The Headmistress didn’t take much longer to break from her reverie and come to a decision.
“We will leave this arrangement as it is. Wolfe, you will no longer be a hall monitor. As a Familiar, your responsibility is to your Witches, so you will go to classes with them when required, like any other Familiar.
As far as sleeping arrangements, I am not going to ask, and as a ward of the Academy, until your investigation is done, you still have a room of your own. You will still be the Teacher’s Assistant in the afternoon practical skills class since there isn’t a replacement, and both of your Witches are here anyhow.” The Headmistress instructed.
“We will also be adding someone to your Study group. Reiko Morgan, the Coven Leader’s youngest daughter. Her existing social group was determined to be a bad influence by her mother, so I hope you can help turn her around and keep her on track.”
They hadn’t officially formed their study group yet, but Both Cassie and Ella had a pretty good idea of who it could include. Though, with only ten total people in the class, and the regular class students being on such a different level than the Class A first years, there wasn’t really much to choose from.
“Go get something to eat, learn about your Familiars, and don’t feed your dog chocolate or candies, Mary. Get your study groups organized, and we will see you next week.” The teacher ordered them before physically shoving them out the door to talk to the Headmistress. An impressive feat for a woman as small and old as she was.
“Well, let’s go to the cafeteria. All the seniors should be there waiting on us to arrive. Can you imagine the look on their face at this super fluffy puppy?” Mary asked.
“Nope, but it’s going to be great,” Wolfe answered. He could guarantee that it wasn’t the pup that was going to cause the next wave of gossip in the lunch room, though.
By the time they arrived, the cafeterias were all completely packed, and there were First Year students everywhere in the hallways. They couldn’t even get close to their goal.
The tall blonde witch known as Reiko was near the main floor doors to the dorm rooms with a small creature in her arms. It was wrapped up in a blue wool blanket, so Wolfe couldn’t tell what it was, but she seemed happy about her Familiar, unlike Christa, who had physically restrained her Goblin with multiple ropes and was the butt of many jokes among the others born from Upper Noble Families.
“Hey Reiko, did you get the memo about the study group?” Mary called out, as most of the sports-minded group from the regular class came out to join them with their new Familiars. Some were missing, either still trying or having failed, but the vast majority had some sort of Familiar with them.
“I did. It’s a pleasure to meet you all.” Reiko answered with a polite smile.
“Why don’t we all head to the gardens out back? I saw benches there, where we can talk, away from the crowds.” Wolfe suggested.
“That would be pleasant. I will ask the staff to bring a light snack.” Reiko agreed in true noble fashion, then paused and blushed.
“Sorry, I forgot we were at the Academy, where things are different. Should we grab something on our way?” She stammered.
“How about I grab drinks and snacks and meet you all there? I assume you all know each other from this morning, but I would also guess that you didn’t interact much.” Wolfe suggested.
Taking the back way to the staff cafeteria to grab refreshments, Wolfe passed by the entrance to the running track and pools, finding a small group gathered there, looking through the locked door, as the facility wasn’t open for the semester yet.
“It opens tomorrow, and a group of upperclassmen, including some Class A Witches, will be there to practice and socialize. If you want to meet them, I suggest you come.” Wolfe suggested.
“Do you think they will welcome us? I mean, it is also the Second and third-year Witches, right?” One of the new students asked.
“I met them today, and I am certain they will. The Academy doesn’t have sports teams, so the Witches that want to practice physical skills outside of combat classes group together on their own.” Wolfe told them.
He would remind the girls about the event once he made it to the garden. They could always use more friends.
“Thanks, Wolfe. You’re way cooler than what the others said.” One of the girls cheered, giving Wolfe a fist bump before he left for the staff cafeteria.
He got the drinks and snacks in only a few seconds, as the staff had been expecting such a request, but his group wasn’t the only one in the Gardens by the time he made it there, and some familiar faces had joined them. A few groups of Witches from the other classes were there as well, for the same reason, escaping the crowd inside who were all gushing over the newly summoned Familiars.
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“You’re a lifesaver. But what took you so long?” Ella asked.
“There were a bunch of students checking out the pool and track. I stopped to chat, and they’re going to come to visit the regulars tomorrow when the pool opens. I heard that some of our local Witches have a thing for handsome girls with toned abs, so I didn’t think the group would mind.”
“Swim team girls, was it? I’m in. Maybe I can find a new partner.” Kandi answered a bit too quickly.
“That is the normal way of things. These initial study groups only usually last a few months unless there is a group assignment. All five of my older sisters went through the same thing when they were in the Academy.” Reiko explained, missing the meaning behind Kandi’s words.
“Oh, are any of them still here? They could be valuable assistants when you’re stuck on a spell.” Ella suggested, but Reiko shook her head.
“The next is three years older than me, so she graduated last year. You heard about the old student council treasurer, right?” Reiko asked, and all the girls nodded.
“Everyone agrees that she was such a bitch, though. How did you end up so nice?” Asia asked, and Wolfe almost choked on his tongue. This was not the cute Witch Academy Idol behaviour his fantasies and the media had sold him on.
Reiko shook her head in dismay. “If you thought she was bad here, you should see her at home where there aren’t any rules to stop her. If I make it through this year, I am asking for a transferred position upon graduation. Even a wilderness administrator or monster control assignment. Anything to not go back to the City.”
Wilderness Administrator? The news in the city said that nobody actually lived out in the wilderness other than in a few fortified villages, only monsters and mutants. Wolfe knew the city news hid more than a few things from them, but how much didn’t he know about the world? Could there be places where people really lived normal lives outdoors, away from the control of the Coven?
If it were an option, spending time in the wilderness away from prying eyes would really help him build his strength as a Magi. Once he had better control, he could even challenge the monsters and get rich off their bodies. There were a lot of valuable spell ingredients in a monster’s body.
When they ended their meeting, both Reiko and Mary, along with all the sports fans and Cassie, had agreed to come to the pool in the morning to swim and meet new people, which meant Wolfe needed another trip to the storage area.
He hadn’t picked up swim trunks because he hadn’t thought he would have a need for them here. He wondered what he should pick. Long shorts? A speedo? No, that was too tacky for someone who wasn’t a professional swimmer.
The decision was made for him in the supply room. There was a free Academy logo set of gym clothes, including swim shorts, and it was all that was currently available for men’s swimwear. Wolfe had missed that fact yesterday when he picked out his training outfits. It also came with very light running shoes and a pair of swim goggles, in case you needed them or wanted to truly train your aquatic skills.