4th of March, Orientation Day.
Half past six. Woke up as always, without a dream, without a nightmare. Did the early routine — bathing, dressing and rituals.
Half past seven. Left the house.
Twenty-five to eight. Arrived at the pavilion. Was served on time. Buttered Bread, Tea, Fruit Custard.
Ten to eight. Finished breakfast. Was about to leave when a talk at the table interested me. It was about the new professor. He is young, four years younger than me. Nothing else happened. Deviation of five minutes — noted.
Five to eight. Left the pavilion. Strolled.
Eight o'clock. Left the vicinity. Five minutes early — offset noted.
Thirteen past eight. Arrived at the waiting stand.
Quarter past eight. Tram arrived. Boarded. Sat by the window.
Sixteen past eight. Someone sat by me.
I looked at him. He wore a black shirt, blue trousers and a suit, and a black necktie. He looked young. Student? Noteworthy behaviour. Students respect the boundary between teachers and themselves, especially me. They do not seat beside me. Anomaly noted.
The tram started. I expected us to arrive on time. The student beside me has been staring at the flowers outside.
Half past eight. The tram slowed down. We had passed the hill that hid the academy grounds. The academy buildings can be spotted from here. We were near.
I noted that he has been staring at me. I saw a silver chain in his left pocket. A professor? I was intrigued. 'You are a professor?'
'Yes,' he said. 'Lile Dew.'
That is a new name. 'Veronica Orchard. I teach Literature and Behavioural Science.' He is young for a professor. 'You are the new one,' I blurted out. He has long hair and carries a suitcase. What must the suitcase carry?
'Ah, yes, of course. I am the new one.' He had a soft voice, a little strained. He was hugging the suitcase. Did I make him nervous? He is in a mildly tense state — noted. 'I will be teaching Arcane Knowledge henceforth,' he said. I was right. He is the new professor. 'A pleasure to meet you, Ms Orchard.' I nodded and stopped bothering him. He seems in need of relaxation.
Quarter to nine. We nearly arrived at our stop.
I noticed his breathing. It was very strained, worse than before. There were beads of sweat on his forehead. The strands of his hair stuck to him. His collar was drenched and sweat kept pouring down his cheeks. He does not seem fine. His eyes are unfocused. He may be hallucinating.
The tram came to a halt. I should take him to the infirmary. Such thoughts passed me, but before I could act, he hurried down the tram. I should pursue him, given his condition, but the crowd halted my steps.
There was still time before the Orientation Ceremony.
***
The academy is located behind a hill. It cannot be noticed from the south, where the main gate is located.
It looked just like the last time I was here. High metal fence all around the grounds; four-storey buildings; many annexes; flower bushes and ash trees all around. It is the only place made of bricks on the estate. Brown aesthetic all around, it was much more academically blessed. I walked down its wide streets, passing the square with the white fountain.
I was looking for the new professor, but he was not in sight.
I continued walking towards the building in the middle. It had a clock at the top. He should be nearby. A few professors greeted me. I did the same.
Nine o'clock. I was in the main building. I went to my office on the second floor and hung my coat. I did not bring any materials. All I needed was here.
Orientation was to take place in the Grand Hall, but my steps took me to the first floor. I looked around in search of a specific name. Hilda Lore, Ron Gregory, Alex Arnold... There were a few more names I ignored. Soon, at the end of the corridor, I noticed the name I was searching for. Mr Lile Dew, Professor of Arcane Knowledge.
He should be here. I knocked with such thoughts. A few seconds passed without a reply. I knocked again. No one answered. I knocked for the third time, presumably my last. Nothing, once more. I went in without much thought. He was not there. I searched around. There was no sign of him. His suitcase was not there. The windows were closed. The cleaning lady did her work and left. No sign of character. He had never been here.
I left in search of him, once again.
The skies were clear and blue. Only a few clouds hung around to look at the students below. As I walked around the academy, I saw some familiar faces, students that were acquainted with me. They greeted me and went their way.
I followed down a lonely street. I passed the training grounds, storage, and a small patch of land that could only be called a pasture. I saw a few horse riders sitting by a shieling. He was not here.
I left.
Quarter past nine. I went to the arts division. I was pulled there by a colleague.
'Ms Orchard,' Ms Rosella Solvent called me. She was older than me but looked younger. 'Come here,' she said, pulling me towards one of the buildings of the art division. They were placed around, creating a square in the middle, like a courtyard. There was a lawn placed there and a few benches. I saw a girl painting a flower. I saw some boys chatting about. I saw a pair sneaking around. The dark roofs of the three-storey buildings had crows sitting on them. It was a different air. Whenever I came here I always felt that rain was soon to come, even on the brightest of days.
Ms Solvent took me inside. I saw empty passages that led to silent rooms.
'What is it about, Ms Solvent,' I asked the woman who kept leading me.
'Just follow me, Ms Orchard,' she said, climbing the steps to the first floor. She was a lively woman. Many people had said that we were nothing alike, and I agree. I find her oblivious most of the time. I have heard that some man wished to court her, but she thought he was looking for money. She handed him a few coins in pity. The artisans are...curious, I thought, looking at her. Her kind was always so difficult.
We were on the second floor when I heard a melody. Piano? I thought. I found a crowd of students standing in the corridor, looking inside a room. In the doorway, I saw a girl sitting on a wooden stool, painting. She used black, blue, and a lonely off-white. I had little knowledge of art but appreciation was plenty.
She drew a man, sitting on a black padded stool. His posture was straight and his hair was tied. He had his eyes closed to the distractions of this world. He looked lost as he played that piano.
I raised my head. The new professor looked nothing like his previous self. He did not sweat. He had his eyes closed; his mind was absent. It was difficult to disturb him as he played melancholic sounds, while clear water swirled around him.
