From the windows of the school, the lobby, and even the area in front of the building, the entire neighborhood was visible. This huge, circular building stood on one of the seven hills outside the city. It literally adorned the landscape. In the evenings, the residents liked to look up at this majestic structure. In fact, it wasn't even a particularly ornate building. It wasn't the high location, nor the size of the building, but the loving memories of the residents that made it majestic. It was made of simple white marble and surrounded an inner courtyard. Just like a part of Aisling's peristyle, this inner courtyard also became covered whenever rain approached. And in winter too.

  In winter, it resembled the greenhouses in botanical gardens. This was Ulf's opinion. Not that Ulf was bothered by the flowers that bloomed even in winter or the lush greenery. To him, the circular courtyard looked like a botanical garden in winter. For the Viking, botany was his skill, cooking his inclination.

  Sophia, on the other hand, thought the school resembled an art museum in every season. The girl didn't see the botanical garden. Geology was her skill, sculpture her inclination. She liked the sculptures from various historical periods.

  Every student found something of interest and beauty in this simple building that matched their skills and inclinations.

  Aisling arrived early today. Only a few students were wandering around the school and in the building. She hadn't slept much since waking up from that dreadful dream at dawn.

  "I won't think about what happened until I talk to Rhys," she decided.

  She had breakfast, prepared carefully, and instead of dwelling on the terrifying events, she planned her day. Before the afternoon meeting, she still wanted to go to the library to finish her research. She could show the holo-mentor tomorrow if she spent a few more hours in the library today.

  She eagerly anticipated the afternoon. She was looking forward to presenting their stories with Rhys. Then, she also wanted to talk to him. She had planned her hairstyle so carefully that even Thana would have approved. Mrs. Livia had already praised it early in the morning. She wore a long purple dress, Mirael style.

  Now, she sat calmly on a bench in front of the school, next to the statue of Septimus, admiring the surroundings. Septimus was the first to form a creative circle. For landscape painting. Just like Baalit's parents.

  The girl knew that Fabia and Baalit spent almost every afternoon in the library. Fabia was one of Aisling's mentored students. It wouldn't be the first time they spent the afternoon together, the three of them.

  "I'll join them after school," she decided. "Maybe we'll even stop by Ulf's cooking circle before the library visit and have lunch there."

  Students were now arriving continuously through the holo-gates. Since she started school, there had only been one complication: when Ulf got chickenpox.

  Of all her classmates, Nabu, the Babylonian, arrived first. His sand-colored tunic with golden edges highlighted his sun-kissed skin. His black hair was braided into thin strands and pulled back, and his unusually long eyelashes, along with his always friendly, open expression, had made him likable from the first day. His nature was also open, honest, and kind, but there was an inexplicable air of mystery about him. Perhaps it was the ancient, discreet tattooed symbol above his right eyebrow that added a dignified secrecy to Nabu's character. Of the four classmates, he was the most diligent in studying history, but Aisling wrote the most beautiful stories.

  After greeting, he quietly sat next to Aisling and silently watched the arriving students. Of the four of them, only Nabu had presented his research. For him, school activities could have ended there, yet he came to school every day without fail.

  Azita, the Alan girl, and Tjeerd, the Frisian boy, arrived together as usual. No romantic attraction had developed between them, but like Sophia and Ulf, they had become inseparable friends. Azita's twin sister, Artina, had been spending a lot of time with Nabu lately. Everyone was guessing if they would announce before the Martyr's Feast that they had gotten together and were in love.

  From the beginning of the fifth year, from the very start of their closer acquaintance, Aisling had admired Azita's determination. Unlike Artina, Azita, the Alan, carried the memory of her warrior ancestors in her attire. Not with her clothes. She wore a deep burgundy, long, form-fitting tunic, slit in the middle to ease her movement. Over it, she wore armor-like fabric sewn with pearls. She had learned the braiding technique from Nabu. The difference was that she filled her braids with small metal pins. She wore jewelry only in her right ear. The three hoops represented the past, present, and future. Yet, despite this, she didn't appear harsh. With her snow-white skin and almond-shaped eyes, she looked like a porcelain doll wearing warrior ornaments, with all her determination and flexible figure.

  Tjeerd's entire appearance evoked the lightness of the calm sea. His short silver-blonde hair and simple tunic didn't make him stand out, but when someone looked at him with his ice-blue eyes, they sensed the duality of the calm sea in him: security, predictability, and depth. Perhaps his thin chain necklace with a seashell amulet also contributed to this impression.

  Nabu. Azita. Tjeerd. Aisling. It seemed like each of them embodied one of the classical elements.

  The lessons weren't boring. The holo-mentor informed them that today they would continue helping each other expand and refine their research. They had been preparing for their exams together for weeks. Nabu had helped them the most. Not only did he ask the best questions, but he also knew the answers. Of course, he only shared them when Aisling, Azita, and Tjeerd couldn't manage on their own in the library.

  Azita had chosen a topic for her exam that she liked the least: the three hundred years when the Gauls sought alliances with other tribes but were constantly embroiled in conflicts. She organized the causes of the conflicts and, with a wicked smile, claimed to have found some regularity. But she would only reveal that in the exam. Azita remained quiet about her secrets from then on.

  Even the holo-mentor laughed at this.

  Aisling asked Nabu to read through her papers since she would be making the final touches on her research today. She wanted to take the exam tomorrow. The boy diligently and thoroughly delved into the reading. Occasionally, he stopped to think but never hummed.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  "This is a good sign," Aisling thought, satisfied.

