3 Years Later

The Academy~ Gierce, Gierce

The most shocking thing about coming back to work at the same place you went to school at is the fact that everything changes. There used to be a bathroom there? Not anymore you idiot. So you're stuck wandering around a building that you used to live in trying to find the damn bathroom like a fool and it turns out that bathrooms have suddenly ceased to exist now that you're trying to find one. 

The one saving grace is the fact that class is not in session yet. There would be far too much dignity lost if an infamous assassin like Aletta, who has taken down entire governments (small governments, but governments nevertheless), is somehow unable to find the bathroom. Aletta's body may not listen to her like it used to and she may be a cripple but she isn't stupid. 

Though it is far too easy to wander the halls in the middle of the night in a school meant for training assassins, even without a cane and Aletta knows she's been walking around loud enough to wake herself if she was asleep. Someone should remedy that probably. Whatever the case, Aletta has been looking for a bathroom for the last half hour and her irritation is slowly starting to grow. The temptation to shift and just go in the woods, which was already strong to begin with, is beginning to take over. It's not like Aletta's never peed as a wolf before. 

Before Aletta can stoop so low again however, a light at the end of the hallway flickers on. Feet shuffle on the wooden floor and Aletta must be more lost in thought then she thought because she normally doesn't miss things like that and she hasn't since her academy days. 

No matter. Perhaps this new person will know where a bathroom is. 

Before the doorknob can even twist in Aletta's hand, the person in the office begins to speak. 

"I'd heard you were back, Aletta. Hold on just a moment, I have something for you." The voice is raspy and belongs to Sandra Peroli, an older cyclops lady from Nessik, who waves at Aletta before turning back to the papers she was obviously already rifling through. Sandra Peroli is a friendly lady, with long grey hair and a warm brown eye. At the moment, Sandra's hair is in a loose bun and a knitted sweater is wrapped loosely around her upper body. 

Aletta huffs. Figures that the person Aletta's run into is also the one civilian The Academy has employed at the moment. Sandra has no idea of the actual purpose of The Academy, which is to train killers, assassins, and pretty much anyone who wants to make killing into a career. It makes Sandra both a huge asset and a fantastically huge liability for multiple reasons. One of the biggest liabilities is Sandra's protection from former, more bitter graduates. Usually there is a student around to make sure that no one's going to murder Sandra but it seems Sandra is lacking her usual shadow this early in the morning. Maybe she outgrew having a student guardian. Sandra not knowing also makes it hard to have conversations with her because you hate to lie to such a sweet old lady. It probably works in her favor that she's innocent in all of this, because Sandra would have achieved world peace or something at this point if she was an academy graduate. Sandra Peroli is a force to be reckoned with, and many underestimate her because she's blind. Not that blind people are helpless. Sandra herself is a great example of this. Despite her blindness, for reasons never actually explained to the students at The Academy, Sandra is the librarian. Aletta's also pretty sure Sandra doesn't have an actual shelving system because no one has ever actually been able to find a book without looking for hours unless they ask for Sandra for help. 

Just goes to show you can do whatever you want Aletta guesses. A triumphant crow from Sandra jars Aletta once again from her reverie. Aletta has been far too distracted as of the late, but she supposes she can excuse it for the time being until everything settles back down in her life. It's not everyday you become a cripple after all. 

Distantly, Aletta's leg throbs. She ignores it, well practised already in pushing down the pain. 

Sandra waves Aletta a small stack of letters bundled together with a red ribbon, the address scrawled in a familiar handwriting Aletta hasn't seen in years. "Right. Here it is dear. I've been trying to hunt you down and give this to you but you've never stayed anywhere long enough for it to reach you in the mail in time. I did appreciate all those letters you sent me though, thank you. It's always nice when former students try and keep in touch."

If Aletta's leg worked right, she would be shifting nervously from foot to foot. As it is, the pure chore that it is to even walk, or hobble really is more like what Aletta does, Aletta just swallows. Aletta is wishing more and more wish every passing second that she brought her cane with her on her trip to the bathroom. It would make it easier for her to walk. Or stand even. Aletta takes the letters, handles them like a precious treasure. "I did my best. Thank you for these Ms. Peroli." 

"No problem dear. And I know I don't have to tell you the light's always on if you ever want to drop by."

"No mam, thank you."

"Of course dear. Well I think I'll go reshelve some books. Leave you to your thoughts. I hope these letters weren't too urgent." Sandra is already halfway towards the door by the time Aletta finally gathers her thoughts enough to respond.

"No. They aren't. You should've burned them when you had the chance."
"Aletta!" scolds Sandra. Aletta winces, and she's not sure if it's from the pain or being scolded by Sandra. 

"Sorry Ms. Peroli," sighs Aletta. She glances ruefully back at the bundle of letters in her hand. "It's just been awhile since I've heard from this person. I never wanted to hear from him again."

"Well sometimes opinions change dear." Sandra pats Aletta's elbow and Aletta's not actually sure when Sandra got so close but it's comforting. "I'll leave you to it. You know where to find me if you need anything."

"Thank you Ms. Peroli. I'll keep that in mind," says Aletta, and she means it. 

Aletta's almost back to her room by the time she realises she never remembered to ask about the bathroom.