elena returns it.
From the short while she's been around Fran she knows she's a princess but hates being a princess, she doesn't like to be called a princess, she's a tomboy, hates girly things. Will not be seeing her in a dress. She has short blue hair which of course everyone can see, she hates it when people call her full name and she hangs out with elves more than fairies.
And she's about to show her around.
"Firstly this is the library," Fran says. They both get inside with Elena looking around at how grand this library is. The shelves are so big. There's a ladder to get books. There's a no-flying rule in the library so if you want to get books you use the ladder.
Elena can't help but compare this library to the one in Beauty and the Beast. The tables are in a round shape instead of square or rectangular and there are lights everywhere in this place even on the shelves.
Elena jumps when she hears a heavy crash. She looks over at Fran who is so calm.
"Probably Ms Thompson again. Ms. Thompson!" She yells walking deeper into the library, Elena follows her. And there is a blond woman packing a lot of books that fell from the floor. Fran bends down to help her and so does Elena.
"Oh, hello Fran." she laughs nervously. "I dropped the new set of books, again, clumsy me."
"It's alright Ms Thompson," Fran says picking up the books and gesturing for Elena to follow her, she does and Ms Thompson's eyes widen when she sees Elena, she adjusts her glasses as she follows Elena to Ms Thompson's desk.
"Holy smokes, who's this? I don't think I've seen you come here before. And I know the people who come here all the time." Ms Thompson says with a smile on her face, her voice so squeaky and carefree.
"Oh, Ms Thompson this is Elena," Fran says. "Elena this is the librarian Ms Edwina Thompson." Ms Thompson gasps and looks at Elena with widened eyes.
"Elizabeth's daughter," she whispers and Elena nods.
"Oh, my Gods. You're finally here welcome. I should have known it was you." she says looking at Elena and shaking her head in awe. "Your mother and I used to be roommates when we went here, we were really close. And you look just like her," she says looking at her fascinated by the resemblance.
"That's what a lot of people say," Elena says chuckling.
"And it's true. Have you seen pictures of her when she was your age?" she asks and Elena nods, they're all right. When she saw that picture it was like looking at a mirror or herself in a past life.
"Wow, it's so lovely to meet you." She says.
"Alright, Ms Thompson I have to continue to show her around so that we can get to class on time."
"Oh." Ms Thompson waves her off. "Please go. And Elena I hope to see you in the library more often."
"I sure will." she turns around to leave but then a large book on Ms Thompson's desk catches her eye. It's pretty. It's dark and it has rubies on the cover. A lot of book covers here are nice. She knows for a fact she's going to be spending a lot of time in this library. She has a lot of catching up to do.
"She's sweet."
"Ms Thompson? Yes, she's the sweetest. I come to the library to keep her company when I get annoyed by certain people. And she's a big advocate for reading. She made me obsessed with reading."
Elena nods, she's going to be going to the library more not just to study but to also know what her mom was like in school. She'd love to have a taste of her mother's teenage life. And get a glimpse of how life was for her back then.
Fran continues to show her around. There's a computer lab, a swimming pool for the swimmers, a dance room, and an art studio. The classes, especially the classes she's going to be going to. The magic class is outside at the back close to the enchanted forest while the combat class is on the field which is for elves.
Fran loves magic class but she also wants to go to combat class and she thinks fairies will benefit from going to combat classes. They can't just learn how to use magic to fight off dark creatures they have to learn how to use magic to fight off dark creatures skillfully. But luckily for Fran, she has two elf friends who train her when they're both free. And she does this behind her family's back.
"So your parents will never allow you to join the elves to train to fight?"
"They don't even like the idea of me using my powers to fight. They believe a princess should use water for healing and not destruction." she rolls her eyes and sticks her tongue out like she's about to barf. "No sir. I am not doing that, the only way I can heal people is by making sure they don't need healing in the first place."
Fran shows her the cafeteria. "This is where we eat lunch but we eat breakfast and dinner at the refectory close to the dorms," she says and Elena nods her head.
"We are one of the best of the best, we haven't lost a Hollow game in years."
"What's a hollow game."
"It's an event that takes place every spring. It involves sports and competition against other schools."
"Oh." Elena nods. So like the Olympics but for school.
"And we have other events like the masquerade ball, the Winter dinner, the debutante ball, which is my least favourite."
Elena loves the idea of that.
"Then we have prom and graduation. But we're only eleventh years so we're not the ones graduating this year. And speaking of final years. They're going to be giving away their head boy and head girl position this year."
Now that catches Elena's attention.
"Does that mean I can apply for head girl?"
"Yes. Uh- you want to be head girl?" Elena nods and Fran looks her up and down with a smile. "Okay, you've got my vote. I don't usually vote or care for who wants to be head girl but you have got my vote."
Elena thanks her with a smile on her face. She knows she just got here but she's going to try to win everyone's votes. She's always wanted to be head girl. Do right by her peers. She's the right person for the job and she's going to make everyone know that.