The next few days played out mostly the same, though they didn't return to the heart of the kingdom. It was an expensive trip meant for on occasion. Raven picked through the same old books, hiding away in the library waiting for class to start. Clair had needed to make her rounds earlier than usual and Raven had helped carry the herb bundles up to the market.
Raven sniffed her school uniform, frowning when she smelled of mint and garlic. She would have to sit near the back of the classroom to avoid listening to her peer's whine about the smell.
Raven glanced at the wooden clock on the far wall and sighed. Tucking the book under her arm, she waved to the Librarian and left, turning to go up the stair at the side of the building. The school sat just above the library, wedged between the two thicker off shoots from the supporting tree. It wasn't large and only housed the older group of kids ages sixteen to eighteen.
Raven opened the door slowly glancing inside at the mob of kids near the front window, pinning over the castle in the distance. Raven slipped in soundlessly, gliding over to her desk at the back of the room and taking a seat unnoticed.
She hesitated when she locked eyes with Rosila, the most popular girl in class. Boys tripped over themselves to flirt with her and the girls tried to earn her favor by doing daunting tasks that would eventually land them a seat next to their coveted queen bee.
Rosila simply flicked her warm brown curls over one shoulder, turning away from her. Her warm brown eyes were evenly set in her soft round face, gazing out the window as if Raven bored her. Raven frowned at the sudden rejection as if bulling her wasn't worth her time.
Normally Rosila would be waltzing over, making some snide remark about Ravens appearance. She never did any physical harm, but the emotional abuse was still there. Raven had tried hard to make friends in the beginning. Once she almost had a few, but Rosila took them away quickly, spreading hurtful lies that even some of the adults believed.
The teacher, Mrs. Basil, stood up from her desk, signaling the start of class. Pausing when she noticed Raven sitting in the corner and Rosila paying her no mind. Even the teacher noticed something was amiss. Raven quickly decided to play it off, opening the book she had borrowed from the library.
It was another myth on the creation of the kingdom making Raven sigh as she turned the pages without reading the words. She had read this book enough times she could probably recite it from heart. So instead, she listened to kids in class gossip as the teacher went over the lesson from the book Raven had finished last week.
The stuff wasn't anything new. It was mostly on the jobs Trayson had to offer making Raven sigh disappointed with her limited options. Who would ever think to hire her? The outcast. She was bound to be living off her parents until the end of time. Raven growled softly at the thought, tapping the book with her fingers. She hadn't noticed someone standing beside her until they spoke.
"Is the book that bad?" A sweet voice asked, making Raven jump. Raven turned to glance at the beautiful woman beside her. Her red hair was pulled back away from her face, letting her deep green eyes shine freely. Her lips were deep shade of red, standing out against her pale complexion.
Raven frowned as she looked at her, causing the woman to smile. Raven had known Princess Ivy to be beautiful from the descriptions Hank told her, though seeing her in person was a whole other story.
"Raven! The Princess asked you a question!" The teacher hissed as Raven hesitated blinking stupidly.
"I'm sorry? I was distracted thinking about the lesson. I wasn't really reading the book." Raven mumbled hurriedly when she caught Rosila and the other girls glaring at her.
"Oh? Then it's the lesson you didn't like?" Princess Ivy asked as she watched the young girl blush nervously. Ivy's appearance was different from most other druids because her mother had been of both druid and elven decent, giving her green eyes and pale skin. Her red hair, Ivy was sure, came more from her mother. Though she never met another elf with red hair. They were all mostly blonde.
Ivy tilted her head slightly considering this strange but pretty young woman in front of her. Perhaps Raven was part dwarven since most of the commoners in Salvino also had dark black hair.
However, the pale skin was nothing like the rich metal tones of the dwarven people. Raven was even more pale than she was making them both stand out against the rich browns of the forest. Still, she could probably use this young girl to her advantage.
"It wasn't that I didn't like the lesson, your majesty," Raven sighed finally before deciding to be honest with her. "It was about the different jobs Trayson has to offer. I just don't think I am a good match for any of them." Raven told her hands as the princess nodded thoughtfully.
"Sometimes that does happen. I never had to worry about such things because my future was already laid out for me. Keep your chin up. Sometimes opportunity comes when you least expect it." Ivy told her with a friendly wink. She smiled and wandered to the front of the class leaving Raven in awe. She was so sweet and accepting. The classroom followed Ivy with their eyes as they wiggled around excitedly.
"Your highness. What brings you to the far side of the kingdom?" The teacher asked nervously as she tried to curtsy. Though it looked more like a toad trying to squat.
