"Dear Ma and Pa," Norman began writing a letter. "I have arrived safely at the school and have been given a grant. Funny story, that, the admissions fee was raised by a gold so I didn't have enough. Luckily, Scarf remembered about the grant and I got not one, but two gold taken off of the six gold admission. So now I have an extra gold now. I'm not sure what to do with it so I'm writing you this letter. You know Crosswalk more than the rest of the family, Ma, so I would ask you... although Pa has a good sense of things. Maybe I should send it home? It is your money after all. Anyway, I tried making friends. There's Jack, who seems to be like a class clown, according to Ms. Gretchen's 'social standings of school'. There's Joy, who doesn't live up to her name. She seemed, I don't know, nervous?"
"Well it isn't everyday that the star student comes up to you and strikes a conversation out of nowhere!" Joy exclaimed.
Norman nearly jumped out of the desk he was sitting in! Norman was speaking aloud when he was writing. Something he didn't notice until Joy snuck up behind him. He was sitting at a desk in an empty classroom. The classroom had very few desks and many things that Norman thought to be crafting stations. This appeared to Norman to be a Sapphire classroom, specifically one for golem making and enchanting. Norman didn't know much about that.
"Sorry!" Norman proclaimed. "I didn't mean to-"
"It's more than fine. My parents would agree with you, I don't exactly 'Live up to my name'." Joy sighed.
"Well it was still rude of me to talk about you behind your back." Norman apologized again.
"And I told you it's fine! You're forgiven!"
Norman felt a sense of relief. He didn't like being rude or unfair to people, and Joy was being very nice to him at the moment.
"Thank you." Norman said. He then noticed the other person in the room. A meek looking lad about three fourths Norman's size, both in width and in height. The lad had messy hair, as if he hadn't managed it in a while and smelled like mud. "Who's this?" Norman asked.
"Norman, I would like for you to meet Sam. Sam, this is Norman." Joy introduced the two.
"I would shake your hand, Mr. Norman," Sam said meekly. "but I'm a little stinky."
Norman laughed a little. "I grew up on a farm and had to deal with a bunch of stinky situations! I don't mind!" He then reached out his hand to shake.
Sam hesitated. He didn't think Norman would be this kind. He was hoping he would but few things go the way Sam hopes for. Sam shook Norman's hand weakly. Norman noticed how soft Sam's hand and grip was. Norman didn't say anything about it though.
"So, Sam, which gem school did you get?" Norman asked.
"Emerald." Sam said. "Just like you, but not advanced."
"That's what we wanted to talk to you about, Norman," Joy started. "Sam could use a buddy for his studies."
Sam almost cowered into a ball. He didn't like asking for help unless it was from somebody he trusted, like Joy. Sam didn't know who Norman was and he didn't know how Norman would react.
"Why does he need a buddy for his studies?" Norman inquired.
"Well Sam tends to understand things in groups." Joy explained. "The bigger the group the worst he is off. The smaller the group, the better."
"How does that work?" Norman was very confused.
"It just does." Joy spouted. "So, what do you say?"
Norman thought there was more to this. He heard from Ms. Gretchen what Sam could be in the social standing of the school, and that was a sheep. Norman liked sheep, but there was something else about Sam...
"Sam, why do you want me to be your 'study buddy'?" Norman asked.
"Well, like I said-" Joy started and then was interrupted.
"I want to hear it from Sam, if you don't mind." Norman was very rarely rude like this on purpose. However, he was trying to get somewhere.
Sam finally looked at Norman in the eyes. Norman was a little tall for his age, had a slightly muscular build, but those eyes. Maybe it was because Sam wanted to see the good in Norman, or maybe he did see the good in Norman, but Sam decided to trust Norman for now.
"I'm not very confident when I'm alone." Sam confessed.
Norman tried to analyze what Sam was saying. Sam didn't seem confident when he was with Joy! It seemed like... Norman figured it out.
"Do you need someone to help you with second guessing yourself?" Normand asked.
