Grey met Finnegan in the classroom. “Why are you always late?” Finnegan asked.
Grey ignored him and sat in his noisy middle seat.
“How was your night?” Finnegan asked another question but then answered. “My body ached as soon as I got into bed, then when I woke up the pain was worse. I hate those autumn leaves! I hope no leaves have fallen today! Otherwise, I will get a heart attack and die!”
Grey scratched his head. “This tunic really weighs one down,” he randomly said, paying no attention to Finnegan’s complaints.
Finnegan studied Grey’s sapphire robe and lifted the material. “It’s not that heavy, it’s actually really silky smooth,” he said, amazed. “Feel my robe.” He forced Grey’s hand on his red robe. “It’s rough and tacky! I have no clue why I need to wear it! And, look at the buttons they are yellow! That does not match! Grey, I prefer your robe, it has a classy, cool look and feel about it.”
Grey felt the rough texture in his hand, Finnegan’s tunic was rather course and woolly, he thought and guessed he should be thankful, at least he had soft, smooth silk as a fabric rather than course twilled cotton.
“Thanks, Fyn,” Grey said moving his hand back to his seat. “The yellow buttons make your robe look like you have medals, especially that golden phoenix badge.”
“Really?” Finnegan said, looking down at his buttons. “Will you look at that! It actually does, I have 15 medal buttons!” he exclaimed. “I just got this golden badge from my mother this morning, I think she said it has something to do with fire that can’t kill the phoenix.”
“That’s interesting,” Grey said, not really interested.
“You have a badge too!” Finnegan said, eyeing Grey’s tunic. “What is that? A dragon? A dragon badge?”
Grey looked down at his tunic, he had not noticed that there was a badge pinned to his tunic. “Oh, I do have one. It does look like a dragon. The badge is a sapphire gem,” said Grey, lifting it up, examining it closely. “My mother must have put it on. She likes to accessorise my clothes.” He let go of the sapphire badge.
As Finnegan was excitedly touching his buttons Mrs Wretchered walked into the classroom, her overflowing dark blue dress touched the tiled ground, she lifted her wooden staff and slammed it on the tiles, demanding silence and everyone to be seated.
The students in the classroom immediately hushed and sat alert in their seats.
“Finally, the third day has arrived,” she said, standing in front of the entire class, gripping her staff. “Now that everyone has settled in comfortably. I am sure that everyone has made friends new and old friends. Isn’t that a great thing about school?” She smiled, but it came out as a frown. “But fortunately there will be class changes,” she said, her smiling frown deepened. “The real lessons and teaching will begin.”
“Class changes?” A few of students murmured.
“Real teaching? Real lessons?” A few other students questioned, wondering what exactly this meant.
“The confused expressions on your faces are such a wonderful sight,” said Mrs Wretchered with laughter but it came out like a witch cackle. “I will explain.”
She lifted her staff and placed it against the wall. She began to write on the blackboard, the white chalk made an annoying squeaky sound.
“I expect you to take detailed notes to ensure you never forget,” she said as she chalked down five numbered colours on the blackboard, all the students opened their notebooks on their desks and began to copy what she wrote.
1. Red 2. Blue 3. Yellow 4. Brown 5. Green
“The definition of class changes is only the afternoon classes. That is after your lunch, you will go to your various classes based on these colours on the board. The colours numbered on this board are the colour of your tunics, robes if you will.”
All the students looked down at the colour of their robes, majority of them wore green robes.
“Do these robes have meaning?” One green robed student asked.
“I did not witness your hand being raised, Miss Emma Francis, only your annoying voice that interrupted me. Has everyone forgotten their manners?” Mrs Wretchered asked. “If you have a question, you should be aware by now that your hand needs to be raised.”
Emma lowered her head in shame at the comment Mrs Wretchered had made.
“Now, let me explain. The colour of your robes depicts your bloodline, strengths, flexibility and most likely your entire future. As you are aware the entire land requires significant, talented and skilled individuals in order to keep the economy at a positive growth, this includes the defence, urban development, agricultural and other impertinent systems within the land of HanaDhulRhys. I am sure you have written history tests on the systems and hopefully you have all passed.”
Many of the students looked oddly at each other, some tried to recall the lessons taught in their previous years but nothing seemed to come to mind.
“Well, if you do not remember I suggest you remind yourself when you return home and re-read the 500 page text book on the history and systems of this land. We also have dozens of copies in the library. But enough of the history you do not remember.” Mrs Wretchered continued her lesson. “According to your tunic colours, they will depict what lessons you will be taught this year. Let’s begin with the red robes.” She turned to the blackboard and encircled the first numbered item.
“Those who are wearing red robes in this class stand,” she instructed and the students including Finnegan stood to their feet.
“The red robes are known as Swordsmen, this is the class of experts in skills of hand to hand combat as well various weaponry, including long range. You might notice that all your tunics have red buttons except for Prince Finnegan Rhys, his buttons are golden,” explained Mrs Wretchered and then called Finnegan to the front of the class.