  Tjeerd read and took notes on the battle customs of the Alans. He had eight books spread out in front of him. All eight were brought from home. The holo-mentor could provide any book, but the boy, just like Mrs. Livia, liked to take notes in the books. A library visit was one of the students' favorite social activities. They rarely asked the holo-mentor for books.

  There was silence throughout the entire building during the lessons. Students studied in groups of four in the completely open spaces, but as soon as the holo-mentors appeared, invisible, imperceptible noise blockers rose around the groups.

  The breaks weren't any different. Even at the beginning of their school years, the students understood that within the mentor system, everyone was responsible for everyone else. Only occasionally did they need the holo-storyteller.

  Nabu didn't find any faults with Aisling's research. He just pointed out that since she was going to spend part of the afternoon in the library, she could still expand on a few elements.

  Before they parted ways, Aisling invited them to the afternoon event. They were really happy.

  Aisling's holo-mentor was on the ground floor, while Fabia's and Baalit's were on the first floor, but the boy's was at the other end of the floor.

  She was just climbing the stairs when her bracelet started flashing.

  It was exactly three o'clock and seven minutes.

  "Bet," the boy's usual tone sounded from the small hologram above the bracelet.

  Fionn's tiny hologram appeared above the bracelet.

  "I'd like to meet with you before the presentation," the boy said bluntly.

  Aisling was surprised that Fionn reached out to her at this time. He had never approached her directly after classes before.

  "Did something happen?" the girl asked with a dark premonition.

  "No. I'd like to spend more time with you, even in this ephemeral state of mine. I'll ask you out on more dates if you don't mind," came the confident response.

  Aisling briefly outlined her plans for the afternoon.

  "I've already had lunch, but I'll wait for you at Ulf's cooking club."

  "And will you come with me to the library too?" the girl asked in surprise.

  "Yes," was the short reply.

  The hologram disappeared. During their brief conversation, Aisling had already reached the upstairs.

  "Fionn has started courting me," she smiled, quite pleased. She had never been good at courting, but this new Fionn really appealed to her.

  She stood there, smiling by the window. Below, the city spread out in the valley. A small hill obscured the bridge. The realization stunned her so much that she even dropped her file.

  "This is the same place!"

  As she picked up the file, she felt someone watching her quietly.

  "Are you okay?" Velia asked quietly.

  Aisling quickly turned around and began to explain awkwardly.

  "Yes, it's just... I dropped my file."

  "It seemed like you were scared of something," the girl observed.

  "Fionn was looking for me, then I stood here by the window and got lost in thought. Everything is fine," she confirmed her earlier statement about feeling well.

  "It seemed to me like you were frightened by something," Velia insisted, then shrugged and added, "The important thing is that you're fine."

  Aisling was glad to see the Scythian girl in griffon attire. As long as she hadn't spoken to Rhys, she didn't want to think about what she had gotten herself into or what lay beyond her everyday reality. Because something did exist-yesterday's injury had proven that to her. An extremely frightening proof.

  "I'm waiting for Fabia and Baalit. They're definitely going to the library today. I'd like to stop by Ulf's cooking club beforehand. Will you join us?" she shifted the topic to everyday matters.

  "I'm also going to the cooking club, but then I'll meet Hermana. I drew some new designs. I'll try to make those earrings soon," the girl reported her plans.

  Velia had a talent for marine biology, but designing and making jewelry was her true inclination. Hermana, Sibius's Ostrogoth mother, had taken Velia into her creative circle as soon as Velia's talent took shape.

  Velia curiously walked over to the window to look around. She still couldn't believe that nothing had scared her mentor. Maybe it had been a bug that suddenly collided with the window, or a bird that flew by quickly, causing the scare, but something had definitely frightened Aisling. That much was clear. She had seen it.

  "There's nothing scary here," she thought to herself.

  Outside, groups were forming in front of the school. Some of the students' afternoon activities formed spontaneously. They knew each other's habits and every day they looked for those who, like them, planned to do the same activities after lessons. Immediately after school, most of the students went to the creative quarter or the library, and afterward, mentors and their mentees studied together.

  Sophia was casually walking towards one of the holo-gates. Since Rhys had been spending his subjugation period at home, Sophia had also been spending more time with her family. Naturally, she carried out her mentor duties with the same enthusiasm as before. This shared learning time was also community time, not a burdensome obligation. When Fionn spent his subjugation year at the house, family became a more prominent part of Aisling's life as well.

  Sophia's twin siblings had already followed their own creative paths in the afternoons. Aine had joined Solveig's group and was practicing classical dances, while Thya was reciting poetry with Thana and the others.

  Aisling hadn't seen Thana, Sibius, or Solveig all day. She hadn't seen Ulf either, but the boy wasn't preparing for his exam at school. Ulf loved botany, but he had decided to choose cooking, his true passion, for his exam, so he was preparing for it in his own cooking club in the creative quarter.

  Fabia looked towards Baalit's holo-mentor. She saw that the four-hour partner was still continuing a constructive debate that had formed around one of their research topics.

  "This will take a while," she thought to herself, then firmly headed towards Aisling and Velia.

  Baalit noticed that Aisling and Velia were waving at him, but he apologetically pointed to the pile of papers in front of him.

  "We'll find you in the cooking club," Fabia suggested as they prepared to leave.