Leopold

  The sun was burning. He clumsily swept the courtyard of the house. It was hot.

  Marko helped the two gardeners employed at the academy to water the pnts.

  Leopold was bored. Although the work kept him busy, the tasks were usually very monotonous. He had very little free time and in the hours he had, Marko often stu, as Finn appreciated being alone.

  Leopold did not make any progress. He had something to do iy, but he hadn't had an opportunity yet. On behalf of his home vilge, he was supposed to pick up a package from an old friend of the vilge elder. An important package. But he could not reach the city without a direct order from the princess. The servants were closely monitored by the staff of the Academy. Without a signed note from Julia with a clear order, he couldn't get out. And without her direct permission, he couldn't get very far from her.

  He found it difficult to assess the princess. She was friendly. She en. She olite. She was very pretty.

  Her kindness had surprised him. He had imagined her a spoiled brat, but the girl, who was three years younger, was not spoiled. Would she let him go into town if he asked? Should he risk asking? Or would this arouse suspi? He needed a reason... Sending a letter? No... The academy had its own mailbox and post offiobody had to leave the premises... Should he write to his tao. The mail of the servants was strictly monitored. There was no privacy... He could not have the package sent to him. The danger was too great that the staff of the post office checked the package. It opened.

  That was unthinkable! Unfivable. The fate of his homend depended on this package.

  Better I wait a little longer... Perhaps the opportunity will e all by itself.

  Julia

  "I have a few more annous, now at the end of the lesson," said her css teacher, a short, round man with a long beard. he sat on top of his desk. "Please remember that we have a fairy pgue here. Please do not leave sweets ar open. That would lure fairies into the building, who then steal everything that tastes sweet. And please remember that week we are celebrating our back-to-school party. The higher csses will offer activities. I heard that one of the graduating csses is pnning a water fight. As a student iry-level csses, there will be a wele event for you in the auditorium at ten o'clock. Please all be on time." He packed up his things ao the door. "As homework, please read pages 23 to 26 of the book. We will write a little review about this tomorrow. I wish you all a nice day."

  "A test?" Helga groaned. "I wao see the city today. I’m going to learn now, instead..."

  "It's just supposed to be a small test. I'm sure you still go to the city." Julia packed her bag. oimetable was history. The partment took p another room at the end of the hallway. Only after the two hours of feng in the gym would she have her first hour in magi another building.

  She had to admit to herself that she etending csses with others. But she would have preferred to do that without the st subject.

  Why 't I be a normal person?

  Marko

  Marko noticed Finn watg them from the window. He did not miss the longing look in the eyes of the younger werewolf. He waved to Finn, who waved back shyly and the back to work.

  The watering have to be filled with water again, so he went to the rge water pump that stood in the courtyard.

  Marko was restless. Tonight was full moon. And like all werewolves, he loo run freely through the ndscape as a wolf. What should he do tonight?

  The water pump jammed slightly. He boriously pumped fresh water into the jug ao one of the many bushes. The two gardeners had a rexed versation a most of the work to him. Marko would have liked to tell them his opinion. He felt them watch him disparagingly.

  "When you're done," one of the gardeuro him, "Then we'll have nothi for you. Then you report to the undry. o to the kit... Or wherever else you work, puppy."

  Marko’s anger boiled up. Puppy. Leopold, too, seemed ed. The elf put the broom aside. "What did you call him?"

  "Don't start a fight," warhe ardener. "You don’t want to get your wings damaged. Right? For whom do you work? The spoiled brat doesn't care what will bee of you."

  "I'm not a dog and Leopold is not a boy. We work for the princess, in case you o know. And I'm sure she sees her servants being able to work as important and will not appreciate your behavior," Marko lied. He wasn't sure at all. He just hoped so. The princess seemed very nid did not treat him like an object. Instead, she let him speak openly, insisting that her servants had time for themselves every night after dinner, and half an hour after lunch.

  "The princess?" The gardener, who had called him a dog, ughed. "Why should a priake care of her servants? She surely has plenty of them in the castle. And now get to work, pooch!"

  Julia

  After the history lesson, there was finally a break. The break sted half an hour and many of the students went to the dining hall, where drinks and small snacks were offered for the breakfast break. Normally, during this time, she always went up to her room and ate something there to escape the hustle and bustle around her. But today she wao make friends. Sophie was right. She wanted friends. And it wasn't Helga and Philip, even though she spent time with them. But the way that they talked to her. She didn't like it.

  She quickly hurried after the girl with whom she had spoken in the m. Marie.

  Marie seemed nid open.

  "Marie, wait," she called after her, as Marie was already on her way to the dining room with Pia.

  Marie stopped in surprise and looked at Julia expetly. Her seatmate Pia also looked surprised.

  "Do you mind if I join you two?"

  Pia shook her head perplexed, while Marie nodded eagerly. "No, we don’t mind. Right? Pia?" Marie looked at her friend.

  Pia smiled. "e along, princess. The cheese rolls taste delicious! Or don't you like cheese rolls? There are also other sandwiches..."

  "I like cheese rolls. Thank you"

  The three made their way together to the rge dining room. Pia talked about her two older siblings, who were both mortal and whom she already missed terribly. Marie told me about her little sister and that they didn't yet know if she was a witch or not. Julia listeo them. She became painfully aware of how much she missed Peter. How much she missed his jokes.

  They used to dream of going to the academy together. Before Peter had to realize that he was not a magi and Julia realized that she wanted something else for herself.

  Later she wao write him a letter. And she also wao write to Paul and Ingried. Ingried lived in the capital. Maybe she could visit her? Paul lived in a town on the edge of werewolf territory. Unfortunately, that was too far away for a visit.

  "What do you like to do in your free time?", Marie wao know. "I like to paint."

  "I read a lot. Unfortunately, I 't paint at all. And what do you like to do Pia?"

  "I paint too. Just like Marie. I don't like reading so much. I hope we don't get more reading homework. First in politid then ten pages in history."

  "I think it would be funny if we were given reading homework in feng...", Julia objected. In the meahey arrived in the dining room. There was a rge buffet with sandwiches and drinks. Julia and Pia took a cheese sandwich, and Marie took a pretzel without toppings.

  The three talked all the time. Julia noticed that Pia was very strong-willed and Marie very appreciative. The two were very different from Helga and Philip, who generally sidered themselves better thaher students. Philip in particur was stantly pining about the quality of the food, the teag, and, everything in general. Helga especially did not like the dormitory. Pia and Marie, oher hand, felt very fortable at the Academy.

  The break ended after some time and the three went to their feng lesson together, which apparently only Pia was looking forward to.