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Zephyr's training room

Ilyna spun into the training room, wondering if she'd find anyone there today.

Damon got to the training room early, for once. As much as he tried, he would probably be late to almost every class for the rest of the year, so he might as well be early to the very first one. The training room was massive, with light blue-grey walls that had swirl designs carved artfully all over them. He was about to take in the rest of the room when he heard someone burst through the door. He turned around and saw a girl, 15 or 16, he guessed, with very long hair that was probably a pain to deal with. She looked around to see if anyone else was around. He should probably say something. Silence between two strangers always felt weird, although he personally loved the quiet. He nervously cleared his throat, "Hey, I'm Damon."

Ilyna turned to Damon and dropped into a quick curtsy which was an ingrained habit from so many years in upper class society. "Hello. I'm Ilyna. It seems we've never been properly introduced."

Being of the lower class, he felt slightly uncomfortable with the formality. "It seems we haven't. Is this your first year?"

"No, my third, though my last two years I spent in a sort of clique. But they graduated last year, so I'm making an effort to get to know my other classmates." She deftly twisted her hair up into a knot that would withstand the strongest gust of air. "Father's orders."

"Oh, I wondered why I haven't seen you until now. I've been trying to do the same thing. Although nobody's making me. So, you're an early bird too?"

"Some mornings, when I don't spend the whole night sleeping."

"I've always been one. But I can never actually get anywhere on time. Probably 'cause I get all caught up in my wood carving. Or just my thoughts."

"You carve?" asked Ilyna, pulling some silk scarves off of a shelf.

"Aye," Damon said, forgetting his grammar, "it's a hobby of mine. What do you do for fun?"

Riley heard voices in the main area of the training room. She took a deep breath. This was her first day as a teaching assistant. She was thrilled, but also very nervous. She knew and had worked with most of the other students for the last several years. Oh, this was going to be so awkward. She recognized Ilyna's voice, and a guy's voice. Sam Aster, the teacher, laid a hand on her shoulder and gave her a gentle smile that went to his blue eyes and emphasized his smile lines. "You'll do fine," he said gently.

Riley took a deep breath and nodded before following Sam out into the main area, staying in the customary position behind him to his right, chin up, posture straight.

"Mostly read. Oh, hello Riley!" Ilyna waved a scarf.

Riley gave Ilyna a quick, nervous smile. She jumped as the door opened, and a couple students wandered in. It was still pretty empty, but they still had about ten minutes until class time.

Sam stopped and tapped her arm gently. "Feel free to hang out. I need to go see the headmistress. Just make sure things don't get out of hand," he added with a wink. Riley nodded and he left.

Damon let his mind wander for a minute and suddenly snapped back into reality and into an uncomfortable silence.
"Oh, hi. I'm Damon. You're name's Riley, right?"

"Are you a teacher in training, Riley?" Ilyna asked, approaching her roommate.

Riley nodded at Damon. "Yes, that would be me. I think I remember seeing you around campus and in class a little." She turned to Ilyna. "Kind of. I'm the teaching assistant this year."

"I wish I could do that. But since, according to my parents, I'm only here to improve my prospects of marriage, I don't think I'm permitted."

Riley wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, most of the teachers stay single." It wasn't part of the rules or anything, but that's just how things worked. The teachers were too busy. "What about you? Do you want to just find a husband?"

"Oh, of course I want more than just a husband. In fact, much of the reason I chose to accept the offer was the fact that it gives me four extra years where I don't have to worry about turning the heads of potential suitors."

Riley smiled. "That was smart. Maybe you'll get a job offer right after graduating, and you won't have to worry about marrying for even longer."

"Probably not." Ilyna shook her head. "Mother has her heart set on my marrying into the nobility."

Riley sighed. A few more kids wandered into the room. "Well, who knows. Maybe something will come along that even she can't resist." She grinned, pushing a strand of her loose hair away from her face. "After all, if you got offered a high position in the capital, you'd be closer to the princes."

Ilyna grinned. "I think I've read a few too many romance novels to not like the sound of that."

Riley laughed. "Of course. Everything always ends perfect in those," she said with a tinge of regret.

"So, any idea when the instructor will return?"

Riley shrugged. "It depends on what he's talking to the headmistress about." She checked the grandfather clock close to the door. "The class announcement will go off in about five minutes. He'll probably be back by then." She felt a tinge of fear at the thought of him not being there. Would she have to teach the class herself?

"Maybe we should do warm-ups while we wait?"

Riley shrugged. "You can. We'll probably do them as a group. And I guess the new kids will have to learn them, too."

"I've already got scarves."

Riley nodded. "Good." She looked at the clock nervously. The door opened and Sam strode in just as the buzz for class time sounded. Riley breathed a sigh of relief and moved into position behind him.

The remaining students rushed into the building. "Line up, class!" Sam called over all the clamor. "Everyone find a piece of white tape on the floor and stand on it!"

Ilyna stepped onto the nearest peice of white tape.

"I'm on my white tape! What now?"

Sam stepped forward, surveying the students. "Good morning, everyone, I'm Sam, and this is my teaching assistant, Riley. Today we're going to start out by introducing the different warm-ups. Older kids, it'll be a slow day for you, so go ahead and help those out around you. If you have questions, raise your hand, and Riley or I will come help you." Sam nodded, and Riley stepped forward, her hands shaking slightly.

"Hi, everyone." Riley surveyed the room and forced herself to relax. "To begin with, we're going to practice moving our bodies in a way that will help us while we work on manipulating air." She pushed herself onto her toes. "To start out, we're going to work on having light feet. Stand up on your toes and jog in place, but I want to hear as little noise as possible." Riley demonstrated, jogging in place, her feet barely touching the ground. "While you're doing this, work on loosening up your shoulders. Older students, do this without using air underneath your feet, please."

"So, basically, like dancing?" Ilyna asked, pushing herself onto her toes. "A proper lady's footsteps should never be heard on the dancefloor. Or anywhere, for that matter."

"Exactly," Riley said with a smile. "Now everyone do it until we tell you to stop. This should work on your endurance, too."

The students began the exercise, and Riley and Same both went around, answering questions and helping some of the students fix their form.

Ilyna wondered how long she would have to march like this.