A World Beside Our Own

Classes

I’ve heard of horror stories of settling into a new class. I just hope this won’t be so awkward or that I won’t get teased. I weave through the students, people just seem to flow around me, and look for my Math class. Room 207, found it!

I walk into Math as the students are filing in. I head to the teacher’s desk and clear my throat to get her attention. She looks up from what looks to be class notes on her laptop, and smiles at me. I smile back as I recognize my Math teacher.

“I’m the new transfer student…” I say in a soft voice.

“So you’re Simiathalas.” She smiles at me. “I’ll make formal introductions,” she says with a wink. “I’m Cassandra Montgomery. I’ll be your math teacher this semester.” She reaches over and hands me a book. “Here’s your math book. I hope your old school is up to speed, we’re already on chapter 3.”

As everyone settles into their seats, Cassandra gets up and brings me to the middle of the front. “Everyone, this is Simiathalas, she’s just getting herself oriented here, so I hope you will all give her a friendly welcome.”

I get various degrees of half-hearted greetings and I smile bashfully. She points me to an empty seat 3 rows in and I head over to it. I pull a spiral notebook, mechanical pencil, and my kneaded eraser out of my backpack.

Cassandra waits until I’m settled before starting the lesson. “Now, if you would all turn to page 125, we’ll be starting whole number exponents today…”

I follow her, and I feel a tap on my right shoulder. I look to this pretty girl with pale blue eyes and platinum blond hair. She has the most interesting blue vest on.

“I’m Sala. Are you good at math? Your name is Elvish, but you don’t look like one.” Her voice is song-like.

I smile and keep my voice low. “I’m working on reconnecting myself to my Elven heritage, it’s complicated. Yes, Math is one of my better subjects.”

She waits till Cassandra has her back turned and passes me a small bit of paper. “Please call me, I’m falling behind in class, and I’m too scared to ask the teacher for help.”

Cassandra turns around, looks right at us for a moment, smiles, and then continues on with her lesson.

“I’m pretty sure she has better hearing that most people, at least from what I saw yesterday.” I whisper, and Sala gives me a frightened look. I smile. “I’ll help.”

Sala relaxes, and we go back to our lesson plan. Once the new material is covered, we have 10 minutes till the bell to work on exercises. I shift my chair and Sala and I work on them together without her asking. Her thankful smile was all I needed to know that I made a new friend.

As the bell rings, Cassandra calls me forward before I leave. “Careful of the Fae, Sala may seem vulnerable, but they can be mischievous.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, thank you.” I smile.

Lunch time and Sala was waiting. And joins me as we head to the cafeteria on the first floor. She’s very talkative and animately discusses about how warm it is and how she’s looking forward to colder weather.

“You’re a Frost Fae, aren’t you?” I say, catching on to her conversation.

“How did you know?” she says, surprised.

“Ice-blue eyes, near white hair, your wings, you tuck them around you like a pretty vest.” I say.

“But how do you know? Did the Seelie Court send you to spy on me? Is that why your aura and race are hidden?”

I catch on to what she’s talking about; I read this in my role-playing games. “You’re a princess of the court, but you don’t want others to know that.” I respond in a low voice. I see her eyes flare. Oh dear. “No one sent me. I study lore and mystical creatures, I’m actually mostly human right now.”

“There you are.” Luna says with a smile.

Whatever Sala was going to do next, her expression immediately changes. She gives Luna this panicked look and hugs against the wall. My companion’s reactions do not phase Luna, as I’m her target. She pulls me into a warm hug and I relax in her arms.

“So how has this morning been so far?” Luna asks, when she finally lets me go.

“Well, I’ve only had one class so far after taking care of all the paperwork.” I smile. “And Cassandra is my math teacher, so it was nice to see a familiar face.” My expression changes. “Oh, and I made a new friend today!” I look around and see Sala slowly trying to slink away out of Luna’s reach. “Sala, don’t be shy, I want you to meet someone.” Sala gives this almost frightful glance at Luna. “Please, Sala, she won’t harm you.” I reach out my hand away from Luna.

