V. The Teacher

Ragna frowned and rubbed a small scar on her neck. It was still clearly visible: a snake, an Uroboros, and a rose flower in the middle. Felix kept his promise, he protected the bird with his oath and sealed this oath with his family's blazon.

Yesterday he appeared in Ragna’s apartment, just like always, out of nowhere. Much to her surprise, the girl didn't get scared that time but rather annoyed. As previously, the arrogant intruder spoke way too slyly and sweetly and came way too close. Ragna had already considered rejecting this kind offer of protection, but in the end, she had to admit that even with her powers it was way too dangerous. So, Felix sealed his oath triumphally designating the girl as his useless pet.

"So, you start in two hours, right?" Vince asked chewing on his sandwich.

"Yes. How do I look?" the woman moved her eyes from the mirror to the boy.

"Eh...Maybe you can find a dress that is not black? Otherwise, everything is great," he nodded and took one more sandwich.

"Difficult. They are all either black or black with flowers..." Ragna mumbled with slight disappointment.

"Then better go with simple black. Flowers make you look like a hippie," chucked Vince.

"Thanks," the girl narrowed her eyes and puffed her cheeks. "Go to school already!"

"Come on, I'm trying to support you in a difficult moment! I made extra some time in the morning to come and cheer you up!" Vince proudly declaimed.

"Thanks, why are you eating my food then?"

"Well, that's collateral damage..." the boy awkwardly smiled sipping his tea. "What classes do you have today?"

"Hmm, let me check...I think two 1st classes, one 2d, 4th and 6th...The sixth will be complicated..." Ragna powerlessly fell on the chair and sighed.

"See, that's why I'm here! Again, your pessimistic moods! Why should it be bad?" Vince said strictly.

"Well, that's their last Véla year, some of those kids consider becoming healers. I shouldn't disappoint them..." the girl nervously adjusted her hair.

"It would be nice if you don't disappoint any of your classes actually," Vince immediately regretted saying this as he saw Ragna trembling. "But you won't. You know what you are doing. Stop thinking negatively. Mom says negative thinking attracts misfortune!"

"Then I attracted enough of misfortune for several years ahead, so being negative now doesn't change anything!" huffed Ragna.

"You should fight your inadequately low self-esteem that was formed by your bad childhood. Lack of support from your mother doesn't say anything about your personal and professional qualities." Vince said strictly and calmly still chewing his sandwich.

"You know...Give me back my psychology books. They affect you badly, you start to sound like me," Ragna puffed her cheeks again.

"Yes, right. Feels strange when you are not the only moralist anymore?" laughed the boy.

"Okay, okay. I got it. Positive thinking...I'll have more money," Ragna closed her eyes for a second. "So, I'll always have enough food even despite unexpected invaders!" she laughed and poked the boy's cheek.

"Sorry, collateral...." started Vince.

"Go to school, collateral damage! You are going to be late!" Ragna interrupted him.

Vince glanced at his watch, swiftly finished his tea, and ran towards the exit, shortly stopping to wish his friend luck. After the door closed it became very quiet at home. Ragna stood in the middle of the kitchen staring into the void. She felt how her hands started to tremble and a cold, sticky wave of panic completely covered her. It became dark, the girl staggered and almost fainted. Ragna quickly sat down on the floor and tried to breathe deeper to calm down.

Half an hour later Ragna adjusted her black dress, wrapped her long, white hair in a bun and grabbed the small, wooden books with her still shaking hands. Immediately, just like the last time, the portal brought her to the Academy’s yard. The place was very lively, just like any place where a lot of kids gather. Students were rushing around loudly talking to their friends. It was a big and important day for Ragna, but everybody else just lived their everyday routine. What a weird feeling…

The bird had to visit the school several more times last week, so most of the children had already seen her and were told to treat the new, unusual teacher with respect. When the young woman walked through the Academy halls today, kids only nodded politely, trying not to stare at her way too long. Every time Ragna nodded and smiled back cheerfully, however, walking through airy galleries of the Academy this time, she didn’t feel like floating through clouds in a temple anymore. More like walking on hot coal.

