On the morning of her first day at Damaris Academy, Uncle Julian offered to give Valerie a ride. She turned him down.

"I don't want special treatment because my uncle is the headmaster," she said, sitting on the front steps of her new home.

"No one is aware of our... situation," he told her.

"Still," she said.

"Very well," Julian said, checking his pocket watch. "The school wagon should be along soon. I'll see you there."

He climbed into his coach. Valerie watched it disappear around the bend.

The early morning sun made everything seem fresh and new, but she couldn't help feeling nervous. She was new, too. New wasn't the best thing to be at a school, even under normal circumstances. And nothing about this day was likely to be normal.

One minute at a time, she reminded herself, watching bees dart around the flowers in the garden.

Julian had insisted on buying her new clothes. Apparently girls in Tylwyth only wore skirts, something Valerie refused to do. After much debate, she ended up with several tunics, jackets, and what Julian called "long breeches."

She looked down at her legs and frowned. They're okay, I guess, she thought, rubbing the thin fabric with her finger. She wasn't quite sure about her tall boots, but after the skirt argument she had decided not to push her luck.

A large covered wagon that looked like a boxcar rolled up the hill. Valerie stood up, pulling her bag over her shoulder. It felt unnaturally light without any textbooks, but Julian had promised she would have everything she needed in her locker.

What kind of magical school has lockers? she wondered.

She closed the gate behind her as the wagon came to a stop. She climbed up the short steps. Inside the wagon there were rows of benches, like a school bus, and only three or four other kids. Valerie quickly chose a bench in the middle and the wagon lurched back into motion.

After fifteen minutes of bumping and rumbling down one dusty road after another, the trees parted. Valerie saw the school for the first time.

It stood on a hilltop, proud like a castle. It was a towering building of reddish stone and gleaming wood surrounded by grassy slopes and thick forests. The road turned to gravel under their wheels and made a crunching sound as they pulled up behind a line of identical school wagons.

The school was even more enormous up close, with dozens of windows, heavy wooden doors, and a sweeping stone staircase. There were students everywhere, sitting on the steps or running up and down the gravel driveway as they unloaded from their own wagons.

Another line of beautiful carriages and coaches crawled by beside the wagons. The students stepping out of these wore nicer clothes and snobby expressions. They ignored everyone else as they walked up the steps.

Great. They have mean rich kids in this world, too, Valerie groaned to herself.

She followed the line of students inside, trying not to draw attention to herself. They entered a large atrium with huge windows set high into the walls. The windows let in vast amounts of sunshine, making the brown granite walls and floor sparkle.

"This way, please!" a woman called, waving them over to a line of tables. Her gray-streaked hair was wound into a bun and she wore a lavender dress.

Valerie found herself at the head of the line. The woman peered at Valerie through her glasses.

"Name?" she asked, pen hovering over her clipboard.

"Valerie Mason," she answered, her voice sounding small.

The woman made a few checks on her clipboard, then handed Valerie a stack of papers. "Here's your map, your locker assignment, and your class schedule," she said, pointing at each one. "There's also a list of school rules and policies that we encourage every student to become familiar with. Please find your locker and gather what you need for your first class, then head to the assembly hall. Next!"

Valerie stepped out of the way and opened her map. It had a page for each of the school's three levels, but thankfully the lockers were on the first floor. Number 187, she read on her assignment sheet.

She followed the map down a wide hallway and through two corridors to her locker. It had her name engraved on a metal plate, but no lock or handle of any kind. She ran her hand over the smooth surface, trying to figure out what to do.

What kind of locker doesn't even have a handle? she wondered, pushing on it hard. 

The locker popped open. Valerie jumped as the door swung freely forward.

"Fairy magic... Lame, am I right?"

Valerie looked down and met the eyes of a boy not much taller than her knee.

"I mean, look at this!" He put his hand over his own locker. It swung open, just as Valerie's had. "Fairies don't know anything about stone. A dwarf could've done the same thing using only the granite's natural qualities, but fairies just dump a bunch of magic on it and call it craftsmanship. Lazy."

Valerie was completely confused, but she nodded anyway. "I'm Valerie," she mumbled, still staring.

"Terry," the boy answered, closing his locker again. "Looks like we're locker buddies. Personally, I'm relieved. I was afraid I'd get put next to a griffin or something."

He trotted away and Valerie remained frozen by her locker. Griffin?

Her first class was Study of Species. She found its textbook in the neat stack inside her locker. There wasn't much else, besides an inkpot and what she assumed were quills.

You've got to be kidding me, she thought, slamming her locker closed.

The assembly hall was on the second floor, right off of the stairs. Valerie slipped inside without incident. It was built like a concert hall, with stadium seats and a glossy wooden stage at the far end. She found a seat near the back and waited as more and more students filed in.

