The Exchange Teacher - Welcome to Dyntril Academy

Reianna - Gathering the Group

Reianna coughed on her tea. She set the cup down. "Sa—sacrifice?"

The smile never wavered from Dmi's face. "Yeah! You heard the old dude yesterday. We're more likely to die than graduate."

"That wasn't just to scare us into behaving?"

Dmi giggled. "If only! Most years, only one or two kids from Class E graduate."

"One or two?"

"Yeah. Usually, it's a kid or two here and there, but I heard some years ago the entire class was wiped out before the end of the first month."

Reianna felt empty. Had her parents known this when they sent her? Had the community? Probably, but they didn't care. It was a chance to get a noble, a chance to get someone who could fix the barony.

"Anyway, the little county that I'm from, the count's like infertile or something, so in order to fulfill the heir mandate, he sends a commoner kid here every year, hoping one day a kid will graduate and can succeed him. I was the unlucky one this year."

Reianna looked down. She felt sick and would never admit it to Dmi, but she understood the count's position. He probably knew what would happen if he didn't have a successor. Dmi might think him cruel, but she hadn't known life without a noble.

"Yeah, when I was first chosen, my parents and I cried and cried. But you know what, I decided I'm going to enjoy what's left of my life!" She giggled. "Why be sad when I can be happy?"

That explained the aura that Dmi emitted. She had a cold core that was covered with a warm outer shell. The two cores fought for supremacy over the other, but no matter how much one grew, the other never faded.

Still, the girl had said she wanted to be happy. Reianna was weird and awkward. How could someone be happy around her? "Why would you want to be friends with me then?"

Dmi tilted her head. "Why wouldn't I want to be friends with you? You're going to be one of us who survives. I want to be remembered."

Of all that Dmi had said, that shocked Reianna the most. She shook her head. "You saw me run this morning!"

"Yes, I did. I also saw you go into Gerenet-Shr's room last night, and when you came out, you had a look of determination. Then we had an unscheduled training session today. I might act airheaded sometimes, but I'm not clueless.

"Anyway, enough of this boring stuff! Let's do something fun!"

Fun? All Reianna could think about was getting their group together. Was that fun? But, they also needed to wait for Fawna to get back so they could tell her to go to Emilisa's room.

As if thinking about her summoned her, Fawna walked in the door. "Hey, Reianna. I'm back. Oh. Hello," she said to Dmi.

"Hi, Fawna. This is Dmi."

"Hi, Dmi. I remember you from last night when we were looking for Maecy."

Dmi reached over and grabbed the hem of Reianna's shirt. "Hello, Fawna."

Reianna glanced down with her eyes. Was Dmi nervous like she'd been? Fawna's beauty was intimidating, but her heart was so pure. Reianna knew Dmi would soon open up to her. "How was your friend?" Reianna asked Fawna.

"Adjusting. She said her roommate is okay, kind of snobby, but she'd expected that."

"I'd love to meet your friend one day."

"Oh, yeah! You guys would be great friends! Anyway, what are you two up to?" Fawna walked over and sat on the sofa, forcing Reianna to scoot closer to Dmi. The bright turquoise-haired girl didn't let go of Reianna.

"Well, we kind of already divided up the class into the pods that Gerenet-Shr wanted."

Fawna's face lit up. "Are we in the same pod? I hope we're in the same pod!"

Reianna shook her head. "Sorry, we decided that we should get to know more of our classmates and that roommates should all be split."

Fawna looked sad, but said. "That's a fun idea."

"Yeah, and Dmi's my pod leader."

Fawna's eyes widened. "I would have thought you would be a pod leader."

Reianna frowned and vehemently shook her head.

"Why not? I think you'd be great at it."

"No!"

"But—"

Reianna talked over Fawna, "So, you're in Emilisa's group. Do you remember her from this morning?"

"Yeah, she was the girl with plum hair who asked those questions, right?"

Reianna nodded.

Dmi squeezed in behind Reianna. "My roommate is in your pod," she said into Reianna's shoulder.

