An Autumn Romance
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The next day, I was surprised to find that we had gotten an answer from the headmaster before my first class. He called us into his office in a hurry after our morning lesson ended and gave us a long speech about how he knew this wouldn’t be easy for any of us but it was important.
After all, if one girl couldn’t handle the school life or the lessons, then everyone else would suffer for it. But at least we’d still have each other. So, when the time came that we might need someone, anyone, to talk to, someone who understood just what being a wizard’s apprentice entailed, they were there for us.
The headmaster told us he was proud of the way we worked together so far, and that we had nothing to worry about.
I felt relieved by his words. Maybe we could do this after all.
When lunch rolled around, I headed back over to the dining hall with the others. We sat down at our usual table and waited as our food was brought out for us by our maids. They placed plates full of roast beef, chicken, green beans, potatoes, peas, and carrots on the table before going about their duties elsewhere.
When they were gone, Alice turned her attention to me. “So,” she asked. “Do you think your new teacher will be any better than Mr. Bannister?”
“Probably not.” I shrugged. “But at least there are six of us instead of two. If anyone gives me trouble, maybe we can help each other out. That should make things easier.”
Alice nodded her approval. She reached for the chicken leg closest to her and took a bite, then wiped some chicken grease off her mouth before continuing to eat.
“And what did he say about the spell?” she asked me again as she cut another piece of meat for herself.
“He said it wasn’t ready yet,” I replied. “But at least he seemed nice enough during his short conversation with me last night. So, I’m hoping it’ll go well this afternoon.”
We spent the rest of our meal in silence, each of us too busy eating to really focus on anything else. It made me feel like a child again, having my food prepared for me by people I didn’t know. And it felt strange to be served like that after spending most of my life preparing and serving my own meals.
As I looked around the dining hall for something to do while the girls ate, I noticed the other students eyeing us. A few stared openly—and some even pointed at us—while others tried hard to ignore us altogether. There was definitely tension among the older students today; the way they looked at us told me they didn’t trust us.
That only added to my anxiety about seeing Professor Fletcher. Would he be nice? Or would he be strict? And what would I wear for him anyway? I hadn’t packed very many clothes at all, so I figured I’d have to borrow whatever I needed from one of the other girls.
That thought only caused me more stress though. What if they wanted to charge me for borrowing their clothes? Wasn’t that stealing? I didn’t want to be seen as a thief here.
My shoulders sagged with worry at that thought, and I leaned back against the chair behind me.
“Here you are.” A familiar voice spoke up beside me, making me jump in surprise before turning around to see Lacey smiling at me. “Sorry if you were worried about being forgotten or something. I got your note, so I decided to come and get you.”
She held out her arm, pointing at a small wooden box sitting on the table before us. It was shaped like a jewelry chest with a latch and hinges on top of it, and there was a key hanging from a silver chain next to it.
“What’s this?” I asked, feeling a wave of relief wash over me as I realized I’d been worrying about all the wrong things. I smiled back at her and grabbed the box, holding it up close to my face. Sure enough, there was a large ruby resting on top of the lid.
“It’s yours, dearie,” she told me. “Now, don’t you fret anymore. You’ll have everything you need right here with you.”
I nodded, still too overwhelmed by the sudden gift to speak. I couldn’t believe someone was actually thinking about me when I never even talked to them much before.
Lacey pulled the lid open, revealing a long red dress inside.
“I found the measurements for this dress in your letter, dearie,” she explained further. “It looks good on you, doesn’t it?”
“You’re not kidding.” I nodded, looking into the box for a moment longer before letting out an excited sigh and grabbing the dress to pull it free. “Is this real silk? This is amazing!”
I lifted the gown out of its box and ran my fingers along the smooth fabric, staring down at myself in awe as the soft material slid across my skin. The color looked perfect on me. It reminded me of a sunset, and the light caught on it just right every time I moved.
