Tears of Dusk

Jadwia sat upright and dropped her pen in surprise. “What do you mean ‘we don’t need to take the Evaluations?’’’?

“There’s another way to continue to the next semester!” Tatyana exclaimed. “We were in the Common Rooms and talking with Senior Esfir – your Senior in the Cerulean Feathers – and she explained it to us. Apparently, there are those new assignments that were just released by the Tutors. If completed and handed in before next week, it will replace the Evaluations for all the classes except for the Arcanic Arts and the Applications.”

“It means that you don’t need to appear in front of the Tutors and you can simply work on those written papers with all the resources of the Library at your disposal,” Boshena added.

Jadwia’s heart was beating frantically in her chest. This was her chance! “Why is it this the first time we’re hearing about this? Where can we get those assignments?”

“That’s the thing we’re here for!” Tatyana said. “Senior Esfir told us they are only available to the 6 Paramount Rings.”

“The 6 Paramount Rings? What are those?” Isyd asked suddenly.

His voice startled both Tatyana and Boshena who turned to him, surprised. They hadn’t noticed him being there. In fact, despite being in the same class, it was the first time Isyd Wybrany talked to them unprompted.

“Er… the 6 Paramount Rings are the most important and powerful Rings of the Academy,” Tatyana explained slowly as if confused by his ignorance. She counted them on her fingers. “The Cerulean Feathers, the Crimson Gold, the Golden Dew, the Hammer, the Faded Jade and the White Flowers. They are the Rings everyone wishes to join or be associated with.”

“This is why we’re here, Jadwia,” Boshena said. “You have access to the assignments since you’re in the Cerulean Feathers. Could you share them with us? We’d be forever grateful…”

Jadwia had visibly paled. “I’m no part of the Cerulean Feathers…” she muttered.

“What?” Tatyana said, thinking she’d misheard her.

“I have left the Cerulean Feathers…”

“What? Why? Which Ring are you in then?”

“The Tears, Isyd’s Ring…”

Both Tatyana and Boshena turned toward him. Their excitement quickly turned into disappointment as the truth dawned on them. Jadwia was unable to help them.

“You have your own Ring?” Boshena feebly said to Isyd.

He nodded but he was frowning – he seemed more thoughtful than disappointed.

“I am not sure where the problem is,” Isyd said. “If one of the Ring get their hands on one of those assignments, why do they not share it with all the Pupils? There’s no ban on sharing it since you came to ask Jadwia to do just that…”

Boshena and Tatyana exchanged an embarrassed look. “Those assignments are a big deal,” the latter said. “Why would they share it freely…”

Isyd’s frown deepened. He didn’t find this answer satisfactory. He tried another angle. “Okay, but why only the Paramount Rings? Why not release the assignments to all the other Rings?”

“We don’t really know, it’s just how it is,” Boshena said with a shrug. “The Paramount Rings are under the purview of the Principal Tutors – like Tutor Milwyk with the Cerulean Feathers, Tutor Tchepwa with the White Flowers or Tutor Hidrss with the Hammer. The Paramount Rings are also linked to the szlachta outside of the Academy. They are big deals…”

“I guess that’s also why every other Rings try to suck up to them,” Tatyana added with a sigh. “If you are associated with them or in their good graces, you can beg them to share the assignments with you. I mean, that’s exactly what we hoped to do with Jadwia…”

“With those assignments, the Paramount Rings are basically exempt from Evaluations and guaranteed another semester with little to no tuition,” Boshena said, dejected. “It’s unfair, but now all we can hope is that our own Ringleader can ask the Paramount Rings and get their hands on the assignments… For one brief moment, I thought I could escape the Evaluations…”

Tatyana put a comforting hand on Boshena’s shoulder. “It’s gonna be alright! Let’s just get back to our studies! That was a nice try, hopefully, next semester we’ll have more chances!”

“Which Rings are you two part of?” Isyd asked.

“The Rainbow Forest,” Tatyana said.

From his expression, it was clear that Isyd had never heard of it, but then again, he’d never paid attention to those things before.

Jadwia listened to the three of them speaking as if in a daze. She didn’t realize that she was biting her lips almost to the point of bleeding. Slowly she got up from her seat.

She met Isyd’s eyes. It wasn’t difficult to guess what was going through her mind. Until a few days ago, she’d been part of the Cerulean Feathers but she had left to be part of Isyd’s Ring. Had she not done so, she could have accessed the assignments and guaranteed her studies for the next semester.

“I guess there’s nothing to be done now…” she said with a trembling voice. “I have still more to study, so I’ll take my leave first!”

She gathered her belongings with a full swoop and left the table, not bothering to put back the stacks of books she’d borrowed. She dashed past Boshena and Tatyana, not meeting their sympathetic gaze.

Her steps led her out of the Library and toward the residence quarters of the Academy. By the time she entered her private room, she was already regretting storming off as she did. She just needed some time alone to gather her thoughts and emotions. She closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. Between anger, fear and disappointment, Jadwia felt overwhelmed. She walked further into her living room and let her satchel slide off her shoulder to the side. Opening her eyes once more, they landed on a pink letter on a low table.

Suddenly, the crushing weight of consequence came back on her shoulders.

It was only the latest letter, but she wasn’t sure why she’d let it out in the open. She could just have thrown it away or put it with all the other unopened letters she’d dismissed in the corner of her bedroom.

On a sudden impulse, Jadwia dashed across the room, picked up the letter and broke it open. She skimmed through the tidy writings of her mother. Her heart clenched in her chest when her eyes landed on the final words at the bottom of the short message.

We are coming to fetch you.

Her parents were on their way to Vilriver to get her back.