Lilith tapped lightly on the headmasters door. It brought back memoriesof her time at school, and being at the headmasters office, more times then she was probably in class.
She stepped back and drew in a small breath, holding onto her napsack, slung over her left shoulder, she pondered over her outfit, a light blue knee-length dress with a brown cardigan and brown ankle high sandals.
She knew the history of Ravensheart Academy, but she was desperate for a job, and teaching was one of the few things she knew she was good at.

She had been looking forward to it though, welcomed it in fact. A new start, away from Goren. She had intended to tell very little of her past, keep an air of curiousity and mystery about herself. Besides she was there to teach, nothing more, perhaps make friends in the process.

Her hair fell loosely past her shoulders, unusual, as it was mainly plaited to one side. Biting her bottom lip she clenched her fist out of desperation to restrain her nervousness. She didn't want to fail, she wanted to impress the the headmaster, show him she was worthy of being a teacher, regardless if she would be a casual or substitute.

It was early in the morning, perhaps 8 or 9 o'clock and unusual for her to be up this early, No more sleeping in, no more wasting away my time doing nothing, its time to start anew she closed her eyes and breathed in a deep sigh once again, most of all she hoped she enjoyed her time, learnt things from the students as well as the fellow employees.

Fiddling with the strap of her napsack, Lilith gave a small smile to herself, and instantly calmed a little. She was used to playing a song or two for a meal in an inn, not meeting the headmaster of a school and becoming a teacher.
Placing her hand gently into her bag she pulled out a small bottle of spray and sprayed her wrist, a lovely scent of jasmine and lavender filled the air and Lilith returned the item back into her bag.

Giving another small tap on the headmaster's door she waited for a signal or a voice to give her permission to enter, hoping she would be able to catch the headmaster and not have to come back at a later time.

"Oh" was all she could manage before giving the door a large tap before turning back to the elven woman

So tell me, from an inside point of view, what is Ravensheart Academy really like, heard a couple of rumours, haunted, deaths, some actually true, that kind of thing, but i've never actually heard from someone who works in the academy before she said with a small smile.

Releasing her firm grip on her napsack she relaxed a little, letting her hand hang lose by her side, waiting to be called in and for the elven woman to respond.

Lilith Telthor, um - i've come for a teaching position she said with a smile to be honest i've never really believed the haunted rumours at all

She motioned towards the door May i go in? she asked quietly, curious as to how much of the conversation the headmaster had heard.

She had no plan of what she was going to do, but somehow she knew she would show him that he wouldn't be making a mistake, adding her to his staff, she liked kids, the nice ones anyway, and this was a chance she wasn't willing to give up, at least not unless she was denied the job.

She clenched her hand once more before waiting for the woman's, Melody's, as the headmaster had called out, response.

Lilith gazed down at the man, before taking a seat, "Yes, i was aware of that. But i know that i would be of very good use to you" she said clenching her jaw.

Pulling a strand of hair back behind her ear she continued "But of course, if there is no point in me being here i shall leave immediately" she said motioning to the door.

"Mr Ravenheart" she continued "i have heard about the children that went missing and such, i have no doubt you will have ensured something to protect them, but i can teach them how to defend themselves, i can teach them how to use herbs and nature to get themselves out of trouble."

She paused, taking in a breath and sighing "i can teach them things that will ensure you that they are able to defend themselves, fight if they have to" she said pursing her lips together "and of course i will teach them the general things they need to know about herbs and nature, and such" she said finishing with a small smile.

"Please know that i will be of use to you, i can assure you Mr Ravenheart" she said waiting for him to respond. Placing her napsack on her lap she rifled through it, pulling out a bag and handing it to him "i make these myself, collect the ingredients on my travels, some can be very powerful, healing people, defending ones self and of course some can make a very good weapon when used the right way" she explained, "this is a defence bag, if you tip the contents around you, it creates a barrier, that only you can break."

She stopped and pulled out a notebook from her napsack as well, placing it on the desk she spoke once more "every single creation is in here with many creations still yet to be made" she explained.

She stopped now,she had said enough and was willing to hear the headmaster speak. Returning her napsack down beside the chair she clasped her hands together and rested them in her lap, her eyes carefully watching the headmasters face, waiting.

She held a stern face "Mr Ravenheart, my profession is not one to be amused about" she explained "i have accomplished great things" she explained.

"But yes i am, i am skilled with those things" she said her voice calmer now. "Mr Ravenheart, you enter the woods and you see trees, i enter the woods and i do not just see, but i hear, i know which plants are good, and useful, i have been doing this for many years" she explained.

"So...?" she asked "Am i of use here at Ravensheart Academy?" she asked waiting for his reply.

