The Exchange Teacher - Welcome to Dyntril Academy

Reianna stood in front of Gerenet-Shr's door for what felt like an hour, but was probably only twenty seconds in reality. She knew she'd disappointed him, but she didn't want to go in and hear how disappointed he was in her. Taking a deep breath, she finally knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Gerenet-Shr was sitting in his audience room. An empty bowl and plate, along with an untouched cup of tea, sat on the table in front of him. "Ah, Reianna, come in. Sit down."

She walked over and sat. Just as she did, Gerenet-Shr stood and moved to the tea corner.

"Can I get you any tea or something to drink?"

She wasn't thirsty, but he'd never offered before, plus it seemed as if he was making it himself. "Yes, please."

He took out a second cup and poured some for her. Carrying two cups over, he set one in front of each of them. The tea in the new cup looked identical to the untouched tea sitting on the table.

He noticed her looking at the two. "Oh, this one isn't tea. Well, I guess if you could somehow get a Yani to make you a cup of tea, that might be how it turned out, but whatever that is, it's not fit for human consumption."

"I see." She didn't understand what he was talking about, but let it go. Reianna took a sip of the tea her teacher had made for her. The aroma was strong, but not to the point of being bitter. Even though it was the same tea leaves Natya used, it had a completely different taste. She set the cup down. The aftertaste lingered in her mouth, and she savored it. His tea was magic.

Gerenet-Shr also set his cup down. "I think you know why I've called you here."

"Yes, sir."

"Tell me, Reianna, how did it make you feel?"

She tilted her head. That wasn't what she was expecting to hear. "Pardon me?"

He scrunched his mouth in thought. "When you beat Lavrence. What were you thinking?"

What was I thinking? She looked down at the tea. She couldn't remember. What had she been thinking?

"Did you enjoy it?"

She looked up. That was an easy question. "No, I didn't."

He nodded. "How did you feel about it? How do you feel about it now?"

"I-at the moment, I don't really recall what I was thinking or feeling. I was just concentrating on accomplishing my goal. I guess at the time, I didn't really feel anything. Now, I feel…"

The image of Lavrence's white eyes and blood pooling under his head popped into Reianna's mind. Dead bodies were something she'd been used to growing up. Someone starved to death. Someone was mugged. Someone else died trying to mug someone. Before coming to Dyntril, days when she saw a dead body probably outnumbered the days in which she didn't.

She didn't like it, though. Malcalm had been close to dying, and Reianna had done the same thing to Lavrence. Her stomach twisted. Lavrence could have died. Of all the dead bodies she'd seen, she'd not been the cause of any of them. The idea that she could have been the cause of one repulsed her.

"I don't like it. I don't like that I had to do that, but I'm not going to shy away from it."

"Did you have to do it?"

"Yes," she nodded.

"Why?"

"Because they need to experience it for themselves. When I was younger, maybe six or seven, I caught a man eating bread in the store. He was too weak to steal it and run. He just ate it there."

Gerenet-Shr folded his hands and looked at her. She couldn't read his expression.

"I didn't understand why, but my parents didn't do anything to him but make him work for them. He lived and worked for us for two months. Then, one day, he thanked my parents and left."

Reianna took a sip of tea to wet her throat, then set the cup back down.

"I asked my parents why they'd done that. I knew that other places branded thieves and kicked them out. Other places cut off hands. My dad, he told me I needed to experience the man's pain. I mocked the man; I yelled at my parents.

"My father asked me if I wanted to know what it felt like to be the man. I said it was nothing and that I would prove it to my parents. The next day, I wasn't allowed to eat."

She looked down at the table. She'd felt so right at the time, but now her cheeks burned with embarrassment.

"Sitting in the bread store, smelling the bread and not being allowed to eat it was torture. I screamed and cried, but neither my father nor mother budged. The next morning, when they gave me a slice of bread, it was the most delicious thing I'd ever tasted."

Looking up from the table, Reianna stared Gerenet-Shr in the eyes.

"My father said, 'Reia, that man had been like that for three weeks.'" She paused. Her teacher didn't move a muscle.

"My parents didn't enjoy starving me, even though it was only a day. But I learned what it felt like to be that man. I was wrong, my parents were right."

Reianna grabbed her pant legs and squeezed her hands. "The other kids need to know what it's like. They need to feel what they're doing to us."

"Empathy," Gerenet-Shr said.

"What?"

"Your parents were teaching you empathy. It's something that I've found lacking in this country."

He stopped talking, and Reianna didn't say anything. The silence stretched out. Reianna started wondering if this was when the lecture would kick in.

"I understand Sanya was an accident. You had no idea that the shield was off."

A heat flash washed through her body. Sanya was and wasn't an accident. As one of Reianna's tormentors, Reianna had intended to "teach her empathy," but just differently.

