The Skyhome Academy

“I’m taking my lunch,” Emma told the head servant. He nodded to her from his chair behind the circulation desk and went back to his reading.

The healer made her way past the numerous bookshelves toward the break room, but stopped when she caught sight of a familiar face browsing through the fiction section. “Hi, Mei.”

“Oh. I didn’t realize you were stuck in the library today.”

“It’s fine. I’m on my lunch now—want to come with me?”

Mei nodded, and then followed Emma to the break room. Because this area was not intended to be seen by anyone but serfs, all the usual luxury of the academy was absent. There were a number of rough wooden tables and chairs, a refrigerator filled with wrapped sandwiches, a trash bin, and a sink with glasses stacked nearby.

No one else was using the room at the moment. Emma gathered her lunch and sat down across a table from her friend. “So, did you hear that Rose is back?”

“What happened?”

“I don’t know the details, but apparently there was another woman. …⁠You know, I just realized that I never asked you what it was like to be courted by the prince. Did you see any warning signs he was like that?”

“No—but our interactions were superficial. We had a few classes together, and once a week we’d have dinner with the intendent and high noble cadets.”

“So you don’t miss him?”

“Certainly not after he was so quick to abandon me. And we didn’t have much in common.” Mei looked uncomfortable as she continued. “…⁠This may sound strange, given how handsome he is, but I was never interested in him romantically. I went along with the courtship because my father wanted to foster closer ties to the Graylands.

“But in the Middle Kingdom…it’s not considered respectable to date outside one’s race. Intellectually, I don’t have any problem with the idea of doing so—but I suppose I couldn’t quite get past how I was raised.”

“Unfortunately, that’s still a controversial topic here as well. Interracial marriage was only legalized a quarter century ago.”

“I didn’t realize. I had Western language tutors from early childhood, but I never learned much about your history. I suppose I ought to.”

“There were actually a number of reforms right around that time. Let’s see…” Emma thought back to her old lessons with Rose. “New legal protections for peasants, the freedom to practice different religions, allowing foreign-born peasants to become landless nobles…oh, and women were allowed to serve in combat roles and become mages.”

“All that happened at once?”

Emma nodded. “Rumor has it that the late king’s mistress convinced him to make those changes. They led to a political schism among the nobility, between modernist and traditionalist factions.”

“…⁠Given that I find myself an immigrant serf, I can only hope the former win out.”

“King Henry let the reforms stand at least. But that choice made him unpopular with a majority of nobles. And there are peasants who don’t approve of the reforms they didn’t benefit from. I suppose the political uncertainty is why the king’s pursued a restrained strategy in the war.”

“What do you mean?”

“The reason the fighting has gone on so long is that there’s been no draft. Or a shift to a war economy. The king’s stated that he doesn’t want to subject the country to those hardships.”

“Then he’s a fool,” Mei proclaimed. “My father taught me that a sovereign must make any sacrifice necessary for the greater good of the nation.”

Emma looked around quickly, and was relieved to see that the break room was still empty. She reduced her voice to a whisper. “Mei, you shouldn’t say things about the king like that! People might think you’re disloyal. And you might want to consider that as future peasant soldiers, we’re the sort who are likely to be sacrificed!”

“…⁠That didn’t occur to me.”

The healer went back to her usual speaking volume. “This is difficult to say, but…maybe it would be helpful for you to reexamine what you learned from your father.”

Mei glared at her. “What?”

Though her first instinct was to back down, Emma felt that this was something her friend needed to hear. “Well, Simon said that there were rumors in the paper of widespread corruption in the Middle Kingdom under the old government. Even food shortages caused by⁠—”

Mei stood so quickly that her chair nearly fell over. “Those are lies!” Emma shrank back against her chair. Seeing this, the former princess took a deep breath and sat once more. “…⁠I’m sorry that I yelled. But whatever Simon read wasn’t true. My father was a strong ruler who was overthrown due to the jealously and lies of lesser men.”

“That’s possible…”

“You can speak your mind. I promise that I won’t react badly this time.”

“It’s just that the Graylands and the Middle Kingdom were allies. What incentive would our government’s news have had to slander the Emperor?” Mei looked away, her eyes watering slightly.

“I’m sorry,” Emma added hastily. “I shouldn’t have brought this up so soon after you lost your parents.”

“It’s okay…” Mei looked to her once more. “I need to be able to question my beliefs.”

Emma nodded. There was a brief silence before her friend spoke again. “May I ask you a personal question?”

“Of course.”

“You’ve never mentioned any family but your grandmother. Are your parents also…?”

“They died in an accident when I was four. My father was an orphan, and my grandfather was killed fighting in the Impressment War. For a long time, it’s just been me and my grandmother.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I had Rose growing up too, and she’s truly become a sister to me.”

“It’s charitable of you to look on the dullard that way.”

“Mei!” Emma cried. The telepath smirked. “…⁠I think you could get along with her, if you gave her a chance.”

“Where would be the fun in that?”

Emma shook her head in exasperation, but happened to glance toward the clock on the wall. “My lunch is almost over!” She had hardly touched her sandwich, and proceeded to eat it as quickly as possible before washing it down with her water.

Mei waited patiently, then followed Emma over to the sink. The healer threw out her trash. As she cleaned and put away her glass, her friend addressed her. “I was wondering…if I were to help you with the rest of your shift, would you be let out early?”

“If the head servant agrees to it. But you shouldn’t.”

“I insist. Just keep this from Rose and Simon—I don’t want them to know I volunteered for menial labor.”

Emma could not help but smile. “I promise. …⁠Thank you.”

She was surprised to see Mei actually blush. After a comforting pat on her friend’s arm, Emma led her out of the break room.