"That's great!" Fawna said. "We could all hang out more together! We could do sleepovers and stuff! Goodness! Having four people to hang out with is a great number! We could do so much stuff! I know so many games we could all play together, like Consequences, where we can make up silly stories, or Charades. Charades is great cause we could have two teams! Oh gosh, I'm doing it, aren't I? I always get like this when I'm excited."

"Miya has hazel hair," Dmi said.

"I can't wait to meet her!"

Still hiding behind Reianna, Dmi said, "You met her last night. Looking for the girl twin."

"Oh! Oh. Oh?"

Reianna waved her hand. "Don't worry, Fawna, I didn't remember anyone from last night either."

"Okay, and who's last?"

"Some boy named Thoms. Do you know him, Dmi?"

She shook her head into Reianna's back.

"So, I'm in a group with plum-hair Emilisa, hazel-hair Miya, and the boy Thoms?"

"Yeah," Reianna said. "We were about to head out and gather the rest of our group. Emilisa asked me to send you to her room when you got back."

"Alright! What are you going to wear tonight, Reianna?" Fawna asked. "Just in case we don't see each other before then."

"I was just thinking about the school uniform. Anything else I have…"

"I'm going to wear mine too, then!" Dmi said, getting out from behind Reianna.

"Me, too! That's a great idea, Reianna! We should tell everyone to wear it!"

Reianna thought about the unified look that it would give them. She liked the idea. "Yeah, let's do that. It would give us a unified front."

Since Reianna knew all the leaders, she volunteered to spread the word. Leaving their room, Fawna went up the hallway to room 303, where Emilisa lived, while Dmi and Reianna went across the hall to Jan's room 308.

"Aren't you gonna knock?" Dmi asked.

"Well, you're the leader…"

Dmi looked at the door, then at Reianna, and then began to pout.

"You weren't this shy when we divided the class," Reianna said as she knocked.

Dmi hopped behind the shorter girl. "I know you now. I didn't know anyone then enough to hide." She put her hands on Reianna's shoulders.

The door swung open, and a boy shorter than Reianna greeted them. He had delicate features, and if his vivid burgundy hair had been any longer, he could have passed as a girl. He had to be Jan as she didn't remember seeing him at training that morning.

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"Are you Jan…"

"Farraday," Dmi whispered in her ear.

"Farraday?"

"Yeah? Who you?"

"I'm Reianna Santi."

Dmi popped her head out from behind Reianna. "Dmi!" She ducked back.

Reianna twisted to try and see the girl's face, but all she saw was bright turquoise hair.

"What's her problem?"

"Dmi?"

Dmi tapped on Reianna's shoulder, and Reianna turned her head. Dmi whispered into her ear, "He's too cute! I want to eat him up!"

"She said you're too cute and that she's going to eat you up."

Jan put his hands on his hips and snorted. "Okay, now what do you two floozies want?"

"Hey!" Dmi said and stood to her full height. She extended her right hand over Reianna's shoulder and pointed at the boy. "Reianna is not a floozy! You take that back!"

"But you are?" Jan asked.

"I don't care what you say about me, but no one insults my Reirei!"

"Hey!" Reianna said, cutting them off. "Look, Jan, we had that training session this morning—"

"The voluntary one?"

"Yes, why didn't you go?"

He cocked his head. "Did you not just hear the way I said voluntary?"

"Kyaa! He's just so cute!"

"That!" Jan pointed at Dmi. "That's why I didn't go! Do you know how many noble girls I had asking to buy me yesterday?"

"Thirteen?" Dmi asked.

"I—what?"

"Fifteen! No, wait." Dmi counted on her fingers. "Seventeen!"

Jan shook his head. "No! I don't know."

"Then why did you ask?"

"It was a rhetorical question, you ditz!"

"Hey!" Reianna cut them off again. "Whatever. Look, because you skipped the training session—"

"Voluntary!"

"You missed our first assignment."

"Classes don't start until tomorrow."

Reianna clenched her fists. "Yani! You're so infuriating! How could anyone speak to you for more than five seconds and think you're cute?"

