A Proper Education: Chapter Four

The next day began just as the last one had.

And the one after that—

And the one after that.

Credence lost count of how many days—or weeks—or months—went by while she remained inside the school. She dreamed of a time when she was free to walk the woods and do as she wished. The danger they held became a longed-for adventure, far preferable to painting and talking about colors.

It was the same kind of longing, Credence realized, that once made her restless at home.

One morning Credence woke early and went to a window in her sleeping quarters, taking a moment to herself in the peace and quiet. She had a view of the courtyard, with its stone path and orchard. It was a pleasant scene, as the fingers of sunrise lightly traced over it, but the trees of the orchard were not particularly pretty, gnarled as they were, and Credence doubted they would ever bear fruit. They were out of place in such a lovely setting, but Credence thought little of it as her eyes wandered above the gated courtyard and towards the buildings of the towns. The streets were already busy with people, strangers Credence would never know the names of, moving like ants with their own unknown purpose. It was a peculiar thing to comprehend they all had lives and memories and dreams. The thought made Credence feel insignificant, so she turned from the window to begin her daily routine. The rest of the room woke and she dressed Tildy before walking in a silent line to breakfast.

Credence didn't ask any more questions of her peers, only half listening to their conversation as she swallowed her breakfast without tasting it. She took their medicine, that lovely, dessert-like syrup, and walked with her classmates to the first lesson of the day.

The movement of the children through the hall was precise, so like a dance, as if they were one mind spread amongst several bodies. Everyone knew where to go and what pace to take. Without a line to stay in, Credence struggled to maintain the same fluidity as she moved throughout the crowd. She was new, she told herself, or she still felt that way, and the rhythm of the school had not yet become a habit in her body. It would take time before she could join their effortless grace.

But it was strange to her, how everyone moved like ghosts across water, without care or curiosity for anything around them.

When she entered the room for her lesson, Credence noticed a small stack of books atop the Headmaster's table. The sight gave her great relief, and she looked forward to learning something useful, but she was disappointed when the Headmaster explained that the books would not be opened, but were to be placed atop everyone's head like a hat.

At the mere suggestion, the class giggled, but Headmaster assured them the task had value. They were going to practice grace, using the book to maintain perfect poise. The ultimate goal was to walk without holding or dropping the book. It was an impossible task, and the Headmaster allowed nervous laughter as the students failed several times.

Try as she might, Credence could not keep the book on her head. She could balance it well enough while she was standing still, but the instant she moved the book slipped away and landed on the floor with a disgraceful thud.

"Fantastic!" the Headmaster's voice rang through the room, and the class looked over to see him addressing a girl whose name Credence didn't know. The girl was walking carefully from one end of the room to the next—

And the book atop her head lay as still as a corpse.

She was the first to figure it out.

The Headmaster clapped his hands in approval.

"A good student deserves a reward," he said and pulled a vial from his pocket. Inside was a pinkish mixture. "Walk to me and keep your poise. If you do, the prize is yours."

Everyone stopped to watch the girl's test.

It was only a few steps, but with the precariously placed object the walk seemed a distance of miles. They all held their breath, including the girl, as she took step after gentle step with her eyes rolled up in focus.

When she completed her final step, stopping right at the Headmaster's feet with the book balanced perfectly, the students erupted into cheers. For added effect, the girl dipped into a short, careful curtsy, keeping the book in place, which made the celebration grow twice as loud.

The Headmaster took the book from her head and bestowed a gentle kiss in its place.

"Marvelous," he complimented. "You've earned something special."

He handed the vial to the girl, who brought it close to her face to examine it.

"What is it, Headmaster?"

"Drink it and see."

"Drink it?"

The class was full of anticipation as the girl popped the cork off the vial and lifted it to her lips.

"Smells like berries," she hummed.

"Don't keep us in suspense," the Headmaster joked.

"Yeah," Gregory called out, forgetting his manners in the excitement, "drink it now!"

The students began an encouraging chant of "Drink it!", and the girl smiled at them. She tipped the vial into her mouth and the class went silent.

"How do you feel?" the Headmaster asked with a hint of amusement.

"I feel...warm."

The Headmaster winked. "Remember your favorite color now, and when you have it inside your head, point at the window."

The girl took a dramatic pause, enjoying the attention of the class, then flicked her hand towards the window. There was a soft whoosh of electric wind, and life burst around the frame. Vines sprouted from its sill, traveling towards the ceiling with accelerated growth. The vines overran the window, puffing out in nests of green and brown, and flowers bloomed across the foliage in several small explosions of color.

The flowers were all pink, but oh, what a spectrum of it! Rich, deep shades to bright and brilliant ones, each a unique beauty.

"The effects will only last a few hours," the Headmaster explained, "and it will be your task today to make the school beautiful. You are excused from your lessons to fulfill your duty."

He went to the door and opened it, motioning with a graceful bow.

"The school is your canvas, my dear."

The girl gave a gleeful yelp and ran to the door, with the envy of her classmates at her back. She stopped just as she passed the doorway and turned back.

"Thank you, Headmaster," she said with another small curtsy. "I will make the most of it."

"And we look forward to having a bit of beauty around us."

The girl scurried away to race through the halls and flick her wrist at every barren patch of wall and window, and though the others were jealous they were also excited to see her work displayed throughout the school.

Everyone, that is, except Credence.

She was staring at the empty vial on the Headmaster's table.

Magic, she thought. It does exist in the towns, but the Headmaster has it.

She had an urge to reveal to the Headmaster what she could do by conjuring a small flame in her hand. Or perhaps she could try to call to the element of earth, and show the Headmaster what nature's beauty really was.

At the very least, she wanted to prove that she was not on the same ground as her peers.

She was above them, just like the Headmaster.

Credence looked at the man, who was still smiling at the empty doorway, and found that when she considered him closely, he was different from her initial judgment.

In that moment, Credence realized she wanted the Headmaster's praise.

If I show him I am powerful, she thought, he might appreciate that I am not like the others.

He might tell her the secrets of the towns and the school, things everyone else refused to explain.

He'll recognize that I don't belong here.

If he had magic, he must have come from the woods. He understood them, and he would understand her.

He might even help her escape.

She just needed a moment alone to show him who she really was.