She saw pixies darting around or riding on people's shoulders, clutching small textbooks in their hands. Many children had hair of blue and pink and green. Valerie could only assume they were the fairies Julian had mentioned. Groups of tiny children like Terry moved through the crowd like little armies, sticking close together as they found seats.

Dwarves, Valerie thought.

She saw children with pointed ears and children with crowns and children that had fur or tails or hooves.

Many children looked completely human. She took comfort in that, feeling slightly less alone as she watched them mingle with the other students.

This will be fine, she told herself.

A gong sounded somewhere above them and her uncle walked out onto the stage. He gave a speech about respecting each other and unifying Tylwyth — Valerie didn't pay much attention to it — before dismissing them with a loud clap of his hands. Everyone began flooding out of the hall.

Valerie dug into her pocket for her crumpled map. She followed it out of the auditorium and through the halls, trying not to look any other students in the eye.

She arrived at a room that had Species Studies engraved above the door. She noticed a boy standing in front of it, still as a statue.

"Aren't you going in?" Valerie asked.

The boy jumped and turned around, then grinned sheepishly. "I guess I'm just a little nervous," he said, looking back at the door.

He looked about sixteen, but his voice was already deep and rich like a man's voice. He was taller than Valerie. He wore some kind of green tunic over a homespun shirt. His long, brown hair was tied into a neat ponytail and his green eyes had an honest expression.

"I'm Linden," he said.

"Valerie," she answered.

"Where are you from, Valerie?"

Valerie hesitated. "It's kind of a long story," she said.

"Everyone has a long story," Linden said.

Another gong went off and Linden took a deep breath. "No use being late on the first day," he said, smiling at her.

Valerie smiled back. At least I won't have to go in alone, she thought.

Linden opened the door. Valerie gasped.

They were standing on a balcony that overlooked a large, circular room. A long staircase wound around the room to their left, down to where students were choosing desks and giggling among themselves.

"Very nice," Linden breathed.

Valerie followed him down the stairs to a row of empty desks and chose a seat in the middle. He sat down beside her and began rummaging through his backpack.

She took another look around the room. There was a chalkboard in front of them, but no desk or teacher anywhere. She pulled her new Species of Tylwyth: Volume One book out of her bag and placed it on her desk, along with a notebook and pencil.

There was a sudden rush of air. Valerie looked up to see a huge dragon gliding down over the staircase and landing with unexpected quiet in the large space before them. The dragon had brassy scales and easily filled the space between the desks and the chalkboard. His talons clacked on the granite floor as he got himself into a comfortable position.

"Are you okay?" Linden asked Valerie, concern pulling at the corners of his mouth. "You look a little green."

Valerie nodded, trying not to stare as the dragon lifted his head and looked over the class.

"Welcome to Study of Species," he said in a rumbling voice. "I am Professor Octavian. Please open your books to Chapter One. Today we shall begin by studying the fascinating qualities of the pixie."

The sound of turning pages filled the huge room. As Professor Octavian began his lesson, Valerie heard whispering behind her. She turned around and saw most of the other students were looking at her while they pretended to study. Valerie's face grew hot and she bent over her notes.

Professor Octavian noticed the whispering and brought his claws down sharply. The noise echoed throughout the room. The students fell silent.

"I will not have my students disrespecting me by whispering, especially on the first day. If something is amiss, then raise your hand and I will handle the situation appropriately," the professor said.

A girl with long, golden curls quickly raised her hand.

"Yes, Miss...?"

"Ealis," the girl said. "Princess Ealis Borae."

"Miss Borae, what can I help you with?"

Ealis stood up. "I was just wondering how that... thing got in here."

The class giggled. Professor Octavian flapped his enormous wings.

"Quiet! Miss Borae, of what do you speak?" he asked.

Ealis pointed a dainty finger. "The He-Dryad."

Valerie blinked. What in the world is a He-Dryad? she wondered. She looked at Linden to ask him, but his head was bowed and he was gripping his quill tightly.

Professor Octavian looked over at Linden, then back to Ealis. "Miss Borae, I shall remind you and the rest of the class once — and only once — that a He-Dryad is rare and precious. You are to give him the same respect that you would anyone else."

Ealis's satisfied smile faded. She flounced back into her seat.

Professor Octavian looked at Linden kindly. "What is your name?"

Linden sat up a little taller. "Linden, Professor."

"Well, Mr. Linden, I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say how pleased I am to have you in class."

Linden gave a little smile. "I'm honored to be a student here."

Professor Octavian gave a pleased snort. A puff of smoke rose from his nostrils. He turned back to the chalkboard. "Now, concerning pixies..."

Valerie hurried up the stairs after Linden. "Hey, wait!" she called out, trying to slide her things back into her bag without tripping. "What's a He-Dryad?"