A round man hurried to the young woman actively waving his short round hands. Ragna instinctively stepped back. Professor Alsiende had already introduced her to the head of Ápus specialization. Professor Hofmann seemed to be very polite (probably even extremely polite) and helpful, yet the girl somehow didn’t feel comfortable around him. She firstly blamed it on fear and stress, as Isaac was supposed to be her immediate supervisor. After several conversations with Alastair though, she caught herself on a thought, that she strangely didn’t feel the same anticipation towards the principal, her main supervisor. In the end, there must have been something else in Isaac, that Ragna didn’t particularly like, but she hadn’t discovered it so far,

“Welcome, welcome, Miss Lykke!” Professor smiled widely, exposing his rather destroyed by sweets teeth. “How are you feeling today?”

“Thank You, I am fine. I decided to come a little bit earlier to prepare for the lessons, if that is okay,” Ragna awkwardly replied still slightly backing down.

“Sure. No wonder, you need a lot of preparations for your first day! Let me show you the room,” he politely invited the woman to walk with him. “Be very careful! You, as a teacher, are doing a highly important job! We have absolutely no right to a mistake! Want candy? No? All right. You should pay a lot of attention to the 6th class you got. I used to teach them, so many students seriously consider choosing Ápus as their specialization. I know, the first time will be extremely hard for you, but you still should always remain focused and prepared! By the way, have I already suggested you candy? Ah, right. Here we are.”

The round man stopped in front of a small room with large windows, hidden behind thick curtains. The classroom looked pretty empty and cold. It was dark and stuffy inside. Ragna looked around confused. She felt like being inside a fridge.

“Home, sweet home! You will give your lessons here. Unfortunately, I don’t have any other free classrooms right now. But I think it is perfectly enough for your probation. If you pass it, I will find another room for you,” Isaac kindly smiled and the next second disappeared.

Ragna looked around once again, then rapidly marched towards windows and strongly pulled heavy curtains down. Old, mouldering material tore with a loud noise and fell to the floor, letting warm sun inside the small, dark room. The girl cleaned thick layers of dust with the curtain cloth and moved the desks in a U form. Now the classroom seemed more at least a little bit cosier. Ragna looked at the blackboard on the wall and imagined how in less than an hour she would write there the topic of today’s lesson. Her whole body began to tremble again and drops of cold sweat ran down her back.

“Knock-knock! May I?” a melodic female voice brought the newly minted teacher out of her daze.

Ragna turned her head to the door and saw a stunningly beautiful young woman. She stood elegantly leaning on the door, holding a beautiful bouquet of bright flowers in her long, slim hands. It seemed that her ivory skin was glancing from the inside. Long, raven-black hair framed her small, oval face. Deeply set, expressive, grey eyes carefully followed every Ragna’s move and as the girl positively nodded, full lips of the woman curved into a friendly smile.

“Glad to meet you! My name is Ji, Ji Yun! Oh, and that is also for you,” she smilingly handed flowers to Ragna. “I knew that none of our gentlemen would welcome the new teacher with flowers, so I picked this small bouquet for you.”

“Thanks a lot. The flowers are really amazing! Thanks!” Ragna nearly burst into tears with emotion.

“You are welcome! I see you’ve already started to prepare your room. Isaac didn’t bother with finding something bigger for you…” Ji looked around with interest. “But that doesn’t matter, does it?”

“Right, actually it is good that the room is so small. In a smaller space, it is easier to feel the life energies around. I just rearranged tables slightly to make it easier for the kids.”

“See, you already know what to do,” the woman kindly smiled. “First day is always difficult, but don’t worry, you will be a good teacher.”

“Thank you…I am indeed very worried. Guess, I just need to start and then it will get better,” Ragna awkwardly smiled and sat on the teacher’s desk.

“Yes, that’s true. As soon as you see the children, it will be easier. I know, younger students are really excited about seeing a real Caladrius. Your knowledge is rare and very valuable for us.”

“Yeah, and I hope I can transfer that knowledge properly. Thank you for cheering me up, I really felt slightly lonely here,” Ragna smiled and raised her big eyes full of childish sincerity at Ji.

“No problem, you are always welcome. I can show you around a little bit during the lunch break if you want.”

“Oh, that would be great! I still don’t know the school well enough… By the way, where can I find a vase for the flowers?”

“You can ask the support staff, there should be something in utility rooms in the basement…” Ji frowned for a second and glanced at the ceiling. “Take a bigger one. There will be indeed one gentleman today… how unexpected,” she slyly chuckled.

“What do you mean?” Ragna looked confused.

“Nothing, just a little prediction,” laughed the woman.

“Oh, you are a foreseer?” Ragna took a guess.

