Named after the Moon

Arriving on the first available carriage, Jenkins presented her ticket and hurriedly set off in search of her carriage on the international train. The platform, strangely enough, was deserted, creating a certain solitude, a bubble-like dome of silence. Finally, the fox entered the first compartment carriage and, finding her seat, sat down by the window in need of cleaning, from where she could watch the cream-colored platform gradually filling with animals. She had arrived early enough, so she had to wait another hour, and then the girl and some other Douleans, and perhaps others, set off on their journey into the unknown.

Chapter 2 “The First Light”

The train’s wheels clattered along the rails, carrying passengers at high speed into the prematurely frozen Egalitia. The colorful, hot forests had disappeared over time, giving way to ugly, bald branches, a tireless reminder of the foreign, harsh nature. Likewise, the foaming, warm waves closer to the border with the former enemy had turned into motionless, gloomy mirrors, but Luelle was not destined to witness this view, for the tracks ran through the very heart of the country, far from any source of water on either side, save for small, slippery rivers. Along with the terrain, the skies changed, and along with the skies, the life of our dreamy fox slowly changed.

The girl had to travel all day, surrounded by ringing silence, and by evening she would be standing on the platform of the central station in Frateville, the capital of a beautiful snow-white country. Until the occasional snowflake began to appear outside the window, the full enormity of her near future and, at the same time, the youthful recklessness of the undertaking didn’t dawn on Luelle. Only at the sight of the tiny symbols of winter did she allow herself to lower her travel bag to the floor, lie down on the leather seat in her dark moccasins, and cry.

“What a fool I am! A fool! I fell for the politeness of these scoundrels, and now I’m going somewhere where I could be in serious danger!” The fox couldn’t resist and covered her round face with her clawed paws. Right now, she didn’t care if anyone heard her howling. And who would come to see her, when there should have been plenty of empty seats in the entire carriage?

For a moment, Jenkins sniffled and wiped away salty streams, popping dried meat into her mouth, but then all sounds, save for the hum of the wheels, grew quieter and then disappeared altogether. The sun was at its peak, its intangible hands reaching for every window on the passing train. But neither the blinding light nor anything else could distract the young fox girl, who had fallen asleep after an emotional outburst. On her tear-swollen white-red face, the large almond-shaped eyelids twitched occasionally, likely from a new phase of sleep; her eyebrows drew together from time to time, straining all the fine wrinkles on her forehead, formed during grueling studies. It’s impossible to say that the dream was able to distract the fox from the stress that had surfaced, but one can assume it was an echo of the past. That very past that Luelle so diligently wanted to cast aside, but this time couldn’t. We won’t know why until she tells us herself someday.

When the fox opened her eyes, she was greeted by the same silence, accompanied by darkness. “Did I really sleep until dark?” was her first thought. Jenkins sat up and glanced at the foggy window. Her greenish eyes widened at what she saw, and she covered her mouth with a paw: crystal-clear, whitish hills and glossy, frost-covered trees were racing past her at extraordinary speed. They were completely different from the tattered plants in northern Berrydoule. These were like ice figures, carved by master craftsmen, as if someone had deliberately performed delicate work and replaced the bare crowns with such fluffy beauties. But no, the trees were absolutely real, which captured Luelle’s attention. She stood and walked closer. Her ragged breathing created frosted circles on the window. The fox gazed with bated breath at the beauty of Egalitian nature. The snow-clouded sky made it impossible to tell the time, but Jenkins sensed she would definitely arrive soon. In the meantime, she was eager to capture the otherworldly landscapes in her memory.