Sala gives one look at Luna, then at me. My face is that of sincerity. Sala suddenly reaches out for my hand and she pulls herself against me, pulling my arm around her for protection. I was not prepared for that level of trust and need for affection.

“The Fae senses I’m a hunter. Her reaction to my presence is perfectly normal.” Luna says sadly. “My family does not prey on the living girl.” She says, looking at Sala.

Sala does the weirdest thing. She sniffs at Luna, and then relaxes, but still keeps her arm around me. “You know a vampire, and you’re not afraid of her?” Sala looks up at me, amazed.

“Luna and I met in the woods this weekend. She most likely saved me from hypothermia.” I say calmly. “Her and her family have been taking care of me since.” I nudge Sala to move, and we walk again.

“Why are they taking care of you? You’re human.” She says, drawing her hand along my arm as if examining my body.

“I’m a transgender girl and ran away from home.” I say to her.

We get in line for the cafeteria food. Sala finally lets her hold on me go. “So that is why you use female pronouns, and while you act and dress like a girl, you don’t really smell like one?” Sala says. I guess - as a Fae - her sense of smell is much more acute than mine.

“Depending on the transition route she follows, that will soon change.” Luna says calmly as she orders hers and my plates of grilled cheese sandwiches and fries.

Sala takes a salad and follows. We find an empty table, and my little Fae still doesn’t seem to want to leave my side.

“What did you choose for a name?” Luna asks as we eat.

“Simiathlas Rasmussen.” I say, looking at Luna for a reaction.

“So, you’ve chosen Mother as your adoptive parent? I think it would please her.” Luna smiles. “You are very much a New Leaf in this life I’ve dragged you into, I would say the name is quite fitting.”

“So you don’t think it would upset her I’ve basically asked to be adopted by your family?” I ask, still worried.

“Not at all”. She smiles, eating her sandwich. She looks at it for a moment and relaxes. “Good, this is the one that doesn’t have ham in it.” She pulls out a small container of blood fruit from her bag and puts it on the table.

“You’re a vegetarian.” Sala notes that there is no meat on either of our trays. “How do you subsist without feeding on the living?”

Luna taps her container. “The blood fruit fills my thirst so that I don’t need to feed on others. Makes my family much more civilized.” She grins. She studies Sala for a moment, noting the Fae is still sitting closer to me than her. “You’ve grown rather attached to your new human friend, surprising for a Fae.”

Sala looks at her, then at me. Her expression is that of tenderness and even affection. “I don’t know. Simia sat beside me in Math class, and I just felt myself drawn to her.”

“Must be your Elven bloodline,” Luna ponders. “As a creature of sylvan blood, the Fae and the Elves are distant relatives of sorts. You are probably the only creature in her class that approaches her bloodline and feels familiar.”

Sala nods. “I’m the only Fae in our Freshman class.” She eats some salad. “My parents thought a public education would help broaden my knowledge of the races outside of the Seelie Court.”

“Very brave of them to send a noble among the general populace.” Luna looks thoughtful. “They must really trust this school to leave you so open and vulnerable without protection.”

“I have protection.” Sala says tapping her medallion. “The protection charm is supposed to ward harmful intent and magic.” She munches on her salad. “Which is why I was so confused when you approached. I feared the amulet had failed me again.”

“What do you mean failed you again?” I say, munching on my sandwich.

“One of our teachers, the charm doesn’t warn me.” Sala says, frowning. “Art and Music… She smells like Luna, but my charm never triggers. Only Master Phan does my charm grow warm and I can’t seem to get close to him.”

Luna opens her container and Sala takes a long sniff. “Oh. That’s the sweet smell that you all have.” My Fae friend relaxes. “So, when I smell that fruit on others, I can relax and know you are not a threat?”