Linden turned and gave her an annoyed look. "Look, if this is some kind of joke—"

"No, I swear!" she said quickly. "I just... I've just never heard of one before."

Linden looked at her critically.

Valerie swallowed. "Why, um... Why did Professor Octavian call you rare?"

"It's a long story," he said, using her earlier words against her.

Valerie turned to leave.

"Wait!" Linden called. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... Well, you saw how Ealis and the others acted back there. I just get really defensive sometimes."

"Maybe you shouldn't assume everyone acts that way," Valerie said.

"You're right," Linden said.

The gong sounded again, calling them to their next class. "See you around," Valerie said.

"Yeah, see you," Linden answered, and he disappeared into the crowd.

Valerie followed her map to Study Hall, which was a sunny room with an enormous grandfather clock. The clock was set in the wall and soared up into the ceiling.

A man with blue hair sat at a desk near the base of the clock. He was pale, with slender hands and a long nose that tapered elegantly into a point. He was dressed like he had just come from a medieval court.

Valerie tried not to stare at his puffy, blue outfit as she signed the attendance sheet. "Sir, may I just—"

"Professor Cumber Dirigitosin. Pleased to make your acquaintance," he said, barely looking up from his work.

"Professor, I don't mean to be rude, but I just wanted to say I think your clothes are beautiful."

Professor Dirigitosin looked up at her and straightened slightly in his chair. "Thank you, Miss...?"

"Valerie Mason."

"Thank you, Miss Mason. Your compliment is appreciated."

The grandfather clock chimed, the sound echoing pleasantly. Valerie looked around for a seat. She noticed an empty one by the... Well, she didn't quite know what that creature was.

"Professor?" she asked.

Professor Dirigitosin looked up again. "Yes?"

"Who is that?" she asked, nodding at the mystery creature.

Professor Dirigitosin looked over for a moment. "I believe his name is Gorn," he said, looking back at his papers. "And so far, he's the only Enting in attendance at Damaris."

An Enting, Valerie repeated mentally.

He looked like a small tree, but with arms and legs and two small eyes behind a pair of glasses. He wore a simple brown tunic and was doing his best not to draw attention to himself as he wrote in his notebook. The other students stared anyway.

Valerie approached him slowly, trying to think of something to say. "Can I sit here?" she asked finally.

The tree-boy looked up in surprise. "Sure."

His voice was raspy, like branches swaying in the wind, but his golden eyes seemed sincere, so Valerie sat down next to him.

* * * * * *

Lunch was next. Valerie saw Linden waiting by the entrance to the cafeteria. She waved at him and he waved back, so she went over to him.

"This is Gorn. We met in Study Hall," she said, gesturing at the Entling behind her.

Linden stuck out his hand and Gorn shook it carefully. "I'm Linden." 

They made their way through the line. Valerie noticed that the lunch ladies were all rather short. Dwarves, she thought.

The three of them found a table and sat down, ignoring the noise around them.

"So, Gorn," Linden said around a mouthful of food, "how did you manage to get into the academy?"

"My father is the head of the Ent Council. When he heard about this academy, he decided that it would set a good example to the other Ents if I went," Gorn said, shaking his head.

"But don't all Entings go to school?" Valerie asked.

"Before this academy, there was no school," Gorn explained. "The royals and rich kids had private tutors, the poor kids had their parents, and the rest of us had the ancient ways."

"So we're all guinea pigs," Valerie said.

Linden and Gorn stared at her blankly.

"What do you mean?" Linden asked.

Valerie looked at them. "Guinea pigs. You know, test subjects?"

"Oh, right. Yeah, if this year doesn't go well, they'll probably shut the school down," Gorn agreed.

"Who's they?" Valerie asked.

Linden shrugged. "You know, the kings, the council leaders."

"Kings? As in more than one?" Valerie asked.

"Seven, actually," Gorn corrected her. "Most of them are decent enough, but King Philip isn't very pleasant."

"King Philip?" she asked.

"He's Ealis's father," Linden said, nodding to where Ealis was sitting. "What, didn't you know that?"

Valerie scrambled for something to say. "You never told me where you're from," she said.

Linden raised an eyebrow. "All of the Dryads live in Galon Tir," he explained. "The big forest on the other side of the hills?"

Valerie shook her head. "Sorry, I don't know it."

Gorn and Linden looked at each other in confusion.

Valerie swallowed hard. "I... gotta go," she mumbled, getting up before they could stop her.

She ducked into the ladies' room outside the cafeteria and exhaled slowly. How am I supposed to tell people where I'm from? Why didn't Uncle Julian prepare me? "Hi, I'm Valerie, the girl from the next dimension over. Nice to meet you." She groaned loudly and buried her face in her hands.

As if being the new girl wasn't hard enough.

The gong sounded, reminding her that she still had classes. She checked her schedule as she blinked back tears of frustration.