A rustling sound came from behind – Luelle’s fox ears caught it immediately – followed by a heavy sigh. Turning sharply, the young woman spotted a passenger sitting on the second bench right by the entrance. She glanced at him sharply: the stranger was dressed in dark overalls, and almost his entire face was hidden by a scarf as fluffy as fairytale trees. His clothes weren’t particularly new, but they looked decent enough, befitting a diligent student surviving on a shoestring. His baggy pants reached to his heels, obscuring his warm boots. Against the dark robes, his snow-white paws resembled those of someone suffering from skeletal fever, the kind Luelle often saw on the streets of her neighborhood. She hoped he wasn’t contagious and continued her quick analysis. Trying not to focus on the young animal’s unsightliness, she raised her gaze higher, to his long, white hare ears. “Holy shores! What’s a hare doing here!?” The girl was horrified and backed away to her own, the first bench. She looked into the traveler’s icy eyes and lowered her gaze. In fact, Jenkins hadn’t studied him for very long, and only furtively, but it was enough for her to understand which specimen she would be sharing the rest of her journey with. The Egalitian also noticed the young fox’s intense gaze, but in response, he turned away, his entire being expressing a lack of interest. The girl did the same, not so much because of the similar glances as because of the impoliteness she detected in his gesture. “Ha… I should have foreseen this; it’s only been a short time since the peace treaty was signed, and it’s entirely possible he could have been my opponent if I’d been in a hot spot,” she reminded herself, looking out at the magical landscape, “though he doesn’t look so good to be sent to the battlefield…” Her thoughts about the strange hare gave way to thoughts about what kind of city would greet her. As far as Luelle knew, the capital had been poor since the war ended, having been dispatched with all sorts of resources sent to the borderlands, so it needed time to recover. But had the rumored, indescribably beautiful city managed to regain its former glory in almost six months? Jenkins would find out. She also had to decide how to travel to the island province of Niral. “But I only got a train ticket…” she recalled, but assumed the organizers had already sorted that out, which was why they hadn’t given her a ticket for an escort to the academy gates. Pausing in her thoughts, the girl glanced at the stranger again, and to her surprise, he was already reading a book with an engraving of a flower unknown to the fox. The title was in a more or less familiar runic language: “Basics of Healing.” Luelle chuckled, inaudibly to the hare: she, too, would have to learn something similar. She didn’t say anything out loud because she didn’t know the right words. And was it really necessary, when he was busy with his business, and she with hers? “Even though he came here unannounced and is now pretending…As if I’d been rude!” the fox protested internally, only casting a disapproving glance at the hare. He immediately looked up from the book and returned Luelle’s gaze, even more disdainful than hers. The glowing ice floes held a menace. The girl felt uneasy and returned to quietly observing the enchanting snowfall. In this relative silence, Jenkins and her unexpected companion reached the capital of Egalitia. However, the young beast immediately departed, leaving our heroine alone with her own problems. Now she had to navigate an alien world, among timid herbivores and others.

The fox passed through the checkpoint, where she was subjected to a thorough inspection. Meanwhile, she watched as the rodent inspector quickly ushered a miniature rabbit and her small children through, almost with a welcoming smile. The girl nearly rolled her eyes, but caught herself: “What did you expect? I could be a potential threat to them…” Then, gathering her thoughts, she continued walking through the crowded lobby. Her entire journey to the desired exit was accompanied by sidelong glances and even worried whispers from some timid Egalitians. They weren’t the only ones uncomfortable seeing a redhead with sharp fangs among their own kind – Luelle Jenkins herself was already sweating profusely in her cotton tunic, looking less like a neat young lady and more like butter melting in the hot Tanapurr sun. Nevertheless, she tried to maintain an upright posture and walk confidently, albeit quickly. The urge to leave the stuffy room increased tenfold, so the girl practically ran the last two meters before the large varnished door. Opening it, the fox once again admired the local weather and stood on the porch for a few more seconds, examining every object, despite the chill pounding her veins. Sleighs were visible in the distance, allowing residents to quickly reach their destinations. Nearby, couples and families strolled leisurely, chatting pleasantly about everyday matters. Surrounding the mice and weasels, as well as other animals, were low-rise buildings in a northern style: pitched roofs, a natural look, a lack of unnecessary details – all of this characterized Frateville as a town of modest morals and a reverence for tradition. The local fashion for layered fabrics complemented the atmosphere. Egalitians wore dresses with various patterns, loose around the legs and arms but tight around the waist and chest. The beast-men also differed in style from typical Douleans, preferring comfort over elegance. “Truly, a completely different world…” Luelle marveled, now openly examining the passersby. Ultimately, the questions remained unanswered, and the girl, who had by then descended, was intently searching for some sign, a clue as to what to do next. At that moment, a cough was heard behind her. Jenkins turned and met the piercing gaze of an elderly otter-man dressed in an old-fashioned coat. It seemed as if he had been waiting a long time for the girl to turn around.

