Hey, everyone! I apologize for the long wait- I've been trying to get as much of Imperial Orders done as possible before the end of the contest- but I'm back! In celebration of 120K reads on Glitches (12% of the way to a million!!!), here's a chapter from adorable little Sparrow! I hope I've been able to change my writing style enough to properly portray her first-grader-ness. Enjoy!

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Swan said that the IAYN was scary. 

I think she was right. 

The buildings were huge, and there were big kids everywhere. 

Big kids are bad. Big kids step on Sparrow.

Not Swan, though. Swan is good. 

"The office is that way, Sparrow," Swan said kindly, gently taking my hand as she led me to the left. 

I loved it when Swan held my hand. 

She made me feel wanted. 

She made me forget Lillae and all the other meanies. 

Swan was nice like that. 

A lot of the other kids gave me weird looks as I followed Swan to the IAYN's main office, and it made me sad. They didn't even know me, and they hated me already! Maybe Lillae was right, and I was born so that bored kids would have someone to throw stuff at. 

I got really nervous as Swan and I got in line for final registration. A line meant people, and people meant trouble.

"And if it isn't the filthy half-breed and her human companion!" 

I closed my eyes and buried my face in Swan's shoulder. Swan taught me the trick when I was only four, and it was what I always did when the meanies came. Swan would talk to the meanies, and after a few minutes, they'd be gone. 

It was like magic, she said. 

Sometimes, they'd take Swan away, and then I'd be alone. Those times were scary, but I just plugged my ears with my forefingers and pretended that I was safe with Aunt Tara and Uncle Thorel. Swan usually came back bleeding, but she always said she was okay. 

Swan was really good at being okay. 

"I'm a princess, Lillae," Swan said. She sounded amazingly confident, even though I could feel her shaking. She had a magical voice, just like her mom, Aunt Viviana. Yet, people listened to Aunt Viviana, but not to Swan. 

People are strange. 

"I'm a princess, just like you, and Sparrow is the daughter of a Chief. This is a school for the elite, not a school for Lessaenites. We have every right to be here."

A crowd started to form around us. Even though my eyes were shut, I could hear their footsteps approaching, closing in on Swan and I. Their feet sounded heavy, like they were angry. 

I'm scared. 

"If you ever paid attention in history class, my dear cousin, you would know that this school was founded by the Scientist Clan," Lillae said in her singsong voice. If one of her main goals in life wasn't killing me, I'd say it was pretty. 

"By my family in particular." I knew this voice. It was Zaliana Valior, Heir to the Scientist Clan and Lillae's best friend. Swan had once called the Scientist Clan the "racist clan." I didn't know exactly what "racist" meant, but the people Swan called racist were the ones who hit her, jeered at us, and locked me in cupboards. 

Racist is bad. 

"I am not promoting the political interests of my family," Zaliana continued. "I'm only stating a universally beneficial proposition. Alisha Valior is a historical figure whom we all know and love. Just think about how she would feel if she was here. She would be devastated if she were to find out about the pollution of her perfect school! Tell me, Mr. Aerburh, how can the next generation of Imperial leaders focus on our education while having to deal with the distraction of these inferior beings among us?"

This was new. The meanies rarely ever said these things to our faces. They normally had quieter ways of making us sad- they'd do things that were mean to us, but fun for the Lessaenites, and it made the Lessaenites love them and hate us more. Swan said it had to do with something called "politics." I knew that it had something to do with making people believe things that weren't actually true. People did it a lot in Glaisse, and Lillae was really, really good at it. 

I peeked a little out from under my eyelids, and saw the man at the registration desk stand up. He didn't look like one of the meanies, but I could tell that he wasn't nice, like Swan, either. 

"Miss Valior, you should know that this is no place to force your opinions on other students. This is a school, not the Council Chamber. It is not my place to comment directly on your ideas, but I would like to point out the fact that the reign of Queen Saralee is over. Every week, our Queen works tirelessly to ensure equality between the races and the humane treatment of Rhenan slaves. I understand your frustrations, but school rules still stand. Even for you, Crown Princess," he darted his eyes at Lillae. If you attempt to seriously harm another student, you will be expelled."

Zaliana smiled sweetly, before nodding her head. Lillae smirked evilly, absentmindedly running her fingers over her glittering diamond choker. 

"My mother can sign as many stupid bills as she wants," she said through gritted teeth. "She can call upon the ancient spirits of the Mystic Globe for all I care, but mark my words, Lessaenites, Rhenans, and humans will never be equal!"

The students around us cheered wildly, screaming Lillae's name. Mr. Aerburh sat down and picked up his pen, as if nothing had happened at all. 

People only did that when they had nothing more to say. People only did that when they were admitting defeat. 

Swan was right. Lillae was a master at politics. 

She stepped over to me, grabbing my shoulder and yanking me away from Swan. Her fingernails dug into my skin, and I squealed. "Owie!" 

"Owie is right," she intoned. "You'd better go home while you can, you little human worm. You aren't going to survive a year here. Why, I'd be surprised if you lasted a week."