Рамиль Латыпов - A girl at the Demon Academy. They don’t know who I am and neither do I

– But I have no talents. Besides, I don’t want to leave. «Although I would like to meet with the adviser. Maybe not only to meet.

– You can’t refuse. Here look. Mother pointed to the seal at the end of the letter. This is the seal of the king. We cannot disobey his orders. And then we are executed. Forgive me daughter. I started all this. I wanted to find you a husband. Maybe a butler or footman. And here’s how it all turned out.

– Don’t worry mama. I won’t get lost. I’m strong.

– I know.

We hugged and cried for a long time. Such is the share of a girl in this gloomy world.

The day passed quickly. And here is the evening. The carriage will arrive soon. And I will be taken into the unknown.

– I’m afraid mom. – I stood near the entrance and hugged my mother

– Do not be afraid, daughter. The main thing is not to let yourself be offended. And don’t borrow. We still don’t have the money to pay. But I have one thing for you. Mom reached into the pocket of her wide pirate skirt. Anything could be stored there. – This thing was with you when I found you on the seashore. I will never forget that storm. I’m so sorry about what happened to you. But I’m glad you’re with me. Here you are.

She handed me a ring. Obviously enchanted. Magic pulsed through him. There was something written on it. But time has wiped everything out and cannot be disassembled. Maybe it’s an extinct language. I took it and put it on my index finger. A wave of warmth passed through my body.

– Thank you mom. I will keep it as the most valuable treasure.

The sound of a carriage was heard in the distance. Such frisky horses could be heard from afar. The white carriage came for me. Of course, not as luxurious as the adviser Claudius Knuth.

– Lady Julia, I’m behind you. – Said the young guy driver. Handsome and strong. There were no such beauties in the village.

I went to the carriage.

– Take care. – Became the last words that I heard at home.

The carriage moved. All my old world was left behind. The coachman cast a spell. The carriage was covered with a blue glow. In a moment we were already in the cozy courtyard of the royal capital.

– The girl has arrived. Come out. You will be met at the entrance. He smiled broadly at me. – If anything, I’m also the groom’s assistant Anton. Come if you need a horse. He said quieter. Or a rider.

I got off the carriage. Without things in the dark of the night. Nothing was visible. A plump woman approached me with a lantern in her hand. Clearly a cyclops. One brown eye was visible from afar.

– Darling, you’ve arrived. Come in. You are the last one today. You will like Julia Silver here. I’m Polly, your sorority superintendent. For all questions come to me. You will spend the next five years with us. We will become friends. The main thing is not to create problems.

She took me by the arms and led me to the academy.

«Everyone is already asleep, so be quiet.» You don’t want to make enemies on your first day at the academy. She thought for a moment and added. – You will have so many of them. You are not of noble birth. And here mostly aristocrats study. But Claudius saw something in you and called to us. I signed you up at the very last moment. So you’re kind of a celebrity here. The other ladies have already been talking about you. They don’t know how to be with you. Suddenly you are his secret lover. There are about three of them in the empire. Although these are all rumors, I do not believe them and you do not believe. You never know what girls chat over tea. They just need to grind the bones. – We reached one of the doors. – This is your room, lady. Forty eight. Don’t forget your number.

She opened the door and I saw that there was another lady sleeping two.

– Are there rooms for two?

– Yes, lady. King Rex himself decided so. He wants the ladies to live together. And there were many suicides. This is a cruel place. So if something happens, come to me right away. I’ll put these upstarts in their place right away. And the guys, if they come, too. A few upstarts didn’t want to live with you. I had to put you up with our freckle. She is also ignorant. They are farmers. She has a knack for managing the land. She’s kind. The name is Lena.

– That’s how the boys learn.

Well, of course it’s an academy. Everyone is learning here. But mostly demons. They magically change their appearance. So everyone looks like people. Don’t fall in love with anyone right away. Suddenly a monster hides under magic.» She laughed. – There are several rules. The first thing is not to take guys into the room. There are hotels in the city for this. Keep the room clean. I’m not a cleaner. I’m still the general’s wife. The truth of the deceased. Marcus Oloso. He died in the war with the elves. Many years ago. Also, don’t play cards and don’t get into debt. I will not lend. And then you girls do not return. Okay, that’s all for today. Clothes in the wardrobe. Everything you need is on the shelves. If you need anything extra, tell me right away we will find it within reasonable limits. The whole empire is watching you. You are the pride of the country. Conduct yourself accordingly. Bye

The fat lady is gone. It was getting dark, but my eyes quickly got used to it. I undressed and went to bed. The bed is soft but it was still better at home. What is waiting for me here? I’ll find out soon. I fell asleep.

In my dream I was running along the seashore. The sand is as warm as the water. Seagulls scream their songs. The waves are crashing onto the shore. I saw a woman in the distance. She was thrown ashore. She is wearing an expensive dress. But it is all smeared with mud and algae. She could hardly walk. She has a bundle in her hands. A brave pirate with a sword at the ready was walking towards her. One blow and the bandit pierced the rich woman in the stomach with a sword. The kind fell not sand. The pirate joyfully began to take off expensive jewelry and a necklace with her. Hand rings. But then she opened the package. There is a baby in it. He began to scream. The bandit didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t or didn’t want to leave him. She took the bundle and left. The lady on the shore shouted something after the bandit, raised her hands to the sky and died.

A harsh bright light woke me up. The neighbor was still asleep. It’s already five o’clock in the morning, after all, the city people. It’s time to get up. I dressed up. I washed my face. But what to do. Walk around the hostel where I don’t know anyone. Especially so early. I may be mistaken for a thief. I don’t want to sit in a dungeon for the second time. It took three weeks last year. It was not necessary to climb into the pocket of a merchant in a tavern. Especially after three mugs of kvass.

– Did you wake up yet?

A thin voice asked me a question. She must have been woken up at six. Life on a farm is probably easier than that of a sailor.

– Yes, the day in our fishing village began at five. I’m your new neighbor Julia.

– And you, who did Claudius himself choose. Heard a lot about you. I’m Lena Psheno. But everyone here calls me freckle.

– Clear. – And in fact, there are too many of them on her face. Especially since she has red hair. How the inquisition of the empire of light did not reach her. I don’t understand. I myself have a bad attitude towards the religion of Light. Two friends were thrown into the fire. Creatures.

The neighbor was talking about her life on the farm. That she dreams of finding true love here. As if she is in life. These are all fairy tales for stupid girls. She told how she worked the fields, how she sold vegetables in the city. And all in this spirit. I just want to graduate and go home. And maybe a couple of times to see the demon Claudius. Although I had no illusions about this. He will choose as his wife the daughter of some aristocrat or even a princess from distant lands. Here they also study. But definitely not me.