Thalon arrived at the classrom to find Jhenna sitting crosslegged on a desk, waiting for him.
"Good Day, Sir."
"Jhenna, you're early," remarked Thalon, raising an eyebrow.
"Ah, Master Debrone's been telling tales, I see. No need to worry, Sir, I finish early on third-day, The babies are learning basic shields."
Jhenna explained the reason she wasn't late respectfully and dispassionately, Thalon nodded and walked over to the teachers desk.
"I see, come, let's see if Althea brought those texts for us."
"Couldn't I just do the tests and get this over with?"
"I see, well, I tutor a little differently to the other teachers you have had because I do theory for the first hour then we go out of the shield to do the practical for an hour. How does that sound?"
"Tedious, Sir. Master Debrone told me that you have to tutor me to the fifteen year old level, yes?"
"That is correct."
"Well, I can already do all that stuff, I know beacause I read the test outline."
"I see, well, we will see won't we," Thalon said with a smile.
"You're not as bad as the other Masters, with their stupid superiority complexes. But it won't work out, just ask any one of them and theyll tell you that I am impossible!"
"I treat everyone as if I am their equal, but they can't see beyond my mothers blood. Now for today let's study for a half hour than do the practical."
Jhenna shrugged, climbed down from the desk and picked up a random text book. She flicked through a couple of pages.
"How dull," she remarked, "step by step instructions for performing elemental switches."
Thalon realised she'd picked up one of the more advanced books and made to take it back.
"Maybe you should start with something simpler," he suggested, Jhenna snorted derisively.
"That's supposed to be difficult?" she exclamined.
"Well for most, yes."
"So do you want me to do it, or 'start with something simpler'?"
"Show me," said Thalon simply.
Jhenna grinned at him and took a bottle of water out of bag.
"Of course, everyone knows you can't switch earth with anything, but I can do the others."
She tipped the bottle upside down and 'caught' the water in a magical sphere. Unable to resist the urge to show off, she split the sphere into three malller ones and juggled them deftly. While they were in the air she 'changed' two of them to Fire and continued tossing them through the air. Finally she joined the Fire spheres and attached the Water one to them, transforming it to Fire as it passed through her hands. The Fire ball floated in the air for a moment then disappeared, and Thalon felt a light breeze ruffle his hair, even though the roomwas completely closed in. Jhenna stretched her arms above her head and tossed her hair.
"There, simple."
"Show off," said Thalon, smiling to cover his amazement at her elemental control, and handing her a book. "Now just read this one first."
"No thanks, Sir. I have a better idea; how about you give me the eleventh year graduation test. You'll be a qualified teacher and I'll be in classes that are slightly less mind-numbingly boring. What do you say?"
"How about this; First the book, then if it bores you, I will give you the test and be out of your hair, Is it a deal?"
"Will Head Master Debrone expell me, if I don't let you teach me?"
"I have no real idea on that question, but I think he might because they are at the end of how they can have you here," said Thalon sadly. "Besides, I would like a student that can become my friend but not because I'm a prince."
"Let's save some time, I'm not going to do this work. You can tell Debrone that you can't teach me. You'll get a new student, and I'll get out of here!"
Jhenna pushed open the door and added;
"Think about it, it's a logical solution."
"If you want, too bad..."
"Have a nice life, Your Highness," she replied smirking at his attempt to provoke her curiosity.
"Now, you'll excuse me, but I have some gardens to manure."
With a disrespectful wave, she picked up her bag, and bottle, then left the room.
"Twenty minutes" remarked Master Debrone, entering the classroom a short time later after seeing Jhenna in the garden. "That's a school record, how did it go?"
"She is just like me, before I chose to be a Fire Mage, Debrone, she is just like me," Thalon replied sadly.
"You must have interested her somehow," said Debrone, trying to cheer the young man, "she turned up!"
"She just wants to do the tests, that's all, and show that she can do what we ask of her." Thalon picked up his books and stood up. "Oh well, time to head home."
"That obstinate child," Debrone sighed. "One might almost think she wanted to be expelled."
"Her exact words were 'Let's save some time, I'm not going to do this work. You can tell Debrone that you can't teach me. You'll get a new student, and I'll get out of here!' Sounds familiar doesn't it?"
The men left the building in silence, Thalon looked ahead and saw Fraka, his half tamed falcon.
"Fraka, come here old friend" he said, lifting his left arm, the falcon landed on his arm and walked to his shoulder, Thalon scratched her head.
"Perhaps," said Debrone, continuing his last thought, "it would be best if I did expell her."
"It is your decision, Debrone, I have no real input on the matter. Anyway we should go, I will see you later Debrone."
"Good day Thalon," said Debrone, returning to his Office.