“Exactly.” There are two families here at the school that rely on blood fruit to survive, so that we never need to prey on others for survival. My bloodline and the Rivers family are Fae-touched, but follow a similar path.”

“Is that why Art and Music are so comforting?” Sala smiles thoughtfully. “Mrs. Rivers is so pretty with porcelain skin and purple hair. I’ve felt no threat from her.”

“Fae-touched vampires? That must be interesting..” I say.

Sala suddenly gets confused. “Are they all vampires? I’m pretty sure that my Social Studies teacher is human. She’s a mage from her aura - and they’re married.”

Luna replies, “Mother says that the Rivers family is rather unique and extremely powerful. They even made the history books by destroying most of the vampire enclave 5 years ago.”

“Penny is funny and lively.” Sala says with a smile. “She doesn’t want us using her surname. We’re all surprised when she started teaching here. I mean, she’s this big celebrity, she doesn’t even need to work.”

“Penny once told me she loves children, which is why she chose to teach - having no children of her own.” Luna smiles.

We fill our lunchtime conversation with the various interesting teachers and people that go to this school. I feel my knowledge of mystical creatures as expanded today, it’s one thing reading about them in books, but when you see how they interact with others in real life, you realize that some facts in fantasy books are exaggerated - or maybe no longer apply to modern life. I tell my friends, yes; I think it’s safe to call Sala a friend, that I need to pick up my school Id on the way to Biology class.

We say bye to Luna as Sala comes with me to the office to pick up my ID. Biology gives me another familiar face. Diane smiles at me and greets me with a hug as we enter the room - which I’m sure surprises half of the class. I sit beside Sala and hope I’m not behind in this class. Changing schools almost two months into the year is not a simple process. Today we’re studying food pyramids that include races I’ve never encountered before. I discover humans aren’t the top of the food chain. With vampires and werewolves being stronger and faster, they will feed off of humanity when needed. That’s a scary thought.

Sala comments she has a different class next period, and will see me for Social Studies. I’ve noticed she’s created a nickname for me and calls me Simia. I think it’s rather cute. I’m still confused how this little girl has suddenly latched on to me. Maybe Luna is right. My Elven bloodline is the first familiar thing she’s felt since she arrived here. I get up to the third floor; I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that this school has a greenhouse classroom.

I get to my botany class; I was a little miffed that I wouldn’t have art all semester, but I guess learning about plants will not be a bad thing. This school has the weirdest subjects. I slip into class, hoping the teacher will not do a class introduction like Cassandra did, and find a seat along the wall. The teacher has his back to the class, and he’s writing stuff on the board. I can’t shake this feeling I’ve seen him before… stocky, broad shoulders, trench coat. Then he turns and I recognize him right away. The crimson undertone to his grey eyes and that fanged grin… I had bumped into him at the club on Saturday night.

He looks over the class, picks up a book. “Suni, pass this down to the new student three seats behind you.” The girl passes the book down. “You have missed the past 6 weeks of this class, do you know anything about herbal remedies that grow in this climate?”

“I spent four years in Scouts, I learned about how to use plants for food, and how to make salves to deal with burns, rashes & bug bites.” I venture.

“Impressive, so you will catch up well with this class.” He smiles, that fanged smile that spooked me out so much that night. “You will have reading to do so that you are ready with the others for Friday’s test.”

It was a statement, not a question. “Yes, sir.” I reply and nod.

He tells us about the various plants that grow in this area, what they look like, what parts are useful, what parts are toxic, he draws impeccably realistic pictures on the blackboard, quickly, not even looking at the book for reference - like he’s memorized the entirety of it. For all I know… I look at the author of the book. Right, he wrote it. No wonder he knows what’s in there.

I follow with the class, catching up on things as I go, the book is old, just how long as this vampire lived!? He occasionally quizzes various students as he progresses. I actually find this quite interesting. He’s stern and factual, but he’s not mean or cruel. He even cracks a couple of jokes.