"I think he's cute."

"Shh, Dmi. That was rhetorical."

"Why would people ask questions they don't want the answer to?"

"We were told to make groups. Since you skipped out, you're in our group. We are required to show up as a group tonight."

"But classes start—"

"Did you not hear the way I stressed the word required?"

"Guys, how come you didn't answer my question?"

"I thought it was rhetorical," Reianna and Jan said in unison.

They looked at each other and smiled. "I still don't like you," Reianna said to Jan.

"I don't ever remember asking you to."

"What's rhetorical mean?" Dmi asked.

"I'll tell you later. Anyway, Jan, we're wearing our school uniforms to tonight's banquet."

"We'll stand out."

"And our normal clothes wouldn't?"

"Point, silver-hair. Two-one, my lead."

"When did you get any points? It's two kagillion to zero, Reirei!" Dmi stuck her tongue out at Jan.

"ANyway, uniform. Thirty minutes before. Hallway. And No. Going. Alone."

"Yeah, yeah," Jan said and closed the door.

"Oh em gee! He's so into you, Reirei!"

Reianna looked at her strange new friend. She wondered where Dmi could have ever gotten the idea that Jan liked her in the slightest. "Well, I'm not into him. Come on, let's go get Maecy."

"I wonder what she's like?" Dmi moved out from behind Reianna and walked next to her as they went down the hall.

"She's the twin of the boy who got beaten up last night. She's a sweet girl."

"You met her?"

"Gerenet-Shr asked me to tell her about her brother after we took him to the nurse's office."

Dmi elbowed her in the side. "Not special, my butt!"

Reianna fell silent. Was she special? She didn't think so.

They got to room 311, and Dmi once again hid behind Reianna. Braelyne answered the door to Reianna's knock. "Hello, Braelyne."

"Oh! Reianna! Are we in the same pod?"

Reianna shook her head and was surprised to see Braelyne's face fall. "You're in Saevi's."

"Oh. She seemed smart this morning."

"Has she not come by yet?"

Braelyne shook her head.

"I'm sure she'll be by soon. Anyway, I'm here to see Maecy. Is she around?"

Braelyne pointed with her chin. "Across the hall, looking after Mal."

"Mal?"

Braelyne blushed. "He said since I'm his sister's roommate, I should call him what she does."

"I see. Well, just in case Saevi doesn't come by soon, she's just next door in 309."

"Thanks, Reianna!"

"Sure thing, Braelyne."

The maroon-haired girl closed her door, and Reianna turned around to knock on room 310's door. Dmi spun with her and stayed attached to Reianna's shoulders.

Before Reianna knocked, Dmi whispered, "See, she wanted to be in your pod."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Stop saying you're not special," Dmi said and poked Reianna in the cheek.

Reianna sighed and knocked on the door. She was kind of surprised that it was Maecy who opened it.

"Reianna!"

"Hello, Maecy. How's your brother?"

"He's doing so much better thanks to you."

"I didn't do anything, I just stood and watched. Gerenet-Shr did everything."

"You still watched over him for me," Maecy said, then peeked over Reianna's shoulder at Dmi. "Who is that behind you?"

Reianna patted the hand on her left shoulder. "Come on out, pod leader."

"Hi," Dmi said from behind Reianna.

"Hello."

Reianna sighed. "Dmi."

"You tell her, Reirei."

Reianna smiled at Maecy. "You remember this morning we had that early training session?"

Maecy nodded. "I wanted to go, but…"

"Don't worry, Gerenet-Shr understood. Anyway, after the training, he gave us an assignment to make these little groups that he called 'pods'. As pods, we're supposed to go everywhere together."

"It's for our protection!" Dmi piped up. "'Cause Reirei asked Gerenet-Shr to help protect us after what happened to your brother."

"How will being in groups stop that?" Maecy's voice was venomous. "Those Yani-born came to our dorm hall and almost killed my brother with everyone around."