Botany. Great, on top of everything else I'm getting a standard Victorian education, she thought.

She splashed some water on her face and got her map out. It led her to a large courtyard crisscrossed with paths and with a giant marble fountain in the middle. The autumn sun was bright in the cloudless sky, and a crisp wind had picked up. She buttoned her jacket and followed the map to a large grove of trees at the other end of the courtyard.

She could hear voices as she approached. As Valerie stepped into the clearing, she saw the most beautiful woman standing in the center of it. She had red-blonde hair and deep green eyes that glittered in the light. She was tall and willowy. Her bare legs shone where they peeked out from under her dress.

Valerie closed her open mouth and sat down on one of the wooden stumps that dotted the clearing. Linden waved at her from the back. She gave him a small smile.

"Welcome," the woman said. "I am Ashley, daughter of She Who Gilds the Oak. Today, I shall teach you a new thing."

She waved her hands and a large scroll appeared, floating in mid-air. It unfurled on its own, rotating slowly on an invisible axis. Valerie saw a great tree painted on it.

"This is a Dryad's Tree," Ashley explained. "When a Dryad comes of age, he is made one with one of the ancient trees in the sacred forest. After they become one, the Dryad becomes bonded to the forest for life. It is a most beautiful ceremony."

Valerie shyly raised her hand. Ashley gestured at her gracefully.

"How does that work? The bonding, I mean," Valerie quickly clarified.

Ashley bowed her head. "She of Raven Hair has asked the ancient question. While many outside of the Dryad number wonder this, they are not permitted to know the details of such an intimate ceremony."

Valerie looked at her feet in embarrassment.

"However," Ashley went on, "not many are brave enough to directly ask. This shows much promise, She of Raven Hair."

Valerie blinked. Did she just compliment me?

She glanced back at Linden. He nodded at her encouragingly. Valerie turned back around and paid close attention, not wanting to miss a single word that fell from Ashley's lips.

Valerie closed her locker just as Linden caught up with her.

"Why did you run away during lunch?" he asked, sidestepping some dwarf children on their way to the main entrance.

Valerie saw her uncle waiting by the doors. She slung her bag over her shoulder. "Um... See you tomorrow, Linden," she called over her shoulder, disappearing into the crush of students.

Her uncle Julian straightened up when he saw her and snapped his watch closed. "Are you ready?" he asked.

"I can take the school wagon home, remember?" she said.

"I know, but I thought since today was a big day for both of us, why don't we stop into town on our way back and get a treat for dessert tonight?"

Valerie thought of how her father used to pick her up from school and take her out for ice cream. The memory was bittersweet.

"Okay," she whispered.

* * * * * *

Valerie curled up on the window seat, hiding behind her history book. 

"Did you meet anyone new today?" her uncle asked.

Valerie didn't answer.

"I saw you with some very interesting people when I picked you up," he went on. "The Enting and the He-Dryad, if I'm not mistaken? You may not know this, but they're some of the rarest students at Damaris. Gorn's father is—"

"Head of the Ent Council," Valerie finished, taking a sip of water. "I know."

Julian nodded. "And the He-Dryad, whose name always escapes me..."

"Linden," Valerie said, turning a page.

Julian snapped his fingers. "That's right. Anyway, Linden might be the most unique student we have. I'm sure you heard some things."

Valerie looked at her uncle suspiciously. "Maybe," she admitted, "but I'm not sure what it meant."

"A few centuries ago, many of the He-Dryad trees were destroyed during the Great War," Julian said. "When they died, so did their Dryad partners. Since Dryads don't have children as often as other species, it's taken a very long time for them to recover. Linden represents hope for his kind."

Valerie wiped her mouth thoughtfully. "So does Linden have a dad?"

"His father was among those killed during the Great War when Linden was a baby," Julian said.

Valerie paused. "You said the Great War happened a few centuries ago."

"That's right. Linden's only... oh, three hundred years old, give or take."

"Only three hundred years old?" Valerie said incredulously. "He doesn't look any older than me!"

"By their standards, he isn't," Julian said. "Dryads are virtually immortal unless someone kills them. And very few people are willing to harm a Dryad."

Valerie thought about this. "I don't know if I'll ever get used to this kind of life."

Julian smiled. "You will. It's in your blood." 

Valerie took another sip of her water and looked out the window. The night sky shone brilliantly with stars. If it wasn't for the extra moons, Valerie could have pretended that she was home, back in the place she knew as Earth. 

"Is there anything you need?" Julian asked.

She shook her head. "No, thank you," she mumbled.

Valerie picked up her history book and went upstairs to her bedroom. She tossed her book onto the bed and changed into pajamas. She brushed her teeth using a pitcher and basin on her nightstand, then got cozy under a very luxurious quilt. She watched her candle burn for a while before it stuttered and left her in darkness.