“I am. The head of Horológium specialization,” Ji slowly nodded. “I need to go now. Will see you later, during the lunch break. Let’s meet at the fountain in the main yard.”

“Ah, yes, sure,” Ragna waved her hand desperately trying to remember how to get out of her classroom to the fountain.

The girl remained motionless for a few more moments, trying to take control of the new wave of panic. In the end, if the head of Future Prediction specialization told her that everything would be fine, she had no reason to disbelieve. Right, hearing something like this from a foreseer was the most calming thing that could happen. Ragna stood up and went out into the corridor in search of support staff and a vase.

The Academy was so huge with so many rooms and galleries, that somebody as talented as Ragna would definitely need a map there. Fortunately for her, the girl found a very kind, old cleaner not far from her classroom, so the vase quest was solved pretty easily.

Soon enough first students started to enter the class. They looked around with interest and slight fear. None of them had ever seen a living Caladrius before, some of those kids believed that those mighty birds were completely extinct and yet there she was, standing in front of them, smiling at them.

Ji was indeed right, as soon as the lesson started fear and panic vanished. Ragna suddenly understood how unrealistic and barely possible all the scariest scenarios, that she imagined herself, were. The young woman knew she had way little actual teaching experience, but she also perfectly knew, what she was supposed to do. Surely, everything couldn’t, and frankly speaking, didn’t go perfectly well, but it seemed like the students didn’t notice any flaws. They carefully listened to the legendary bird, who felt and knew life and death energies better, than anybody else in the world.

After the first two lessons, Ragna fell on her chair and breathed out loudly. She had spent several hours moving around the class and constantly speaking, now was the time for a small break. She closed her eyes and counted how many lessons there were until the lunch break.

“Wow, birdy, I see, somebody already got ahead of me,” a familiar voice whispered right in Ragna’s ear. “Too vivid, what an annoyingly tasteless bouquet…However, matches you. Look and learn how it should be done.”

Ragna instantly opened her eyes and gazed at Felix. The man carefully placed a big bunch of red roses on the teacher’s desk and grinned.

“Well, that’s not particularly a gentleman but Ji was right in a way…” Ragna quietly mumbled looking at the roses completely confused. “What are you doing here?”

“Nothing. Visiting Alastair, checking if you are still alive,” Felix adjusted his messy hair and gracefully leaned on the table. “I imagined; you won’t feel very comfortable being around so many wizards.”

“Oh, I have to deal with small kids, they are harmless,” the girl showed the fakest polite smile. “Actually, so far the students were really nice…”

“Hmm, you are unexpectedly kind to them. I thought, you hated wizards,” the redhead rubbed his square chin.

“Why would I?” the girl puffed out her cheeks and stared at her guest with bewilderment.

“Just assumed from how you act with me, birdy.”

“Oh no! Dear, do you really think I hate you for being a wizard?” Ragna obviously overacted. “No! Not at all! I hate you for breaking into my apartment and threatening me with the dagger the first time we met.”

“Sorry, your apartment was so small, I mistook it for staircase,” Felix shrugged and smiled as innocently as he could.

“Can I apply for any city compensation for having to deal with you?” Ragna closed her eyes and turned away her head.

“As the one in charge of Occultikon, I can assure you – no. Be grateful, you don’t have to pay for my protection,” huffed the redhead. “I wasn’t planning to start my own animal shelter.”

The 6th class students started filling the classroom. Ragna didn’t want the kids to think something wrong, so she hurried to send Felix away. Apparently, the redhead found it funny and intentionally stayed longer, making the new teacher feel awkward.

Among the students Ragna noticed the twins, she met during her first time at the Academy. The brother was staying behind his obviously much more militant and determined sister, however, he gazed at the bird with a lot of interest and some admiration. The girl didn’t seem to be that excited, though. She quickly ran to Felix and demonstratively started a friendly conversation with him ignoring Ragna.

“So glad to see you, uncle! You came to visit us?” she smiled widely and happily to the wizard.

“And this too, among other things,” Felix patted her on her curly, caramel hair.

“Thank you! You see, we have a new teacher. Hopefully, she will be good,” Hortensia threw a judgmental look at the young woman.

Iris slightly pulled his sister’s hand. Ragna could clearly see how his rose-beige skin went to bright red. The boy was very ashamed of Hortensia’s words, but it didn’t seem to bother her. The girl kept acting as if her new teacher was nothing else than a piece of furniture.

“Hmm, I guess, it’s something genetical…” muttered Ragna and hinted to Felix once again that it was time for him to leave.