Dmi stood up and answered for Reianna. "We weren't cohesive then! We were just a bunch of individuals walkin' around doing our own thing. Now, there will be four of us together, looking out for each other!"

Maecy didn't answer, she just glared at the turquoise-haired girl hiding behind Reianna.

"Anyway, Maecy, you are in Dmi's and my group."

Maecy's expression softened as she looked at Reianna. "Well, it makes me happy to be in a group with you."

"Reirei! Don't forget that cutie-pie, Jan-jan! Nom Nom!"

Neither Reianna nor Maecy looked at Dmi. Reianna spoke as if Dmi hadn't said anything. "We're all supposed to go to the banquet together. Please wear your school uniform, and we're going to meet inside the hall by the door and leave as a group. Okay?"

"Sure. Is Mal supposed to go?"

"Has Kyre not come by yet?" Reianna asked.

"Who's Kyre?"

"Malcalm's group leader. He's a taller boy with terracotta hair."

Maecy shook her head.

"Well, he should be around soon."

"Thanks, Reianna."

"See you in a bit, Maecy. And don't forget, everyone's going in uniforms."

"Bye, Maecy!" Dmi said.

Maecy glared at Dmi and closed the door.

"Oof," Dmi said and shuddered. "You're really going to have to special up that one. She really doesn't like me."

Reianna shrugged. She didn't know what Dmi wanted her to do. Reianna was bad with people—her initial interaction with Fawna was proof enough of that.

Dmi continued, "More than that, she's going to need your help if she's not going to die before the year's out."

"What makes you think she's going to die?"

"It's obvious! You see how much she cares for her brother. There's no way Miss Attitude won't try to get back at those noble boys somehow, and we don't win against nobles. You have to do what you can to stop her."

"Why is that my job? You're the pod leader—"

"Only cause you said you didn't want to do it!"

Reianna didn't want to talk about her leadership skills anymore. "Anyways, let's go tell the other group leaders about the uniform plan."

Dmi gave her a cheery okay, and they made the rounds to the pod leaders' rooms. After stopping by all the leaders' rooms and informing them of the uniform plan, Reianna was drained. She was done with talking to people and wanted some alone time.

Once she separated from Dmi, Reianna went back into her room, grabbed her book, and jumped up on her bed. She opened it at random and looked at the page number. The old woman's voice rang in Reianna's mind as Reianna looked at the letters on the page that she couldn't read. It didn't matter to Reianna that she didn't know what each individual squiggle or line said and meant. She had the old woman's voice.

Eventually, it was time to get ready. With her social batteries recharged, Reianna took a bath, changed her clothes, and joined all the kids milling in the hall. She was surprised to see that everyone wore uniforms. Considering four missed out on the morning session, she'd expected some people to refuse, but no one did.

As each group's members arrived, the group would head off to the banquet. Reianna wished they could have all gone together as a class instead of trickling out in pods. In the end, just Reianna's and Fawna's pods went together.

As he'd requested, each pod introduced themselves to Gerenet-Shr. He spent some time chatting with each group before they moved on. He spent more time talking to the other pod members than he did with Reianna, but she didn't mind. She didn't have anything to say to him anyway.

After their greetings, they went and joined the rest of their class. Reianna stood off to the side, listening to a few of the girls in her class going on about how incredible Gerenet-Shr's hair looked with the slight waves. Reianna was looking at the man in question when his face scrunched up.

She turned to look at what her teacher was looking at and saw a man and a woman with jet-black hair, like Gerenet-Shr's, walking in holding hands. Despite their telltale hair color, unlike her teacher, they wore a Kruamian suit and dress rather than the Hianbrun robes that Gerenet-Shr continued to wear.

She looked back at her teacher's gaze, which was somewhere between a glare and a scowl. Suddenly, as if he realized where he was, he looked around. He saw Reianna looking at him and smiled.

"Reirei!" Dmi's arm wrapped around hers. "If you stare at him any longer, I'm going to think you've got a crush on him."

"Oh, it's just… something feels off." Like that aura of blackness that surrounded the man with short, black hair whom Gerenet-Shr was staring down.