Sam was shocked and so was Joy. Normand hit the nail on the head. When Joy first met Normand, she thought he was a simple country boy, but after seeing Norman get advanced Emerald classes and his interaction with her good friend Sam, she realized she clearly underestimated Normand.
"Y... yes! That's exactly it!" Sam confessed. Same didn't know how Normand would react to this knowledge. Most people use knowledge against Sam.
"I'll be glad to help then!" Norman said. Norman had a study buddy when he was being tutored by Ms. Gretchen. He was honored to be that for someone, someone who appeared to need it.
Sam was overjoyed! This went better than he could ever hope for! He was able to tell Norman why he needed a study partner early, and Norman said yes to the proposal. So was Joy, as a matter of fact.
"Fantastic!" Joy blurted out. "I'm sure you two will get along well! Just like peas in a pod!" Joy was a little embarrassed at that last line, but it got her thinking about something. "Where's Scarf? That's the other reason why I came to see you."
Norman looked puzzled. "He was supposed to be keeping watch."
Scarf was having an adventure. He was positive that Norman could handle whatever came his way for the time being. Besides, Scarf had more important things to take care of. Scarf went back to the administration's office. It was right down the hall from Norman anyway.
Scarf went into the administration's office and saw the secretary Mary, just who he wanted to see. "Hello Mary! You look stunning today!" Scarf shouted.
Mary looked down from her desk to see Scarf standing on his hind legs. "As do you, Mr. Scarf!" She responded. "Why don't you come up on my desk so you don't get accidentally stepped on?"
"That's a wonderful idea!" Scarf needed a little assistance climbing onto the desk, but Mary was happy to help Scarf.
"So" Mary started, "What brings you in here today? And where is Norman? I thought you two would be inseparable."
"My boy needs time to write a letter. He doesn't need me for that. In any case, I'm here to arrange a meeting for myself."
"Oh?" Mary was curious. "What kind of a meeting and with whom?"
"Whomever is the head of the House of Emeralds." Scarf wasn't sure if that was the correct usage of whom, but even if it wasn't it made Mary chuckle. "I could use some answers about something."
"I see." Mary said. The faculty in Cyrus's School of Magic usually had one teacher per Gemstone House, meaning there would be one teacher for House of Emeralds, one teacher for House of Pearls, and so on and so forth. It didn't appear that Scarf knew that, but what does one expect form a silly little ferret.
"As it just so happens, she's in talking with Mr. O'Connell right now." As if on queue, the door to Mr. O'Connell's office swung open and a grumpy old lady stormed out. Her hair was unkept and a haggish grey. Her wrinkly face, crooked nose, and grey eyes almost seemed comical. Her attire of grassy robes only accented her forest witch aesthetic.
"And another thing, Mr. O'Connell," The old witch turned around and gently shouted through the office door "I knew your mother quite well, and she would give you a much harder scolding and berating than what I could ever give!"
"Well she doesn't sound fun at all!" Scarf said out loud in a very sarcastic tone. The chuckle Scarf put on the end of it further showed the case that he was, in fact, being sarcastic.
The old teacher was fluent in sarcasm and ferret speech. She was also delighted to talk to anybody else for a bit.
The old woman turned to Scarf "Well howdy do, little one! And what's your name?"
"I am Scarf! And who might I have the honor of speaking to?"
"I am Lady Joseline, but you can just call me grandma!" Lady Joseline reached her hand out to shake. She firmly believed that this animal deserved respect.
Scarf shook her hand with both of his front paws and with as much vigor as he could mustard. "Ol' O'Connell giving you trouble like he did my boy?" Scarf inquired.
"Well I know nothing about what kind of trouble he gave your 'boy'," Lady Joseline answered. "however, when it comes to money, that man can pinch copper harder than any crab or lobster can."
"Don't I know it!" Scarf exclaimed. "If it wasn't for the good headmaster, Norman would have been sent home without the education he deserves!"
"Oh! You're the ferret of Norman Wolf!" Lady Joseline almost squealed! "It isn't everyday that we get someone in the advanced classes, and Norman seems to be very talented with his beast speech!"