At the end of class, he calls me to his desk. “You do not look like a Rasmussen.” He says raising an eyebrow.

“It’s complicated.” I say hesitantly.

“So is your aura.” He says examining me. “So, unlike some of my more mundane students, you might show promise in some of my later classes, when we make more than just native salves and simple medicines.”

“I will not disappoint you.” I say showing more confidence than I feel. A Scout is always prepared.

“You are intriguing.” He says studying me for a moment. “I can see why Luna is attracted to you.” I give him a puzzled look. “Do not think that I did not notice you at the club Saturday night, your aura has strengthened since then, I look forward to seeing what you can achieve, young lady.” I swallow. “You are dismissed, be swift to get to your next class.” I bow slightly, noting his oriental accent, and head off.

Fortunately Social Studies are on the same floor, so I make my way to room 308, and an ecstatic Sala waves to me as I enter the room.

“Before you sit down, will you introduce yourself?” The woman at the desk says. “This is Social Studies, we learn from each other’s unique past and cultures.”

“Yes, mrs….” I start.

“Penny, just call me Penny dear, I don’t like formal tittles.” She smiles.

I nod and stand in front of the class. “My name is Simiathlas. I’m a transgender girl, some of you might recognize my name as Elvish, part of my coming here is to reconnect with my bloodline… among other things.” I don’t know why I’m being so forthcoming. Keven had told me never to openly admit that I’m trans, but Penny encouraged me to introduce myself and I do not know what to say. “I’m sort of handy with a lot of things. I come from a Celtic background, my family has lived on the east coast for the past three generations. I’ve recently moved here from San Marino and trying to settle in.”

“Thank you dear, you may sit down by our very excitable Sala - who seems to look forward to it.” Penny smiles knowingly.

Sure enough, Sala leans over and gives me a hug as I sit beside her.

“It’s interesting that Simiathlas mentioned Elven heritage. We’re going to have a bit of a history lesson today. Who can tell me when the elves were last recorded to be seen outside of Tír na nÓg?” Penny asks.

I listen in rapture as I learn about my history, a history I never knew even existed. The boy in front of me smiles at me as he hands me the book we’re studying this week, and it has a historic timeline I’ve never seen. Like how the inquisition completely erased all transcripts of elves and their magic from history, only for oral traditional to bring it back to life during the Victorian age where it could be passed off as fiction or fantasy.

I flip through the book of Elven Chronicles. To think that some old tales like Arthur, Merlin and Camelot actually existed. Though the book differs from some tales I’ve read. How, without the Elven Laws of Magic, humans began warring against each other, forming light and dark schools of arcana. How the Romans slowly erased Druidism and killing all elves they could find.

Humanity would slowly erase or out-breed the elves till there was no longer a trace of them when people ventured from the old world to the west. My attention is drawn back to the topic at hand before I can read further, and I go back to the front of the book on the original discovery of Tír na nÓg.

“Mother says some Seelie Court still live there, but they hide behind illusions that appear as dense wood - so that the humans don’t find them.” Sala says as we exit class.

“The haunted wood of Sherwood Forest, I saw that in the book.” I smile.

“You read quick.” Sala says, surprised by my advanced reading. “Where do you live, Simia?” She asks curiously.

“Currently with Luna and her mother, till we sort out my transition and how I’m going to move forward.” I reply.

“It doesn’t scare you to live with a vampire family?” Sala says still amazed that Luna doesn’t faze me.

“I can trust them.” I say confidently.

“Which is a good thing, cause I think I would miss you now if you were to leave.” Luna says hugging me from behind. Sala jumps as I relax into my Drow friend. “Ready to go home?” She asks in a slightly seductive tone. I nod. “Say bye to Sala.” She says sweetly.

“Bye Sala, see you tomorrow.” I smile at my fae friend.

“Tentalmë bar” Luna says, and the school disappears.