“I presume, Miss Jenkins? In that case, you’ll need to follow me if you want to reach Niral on time and without unnecessary inconvenience to yourself and the other animals,” he said with a deliberately relaxed expression. Otter headed toward his unusual vehicle. Luelle, however, was confused and glanced with some apprehension between the stranger and the bizarre mechanism. “Young lady, this is no time for daydreaming! I wasn’t paid to waste my time on your sentimentality, so please board the sleigh.”

The fox hiccupped and jumped onto the seat behind her, clutching her suitcase to herself.

“Thank you, keep in mind, I drive fast,” he warned, adding, seeing the complete incomprehension in the olive eyes, “just hold on tight.”

The transport pulled out of the station and rolled past the other sleighs at the promised speed. Jenkins clutched her seat in fear, but soon felt a sense of weightlessness with undisguised pleasure. A snowy wind blew into the faces of both the girl and the driver, but the latter had long since become accustomed to the climate of his native country and seemed oblivious to the flakes flying straight into his eyes. Jenkins did her best to examine the passing signs and study the capital’s infrastructure, but then the sleigh turned onto a bridge, the end of which was shrouded in frosty fog, revealing the frozen sea on all sides. Nothing else. “It’s a shame the waves don’t crash against the shore here in October, like here…” Luelle admitted wistfully, becoming increasingly lost in thoughts of a kingdom where everything was strikingly different from what was written in reputable books. Half an hour later, the elderly otter dropped Jenkins off at the gates of the city, with whose guards he had spoken in advance about the arrival of a foreign student, and began to instruct the girl.

“We’re here. So, before you stands the entrance to Niral, where you’ll spend four years at the Academy of Medalchemy. Rule number one: respect local traditions and general laws. Don’t try to deceive, cheat, or flatter; otherwise, life here will become unbearably difficult for you. Rule number two: don’t wander alone after lights out. No matter how safe Egalitia may be for you, it, like any country, is full of dangers if you don’t act cautiously and wisely. Rule number three: don’t engage in any amorous affairs with the locals; it’s strictly forbidden here, unlike in Berrydoule. Everything else you’ll learn and, accordingly, master as you go.” He warned in a tone that didn’t invite argument.

With that, the two acquaintances parted, and the fox had to find its way to the academy without getting into trouble. As soon as the otter’s sleigh was out of sight, Luelle looked resolutely at the gates and, by special order, was admitted into Niral. The city wasn’t much different from the country’s capital: the same minimalist houses and stern morals reigning in every building. However, the island’s inhabitants differed somewhat from the animals of Frateville in their greater freedom and a certain unity. Niral’s entire population consisted primarily of elderly people living in the coastal neighborhoods and young rodents of college age. Since the only institution of higher education here was the renowned academy, Luelle would likely encounter this latter category once inside the building. “Well, they look cheerful and friendly; I think I’ll have no trouble getting along with them,” Jenkins optimistically suggested, walking quietly along the white path. Several animals were loudly joking at the other end of the block. A thin layer of snow still crunched beneath her boots, and the crystal trees swayed gently in the occasional breeze. By then, the sky had cleared of dense air masses, revealing a clear, dark blue canvas and the small disk of a recently risen moon. The girl sighed and continued on her way to the academy.

Evening turned to night, the streets gradually thinned out, and only the lamps remained, strangely hovering above the cold ground. Distracted by the mysterious phenomenon, Luelle approached one and was about to touch it with her numb fingers when a door creaked from around the corner. The fox squeaked and ran in the opposite direction. “Why am I running away!?” she thought quickly. We would have heard more amusing thoughts if the girl hadn’t crashed full force into someone. Since she had accelerated quite rapidly, not only did the predator fall, but also a poor local, who was turning around to take a different road at the time. The fall was unpleasant for both, but while the resident of Niral landed in a small snowdrift, which significantly softened his landing, the visiting student found herself on a hard surface, painfully hitting her back and head. Her bag landed nearby. Hissing more from surprise than pain, she stood awkwardly, straightened her rumpled robe, and was at the injured man’s side in a flash. The fox extended her paw.