"Well, that's one of two things I wanted to talk to you about." Scarf said. "The lad is in a new environment! It's unlike any he has seen before! He might need some help traversing this new land."
Lady Joseline was nodding. She had an idea where this was going, but it didn't hurt to ask anyway. "Do you want me to give Norman special treatment?" She asked.
"Well... yes and no." Scarf confessed. "When it comes to school work, I want him tested like any other advanced student would be." Scarf spoke from the heart. He wanted his boy to succeed but not be given an easy path at the same time. "It's the social environment that worries me about him. The only other person he knows his age is his brother!"
"Oh!" Lady Joseline was surprised. Normally parents or, in this case, pets want their children to just fly through school. While that does sound good on paper, it doesn't exactly make a hardened scholar out of these kids. However, there is one thing that does tend to get in the way of studies, and that's other students. Scarf appeared to know this, and it surprised Lady Joseline to see such an astute animal.
"Well, I've been teaching for about 50 years now and I know exactly how you feel, Mr. Scarf. I do tend to push my students, no matter what classes they have, to be their best, and if your Norman needs help with anything, he'll need to ask first. That includes social problems and class problems."
"Sounds perfect to me!" Scarf exclaimed. "Might I introduce you to the lad?"
"Oh, why not!" Lady Joseline proclaimed. She had nothing going on at the moment and wanted to see her potentially new star pupil.
Scarf was delighted to hear this! Lady Joseline seemed to be a great person and Scarf couldn't wait for her to meet Norman. "May I hop on your shoulders?" Scarf asked Lady Joseline.
"Of course!" Lady Joseline said and put her arm out for Scarf to climb on. Scarf got to his favorite spot on humans, right across the back of the neck, and started giving Lady Joseline directions on where he left Norman.
A short jaunt later, Scarf and Norman were reunited in the classroom where Norman was talking with Joy and Sam. "I thought you were keeping watch." Norman pouted.
"I was just down the hall!" Scarf protested. "And look who I found!"
Norman looked at Lady Joseline. He had no idea who this was.
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Wolf! I am Lady Joseline. I teach here, specifically for Emerald inclined students, as you could probably have guessed by my attire!" Lady Joseline reached her hand out to shake.
Norman shook her hand firmly. "Pleased to meet you too!" He said with confidence. "I'm just confused on why Scarf went off to find you when he was supposed to be keeping watch for me!"
"Well what were you doing that warranted your ferret to keep watch?" Lady Joseline knew it wasn't anything too serious, but wanted to tease Norman just a little bit.
"I was writing a letter to my Ma and Pa." Norman was immune to this tease tactic. "I would rather not have people sneak up on me while I do that."
Lady Joseline nodded and then looked to the other two students in the room. "And who might you two might be?" She inquired.
"My name is Joy!" Joy proclaimed.
"And I'm Sam." Sam said shyly.
"Well, it's my pleasure to meet you both! I'm sure you three will thrive here!" Lady Joseline meant what she said. There's a reason why she didn't move on to a different occupation in her 50 years of teaching. "Are either of you in House of Emeralds curricular?"
"I am." Sam said. "I know little about it."
"Well I'm sure there's a good reason why the Many Eyed Dragon chose that curricular for you!" Lady Joseline exclaimed.
Sam wasn't so sure. He was hoping for Amethyst because everyone is confused with Amethyst classes. Amber classes would also be good so he would be with his friend Joy most of the time. Anything else would have been better than Emerald... okay that's not true. Ruby would have been the worst, but Sam was positive that he wouldn't get that.
"So what brought you into this classroom?" Scarf asked Joy.
"Well," Joy gestured toward Sam. "Sam isn't exactly the best when he studies alone."
"What's that got to do with Norman?" Scarf wasn't quite getting it.
"Sam wanted a 'study buddy'." Norman spoke up. "I agreed to help."
Sam was barely listening, as he was more shocked about something else. "Is that ferret speaking common?" Sam could hear what Scarf was saying word for word.
Scarf turned his head toward Sam. "No. I'm just squeaking in a way that you can understand." He was being very sarcastic.