My heart started beating faster the longer I stared at it, and I couldn’t help but smile as I turned around in front of the mirror next to us.
This was so much nicer than what I was wearing now. Even the dress I wore under my coat felt thin compared to this stuff. I could hardly breathe beneath my heavy cloak, and the fabric felt uncomfortable on my body. But now, this felt like a dream. All my worries melted away as soon as I put the dress on, replaced with excitement about the upcoming ceremony.
“Well, look who finally has a gown that fits!” Lacey chuckled as she joined me next to the mirror and peered over my shoulder. “Isn’t that better than those rags you usually wear?”
“Much.” I smiled back at her before turning to face the room again and taking a deep breath. “This feels… so different than what I expected. I mean, this is what you guys wear here, right?”
“That’s right.” She nodded. “They say our gowns are like no other, so we try to keep it that way. Now, you better hurry up and finish getting ready. We only have an hour until the ceremony starts.”
I nodded in agreement and quickly took off my outer clothing, leaving me standing in just my undergarments as I slipped the gown on instead. It fit perfectly, hugging my curves tightly without clinging awkwardly or causing me any discomfort. As I walked over to the mirror and studied my reflection, I had to agree with Lacey. I did look very pretty in this dress.
“Do you think Professor Fletcher will like it?” I asked her, glancing back toward her. “He hasn’t said anything yet about me coming to the ceremony or what I should wear.”
She pursed her lips and shook her head, looking me up and down before responding.
“I doubt he’ll notice you much after last night’s events. If he does, though, I’m sure he won’t be happy. You’ll have to watch yourself around him, I guess.”
I frowned at that comment, unable to respond as the realization hit home. I’d already seen what happened to those who didn’t play by his rules. They were either punished or exiled from campus before they even graduated. And while I wanted to go to the ceremony today because of my own selfish reasons, I knew that wasn’t why I’d agreed to do so.
“You’re right,” I murmured sadly.
“I am?” Lacey tilted her head curiously at me as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a pair of matching shoes. “What is it?”
I shrugged. “Nothing.” I shook my head. “Just wondering if I’ll see anyone from my old life here.”
I paused and bit my lip at that thought, but then I forced myself to push the idea away. No. That wasn’t happening. I would not think like that. I needed to focus on my new life here and leave all that behind.
I stood there for a few seconds more before reaching over and taking the shoes from her.
“Thanks.” I smiled at her gratefully. “So, where do I get my hair done? I don’t want anything fancy or overdone. Just something nice enough to look decent, you know?”
“There should be a place not far from here,” she replied. “We can walk over there together, and you’ll see what I mean.”
“Good.” I nodded, smiling at her. “That sounds great.”
I turned and headed for the door, feeling better about everything after hearing her words. Things were going to change once I got through graduation. This was just another step in that direction. Everything would be fine.
“Let me go get dressed first,” Lacey told me as I opened the bedroom door and stepped into the hallway. “I’ve still got some things left to finish up, so give me a minute or two.”
I nodded in agreement and watched her as she disappeared into her own room next to mine. Once the sound of her footsteps faded away, I let out a sigh and glanced down the hall, searching for the bathroom that I was supposed to use for the rest of the day.
After finding it, I slipped inside and shut the door behind me. I didn’t need to lock it since no one else would be using the facilities at this point, but I still held my breath as I turned around and leaned against the wall, staring blankly at nothing in particular for several minutes before letting out another sigh.
I really hated this. I hated how I felt, especially when it came to all these thoughts about home, but I knew it wouldn’t last long. I could only imagine how hard it had been for Lacey to deal with her feelings too. And now, even though we were both here at the academy, I knew neither of us really wanted to be. Not if we could help it, anyway.
But then again, maybe that was what kept us strong.
The thought reminded me of the reason why I’d come here in the first place, which made me think about my own parents once more. Had they known about what their daughter was becoming? Or had they just assumed things would work themselves out? What about the other professors? Were any of them aware of this?
