Professor Fortius' face was dead serious. No surprise there. "So?" he asked. Nothing more, just the one word.

"We're good," Mathias answered, followed by energetic nodding of my head.

"What exactly does that mean, boy?" Professor Fortius crossed his brawny arms, demanding an explanation.

"It means that we have no reason to go at each other anymore," Mathias' voice remained calm despite the obvious tension in his body.

"We?" Professor Fortius' eyes pierced the werewolf.

"Al right, me. I have no reason to go at her anymore." Mathias shifted his glance from Professor Fortius to me before lowering his head.

"Do you have anything to add?" professor Fortius focused on me.

"No. He said everything," I responded, struggling to keep the panic away. The sight of angry Professor Fortius brought to mind the memory of the PE class when I unleashed my inner Aquantien. His face then looked much like it did now.

"Good." He relaxed a bit. "Because if any of your outbursts happen again, I have a green light to handle it my way," he said to Mathias.

I didn't like the smug expression on his face. I just knew he would enjoy handling things his own way, to Mathias' misfortune. I really hopped our differences were resolved.

"Now, get to your classes! Both of you!" he commanded, and we both complied.

I came back to Ms. Cyan's classroom twenty minutes prior to the end of the class.

She was sitting on her blue chair, dressed in a turtleneck sweater the colour of dark lavender. Her hands rested on the table before her. Midnight blue gloves this time, I noticed. Dark hair framed her serious face as she spoke of our upcoming homework assignment.

On the white board behind her stood the words written in blue marker: Legends of the Hidden Races.

I quietly walked up to my chair and sat down, trying not to disturb her lecture. Ms. Cyan's classroom always had an aura of tranquility and it often seemed to me that we unknowingly tried to maintain it while we were there.

"You will have until the beginning of the next semester to complete this homework," Ms. Cyan was explaining in a voice so calm it almost felt hypnotizing. "Your grade will depend on your creativity. Through exploring the legends, you will have an opportunity to deepen our knowledge of your race. For that reason, merely scratching the surface will not suffice. Broaden your horizons. Don't be afraid to dig deeper. The first person you have to amaze is yourself. If you succeed in that, your task is already completed."

"Do not procrastinate. This semester ends in few short weeks, you will go home to your families, so use that time to speak to your elders. The most interesting stories can often be found in their memories."

After hearing those words, I peeked at Opal's notes. The title from the board was written on top of the page. Under it, Opal already scrawled two notes in her wide handwriting:

- the time Rubion found hidden treasure of our ancestors buried at the foot of the mountain

- the time Aureo dug out diamonds from the volcanic rock and accidentally found a dragon skeleton.

Nia sat on my right, so I glanced at her notebook. She scribbled something I could not understand. The whole page was filled with tendrils that, although beautiful, had no meaning to me.

Next to Nia, Lissa's pencil was rushing over the surface of the paper, guided by her hand, writing words in letters too small for me to make them out.

Harper, the boy in the wheelchair, sat next to Opal, on her left. I could see the page of his notebook as well. Rather than with letters and words, he filled it with notes, making it look like music sheet. He was the only student in our class who looked forward to Mr. Arian's classes more than I did.

He must have sensed me looking at him because he lifted his head and smiled. He was always kind to me. I still felt bad about him being in a wheelchair. So many times I wanted to say something comforting to him, but it proved to be more difficult than I thought to find the appropriate words. Although, I had to confess that he handled the situation he was in very well. Not a single day passed without his laughter.

I returned the smile and looked across the table where the elven girls sat. They were focused on Ms. Cyan, but Ardea glanced at me and curled her lips upwards.

Every trace of smile vanished off my face as soon as I noticed Max and Leo's expressions. After they found out just how fast I could be in the water, they didn't look at me benevolently. A girl half their size was better at something. That must have been a heavy blow for their orc pride.

Many of the students were still writing something down. I felt like I should do the same, but I didn't know where to begin, so I simply copied the title from the white board, hoping the inspiration would eventually hit me.

The bell marked the end of the class, causing the familiar commotion of the students ready to leave the classroom, one by one. I stayed behind in order to apologize to Ms. Cyan for my tardiness.

"Don't worry about it," she said. "Mr. August already excused you."

"He did?" Of course he did. After sending me to the jaws of the beast, that was the least he could do, but I wasn't gonna resent him, seeing that in the end, it worked.

"Professor Cyan, I'm not sure I quite understand what we're supposed to do for homework, so I was wondering..." I never got the chance to finish what I was saying because Ms. Cyan cut me off.

"I have prepared detailed instructions in written form. Opal took a sheet for you. Study it thoroughly, and if you'll have any questions after you do so, come see me.'' The tone of her voice left no room for further discussion, so I thanked her and turned to leave. Her question stopped me. "How are things between you and Mathias now?"

That was the first personal question I ever heard her ask.

"I think it will be alright," I said.

"I hope it will be," she replied. She turned her attention to the papers in front of her and that was the end of our short conversation.

Stepping out of her classroom, I saw Opal, Ardea and Nia waiting for me down the hall. I rushed to them.

"What kept you so long?" Opal fired her question at me. "We're dying to hear what happened! Did Professor Fortius chop that hooligan into little pieces?"

"No one chopped anybody into pieces. The headmaster just wanted me to speak to Mathias. Alone."

"Alone!?" Opal's eyes threatened to jump out of their sockets. "Is he insane?!"

"Keep your voice down," Ardea warned her and then she looked at me. "I think we're gonna need a more thorough explanation."

"He arranged that Mathias and I come to Professor Fortius' office and he left us there to talk. Professor Fortius locked the door and told us that we had to stay there until we work things out."

"He locked you up with wolf boy!?" Opal got infuriated. "He could have killed you! You're lucky to be alive, Azora."

"I'm pretty sure Mr. August told Professor Fortius not to let that happen," I said to ease her mind.

"Did it work?" Ardea asked. I could see the concern in her expression.

"I guess. We did talk. I understand him better now. I hope he understands me better, too."

"What did he say?" This time Nia was curious.

"I can't tell you that. What happened in Professor Fortius' office, stays in Professor Fortius' office."

Suddenly I found myself looking at three disappointed faces.

Thank you! Yes, you who just read chapter 15 of my story. I want you to know that I appreciate it very much.

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