"Well, I wanted to invite the next generation, you boys and girls, to the royal ball I am throwing this coming weekend, in two days' time." Ivy paused as the classroom buzzed with excitement. The teacher shushed them, making Ivy chuckle.
"I am glad you are as excited as I am. The ball is being held for two nights, hopefully I will find the perfect suitor in that time and announce him as my husband to be. There will be food and dancing and I have invited the neighboring kingdoms to join us. It will be splendid!" Ivy gushed as the classroom echoed her excitement.
Raven smiled with the rest of them but kept quiet as they all chatted about what to wear. Ivy stood at the front of the room exchanging details with the teacher so that they could inform the parents who were also invited.
Raven sighed as she watched the beautiful woman joke with the other students as they conversed about the coming event. Whether Ivy wanted to be bonded to a plant or not, Raven was sure she would make an excellent queen one day.
"Oh, I really must be getting back. I look forward to seeing you Friday night." Ivy told them as she waved goodbye. She winked at Raven as her guards shut the door behind her. Raven blushed nervously as she closed her book.
"Ok. Alright. Settle down." Mrs. Basil called over the jittery classroom. Once the students were settled in their seats, she nodded. "I can already see that teaching you much of anything now is a hopeless endeavor. So instead, I have decided that you will all write a report." Mrs. Basil told them as the class took a collective groan.
"But Mrs. Basil. We won't have time to write a report." Tanner stated as the other students chuckled. He winked at Rosila making the teacher sigh.
"Look. The princess is providing a wonderful opportunity. Not only are we invited to the closed off castle, but we have the chance to meet and mingle with other races from the other kingdoms." Mrs. Basil told them. She hesitated when Raven raised her hand. "Yes?" She asked unenthusiastically.
"Will only the kingdoms of Salvino and Welpion be present? I have read that there are other races..." Raven stalled as the classroom frowned at her. The teacher shook her head as she clapped her hands to get their attention.
"Not everything you read in a book is going to be true. There are no other kingdoms. Just the three. If there were, we would have already been trading with them. As it is, only the elves, the dwarfs, and druids remain. The other races fell in the last war over a thousand years ago." Mrs. Basil stated stubbornly, with no room for argument.
"I understand. Thank you for answering my question." Raven told her book, defeated. Clearly there were more out there. She was proof! Why couldn't the rest of them see that? Mrs. Basil nodded, turning back to the rest of the class.
"Now for this report. I want you to write one page on something that interested you about your visit to the castle. It can either be about the castle itself or even an interview with one of the neighboring royalties." Mrs. Basil told them as the students perked up a little. Even Raven. She had always been interested in the great mother tree.
"So, I am going to let you out early. We will meet back here Monday, after the event. Since the last ball is on Saturday night, you should have all of Sunday to write your report. Class dismissed." Mrs. Basil told them, waving them away. Raven left in a hurry before her bullies could remember she existed. Rosila watched her escape pouting to herself.
"What is it Rose? Anything we can help with?" Honey asked as her twin, Ginger, nodded in unison. They were both homely, with short curly hair and big brown eyes. They were a little on the heavy side, though Rosila felt it only added to their looks, making them appear cute and charming. If snakes could be cute and charming. Rosila simply sighed as she wandered over to the door. She wasn't surprised when the two followed her like puppies waiting for a bone.
"It's nothing. I am just thinking, is all. All of us can easily see how hideous Raven really is. What if I miss my chance with a prince because he has an interest in her instead?" Rosila muttered as she considered it. Marrying a prince from a distant land would be her chance to get out of this place once and for all.
"The guy would have to be blind to choose her over you. Everyone knows you are the prettiest flower in the forest." Honey said making Rosila frown. Raven had used those exact words over a week ago to try and get away from her. Rosila paused as she thought about the stupid girl. Raven always was a thorn in her side, but an honest and sincere thorn. Somehow, she preferred that stupid thorn to these daisy's that surrounded her. Perhaps things could have been different between them had circumstances been different.
"She must be awfully worried since the princess was actually nice to that ugly weed." Ginger muttered at her sister as Honey nodded. "If Raven was really ugly, then Rose wouldn't have to worry." Ginger ventured as they both wrinkled their brow in thought. They grinned at each other making Rosila frown.
"Don't worry Rose! We will take care of everything." Honey snickered as the two girls wandered off quickly.
"I hate being called Rose. And what exactly do they plan on doing?" Rosila muttered under her breath watching them disappear around the corner. She rolled her eyes deciding to ignore them, before following them annoyed with herself.
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