“-and that’s that.” yawwwwn “Go ahead and uh…practice till this session is over. M’gonna look for my coffee.” A crack at the neck brought relief for Hazan, the professor for this flight class.

The wind blew a cold gust as Hazan took a slow seat at a tree stump, finally having that long glug of caffeine. He was gonna need it if he wanted to be alert enough to at least give each student one point of where they could improve. He tapped the ground slow, his ear flickering as he watched.

‘Mgh..look’s like Roman is improving, needs less distraction, that kid is definitely going to daydream off his broom.’ His eyes lazily followed a small trio off to the side. “Mmm…” ‘Seem’s the little vigilantes are having trouble with Spruce.’

From his view, Spruce was barely leaving the ground but had a very shaky broom. Ester and Kaiden, his two friends seemed to wave their arms and emulate what he should try doing. While Hazan thought about where the three could all improve, and considered writing it down so he wouldn’t forget, there was a troublesome shout near 10 feet off the ground.

“You two, no wings are allowed! This is the broom flight class you know!” With a wavering voice, this strong headed girl continues. “It’s okay outside class, b-but please keep to the brooms!”

Ah, it’s their class president.

This was a usual sight for their class.

“Why can’t we use them all the time, flying with a broom is booooring!” The strix girl chirped.

“Maybe when we’re tired we can consider it.” Came from her fellow strix.

Hazan was not a very strict teacher when it came to technicalities, they said they were flying and were in the air as they argued, who was he to say they weren’t? But the class president was one to scold anyone for not really listening to the things Hazan said or rather grunted, mumbled, yawned out or idly mentioned. Which he did appreciate.

His concern was how it looked as if she would fall from her broom at any moment. Her grip was very tight, she had shaky legs, and was still in the support steering phase of learning.

Which is when the strix caught eye of it.

“Hey! What is this shiny thing you have on your broom? How come you can use this but we can’t fly hm?”

The male strix swoops around and tilts his head at the contraption. “Yes…what is it?”

At the bombardment of questions, the class president couldn’t help but blurt out a random string of words, not comprehensible and lowered herself to the ground. “B-but you just!! That’s very rude! It’s private! I’m just-..j-just not as good as everyone else! That’s all! My pace is a bit slower!!” 

When she finally touched down, face flushed with embarrassment, she gathered up her broom and stomped away swiftly from the two curious winged students.

That was when Hazan felt he should step in, as soon as he had another chug of his coffee.

“Again, I…couldn’t hold my form and my balance was off. Am I just afraid of heights? No…I’ve been up many towers, climbed all sorts of stairs, is it something else?” 

“You’re just gettin’ nerves kid.” The friendly advice came with a hefty smack on the shoulder, scaring the young woman for a moment before she looked away. “The skies around here aren’t unruly, so feel it out.” 

“Uhm…professor, you usually teach us without the books since that’s your teaching method, which I definitely respect as my superior, but could I be honest?”

“Sure.” Hazan shrugs, pocketing his hands. “Shoot.”

“It’s the worst.”

Well, he expected something like that.

“Look I uh…don’t do the whole written homework junk a lot of professors do cuz it just ain't much my schtick until the headmaster bugs me for it. The best way to fly is-” He’s cut off by her mimicking tired tone.

“‘Flying with your gut’, yes you’ve said it once and you have said it many times before, but professor how can I fly with my gut if it’s full of- er, butterflies?”

“Never had those..” Hazan scratches his chin.

“Please, I’m begging you. This is the only class where I’m behind most of the students. If I’m to be the best class president I can be, then I need to keep myself ahead to guide whoever needs my help.” She sighs, looking away. “If I’m unable to even help myself, how can they expect that I’m capable?”

This made Hazan think, what could he do that could help her pick up what he was putting down. There was no way he’d be able to get through to her with the usual ‘feel it in your soul’ so maybe if he relayed to her an experience..

“I can hear your trouble, why don’t we have a minute after your classes today and I’ll think over what exactly to say to you.”

Relief washed over the class president with a sigh, wiping her forehead. “Thank you for hearing me out, Professor! I’ll be meeting you here at evening sharp! You won’t regret this!” 

Hazan nods to her as she takes off for the next class, and goes over exactly which story of his to tell her.