Maybe I’d find out soon enough.
***
It hadn’t taken long for me to realize that Professor Fletcher had expected me to attend the ceremony. He seemed almost eager to see me walk across the stage, even if he hadn’t given me any instructions about what to wear.
I wondered if it was because of my previous attendance and his expectations of me being there as an upperclassman now or because I was the same person as the girl who had graduated years ago. Maybe that was the reason why he was so excited, regardless.
Or maybe, if he was as cruel as I suspected he might be, it was because I knew what happened to those who didn’t attend the ceremony—the students who weren’t invited to return for their final year of classes after their first one ended.
Whatever the case, it wasn’t long before I found myself in front of the school’s gym, standing in the center of the large floor where everyone stood.
I stared up at the rows upon rows of seats and then glanced back toward the entrance, noting that most of the people sitting in them belonged to the faculty members and staff. The only exception was the small group of five or six kids who were also dressed in formal attire, including a few guys and girls whom I recognized.
They all looked older than me, probably in their early twenties or maybe even mid-twenties by now, which made sense. It was likely they had graduated before me. I was sure most of them already had jobs waiting for them after graduation while I was stuck here, unsure of what to expect once I left this place behind.
It wasn’t long before I spotted Professor Fletcher near the entrance. He stood off to the side, talking to someone who appeared to be an adult or at least much taller than he was. After watching him for a few moments, I figured out it must have been Mrs. Collins, the woman who ran the academy’s front office.
I watched as he led her away from the building and into the trees behind it before pausing and turning to glance over at me. His eyes scanned over my outfit, taking it all in. Then, without saying a word, he turned back around and walked back toward the building.
A few seconds later, the music began playing, and soon after, everyone was on their feet. I glanced down at my watch and realized that graduation was supposed to start in less than ten minutes, so I started walking toward the stage, hoping to grab a seat close to the front row before everyone else did.
But as soon as I reached the edge of the area set aside for those who would be graduating, I stopped short when I spotted something else: another boy.
I studied him carefully while he took his place at the end of the line. There was something familiar about him, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was exactly. Maybe it was his height? Or maybe it was his build?
Whatever it was, I decided it didn’t matter because he seemed to be alone, which meant it wouldn’t take long for him to get up there and join me. That much was obvious from where he was standing.
When he finally caught sight of me and started moving, he stepped forward slowly and made his way toward me. A few people moved out of his way as he passed by them, some of them staring curiously as he went. Others smiled and waved at him in greeting as they did. When they saw me notice it, they quickly returned to their conversations or whatever activities they were involved in.
I waited patiently as the boy continued making his way up the stairs, but when he finally approached the edge of the stage, he paused for a moment before he glanced over at me and then down at the floor. I felt a strange sensation travel through my gut, almost like something inside me was trying to warn me of what was about to happen, although I wasn’t entirely sure what.
I tried not to pay attention to it. Instead, I focused on watching the boy make his way down the steps until he finally stopped beside me. We both looked at each other for a brief second before he stepped onto the stage.
“Congratulations,” he said, glancing down at my diploma as he held it out toward me.
He seemed nice, but his expression wasn’t very welcoming as he spoke. I nodded at him and accepted my diploma without saying anything back, wondering if he was going to continue speaking.
Before he could, however, another voice filled the room. One that I recognized immediately.
“Ladies and gentlemen.” Principal Fletcher raised his hands toward the crowd and smiled. “It is a pleasure to welcome you to the 2018 Winter Graduation ceremony, a time when we celebrate our seniors’ accomplishments and send them out into the world ready to become the best people they can possibly be.”
His smile faded as he continued speaking, becoming more serious as he glanced up at me before glancing over at the boy beside me. “The graduates before us will forever represent our legacy and the hard work that has gone into this academy since its beginning.
They have spent their years here learning, growing, and discovering what it means to become adults in a society that continues to change with every passing day—a society that is far different than the one our parents grew up in.”