Gerenet-Shr continued. "But Lavrence, that was teaching empathy?

"Yes."

"I see. So, we're done with empathy lessons, then, right? So that means tomorrow, you're going back to my instructions. First round out."

Reianna looked away from Gerenet-Shr. If things went the way Reianna thought, she would be fighting Jaezmina in the second match and most likely Banca in the last. "I'm sorry, Gerenet-Shr. More people need to learn 'empathy'."

Gerenet-Shr sat back. He folded his arms across his chest. He was silent for several seconds. "Are we sure this is empathy?"

Reianna gave a short, crisp nod.

He stared at her and rubbed his chin. "There's a difference between 'teaching empathy' and 'bloodthirsty vengeance'. Everyone thinks they want vengeance, and when they finally get it, they find it's not what they wanted."

Gerenet-Shr locked eyes with hers. His gaze commanded her not to look away. "Vengeance is a hollow void that will swallow you whole. Empathy will save you from it."

For seconds after, his gaze didn't waver. She couldn't break free. She couldn't even blink. His words weighed on her.

When he finally looked away, she felt free to think again. This isn't vengeance, she told herself.

"Is this something from the lunchroom?"

Banca had been there, but that was nothing. She couldn't tell him the real reason, so she just said nothing.

Her teacher looked at her. "There will be backlash. Miss Cormick will be moving your parents soon."

Reianna sat up straight. "What?!"

"Sanya's the daughter of an earless. I've heard she wants to harm your parents. We're going to hide them and protect them. It seems like it's good that you're from a noble-less barony, as we can move them."

Reianna's stomach churned. Gerenet-Shr had warned her that there would be repercussions. She had thought they would be directed at her, not her parents.

"If you want to continue down this path, I will protect those around you, Reianna. But there's only so far I can go, and I can't promise you anything. All I can do is my best. You need to know the risks you are taking."

Reianna felt like she finally understood the depths of what he was saying. Could she sacrifice her parents to pay back those who had been terrorizing her? What about Fawna or Gerenet-Shr? She was making a conscious decision, but they weren't. She was making it for them. Her stomach churned even more. "Pay back"? She wasn't even keeping the weak justification up in her own mind.

"Wha…what should I do, Gerenet-Shr?"

"You don't need to make a decision now, Reianna. You have a night and half a day until you go back out into that arena. I won't say anything else to you on this subject. It is your decision to make."

She nodded.

He smiled at her. "You're a smart girl, Reianna. I have faith that you will make the right choice."

Gerenet-Shr finished his tea, and Reianna did the same. It was cold. The conversation hadn't gone anything like she thought it would. Never once had he said he was disappointed in her. Once again, all he did was to help her, support her, and protect her.

And she was lying to him. She wasn't telling him about the abuse. But she couldn't. She was terrified that if she did, she would lose him.

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"One last thing, Reianna."

She froze. Here it comes, his "I'm disappointed."

"You need to slow down."

"What?"

"If you keep moving like you do, they'll put two and two together and realize you're a mage. Plus, you've only been training for a month. Your body isn't ready for it yet. Match their speed. Do not go past it. It won't stop your body from feeling like it's falling apart in the morning, but they won't be as suspicious."

Reianna nodded. "Understood, Gerenet-Shr."

"That will be all."

"Thank you, Gerenet-Shr." She stood up.

He stood with her and walked her to the door. Opening it, he said, "Have a good night's sleep, Reianna."

If only his words had come true.

It took her ages to fall asleep, and once she did, she tossed and turned. She dreamt of her parents panting and barking like dogs for lilac-covered adults. Fawna stood in the arena instead of Reianna. Sanya's dagger plunged into her friend's head. The arena folded up like a lilac fan, and Banca tapped it in the palm of her hand.

Shooting up in bed, Reianna sat there and panted. She and her sheets were soaked in sweat. Her heart raced. I'm awake now, right?

The floor was cold on her bare feet. Walking to her door, she creaked it open. Fawna was already in the audience room. A dagger was jammed into her head.

"Oh! Hey, sleepy-head! Is this the first time I've gotten up before you?" Fawna giggled.

"I think, yeah…" Reianna sat down in her chair and took a bite of food. It tasted like ash. Her appetite was non-existent.

"You okay, Rei?"

Reianna nodded. "Breakfast isn't that good this morning."

Fawna took a bite of eggs and shrugged. "Tastes the same to me."

The class followed Gerenet-Shr to the colosseum. Wait? When did we gather? When did I change? The scent of the grass in the field was too fragrant for a dream, the wind rustling it, flowing across her skin, too crisp. They entered the colosseum. Spectators were already gathering for the day. The crowd turned on Class E. Stiff and sore, Reianna's body wouldn't move. She could only watch as her friends were hit and beaten.