“Finnegan Rhys is already set as the heir of this entire land of HanaDhulRhys, he will be the King in the future. Hence, his buttons on his robe are golden and he has a golden phoenix badge,” she said, pointing at the golden buttons and the golden phoenix badge on Finnegan’s robe.
“His robe will never change nor will his bloodline but for the rest of you who wear the red robes, your robes are highly unlikely to change but there is a possibility that they might. But that isn’t important at this moment, what is important to note is that depending on your skill and progress, your level will increase and specific badges will be given according to skill. This will assist in your placement in the future.”
Mrs Wretchered sent Finnegan back to his seat.
“Everyone, may be seated,” she said, as she finished explaining the significance of the red robes.
All the red tunic students sat down.
“Moving to the second coloured robes,” said Mrs Wretchered, turning to the blackboard again and she circled the second numbered robe –Blue, she turned around facing the class as she explained the importance of the blue robes.
“The blue robes represent Mages, this is solely chosen by bloodline and cannot be changed. All those with blue robes stand,” she instructed.
There were only three students including Grey who had the blue robes. Mrs Wretchered called Grey to the front before she continued explaining. He stood from his seat, a question in his eyes as he followed her request.
“Young, Mage Grey Ethel has been chosen as one of the main leaders of the Mages, you will notice the different shading on his sleeves and his sapphire badge of a water dragon.” She lifted Grey’s sleeve. “They are a darker blue than the rest of the Mage robes. The Mages are unique as the skill is fairly different than your average combat but that isn’t for the rest to know. Each Mage like the red robes will also be provided with specific badges, indicating their skill and level. This will depend on their progress but there is only one water dragon sapphire badge,” she explained, pointing at the glinting badge attached to Grey’s chest. “He is meant to be one of the main leaders of the Mages but enough on Mages, only Mage students shall witness and understand the systems and power of the Mage.”
She indicated that Grey should sit down.
“All you blue robes may be seated,” she instructed.
Mrs Wretchered wrote a few details on the blackboard, she highlighted the categories of skill attached to the colour of the robes and then she circled the third colour –Yellow on the board.
“The next robe colour, number three is yellow, these are known as the Stellers, they are the strategic planners. They concentrate on research, design and planning. Their knowledge will exceed the Mages and the Swordsman hence, they are an integral part of the entire system. Please stand,” instructed Mrs Wretchered.
The students wearing yellow robes stood.
“The current student chosen to lead this group of Stellers is in another school but please note that in order for you to identify your future leader, the person will be wearing an orange belt and will have yellow diamond spider as a badge. But in any case, every one of you will be handed badges according to skill and progress. Please take your seats,” said Mrs Wretchered and the students obeyed.
Mrs Wretchered wrote more notes on the blackboard. “These are the three primary colours, Red, Blue and Yellow. The next colour is Brown,” said Mrs Wretchered. She circled the fourth coloured number on the blackboard and turned around to explain the colour.
“If you have been paying attention in your previous youthful years, the mixing of colours were taught and this was not a mistake or a flimsy creative hobby for your enjoyment. The mixing of Red, Blue and Yellow create Brown. This is a demonstration of combination, otherwise known in HanaDhulRhys as support. Those wearing brown robes please stand to your feet.”
The girl with the red hair that Grey identified as a gossiping girl stood to her feet with the other brown robed individuals.
“These robes represent the Ellvers, the skills that will be learnt are a combination. They will include combat but they are focused on healing attributes. Although, your main function is healing and salves, you will still be involved in strategic plans. You are vital as a support role to every one of the primary colours,” said Mrs Wretchered and then called the red haired girl to the front of the class.
“Riona Iris, has been chosen to lead this Ellvers group, you will notice her shading of her robe on her left sleeve is light blue and her bronze agate badge, it is a Hawk. This is an indication of leadership. Even though, she is the main leader of this entire group, there will be sub-commanders and this will depend on your skill and progress as the rest of the other robes,” she said and instructed Riona and the other brown robed students to sit down.
The brown robed students took their seats whilst Mrs Wretchered wrote a few notes on the board and then circled the final fifth colour but she did not stop there, she linked each and every one of the colours together.
“Finally, we reach the green robed students. Please stand,” she instructed.
The majority of the students in the class wore green, they all stood.
“These students represent the life of the cities, they are the heart of the economy and the land of HanaDhulRhys. As I mentioned earlier on the point of flexibility. These green robes specialities will vary even to the point of changing robes to the Red, Yellow or Brown, depending on their skill and interests. The green robes will have more flexibility, even if this is so, it should be noted that all robes have their important roles. Now everyone stand,” Mrs Wretchered commanded.
Grey, Finnegan, Riona and the rest of their classmates stood to their feet.
“This third day, you have advanced from student to visionary. Although, you are still students, you will learn to settle and become the robes that have been chosen from your birth as well as from your capabilities.”
Mrs Wretchered eyed every one of her standing students.
“Remember you are all a part of the land of HanaDhulRhys, there is no-one not even the King who is more important than this land. We are all linked in more ways than one,” Mrs Wretchered said her final words of the lesson. “We shall have a small ten minute recess.”
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