Chapter 7: The Lost Hawk
The assembly itself felt more like a grandiose lesson than anything, with multiple teachers sitting in a rough line on the stage. Mr Payne began by reading a list of minor announcements, then Nature Studies teacher Ms Chiltern spoke of the forest reclamation project and the Harvest Festival in a month’s time. The Haan brothers followed with a story from their travels to further drive home the point about restoring nature, as they recalled how a pocket of humanity had almost died out in the wastelands because they had given up hope of revitalising the planet. Phantasia wondered how much pain and destruction they must have seen during their time as vagrants. Growing up in the fertile paradise of the Innerworld meant she had little idea of the wasteland humans had been forced to endure for hundreds of years. The idea of a descending spiral of negativity breeding more negativity made her shiver, but the determination of the teachers on the stage strengthened her resolve.
Though she was transfixed by the assembly, those around her were obviously feeling restless. Joel was fiddling with his silver pendants and Kaori her earrings, while Doyle sat focusing his attention on whatever girl caught his eye. The teachers were either oblivious to all this, or paid no attention to it. When the assembly was over, everyone left for their lessons, and it was then things began to change for the worse.
Phantasia’s first lesson was Science, and that involved being in the same room as the Topaz students, which included Astrid and her entourage. All throughout the morning, Phantasia could feel their cruel stares, and it made it hard to concentrate on the overblown pyrotechnics. At the end of the lesson, after eccentric teacher Ms James had demonstrated the science of kinetics using a shotgun, Astrid gave Phantasia a knowing look.
“Don’t let it get to you. They’re always like that,” said Kaori after the so-called Inquisitors had vanished, “Been after me and Joel for ages. Kinda why we have to be careful what we say. The second they get a shred of evidence of anything occultish, then…” Joel mimicked being hung, but Kaori jabbed him hard with her elbow before he could finish.
In the break, Phantasia noticed the trio of girls watching her from afar, and could feel their continued spite leaving mould-like patches in the mana streams. From an opposite corner, she noticed Shelley sitting quietly, also watching. The girl continued to do so throughout the lesson that followed, and Kaori picked up on it.
“No idea what she’s after,” she said, as Phantasia winced from a spike of emotion coming from her friend, “You’re better staying away from her. She’s nothing but trouble.”
Joel tried to say something after that, but a sharp look from his girlfriend stopped him. Even Doyle looked uncomfortable with the topic, which Kaori quickly brushed aside when their Music teacher – her mother, Yuki Shimomura – approached their table to check on their work.
Kaori’s warning, however, just made Phantasia more curious. Shelley hadn’t done anything to suggest she was a bad person – far from it, she had been a victim of malicious bullying! When the lunch break came around, Phantasia found herself with a difficult choice: stay with her established friends, or try talking to Shelley instead.
There was no alternative. She had vowed to get to know each and every one of her fellow students, and this was the perfect opportunity. Besides, she felt a great deal of empathy for the dark haired girl, whose eyes glistened as if they were forever on the verge of tears.
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