"Whooooa!" the crowd around her cheered. Reianna jerked and looked around. She was in her seat. Her friends around her looked fine. There were no signs of being attacked. Am I still dreaming?

They all watched the fight going on in the arena, calling out directions. "Spin right!"

"Spin left!"

"Spin left was correct! All who went right spun into the attack's momentum." Gerenet-Shr told them.

Her eyes closed. She leaned against her teacher.

"You overdid it yesterday. Sleep some more."

Reianna's eyes parted. She wiped the wetness on the corner of her mouth. Gerenet-Shr sat next to her with a frown on his face. Looking down at the arena, a second-year student lay there, a sword stuck through his throat, blood pooled around him.

Gerenet-Shr wiped the tears from his eyes. Reianna turned her head back to the fighting. Another second-year (or was it third-years now?) struck at her opponent with a halberd. The shield's health on the scoreboard shot down.

Was she nervous? She shook her head. She wasn't nervous about fighting. She was as dedicated to that as ever. Down in the arena, the halberdier girl sliced Dmi in half.

Sitting next to her, Dmi put her hand on Reianna's leg and squeezed. She didn't say anything to Reianna; she just smiled.

It was Gerenet-Shr's warning. Her friends, her family, all of them were suffering and dying because of her. Just because she had to fight back. Wasn't the suffering of the one better than the suffering of the many?

"Reianna," Gerenet-Shr's voice cut through her fog like a knife. "The goal in life should be the alleviation of suffering for all. A single person's suffering is just as heavy as a group's."

She blushed. She didn't realize she'd said her question aloud.

"Come on," he told her. "Time to go."

The world came into focus. Her walk down the bleachers, through the corridors, and down more stairs. With just those words from Gerenet-Shr, her malaise lifted. Alleviate everyone's suffering.

Two of the annoying sup-teaches stood guard at the waiting room door.

"Only she can go in, Basque."

"I am aware, Countess Ulivia."

"Reianna, I'll see you after. Remember. Match."

The other sup-teach snorted.

They opened the door for Reianna. After walking in, she turned and waved bye to Gerenet-Shr. The door closed on her.

The room glared at her. Yesterday, there were twenty kids. Today, there were only eight. Reianna walked in as if she didn't notice the glowers.

"Miss Reianna, good morning," Miss Cormick greeted her. Putting her arm through Reianna's, the lily-white-haired teacher brought her over to an unused corner.

"They're safe," Miss Cormick whispered. It was so quiet that Reianna thought she might have been imagining it, but Miss Cormick's smile told her she wasn't.

At first, Reianna thought she was talking about her classmates. But then she remembered what Gerenet-Shr said the night before about her parents. A rock that she didn't realize was on her shoulders lifted, and Reianna took a deep breath.

A chartreuse-haired girl came over to Reianna. "Hi, I'm Luvina from Class D."

"Hello."

"Thank you for what you did for Emmah yesterday. She's okay today thanks to you."

Reianna shook her head. "She's the one who fought. All I did was say some words that she took advantage of."

"Hey! D-er!" Banca called.

Luvina turned around. "Yes, Miss Banca?" she said and curtsied.

"Lose."

"Pardon me, Miss Banca?"

"You heard me. Lose your match to Razzle."

The chartreuse-haired girl bowed. "As you command."

Reianna tapped Luvina on her shoulder. "You don't have to do what she says."

Luvina's face went white. "I-I-I could never disobey Miss Banca."

"Fight me as you normally would."

"But what if—"

"Do you see Lavrence in here today?"

Luvina shook her head.

"Oi! Banca," Reianna called out.

The lilac girl's face turned a deep purple.

"Lavrence afked? Still hot for nurse? Leg-tail ain't no saucer."

The room was quiet, except for Luvina, who let out a little giggle before covering her mouth to hide it. Was she laughing because she understood street or because it sounded silly?

"What did you say?!"

Reianna smirked at Banca.

"You! D-girl. You laughed! Did you understand?"

Luvina nodded. "She asked where Lavrence was. If he was still in the nurse's office, and that it'd be no surprise if he was scared."

The color in Banca's face settled. "You die today, dog."

Reianna stared at Banca. "Oh, that's right, he couldn't come in anyway since he's a loser."

The upper nobility was quiet.

Reianna turned back to Luvina, who looked like she was going to be sick. "See, no worries. Get good practice in. I won't lose."

Looking at the empty chair next to her, Reianna asked Luvina, "Do you want to sit with me?"

Banca stood and pointed. "You sit with a dog and you might get fleas, D-girl."

Luvina's eyes fell to the ground, and she mumbled, "Sorry." Keeping her hands in front of her, the chartreuse-haired girl shuffled her way back to the other side of the room, where she was promptly ignored. Class C had been eliminated, and she was the last D.