"That's amazing!" Sam said. Sam missed every ounce of sarcasm that Scarf spouted out.
"Well actually, it's your Emerald talents shining through that help you understand Scarf here!" Lady Joseline corrected. "Getting back in track a little bit, why do you need Norman here to be your study partner?" She emphasized Norman as to prove a point.
Sam and Joy paused for a moment. Joy wanted the best partner for Sam and that appeared to be Norman in the moment. Sam, while in awe in that moment for understanding what Scarf could say, just went along with what Joy said about Norman being the 'best pick for you'. It took a while but Sam finally broke the silence.
"I don't know." Sam confessed.
"Well, it's all well and good if Norman agrees to it." Lady Joseline reassured. It didn't really matter to her why Sam wanted Norman for a study partner, as long as Sam wasn't exploiting Norman's natural talents. If Sam was trying to do that, he would have come up with a better reason that 'I don't know'.
"Hold up," Scarf spoke up. He was confused by something. "What does Sam bring to the table as far as a 'study buddy' goes?"
"Whatever do you mean?" Joy found herself blurting out.
"Well, is Sam an advanced student like Norman?" Scarf knew the answer to this. He was going to make a point no matter how rude it seemed.
"... no but I don't see how that-" Joy started.
"And do the normal classes and the advance classes mix?" Scarf interrupted.
"Excuse me mister Scarf," Lady Joseline intervened "But I believe that your Norman said that they agreed to this ordeal."
"But he didn't have his Scarf present!" Scarf protested.
"You're being rude!" Norman spoke up.
"Quite rude!" Lady Joseline added.
"I don't see why you don't want me to help Sam, Scarf. This isn't like you." Norman pouted.
"I don't see why you want to help Sam. What do you get out of it in return?" Scarf demanded.
"Someone who could keep Norman accountable during study time." Joy answered.
"Someone who can help me find things in my lessons I've missed." Norman also answered.
"A friend." Lady Joseline decreed.
"Someone to boost their confidence because of how pathetic I am." Sam confessed under his breath.
At that moment everyone turned to Sam. They all heard what he said, even Scarf. Sam realized they all heard him and felt his cheeks become flush with embarrassment. Norman didn't quite understand why Sam had said this. He didn't think anyone could be so self deprecating. Joy knew Sam all her life almost, and knew the troubles Sam faced. Lady Joseline was heartbroken. She had seen many students like Sam. She would do her best to try and bolster Sam in whatever way she could. Before Lady Joseline could speak up, however-
"Alright lad, listen up!" Scarf shouted. He then took a leap of faith, a leap from Lady Joseline to Sam. Sam instinctively caught Scarf in his hands but not before letting out a small yelp.
"What in all of creation are you doing?" Sam asked in shock.
"First, I need you to hold me up to your face!" Scarf shouted.
Sam was more confused than he had ever been in his life. Sam obliged, thinking that going against the ferret's wishes would only make things worse for him.
Scarf stared deep into Sam's eyes. Scarf was determined, focused, and would not yield. "You're my human now." Scarf whispered.
There was silence in the room for a bit. No one knew what was going on. "Um..." Sam broke the silence, "what does that mean?"
"What does that mean? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?" Scarf repeated. Scarf then pointed dramatically at Norman. "Tell him what it means, Norman!"
Norman was stunned. In fact, he was stunned so much that he didn't know what to say.
"Never mind then!" Scarf huffed at Norman. Scarf turned back to Sam. "It means that from this moment on, you need not carry your burdens alone! It means that your worries shall not go unheard! It means you can hold your head up high, knowing that someone has your back! You may not have been inducted into the Emerald advance courses, but you are in the advance school of Scarf! You shall be the star pupil in the school of Scarf as well!"
When Scarf finished his spiel, he looked Sam dead in the eye. He knew what he would see, fear and confusion. That was to be expected. Scarf had a lot of work to do as a mentor, but he would not shy away from his self appointed duty.
After a bit, Sam turned to Norman, "What is your rodent saying?"
"It seems to me that you have a new best friend." Norman stated.
Sam had no idea what was in store for him.