Lilith spoke softly "I apologise, my assumption was wrong" she said, giving him a polite smile.

Her eyes followed him as he moved around to stand behind her.

Gazing up at the portal she was consumed in its deep, rich colours of black and red that seemed to swirl into another realm or period of time.

She simply nodded before rising to her feet.

"I assume your not going to take me into a back alley somewhere and comit murder" she said, a hint of humour in her voice, giving him a relaxed smile.

She was glad he hadn't made assumptions, and that she was wrong, it was obvious to her now, just gazing into his eyes, as well as hearing him speak that he was a kind man.

"Where are we to go through the portal?" she asked, curiously, gazing at it, to see if she could somehow make out something on the other side, but like the door of the headmasters office before, she knew nothing of what awaited her on the journey through the portal.

All she could do was trust him, someone she had only met for a good half hour, perhaps even less. She faltered a little in her step towards the portal, waiting to see if Mr Ravensheart would follow or simply stand there.

Giving a small sigh she turned back to him, away from the portal "i guess we better get on with it, whatever it is, i believe you have good reason to show me, at least i hope you have good reason."

She gasped, taking in her surroundings. She turned to the headmaster and gave him a smile "its wonderful, so quiet and peaceful" she said closing her eyes and breathing in the clean fresh air.
She couldn't believe her eyes, most of the flora she recognized, giving a smile as she remembered what she had used their leaves, bark and wood for.

A doe and its young fawn wearily made their over to the woods edge, their heads lowering down to feed on the grass. She gazed down at them before turning towards the headmaster.

Her expression grew serious.

"I believe we have some things to talk about then" she said, sweat starting to appear on her hairline from the head of the sun through the woods.

Lil made her way over to a tree and placed her hand up to its trunk, closing her eyes she opened her mind to the tree, drawing on both their strength to communicate.
Although the tree couldn't speak back to her, it could speak to her with its spirit, sending her signals, that Lilith interpreted into words.

She opened her eyes and removed her hand from the trunk turning back to the headmaster "The tree communicates with me, as can most other flora, but i do not know about Fauna" she said, pausing for a quick breath.
"Every single tree has a spirit, much like a 'guardian angel' to us. The spirit controls the tree, everything it does"
She paused again, turning to face the doe and fawn who had realised that they were not alone, the doe gazing cautiously at both Lilith and Briarius.

"The spirit draws on somethings strength and they can communicate with them, either without them knowing, meaning they can read their thoughts or with them knowing" she explained, turning back to the headmaster.

"I can guaruntee you that i can teach the children at Ravensheart Academy everything they need to know in these woods about herbs, ingredients for potions, everything."
"I can teach them about treating the flora and fauna with respect, how to give thanks for their help as well as what is taken from the flora or fauna" she told him.

"But i do have some questions" she continued "And i would appreciate it if you could take some time with me to answer them, here will be fine, no need to return to your office" she said softly, just loud enough for him to hear.

Lilith nodded and began to speak slowly, so that he would be able to take the questions in.

"Will i be teaching students from every year in the school or just some years?" she asked.

"What would you permit me to teach and ask me not to teach?" she asked.

Pausing to let him think about the questions she asked the final one "Would i be only allowed to teach in this glade or would i be able to have classroom lessons as well?" she asked finally.

Folding her arms she waited for his response, hoping for a good answer, hoping he wouldn't try and change the subject, she obviously had more questions but those would be asked later, right now she was focused on the questions that she had to ask first.

She turned quickly to view the flora and fauna one last time, if she was chosen, she would no doubt enjoy working here, she would welcome the opportunity.

She was nervous about the consequences of working at Ravensheart Academy and what it might mean for her safety, but she longed to be walking down the corridors and teaching the children.

She sighed as she realised she would also have to find a place to live, she couldn't stay in the Red Dragon Inn forever and she longed to have her own privacy, her own space. It would mean either staying with someone or looking for a very cheap house.

Lilith nodded, taking in the answers and going over them in her mind "Very well" she said, keeping quiet for a minute before responding "no, no more questions, except when do i start? if i get the job" she said biting her bottom lip in hope.

She was sure she would get it, but there was some possibility that she wouldn't, and that she would be rejected and have to begin searching for a job once again.

Lilith gave him a nod "Very well, bright an early i expect" she said turning to the elf woman.
Lilith found her bag on a seat outside the headmasters office. She picked it up and returned it back to her shoulder.

"It will be an honour to work here."

And with that she gave him a nod and waited for her intructions from the elven woman.

"Everything?" she asked a little worried "What exactly do i have to say about my history and my present?" she cotinued scanning over the documents.