4th of March, Orientation Day.
Half past six. Woke up as always, without a dream, without a nightmare. Did the early routine — bathing, dressing and rituals.
Half past seven. Left the house.
Twenty-five to eight. Arrived at the pavilion. Was served on time. Buttered Bread, Tea, Fruit Custard.
Ten to eight. Finished breakfast. Was about to leave when a talk at the table interested me. It was about the new professor. He is young, four years younger than me. Nothing else happened. Deviation of five minutes — noted.
Five to eight. Left the pavilion. Strolled.
Eight o'clock. Left the vicinity. Five minutes early — offset noted.
Thirteen past eight. Arrived at the waiting stand.
Quarter past eight. Tram arrived. Boarded. Sat by the window.
Sixteen past eight. Someone sat by me.
I looked at him. He wore a black shirt, blue trousers and a suit, and a black necktie. He looked young. Student? Noteworthy behaviour. Students respect the boundary between teachers and themselves, especially me. They do not seat beside me. Anomaly noted.
The tram started. I expected us to arrive on time. The student beside me has been staring at the flowers outside.
Half past eight. The tram slowed down. We had passed the hill that hid the academy grounds. The academy buildings can be spotted from here. We were near.
I noted that he has been staring at me. I saw a silver chain in his left pocket. A professor? I was intrigued. 'You are a professor?'
'Yes,' he said. 'Lile Dew.'
That is a new name. 'Veronica Orchard. I teach Literature and Behavioural Science.' He is young for a professor. 'You are the new one,' I blurted out. He has long hair and carries a suitcase. What must the suitcase carry?
'Ah, yes, of course. I am the new one.' He had a soft voice, a little strained. He was hugging the suitcase. Did I make him nervous? He is in a mildly tense state — noted. 'I will be teaching Arcane Knowledge henceforth,' he said. I was right. He is the new professor. 'A pleasure to meet you, Ms Orchard.' I nodded and stopped bothering him. He seems in need of relaxation.
Quarter to nine. We nearly arrived at our stop.
I noticed his breathing. It was very strained, worse than before. There were beads of sweat on his forehead. The strands of his hair stuck to him. His collar was drenched and sweat kept pouring down his cheeks. He does not seem fine. His eyes are unfocused. He may be hallucinating.
The tram came to a halt. I should take him to the infirmary. Such thoughts passed me, but before I could act, he hurried down the tram. I should pursue him, given his condition, but the crowd halted my steps.
There was still time before the Orientation Ceremony.
***
The academy is located behind a hill. It cannot be noticed from the south, where the main gate is located.
It looked just like the last time I was here. High metal fence all around the grounds; four-storey buildings; many annexes; flower bushes and ash trees all around. It is the only place made of bricks on the estate. Brown aesthetic all around, it was much more academically blessed. I walked down its wide streets, passing the square with the white fountain.
I was looking for the new professor, but he was not in sight.
I continued walking towards the building in the middle. It had a clock at the top. He should be nearby. A few professors greeted me. I did the same.
Nine o'clock. I was in the main building. I went to my office on the second floor and hung my coat. I did not bring any materials. All I needed was here.
Orientation was to take place in the Grand Hall, but my steps took me to the first floor. I looked around in search of a specific name. Hilda Lore, Ron Gregory, Alex Arnold... There were a few more names I ignored. Soon, at the end of the corridor, I noticed the name I was searching for. Mr Lile Dew, Professor of Arcane Knowledge.
He should be here. I knocked with such thoughts. A few seconds passed without a reply. I knocked again. No one answered. I knocked for the third time, presumably my last. Nothing, once more. I went in without much thought. He was not there. I searched around. There was no sign of him. His suitcase was not there. The windows were closed. The cleaning lady did her work and left. No sign of character. He had never been here.
I left in search of him, once again.
The skies were clear and blue. Only a few clouds hung around to look at the students below. As I walked around the academy, I saw some familiar faces, students that were acquainted with me. They greeted me and went their way.
I followed down a lonely street. I passed the training grounds, storage, and a small patch of land that could only be called a pasture. I saw a few horse riders sitting by a shieling. He was not here.
I left.
Quarter past nine. I went to the arts division. I was pulled there by a colleague.
'Ms Orchard,' Ms Rosella Solvent called me. She was older than me but looked younger. 'Come here,' she said, pulling me towards one of the buildings of the art division. They were placed around, creating a square in the middle, like a courtyard. There was a lawn placed there and a few benches. I saw a girl painting a flower. I saw some boys chatting about. I saw a pair sneaking around. The dark roofs of the three-storey buildings had crows sitting on them. It was a different air. Whenever I came here I always felt that rain was soon to come, even on the brightest of days.
Ms Solvent took me inside. I saw empty passages that led to silent rooms.
'What is it about, Ms Solvent,' I asked the woman who kept leading me.
'Just follow me, Ms Orchard,' she said, climbing the steps to the first floor. She was a lively woman. Many people had said that we were nothing alike, and I agree. I find her oblivious most of the time. I have heard that some man wished to court her, but she thought he was looking for money. She handed him a few coins in pity. The artisans are...curious, I thought, looking at her. Her kind was always so difficult.
We were on the second floor when I heard a melody. Piano? I thought. I found a crowd of students standing in the corridor, looking inside a room. In the doorway, I saw a girl sitting on a wooden stool, painting. She used black, blue, and a lonely off-white. I had little knowledge of art but appreciation was plenty.
She drew a man, sitting on a black padded stool. His posture was straight and his hair was tied. He had his eyes closed to the distractions of this world. He looked lost as he played that piano.
I raised my head. The new professor looked nothing like his previous self. He did not sweat. He had his eyes closed; his mind was absent. It was difficult to disturb him as he played melancholic sounds, while clear water swirled around him.