“I’m s-sorry I didn’t see you! Are you badly hurt?” the girl asked worriedly, to which the unfamiliar animal rudely pushed her trembling fingers away and stood up on its own. Luelle was taken aback by this gesture and came to her senses when he had already gone his way. It had become completely quiet again, even. Jenkins trudged dejectedly along yet another unfamiliar road, along the way losing any shreds of hope that she would soon run into a barrier separating her from the campus. Along with fatigue and frostbite came irritability, eager to lash out at anyone who crossed her path. Even if that someone turned out to be that rude person or even the hare the fox had encountered in the compartment. Alas, she didn’t want to speak out loud about the feelings raging at that moment, so she could only replay them in her mind: “What a strange day! But it all started so beautifully, with the morning sun in Alta, and now I’m sloshing through snow where I have no idea where I’m going, almost at night, alone… Yeah, I should have demanded an oath of guaranteed escort right to the door of my dorm room… And that scoundrel in the snowdrift – a real boor, the rarest kind! I know I have a fox’s face, but I apologized, I was polite, and he… How I hate to believe that everyone here is so unbearable…” After her angry tirade, the fox whined helplessly but kept walking. Seriously, the winner of a prestigious international competition wouldn’t spend the night in the winter cold like an orphan, would she? That’s right – she is an orphan, albeit under the shiny guise of an honored participant in the competition.

Finally, Luelle reached a fork in the road. There she spotted footprints in the snow, heading right. Deciding she had no choice, she hurried to the marked path.

The air thickened, and the snowfall only intensified. However, Jenkins kept up her pace, this time confident in the success of her search. Suddenly, she tripped over something hard and nearly fell to her knees. Looking down under her autumn moccasins, the fox discovered a metal ramp. She placed one foot, then the other, and continued to the top. The sight made her gasp. In front of her, or rather, on either side, stood a pair of iron gates, like the looming threat of a jaw suddenly closing. Ahead of her, a well-kept white path stretched, with branches leading to other landmarks a little further on. The end of the main path was visible at the entrance to a majestic building, which, as far as the fox could discern in the thickening fog, appeared more stately than the other buildings on the island. Behind this structure, several pointed towers rose up, emitting the last traces of light. Luelle stepped hesitantly onto the path. Nothing happened. Then she took a few steps. Silence again. The Doulean walked a good distance away from the gates, and then they slowly closed. With slight fear, she rushed straight to the central point. Her heart was pounding wildly, and her teeth were clenched not only from the cold. In a matter of seconds, the girl found herself right at the main doors. Unlike the eerie gates, these were wooden, just like the ones at the train station, but an even lighter shade and adorned with the signature patterns. “What am I doing? What if I’ve trespassed on forbidden territory? What will happen…” Jenkins whined and peered into the nearest window. Unfortunately, it was blocked by thick curtains from the inside, although the fox could definitely see the dim light. Without hesitating for long, she pulled the door towards herself and found herself in a warm hall.

The interior was quite spacious, compared to the public administration building of the capital of Berrydoule. The Maiden looked up and saw not just the absence of any chandelier, but sparkling, whimsical lights, similar to the ones she wanted to touch.

“But how? I don’t even see any ropes or threads!” she blurted out. Her melodic voice echoed throughout the hall, and the girl fell silent, once again embarrassed by her lack of restraint.

A calm voice of an elderly man was heard from the side:

“Oh, my dear, there is still much you don’t know about us and our secrets.”

Luelle whirled around and saw an old beaver in the distance, near a wall with portraits of smiling young animals. He was standing half-turned, so the fox couldn’t see him fully, but she slowly approached to see what he meant.

“If you don’t mind, miss, I’ll address you as ‘you,’ so please allow an old man the liberty,” he continued, moving toward the information desk. “Earlier, our dean from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine was waiting for you next to me, but he was called away on a matter…”

Young Jenkins didn’t know what to say, but for some reason she felt… shame? A vile feeling, slithering beneath her skin. Her relief, however, was greater, for she hadn’t been mistaken; those tracks had led her to the academy. But was it her fault for not knowing the way?

“You know, this place can be so confusing, even I, who have lived here for over half a century, sometimes get lost… Come on, my dear, come closer, I need to acknowledge your presence and explain everything to you properly!”

The girl complied with the old beaver’s gentle request. He led her to a posted form, where various names, surnames, and signatures, all written with paws, were visible. The handwriting varied widely: from calligraphic and ornate to rounded and small.