She was a little puzzled and worried, she didn't know how much she wanted Ravensheart Academy to know, certain things she would fill them in on yes, but there were parts of her life she would prefer to repress and not drag them back into her mind.

"Oh" she said with a laugh "Silly Lil" she said to Melody about herself.
"Can i do them here, if thats okay?" she asked motioning over to the little coffee table in front of two waititng lounges near the headmasters office.

She rested her hands on Melody's desk, pausing a moment before picking up the papers, surprisingly they weren't as heavy as what she thought they would be.

She nodded "I am, at least i think i am" she said shaking her head and returning back to the paperwork.

In no time she had finished and she sighed stretching her hand to get rid of the cramp "do i return these to you or keep them?" she asked giving the woman a smile "how long have you been working here, if you don't mind me asking" she said aloud from the lounge.

She nodded "Thanks, so do i start immediately? i will if its no trouble" she said checking her watch "8:00 am, i believe the children don't start until 8:30 or 9:00 do they?" she asked.

She took the things from Melody and gazed them over, the velvet and silken robes made her grin, she knew she would enjoy working here, at least she hoped she would.

She hoped that the students wouldn't give her any trouble and if they did, well she would have to sort them out.

She nodded "Could you show me the way to the faculty dorms, i'm not quite sure where to go, Melody is it?" she asked giving a nod to her reply about when she starts teaching.


Bag over her shoulder, clothes, book, ring and key all held she waited for Melody to show her the way, hoping for a little view around the academy as she went along.

"Very well, i should be looking forward to it" she said stepping into the room and giving Melody a thankful nod "Thankyou" she finally said taking a seat on the bed.

LATER THAT NIGHT -


Lil had already unpacked and redone the room halfway through the night.
It was late, that was all she knew and she was getting tired.
Undressing and putting her sleeping garments on she tested out the bed.
It was soft yet firm, just the way she liked it, closing her eyes she dozed off, a dream developing in her mind.


THE NEXT MORNING -

Getting out of bed, Lil pursed her lips and pouted to herself at the fact that she couldn't go for a run before starting work.
Getting dressed instead and eating what food was left in her napsack from travelling to the school yesterday she gave herself a nod in the mirror, admiring the clothing Melody had given her.

It fit her nicely, flaunting her curves perfectly yet leaving some mystery.
Plaiting her hair she made her bed and put her dirty clothes in a pile next to the bed, waiting for the knock of the headmaster so that he could show her the way around as well as to her class.

She grinned at Melody "Hello to you too Melody" she said with a laugh "Impress, i highly doubt it, who is there to impress" she asked with a sly smile before noticing her stomach was rumbling.

"Breakfast, that would be good" she said "Should i change?" she asked gazing down at her uniform, looking puzzled.

The red-haired elf looked at Lilith.

"You know...you're already hired, right? He likes you. You don't have to impress him. Do your job that he hired you for and you will be fine."

She laughed.

"Very well."

She led the two to the administration dining room. It was a simple yet elegant affair with all sorts of foods on a grand table.

"You are not scheduled to teach yet, Lily. I would imagine that you will have classes after our winter bre-"

Melody was cut off by the unusual silence that was brought on by the person who entered the dining room. It was the Headmaster. Looks of curiosity and confusion crossed most of the faces in the room.

"Hello faculty and staff. I know it's unusual for me to be here in the morning, but I wanted to make an introduction personally."

He walked to Lilith.

"This is Mistress Telthor and she will be the first teacher of our newest program of wilderness studies. I will expect all of my faculty to welcome her whole-heartedly."

The people in the room began to applaud as Melody nudged Lilith up and whispered in her ear.

"Say something nice."

The Headmaster sat.

"Oh, you will be very very busy Mistress Telthor. You will not even notice the time. You will have a whole new wilderness to acquaint yourself with."

He poured himself a glass of juice.

"I assure you. You will be teaching soon enough."

"You will. You will also be expected to learn a great deal about the nature of the setting. It's all very important and before I have anyone instructing there, I need them to know it."

"The tour of the school will take us until lunchtime, then you will be introduced to your...classroom, for lack of better terminology."

"Mistress Hearthsglen will take you around campus and I will show you around the preserve."

He took another tiny sip. It was very apparent that if he kept going at this pace, that one glass would last him for the week.

"Hence why we will be spending some time there after lunch."

"breakfast is about over anyways. I will leave you two to the tour of the campus."

The Headmaster stood and walked away.

The red head nodded and stood

"We should get going."

Melody to Lilith around the campus pointing out what each building was and where certain classes were held.

This went on until it was time for lunch.