In the waiting room and on-deck room, Reianna sat in silence. She didn't feel as tired and was no longer hallucinating. Determination coursed through her veins. She didn't begrudge Luvina for leaving her. Luvina didn't have Gerenet-Shr.

When she stepped out into the arena, she wasn't showered with boos. There were still a good number of booers, but there was an equal number of unenthusiastic clappers. The majority was quiet, as if they'd not made up their minds about her.

The difference between Luvina and Reianna's opponents from yesterday was immense. Even though her match against Sanya lasted less than five seconds, just the smoothness of her movement was leaps and bounds better than Luvina's. Like Sanya, Luvina also used two daggers, but Luvina's were tri-pronged.

Planting her left foot, Luvina swung forward with her right hand. Reianna slid around her opponent.

"You're broadcasting your move too much."

Another obvious weight shift, and Luvina swung her other arm around. Reianna ducked.

"Luvina, don't move before you move. Just make it look like you are."

"That doesn't make any sense!"

Reianna didn't know if the crowd was cheering or booing. All of her attention was focused on Luvina. "Just watch."

Feinting left, then right, then once more to the left, Luvina was thrown so far off balance that Reianna was able to land two easy blows from the right.

"How did you do that?"

"Don't move before you move."

She spent the rest of the fight training Luvina. Boos rained down on them, but neither of them cared.

"Winner: Reianna Santi," came the announcer's half-hearted call.

Under an onslaught of boos, the two girls walked back to the waiting room together.

Luvina's hair was plastered down with sweat, and her standard-issue uniform was soaked as well, but the smile on her face was wide. "Do you think I can use one of those 'core' machines?"

"Yeah! You can use mine! You should join us when we do our morning exercises."

"You guys even exercise in the mornings?!" Instead of turning her head, Luvina turned her body and walked sideways so she could look at Reianna.

Miss Cormick held the door open for them. "Welcome back, girls."

"Thanks, Miss Cormick," Reianna said. "Yeah, exercise and training is about all we do."

"What about the sup-ed? The dancing and manners lessons?" Luvina followed Reianna. She took the seat next to the silver-haired girl and stared intently, waiting for an answer.

"Hey, D-Girl," Banca called.

Luvina froze. Reianna understood her fear. She felt her fear. She'd spent the last several weeks experiencing that fear.

"Lilac. We're having a conversation here."

"What did you just call me?!" Banca flew over the back of the sofa, charging Reianna.

Before she reached her target, Miss Cormick slammed Banca down onto the ground. "Not even your father can chide me for keeping the peace in here, girl."

Banca squirmed under the older woman's strong hold. "Let me go, you drunk Yani! I'm going to kill her!"

Miss Cormick picked Banca up off the ground. "There are still five minutes left in the recess before your next match. Enjoy them in the on-deck room."

"No! Don't you dare! I'll tell Madam Julvie! I'll tell my dad! You one eye, Yani trash, outwall-loving…" Banca was still raving as Miss Cormick dragged her into the on-deck room.

"Thanks, you gray rat," Kian said to Reianna. He was turned around with his elbow draped over the edge of the back of the couch.

"What?"

"Banca's going to destroy me now. She might even kill me."

"Reianna," Miss Cormick called out. Her voice was stern and cold.

Miss Cormick is right, I'm getting carried away. "Sorry, Miss Cormick."

Chastised, Reianna kept her voice low as she and Luvina talked. As Luvina explained how she was her father's thirteenth child from his commoner mistress, all Reianna could think about was how good she felt verbally attacking Banca.

Banca's rage, her loss of control, all of it felt better than seeing Lavrence broken and bloody on the arena ground.

"Yeah, so I spent more time on the street than in my house."

"I'm sorry your brothers and sisters are such Yanis."

Luvina shrugged. "It is what it is. Anyway, are you really sure I can join you when you train in the morning?"

Reianna nodded. "You might want to tell Master Harnel first, but Gerenet-Shr won't mind."

"Why do you call your teacher that? Why don't you call him master?"

"'Shr' means teacher or is what you call teachers in Hianbru. So, that's what we call him."

Luvina's eyes sparkled. She sat straight in her chair and leaned forward ever so slightly. "So cool…"

Reianna nodded. Gerenet-Shr was cool.

"Miss Jaezmina, Miss Reianna, on-deck room, please," Miss Cormick announced.

Luvina put her hand on Reianna's arm. "Good luck, Miss Reianna."

"You can call me just Reianna."

The chartreuse girl's bright green eyes sparkled even more.

Heading into the on-deck room, she used it for its intended purpose: mental preparation. The carefree, happy feelings she had while speaking with her new friend vanished. A silence and stillness came over her body. Jaezmina. Banca's favorite sycophant. She was Reianna's next opponent. Reianna's decision was made: she would become strong enough to protect everyone.