Wolde sacrificed a notebook for us and provided everyone with paper, and Lisel went to the stand.

– Ready? – for some reason she asked and put her palm to the activator stone.

For a long moment we looked at the board in fascination:

“The theory of elemental magic, the history of magical science, the basics of everyday life, the basics of artifacts…” Zikki began to read aloud the list of items, and with each name she read, her eyes widened more and more.

However, the list turned out to be short and was completely different from what we had seen from first-year adherents before.

Something about it also confused me, and then I saw the name of the group: “Byt-0,” while the guys had something like “Sth-0” and “Sth-1” written on them. Meanwhile, the firewoman was pushed aside by Lisel and put her hand in, getting the same result. Then they tried Ada and Vilde. No difference. We were in a separate group for girls.

– The only thing missing is something like meditations to pacify the gift! – Adalbjorg grumbled, reading the schedule. – Was it worth trudging so far for this?

– What does all of this mean? – Zikki turned to us and her face turned red with rage. -Where are the elemental arts? Physical training? Combat meditation?

“Baby, this means that you are not yet trusted with such serious things,” Curly said knowingly, whose company came closer again.

– What do you mean by this, essher? – asked Zikki.

“I want to say that they opaquely hinted to you that your place… is not here,” Harvey smiled.

– And where? – the firewoman asked insinuatingly, unexpectedly gracefully stepping towards him.

I wanted to stop her, but Ada held me back.

– Don't interfere. Let her figure it out herself,” the northern woman whispered.

Having looked around picturesquely, Harvey, in turn, came closer and, putting his arm around Zikki’s shoulders in a familiar manner, said in an intimate tone:

– Your place is somewhere between the bedroom and the kitchen, eshsheri. It suits you best.

I didn’t even understand how it all happened. Here they are standing in an embrace, and to be honest, I’m perplexed why Zikki, with her character, allows this? And the next moment again! And I understood everything!

I don’t know if Curly understood anything, but, lying on the floor with his hand behind his back, he alternately yelled and swore, demanding to be let go immediately. Zikki sat on top and said something quietly. I suspect that she promised to tear off this very hand and insert it into some indecent place. Ognevichka did not study in boarding schools, and freedom of expression of thoughts in her had not yet been brought into the system of decency.

Having come to their senses, Curly’s comrades rushed to help, but a wall of fire that flared up right in front of their noses cooled the ardor. But for some reason I didn’t like the expression on their faces. It was somehow suspiciously pleased. As if something like this was expected.

– Zikki, no! – Lisel screamed, but it was too late.

The alarm sounded. Zikkaera, her defeated opponent, as well as two guys rushing to his aid, froze in the positions in which they were caught. Their figures were shrouded in a shimmering veil, and all they could do was breathe and blink.

– What's going on here? – Dean Krieger’s voice came from the stairs.

“Eshsheri dean, this crazy woman attacked me!” – Harvey blurted out. “I think she even broke my arm!”

– And she also used combat magic in the wrong place! – one of his friends complained.

– What a bat! – Ada hissed.

The word was unfamiliar, but definitely dirty.

– Is that so? – Estella Krieger came closer and carefully examined the scene. – Adepts, it seems to me that you have not yet realized where you are? The Academy is not a boarding school or a nursery; no one here will coddle with you. We have strict rules and you will follow them or we will say goodbye. And so you understand better, as an exception, everyone gets a minus point!

– For what? – Yumi squeaked, and her eyes filled with tears.

– This is unfair! – Khvoyana was indignant.

– Yes, I actually had nothing to do with it this time! – Vilde leaned forward, but her sister grabbed her by the elbow.

Ada and I looked at each other gloomily, but remained silent. It is clear that there is no point in objecting. This bitch hates us by default.

– I disagree! We haven’t had time to study the code yet, so we simply couldn’t know about the rules,” Lisel objected.

“Zikkaera was just defending herself,” I added, unable to remain on the sidelines any longer.

But Harvey did not want to admit the obvious, or was it something else?

– Not true! She was the first to attack. I just came up to talk, and she immediately used force!

– Yes, yes, that’s how it happened! – His comrades nodded.

“You let your hands go, and then the three of you attacked!” – I was indignant.

“We just wanted to help Harvey.”

“Nobody was going to touch your crazy girlfriend.” They would have pulled her aside and that was it!

– Unlike you, we know the rules!

The provocateurs vying with each other pretended to be innocent, and I realized that this was their plan. They set us up in the most trivial way!

The altercation attracted everyone's attention, and a whole crowd gathered in the hall to see what kind of scandal out of the blue. The adherents whispered, but tried not to come close. They were probably afraid of running into the wrath of Dean Krieger.

Suddenly I noticed a lonely figure. Some guy in a white jacket stood apart behind everyone at one of the columns. He was wearing a hood that hid his facial features, and he was definitely using some kind of magic. It seemed that this type simultaneously stood out among the others, and at the same time seemed invisible. It felt as if his gaze was slipping away from him. I had to make an effort to see.

I tugged at the northern woman’s sleeve, intending to show her this strange guy.

– Do you see him?

– Who, Chiara?

But the stranger was not in the same place.

“There’s no one anymore…” I said disappointedly.

“Eshsheri Dean, I could also use magic, but I didn’t even use my skills so as not to hurt the girl!” – Curly continued to make excuses.

The dean's wife waved her hand, and the stopping spell subsided. Zikki got off the defeated Curly and walked aside with a dissatisfied look. Harvey also rose from the floor.

– Adepts, it seems to me that you have a lot to do. Go. Adept Glin, show yourself to the healer. Escort your comrade,” Eshsheri Krieger commanded his henchmen.

Ada and I looked at each other meaningfully. Yeah…

– Thank you for your concern, eshsheri dean, but what could this girl do to me? Everything is fine with me. – Curly smiled.

Zikki started to jerk, wanting to hit him, but she stopped, and it suddenly seemed to me that the symbols on her jacket had darkened. It looked like she was trying her best to contain the flames right now!

– Well, as you know. All. Disperse! – Estella Krieger commanded, clapping her hands twice.

The performance was over, and the audience went in different directions to go about their business.

– And it's all? – Volde asked quietly.

It seems that my cousin is seriously upset.

– Don't worry, little sister. We will take revenge on them all,” the unusually quiet Vilde whispered in response.

– Ashsheri dean! – Zikki suddenly called out to our curator.

Estella Krieger turned around and, raising an eyebrow, looked at the firewoman with bewilderment.

– Did you want something, adept?

– Yes. I apologize if my question seems stupid to you, but I haven’t seen the academy code yet. So, please tell me where it is acceptable to use combat magic? It is advisable that the place be adapted to the fire element.