(I like to use first person perspective for backstory so this is Alton reminiscing on the train)
The early years in school were easy arithmetic, sciences, social studies, and especially literature were easy for me giving me little challenge, leaving my mind to wander to the more creative thoughts that were pushed to the side by everyone else I knew in this school. I grew restless and bored, so I began mimicking the clockwork movements of the teachers and nannies looking for approval through laughter and smiles.
At 13 things started getting harder, I was the only Halfling in my classes so obviously the cruel cynicism of the teens came upon me like a storm. I snuck out one night unable to sleep next to the cruel people that bullied me every day, I wandered the dark empty streets of the school watching the moon climb its shaky path. I took refuge on the roof of a dorm using my jacket as a pillow, but as I lay my head down I heard crying come from the floor beneath me. I took the stairs down and followed the sound to a children’s dorm, it was packed with bunk beds each filled with a small child trying to sleep but surely awake because of the crying. I walked silently to the last bed where a small half-elf girl balled into her pillow.
“Hey don’t cry, don’t cry. Brave girls never cry.” I cooed.
”But I want my mommy and daddy.” She responded.
Crap, umm… “I’m sorry but you’re not gonna see them again, but now you have a whole city of brothers and sisters.” I brushed away the hair that clung to her face and dabbed away tears with my shirt sleeve. “How about I sing you a song and you try to sleep ok?” She gave a small nod. I began singing a tune I could barely remember, the voice that sang it lost like the face that moved the lips but it was a sweet song I remembered. As the final notes fell from my lips it was replaced with a soft snoring that filled the whole room. I snuck out the room closing the door softly behind me, as I turned a clockwork nanny stood there waiting for me. “I was just…”
“You are to report here for your elective training and evening session.” The nanny said monotonously, it handed me a new class schedule before turning around and walking down the hall. I looked down at the schedule and it read:
1st Bell Arithmetic
2nd Bell Social Science
3rd Bell Biological Science
4th Bell Essay Writing
5th Bell Bardic Study
6th Bell Arcane and Divine Spellcasting
I exceled in my new studies my boredom replaced with a drive to create. I visited the same dorm every night singing the children to sleep till the night before I left to get on this God awful train with a broken cooling unit, but that night someone found me again as I left.
“You know you can get booted on to the west train even now, it doesn’t matter that you’re leaving tomorrow.” Said a feminine voice from behind me as I closed the door, I turned to a fit young half-elf leaning against the wall.
“I won’t tell if you don’t.” I said walking up to her, lifting my eyebrows suggestively.
“Don’t be trying to charm me furry feet, it won’t work.” She slid down the wall so her knees were to her chest and her eyes level with mine.
“You don’t know how many times I’ve heard that.” I replied.
“Once and it happened about 5 seconds ago” She said calling me out.
“Who are you?” I asked annoyed.
“What you don’t recognize me, maybe I should put my hair in my face and start crying.” She mimicked a pillow with her arms and faked a sob.
“It’s you the little girl from the first night.” I almost exclaimed, she nodded finishing her pantomime. “You sure have changed, really more of a woman now than a girl.”
“And if it wasn’t for that ugly beard yours you’d still be mistaken as a child.” She jested.
“You seem to have found a mean satire. I’m guessing they put you into the justice elective.” I sat next to her in the hall.
“Yeah, you kind of build up a wall around yourself when you have nothing but a bunch of jerks for classmates.” She tilted her head so it lay on my shoulder.
“So why did you come find me on my last night?” I asked enjoying the scent of her hair.
“Well, I kind of wanted to confess my love to you.” She said blushing. “I’ve liked you since that first night you came here and I’ve been watching you from afar ever since.” She lifted her head from my shoulder and looked me in the eyes. “I know what you’re going to say that I’m some stalker with an obsession, and I might be but I’m sorry I need to do this at least once.” Her lips were as soft as a cloud as she placed them on mine, and when she pulled them away it felt like she stole part of my heart with them.
I watched her stand up quickly and jog down the hall, as she turned the corner I yelled out from my stunned silence. “What’s your name?!”
“Morgana Taurandir” She said placing a hand on the wall to stop herself, she looked back to me once more. “Goodbye Alton.”
“Goodbye Morgana."