“Horty, I’m sure your teacher is good enough. As I said, I hope you are smarter than your older brother. Don’t disappoint me,” the redhead said unexpectedly strictly.

The girl pursed her big lips, grabbed her brother’s hand, and pulled him towards free desks. Felix calmly glanced at the two once again, nodded and left the room. Now was the time of the lesson, that Ragna feared the most – the last year Véla students. 

Isaac didn’t lie when he said that he prepared those children well. They did know a lot about healing. Luckily for Ragna, Professor Hofmann didn’t know some tricks that were familiar only to ancient birds.

“Sometimes there is no need to overcomplicate tasks. There is no source of magic as powerful as nature. Preparing a sleep potion? Well, surely you can work with Valerian. Technically, it is not that difficult to dry its leaves out, then cook it for three days and then leave it for seven more days in ocean salt. Add to it Valerian’s roots powder, which was smoked for at least three weeks, and you have the potion. Yet, Epilobium, harvested on the full moon near freshwater sources is equally good. If you know equivalents that are charged with magic by nature, you won’t have to give away that much of your energy and as the result, you will be able to prepare potions, that normally require stronger connection with life and death energy flows,” concluded Ragna feeling very proud of herself.

“How complicated can such potions be?” asked one of the students.

“Hmm, I would say up level 1 and 2 definitely and there are some 3d level potions, that can be shortcut like that.”

“And if one uses such tricks being a professional healer, can this wizard create 7th level potions?” carefully asked Iris.

“7th level in this specialization is absolute healing. I wouldn’t say that it is impossible; it is difficult, but I can imagine some legal ways of reaching this level of magic, at least some of the potions and spells,” Ragna answered thoughtfully.

Iris scrupulously wrote something down in his notebook, adjusted his huge glasses and attentively gazed at his new teacher.

“And is it possible to prepare a potion that will revive somebody?” shouted out another curious child.

“This is ancient and forbidden magic. You kids know, every wizarding has its price. Same with healing. The price for basic levels is not too big. If you use 6th or 7th level potions and spells, you must be ready to put a lot of your own energy into this magic. Reviving something? Well, you can revive your house plant, that is doable. If it is a being with intellect, like a pet, the price to pay will be much higher. It takes a life to return one back. What you get back, in case of an animal, will already be quite a deformed thing. But there is nothing strong enough in this world to revive a person: human or wizard. No matter what you do, you can’t return life the way it was. Even Phoenixes are not capable of that.”

“But don’t they return back from death?”

“Technically speaking, life never leaves their ashes if nobody interrupts. So no, they don’t die completely, they still stay here. Let’s say, Phoenix magic is significantly overestimated.”

The clock loudly struck twelve, the lesson was over. Ragna heard students filled corridors of the Academy. She breathed out and nodded, letting her class go. Kids quickly packed their stuff, thanked their new teacher, and hurried to the canteen, nobody wanted to be late for lunch. Hortensia pulled her brother towards the exit, trying to keep up with her friends, but the boy muttered something and freed up himself from his sister’s grab.

“I wanted…Eh…I wanted to ask…” he raised his scared, hazel eyes at Ragna. “I wanted to ask…You said it is possible for a healer wizard to reach higher levels of magic…How hard would it be?” Iris asked quietly.

“Hmm…Well, one would need a lot of focus and determination. It could take time. I don’t want to scare you; such magic is far from easy. But if you want to learn it one day…”

“He doesn’t! Woodwards are descendants of druids! We are devoted to Magic of Natural Elements!” Hortensia impudently interrupted her teacher and pulled her brother’s hand impatiently again.

“If you want to learn it one day,” Ragna sighed and repeated trying not to pay any attention to the girl. “You shouldn’t think about how hard it is. You should think; why do you want to learn this magic. Saving lives can be very hard, it can take a lot from you. But that doesn’t matter if you truly want to give hope to those who need it. Think about what you really want.”

Iris slightly opened his mouth listening to the young woman. It looked like he was carefully processing every word he heard.

“Right, sure. Can you suggest him something more useless? Like foreseeing?” Hortensia interrupted again and strongly dragged her brother to the exit.

“Thank You…” Iris whispered quietly to the teacher before he was finally pushed out of the classroom.

Ragna smiled shortly and hurried to leave the room as well, she still needed to find the way to the fountain. The young woman didn’t want to be late for the meeting with her new friend.

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