He paused to allow himself another breath, then lowered his head as he continued speaking. “But today, our focus will be on these graduates who are leaving behind a life in this place and heading out into the real world. While they will no longer be living in such a sheltered environment, they will still need to continue to grow as individuals as they venture forth.
And they’ll have to do so without the support system that has surrounded them for the better part of their young lives. So, as they move on, I want to remind them that even though we’re not here with them anymore, we will always be here to provide any assistance they may ever need.”
As he finished, Fletcher turned around and started making his way back across the stage toward the podium. The moment he stood at the top of it and faced the crowd again, he let out an audible sigh before looking down at his watch.
“We only have a few more moments before the ceremony begins, so I’m going to keep this speech short. However, before I finish, I just wanted to mention two of our graduates whose achievements are truly worthy of our attention. Two students who have shown the entire school how far they’ve come over the last four years and what they have accomplished.”
Fletcher’s eyes scanned across the room. It took a while, but eventually, his gaze landed on the boy sitting beside me. He stared at him for a brief second before lifting his head up and speaking. “I want to start by congratulating our valedictorian, Mr. Jameson.
Not only has Jameson managed to achieve a perfect GPA throughout his time here, but he also completed all of his classes with distinction! As such, he is the first person to ever receive a 4.0 GPA from the Academy of Mages! Well done, Mr. Jameson!”
A moment later, Fletcher looked toward me before letting out another breath and lowering his head slightly.
“And finally, I’d like to congratulate our salutatorian, Ms. Elizabeth Williams. Although her final grade point average was a bit lower than Mr. Jameson’s, she did manage to earn the highest score of anyone in the class on this year’s final exam. She has proven herself to be incredibly dedicated and hard-working throughout the course of her studies here. Congratulations, Ms. Williams!”
The crowd applauded loudly after hearing Fletcher’s words. Some cheered excitedly, while others simply clapped enthusiastically as they waited for the event to begin. Fletcher didn’t seem to care either way as he watched the students and then began speaking again.
“Now, let’s take a look at our graduates. I want to recognize each of these fine young people individually, so please give them your attention for the next few seconds. When I finish, they’ll be walking down the aisle to get their diplomas.”
After a minute, Fletcher lifted his head again.
“First, we have Miss Emily Jameson. A graduate with a 4.0 GPA, Emily will be attending Harvard University this fall where she will major in computer science.”
Emily let out a small cheer, which caused some of the other students to do the same. Fletcher continued talking once Emily had finished celebrating.
“Next up is Mr. Jameson. Another graduate with a 4.0 GPA and distinctions for all of his courses, Jameson will be attending Yale University this fall. There he hopes to study international relations with the eventual goal of becoming a diplomat.”
Again, the cheers were loud for Jameson as he made his way down the aisle, receiving his diploma and shaking the principal’s hand as he passed him by.
“Finally,” Fletcher said as he continued moving slowly along the stage, “we have Ms. Elizabeth Williams.”
The crowd let out another round of enthusiastic applause as Fletcher’s eyes moved toward me. He smiled before turning back around and continuing his speech.
“Ms. Williams also achieved a perfect GPA during her time here and has been awarded a full academic scholarship to Harvard Law School starting this fall. In addition to her work in the classroom, Ms. Williams has also been a member of the swim team and a member of the debate society here at the academy.
As one of the most active students at this institution, we are proud to call her one of ours and wish her all the best for the future. Congratulations, Ms. Williams!”
After saying the names of the other students who had received their diplomas, Fletcher turned around yet again to face the audience. He spoke for another few minutes about the various events that would be taking place over the next couple of weeks, followed by a short list of things that students would need to do in order to finish up the last of their assignments before summer vacation began.
Once he had finished speaking, the ceremony ended and the crowd started to break into smaller groups, discussing the day’s events among themselves or talking excitedly to their friends.
The End