Threats of Fate

The morning was crisp, and the air was filled with excitement as Akio entered the classroom with his mother. Kiyomi smiled softly, her eyes glowing with pride as she placed a reassuring hand on Akio's shoulder. The room smelled of freshly sharpened pencils, and the soft murmur of children mixed with the faint scratching of chalk on the board. Akio's heart raced—a mix of anticipation and nerves made him hesitate. The other children were already sitting in a circle on the floor, and Frau Wirsing, their teacher, greeted everyone with a warm smile.

"Come in, join the others," she said kindly. Akio sat down next to a few children who eyed him curiously. He felt their gazes and blushed a little, unsure whether to say something or just wait.

The teacher began by introducing the children to one another. Everyone was asked to share something about their weekend. The children eagerly shared—one had been to the park, another had played with their dog. Akio listened, but he felt slightly overlooked. He wished he had something truly exciting to share.

As the attention drifted away from him, Akio felt a growing restlessness. His hands clenched into fists, and his face grew hot. Suddenly, he blurted out, "It's my birthday!"

Some children turned to him in surprise. "Really? When was your birthday?" asked a curly-haired boy.

"Today!"

The teacher, Frau Wirsing, chuckled softly, but the other children were intrigued. "Did you get presents?" asked a girl with pigtails.

Akio nodded and thought about the best part of his birthday. He remembered the cake, lovingly decorated with colorful icing flowers, and how his mother had lit the candles with a snap of her fingers. His eyes lit up as he relived the moment of joy and wonder. "My mom made me a cake and lit the candles. Just like that, with a snap of her fingers, as if it were the most natural thing in the world."

The children's eyes widened. "Really? How did she do that?" one of them asked.

Akio shrugged. "She just snapped her fingers, and there were flames. She can do it all the time."

The murmuring among the children grew louder as some began speculating about their own parents and whether they could do something similar. Frau Wirsing noticed the rising interest and gently clapped her hands to regain their attention.

"Children, magic is something very special," she said with a smile, skillfully steering the conversation back on track. "Now, let's return to your weekend stories."

Mrs. Wirsing glanced briefly at Kiyomi, who met her gaze and gave a subtle shake of her head. Without saying more, Frau Wirsing continued the lesson.

_____

The children looked at her, fascinated, some whispering quietly while others speculated excitedly about what magic they might one day possess. Akio felt a bit prouder now—perhaps one day he would discover his own special ability.

The boy from the hallway and his father sat further back, visibly intimidated by the commanding aura Kiyomi exuded. Her upright posture, piercing gaze, and calm yet vigilant demeanor left no doubt that she was ready to defend Akio at any moment. Frau Wirsing stepped forward, her warm voice welcoming the class.

"Hello, everyone. Welcome to your first class. I'm Mrs. Wirsing, your teacher. Today, we'll get to know each other and our names."

A boy with large, questioning eyes stood hesitantly, his hands clasped behind his back.

Jonathan: "Did you forget your name, Teachi?"

Mrs. Wirsing: "I know my name. I'm Mrs. Wirsing, and it's 'teacher,' not 'teachi'. But what's your name?"

Jonathan: "I'm Jonathan, and I like my mom."

Mrs. Wirsing patiently explained that she wanted to learn the names and interests of all the children. Jonathan sat down, visibly proud of his contribution. Next, a boy with green hair and lively amber eyes jumped up.

Lucas: "ME! ME! ME!"

Mrs. Wirsing: "What's your name?"

Lucas: "That's a secret!"

The class giggled, and Lucas's mother encouraged him to share his name.

Lucas: "Uh… I'm Lucas, and I like secrets. And anything that flies!"

Mrs. Wirsing promised to discuss flying later in the lesson. Lucas sat down, his eyes sparkling with excitement. Then a little girl with blue hair and eyes stood up.

Lirien: "I'm Lirien, and I love dancing and the sea."

Mrs. Wirsing: "That sounds beautiful, Lirien. Do you dance by the sea?"

Lirien: "Of course! Everyone dances by the sea!"

Lirien sat back down, looking thoughtful for a moment but quickly perking up. Next, a boy with black hair and bright green eyes introduced himself.

Leonardo: "I'm Leonardo, and I'm a great dancer."

Leonardo spun around, ready to show off his skills, but his father held him back. He sat down with a grin, determined to prove his talents later. A girl with twin braids and emerald-green eyes jumped up energetically.

Lena: "I love all animals! Cats, dogs, elephants, lions, giraffes, and…"

Mrs. Wirsing used Lena's enthusiasm to introduce animals into the lesson, and Lena beamed as she sat down. Next, a blonde girl with a headband stood up.

Sophie: "I'm Sophie, but you can call me Princess."

After a brief discussion about her interests, Sophie explained that she loved decorating dolls and sending them to parties. Her bold personality caused a stir, until Kevin stood up.

Kevin: "I'm Kevin, I like soccer, and I'm not as dumb as the others."

Mrs. Wirsing asked Kevin to apologize, which he did grudgingly and halfheartedly, arms crossed and eyes rolling. Akio, upset by Kevin's comment, spoke up loudly. Kevin mocked him, but Frau Wirsing intervened and calmed the class.

Mrs. Wirsing: "We are all part of nature, and everyone is allowed to like what they like. That's an important lesson."

The class agreed, and finally, a girl with silver hair stood up.

Luna: "You're not worthy of knowing my name!"

After a dramatic apology and an awkward stumble, she introduced herself as Luna and shared her dream of becoming an actress. The class laughed warmly, and Mrs. Wirsing praised Luna's bravery. Lastly, a girl named Nikki stood up with a cheeky grin.

Nikki: "I'm Nikki, I love laughing and running."

Mrs. Wirsing praised the joy of laughter as vital and healthy, concluding the introductions with a task: the children were to form groups to explore the school together.