“Should I write here?”

“Yes, miss, right here.”

Luelle checked in and handed the pen to the patiently waiting beaver. He led her closer to the lounge area, like those found in good hotels, and seated the late student opposite him.

“First of all, I want to congratulate you on your victory in Fortuna and thank you for choosing our glorious academy,” he said good-naturedly, lifting his wrinkled eyelids and giving the fox an old man’s look. “Well done for finding your way; our autumn can be truly difficult for an unprepared animal…”

In response, the fox nodded, pricking up its ears.

“You’re currently in the main building’s lobby, but we have two more towers with dormitories, as well as three more for study. You’ll read about them in this booklet especially for first-year students,” the beaver began his explanation and placed a folded sheet of chalk directly into the paws of his charge, who immediately began studying it. “Lectures begin tomorrow at 9 a.m., so I advise you to get a good night’s sleep.”

The venerable rodent then explained to the girl, briefly but thoroughly, the basic rules, the main events, the lecture process, and the location of her room. He also shared tips on note-taking and preparing for exams. The beaver also addressed her relationships with classmates: “Remember, don’t give in to anyone’s provocations… And don’t fall in love with anyone, otherwise you’ll have to live in the dungeons… This is no joke.” Finally, he gave the fox the keys and escorted her to the girls’ dorm.

“Are you sure you won’t get lost?” he teased the student, who had relaxed after a hard day, and she laughed it off.

Then the old man bowed out. This time, Jenkins didn’t get lost and reached the farthest room, neatly engraved with the number “25.” Once inside, the Doulean locked the door and placed her suitcase by the cream-colored wardrobe. She looked around: the small, decently decorated room contained a single bed, a desk the same color as the wardrobe, and a chair. “Looks like I won’t be getting a roommate,” Luelle concluded, and with a contented sigh, she fell onto the soft mattress. As soon as her head hit the pillow, her almond-shaped eyes closed, plunging her into a weightless sleep.

***

The girl greeted the clear dawn, standing by the window. Since her room was at the top of the residential tower, Luelle had a bird’s eye view of picturesque Niral and its surroundings. She hadn’t expected to wake up early, and in high spirits, either, but she still had a couple of hours to spare before her first lecture. “By the way, what’s my schedule?” she thought, walking over to the desk where she’d left the information booklet in the darkness. She unfolded it, and a white sheet of paper with a printed schedule fell out. Looking closer, Jenkins realized that along with the general navigation, the old beaver had given her information regarding the school day. She glanced at the last line. “Am I really only free at 6 PM? Although when I studied in my building, we sometimes trained until 8…” the fox commented on the schedule. However, she couldn’t help but agree with how strange the courses sounded these days: “Theory of Elements and Particles,” “Pharmacology in a Magical Environment,” “Medical Code of Honor,” “Medicinal Herbs and Their Uses,” and then time was devoted to electives and homework. At the same time, she was perplexed by the word “magical” next to a scientific term.

“That must be a figure of speech? Although academies like these must adhere to strict rules even in their names!” she reasoned, dubiously rereading the title of the second lecture. “I hope I read it correctly.”

In reality, the Pharmacy and Medicine courses cover many more subjects, but the vice-dean decided not to assign six classes to all new students on the first day of classes. However, the fox had spent the entire month of September diligently poring over the fundamentals of the noble sciences, lest she embarrass herself during her first classes. “I wouldn’t be surprised if even the knowledge I’ve acquired turns out to be outdated,” she thought sadly, concentrating on what she would actually wear. Taking advantage of the time available, the fox leisurely arranged her few belongings into two compact piles and opened the closet. Unexpectedly, there were already some clothes folded there. “Probably a uniform,” Jenkins guessed, pulling them out to examine them. A hint of mint caught her nose. The first two items of clothing were seamless shirts that reached to her knees. The third was a pair of soft, wide-legged pants, reminiscent of her favorite palazzo pants. The fourth item resembled a medical apron with a thick bib. The fifth item, Luelle held out in her paws, was a wonderful milky robe that accentuated the color of her eyes. Overall, the entire outfit, with the exception of the last item, was done in muted tones, which struck the girl as odd: “This uniform gets dirty quickly.”