Chapter 41: the Rhythm of University

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: the Rhythm of University

By Monday morning, the excitement of orientation week had quietly faded.

Students no longer wandered the corridors with folded campus maps or uncertain expressions.

The lecture halls were familiar.

The routes between buildings had become second nature.

Even the morning rush had settled into an unspoken rhythm.

Vivienne and Claire left the dormitory together just after breakfast, meeting Amelia and Eleanor at the same intersection they had somehow begun meeting at every morning without ever needing to arrange it.

It had simply... become routine.

"I’m convinced the walk gets longer every day," Claire sighed.

"It doesn’t," Eleanor replied.

"It only feels that way because Monday exists."

Amelia laughed.

"I’ll accept that explanation."

Vivienne smiled as the four continued toward the Humanities Building, joining the steady stream of students crossing the campus.

—

Monday through Thursday passed much the same way.

Lecture after lecture.

Classroom after classroom.

The professors wasted little time on pleasantries now.

Once the bell rang, lessons began immediately.

Economics quickly proved to be one of the more demanding subjects.

The professor rarely lectured uninterrupted.

Instead, he questioned students constantly, expecting them to think rather than simply memorize.

"Miss Beaumont."

Vivienne straightened instinctively.

"Suppose a government introduces a subsidy into a competitive agricultural market."

"What immediate effect might you expect?"

Vivienne carefully organized her thoughts before answering.

The professor listened quietly.

Then nodded once.

"Correct."

Relief quietly settled inside her.

Only for the professor to immediately continue.

"Miss Whitmore."

Claire answered without the slightest hesitation, building naturally upon Vivienne’s explanation.

"Excellent."

A few minutes later...

"Miss Hartwell."

Amelia responded just as confidently.

Another nod.

"Very good."

Then...

"Miss Hayes."

Eleanor offered yet another thoughtful observation.

"Precisely."

Vivienne looked at her three friends in mild surprise.

She had always known they were intelligent.

After all...

No one entered St. Albion’s without exceptional ability.

Still...

Watching them answer with such confidence made the reality sink in.

They’re incredible.

Not just Claire.

Not just Eleanor.

All three of them.

For the first time, Vivienne quietly wondered if she might actually be the weakest student among their little group.

—

Political Governance had a completely different atmosphere.

Rather than simple lectures, discussions often filled the room.

Students debated economic policy, constitutional traditions, and the responsibilities of governments with an enthusiasm Vivienne hadn’t expected.

The professor rarely declared anyone completely right or wrong. ℯℯ𝑙.

Instead, he challenged every answer with another question.

"Convince me."

Those two words became the class’s unofficial motto.

Vivienne found herself speaking less than she usually would.

Not because she lacked opinions.

Because she preferred listening first.

The discussions fascinated her.

The perspectives of old noble families often differed from those of students whose families had built vast business empires.

Neither side was necessarily correct.

Both simply viewed the world through different experiences.

It made every lecture surprisingly engaging.

—

By the middle of the week...

The campus itself had begun feeling smaller.

Not because it truly was.

But because familiar faces appeared everywhere.

Daniel from Section A always seemed to answer confidently during Economics.

Adrian somehow looked half asleep every morning, yet still managed to participate whenever professors called upon him.

Several classmates had developed the habit of gathering beneath the old oak trees between lectures.

Others practically lived inside the campus café.

Even Evelyn Sinclair had quietly become another familiar face.

She almost always arrived a few minutes before class began.

She greeted anyone who greeted her.

Then quietly took her seat near the windows.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

She simply blended into the rhythm of the classroom like everyone else.

—

The workload, however...

Refused to become easier.

Every lecture seemed to produce another reading assignment.

Another essay.

Another Chapter.

Another set of notes.

By Wednesday evening, Vivienne found herself surrounded by textbooks once again.

"...How can there already be this much reading?"

Claire looked up from her own notes.

"I was asking myself the same thing."

Amelia sighed dramatically.

"I’ve accepted my fate."

Eleanor quietly turned another page.

"It becomes manageable."

"Eventually."

The other three looked at her.

Claire smiled.

"I admire your optimism."

"I call it experience."

Everyone laughed.

—

On Thursday afternoon, their first short written assignment was finally returned.

Vivienne accepted hers with more apprehension than she cared to admit.

She slowly turned the first page over.

B

She stared at it for a moment.

Then quietly let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

Thank goodness...

It wasn’t outstanding.

It certainly wasn’t among the highest marks.

But...

It was enough.

Enough to tell her she could keep up.

Even if she had to work twice as hard as everyone else.

Seven years away from formal education couldn’t be erased in a single week.

She would simply have to study more.

Practice more.

Learn more.

It was as simple as that.

—

By the time Thursday’s final lecture ended, students packed their bags almost in unison.

The classroom emptied into the bustling corridors.

Claire stretched both arms above her head.

"I forgot how long university weeks feel."

Amelia nodded.

"I think I’ve read more this week than I did all last year."

"I believe that’s the point," Eleanor replied with a smile.

Vivienne quietly closed her notebook before slipping it into her bag.

Tomorrow was Friday.

The schedule would finally be different.

Physical Activity Club in the morning.

Club activities in the afternoon.

Her thoughts drifted almost instinctively toward the polo grounds beside the equestrian arena.

Anthony would be there.

Even if only for a moment...

Even if all they exchanged was a polite greeting from across the field...

There was still a chance she would see him.

A small smile found its way onto her lips.

Perhaps...

Friday wouldn’t be so bad after all.