– Is it just me, or is there some kind of romantic story behind this? – Khvoyana narrowed her eyes.
“I don’t think so…” Zikki began and stopped short, but then finished firmly: “No, I don’t think so.” I'm going to study. I want to become a magician of the first circle, and so that no one dares to dictate to me who to marry and who not to marry. Then no. No romance. Only cold calculation.
The twins looked at each other meaningfully.
“And we’re going to look for suitors.” Granny said that studying is a secondary matter, and you need to think about the future first,” Vilde unexpectedly said.
“She even suggested what rules to use to look for suitors,” Volde added.
– No, yes. What a granny, such a future… – I couldn’t restrain myself from teasing.
Here even the silent Yumi could not stand it and smiled.
– Like this! Some are running away from marriage, while others are looking for it. How different our lives are! – Lisel sighed.
– Zikki, who helped you get in? – Vilde asked curiously.
– Let me keep this a secret. Maybe someday I'll tell you later. If we become friends…
–What did I say? This is in you from Mirre! – Khvoyana exclaimed joyfully.
There was a knock on the roof of the stagecoach, and Uncle Alan's voice was heard:
– Chatterboxes! You should calm down, you have to get up early tomorrow!
Heeding his words, we began to settle down for the night. They straightened the pillows in dark blue pillowcases with an embroidered gold wheel – the sign of the Travel Bureau. We wrapped ourselves in thin blue blankets and tried to sleep.
Well, well… For some time there was snoring, the girls were spinning and sighing. Only Adalbjorg almost immediately began to breathe regularly. The northern woman knew how to fall asleep as if on command in any conditions and position.
– Ada? – Zikki called in a whisper, unmistakably choosing the only person who was actually asleep.
– M? – the northern woman answered her, waking up sleepily.
–Where are the other two?
The answer was silence. The other girls also held their breath.
– Who are you talking about? – Ada asked when the silence dragged on.
– Well, there should be ten adepts, but there are only eight of us.
“They will arrive on their own,” Lisel answered instead of Ada.
It seemed like both she and Zikki knew a little more than the others. How interesting!
We arrived at the academy early in the morning. The stagecoach, hovering above the ground, did not make the usual sounds of wheeled transport, and only the paws of the wolves rustled barely audibly on the pavement, and their heavy breathing could be heard. The last part of the journey was constantly uphill, and the animals were quite tired. We entered the tall gate in almost complete silence. Only a huge raven croaked deafeningly as it flew up from the wrought-iron fence. A fine autumn rain was drizzling, and the wind hit the wall of the stagecoach in gusts, causing it to sway.
“It’s a bit gloomy…” Zikki drawled, looking out the window.
“Just like home,” Ada sighed with nostalgia.
The girls, who were sitting at the ready, reached into their bags in search of warm clothes. I didn’t move, I managed to dress properly right away. Another hour before arrival. Ashsher Nett warned us, so I pulled myself together and pushed the sleepy Simka out of the stagecoach.
We soared past dark gray, squat buildings that formed an entire street. Water dripped from the gable roofs, flowing down the drainpipes. Crows sat here and there, and the cries of seagulls could be heard from afar – the Academy of Wind and Storms was located above the sea. Once upon a time there was a castle in which the founder of the educational institution lived. Later, both the castle and a small village nearby were converted into an academy, and people moved a little further away so as not to be at risk. Living next to inexperienced elemental magicians is still fun.
