Morning Class (Shea)

Keeping is simple tonight, here is a chapter from just before War of the Wicca began. It’s from Shea’s perspective.

——-

“Good morning everyone,” Shea said as she walked into the classroom on the last ring of the bell.

She set her bag on her desk before looking up, only to see Bentley sitting in the front row wearing a slightly transparent white v-neck shirt.

“I’m sure some of you have noticed our special guest,” Shea said

Bentley dipped his head, “I’m just the stall boy, ma’am. I was hoping you could teach me some stuff.”

“Today, we’ll be discussing courtship practices. Although they vary from realm to realm, and even within kingdoms, there are a few things that are standard to courting. The most notable similarity is that courting, unlike dating, takes place in public. While you may visit the domicile during dating, you would not in a courtship. Also, though it may vary in length between visits, they’re usually more spaced out like in most early dating type relationships. There is a lot of value put on respecting how each other feels, listening to their wants and needs, and because of the public interaction, being aware of hints expressed by the other person. Though courtship isn’t common anymore, many royal and high up families still participate in the practice.”

Bentley, of course, raised his hand the moment she stopped speaking.

“Yes, Bentley?”

“I want to court the girl who milks the livestock but I don’t know how.”

“The first step is establishing an open line of communication, where you state your intentions and gain her family’s approval as well as her acceptance of the courtship.”

“I have her family’s approval, but I only speak one language and she doesn’t seem to know it.”

“Unfortunately, the only way to remedy that is to learn how to communicate with her or move on to a more suitable match,” Shea said before turning to address the class. “Compatibility is the foundation of a successful courtship.”

Bentley began taking notes aloud, “Foundation…courtship.” He looked up at Shea, and she was lost again in the small upturn at the edges of his lips, not quite a smile but close. “What else?” he said, as though she had been listening the whole time.

She was frustrated by his game.

She tried to remember something she could respond with, and he had avoided discussing magic the night before.

“Being in a kingdom with a significant proportion of fire fairies, magical compatibility is also an important consideration. Though in other kingdoms, it may not be.” She watched for any signs from him or the class that she should stop talking, and confess she had no idea what he had said were important. Everyone looked amused, but not any more than they had already been.

Shea continued, “Many fairies have limitations in selecting a partner, because of magical considerations.”

She hoped no one would point out that Drey and Aadya could give magic, to at least bridge the gap for fire fairies, which seemed to have the most difficulty containing their magic.

“This is fascinating information,” Bentley said. “Would you say it’s a bad idea to mix something like fire and air?”

Shea blushed. In a rare moment for her, she knew her skin was stained red.

The class knew too.

With a straight face, she fixated on Bentley, her teeth digging into her tongue as she regained control of her emotions and prevented herself from laughing.

“That depends on their personalities,” she answered.

She could taste blood in her mouth.

“So having compatible magics is only part of it,” Bentley stated.

He was enthralled. He had tried to date Indigo, it must have been just as entertaining for him if it ended in wine thrown at him.

“Yes,” Shea said. “Are there any other questions?”

She had forgotten the world the night before, letting herself get lost in banter. She promised to remember the class today.

Silence.

“I’m enjoying the benefits,” Bentley said as he stood and looked around the class, “still, I don’t want to miss my milk friend.”

“Enjoy the rest of your day,” Shea said as Bentley left the room.

“Moving on,” she announced to the class.

“Who was that?” A student asked.

“No one,” Shea replied as she continued with her lessons for the day.