Into the Depths

Chapter 24

Ben couldn't help but smile as he sat before Fairy Godmother in her office, clad in his dark blue cap and gown. While it had taken longer than he thought, he was happy that he was actually able to graduate early.

He loved school, don't get him wrong. But being able to eliminate some stress from his life was more than Ben could ask for. Plus classes had started to lose their appeal somewhat. Ben liked the ability to interact with his classmates, to see them goof off and have fun. Ever since his coronation though Ben had been doing 'independent learning' where he basically got to stare at a computer screen while his teacher taught in a prerecorded lecture.

If Ben had a choice, he would have chosen going to class any day. But with his new schedule of council meetings and paperwork and meeting with royals, there just wasn't a way to fit in classes. Unfortunately with the new system, there wasn't a way for Ben to be able to ask questions in real time either.

His friends tried to help in whatever way they could—the Tourney team took turns asking whatever questions Ben had in their classes. But nine times out of ten, by the time Ben got the answer he'd forgotten he had even had the question. Doug offered to sit in the room with him so there'd be someone there to try to explain it in real time but Ben had declined.

It wouldn't be fair to Doug to take up some of his free time to sit in a room with Ben, listening to a lesson he already sat through.

So yeah, while Ben would be disappointed to not walk with his class later in the year, he wasn't going to lie and say he wasn't excited to finally have 'independent learning' behind him.

Plus, I'm sure that my teachers are happy to not have to record their lessons anymore. Not to mention the fact that having my graduation now prevents the ceremony for the rest of the class from being a media circus, Ben thought and couldn't help but chuckle as Doug stood up, playing Pomp and Circumstance on his trumpet. His amusement only grew as Jay, Carlos, Emir and Akiho stood up behind Doug to accompany the half-dwarf, only the four other boys had kazoos.

How did they even know about this? Ben thought. Well he knew how Jay and Carlos knew—Mal had more than likely told them. Or more likely told Jay since Carlos was probably accompanying Jane considering the headmistress's daughter was sitting next to the younger boy.

Ben had no idea though how Emir and Akiho had found out about the mini-graduation. Not because they weren't supposed to but because since it was only Ben walking, it didn't make sense to have a huge crowd of people. Especially since they were in Fairy Godmother's office.

"Yes, thank you Doug," Fairy Godmother said with a chuckle after about fifteen minutes of the trumpet and accompanying kazoos.

Doug smiled and sat back down next to Evie, who shook her head in amusement; the other four boys quickly sitting down as well. Thinking back, Ben would wonder why he insisted on a mini ceremony when he was the only one graduating. But right now, in the present, Ben was thankful Fairy Godmother worked with him to allow this.

There had been so much he had to give up to become king. Tourney, lessons with his classmates...he would hate if having a graduation was yet another casualty.

He shook his head slightly, clearly amused, as Fairy Godmother called out his name but he still walked the distance from his seat to where Fairy Godmother was standing. He could hear the cheers of his friends in the small little viewing area.

"Sorry about them," he whispered as he shook Fairy Godmother's hand.

"By now I think we've all come to expect a little oddness from Akiho and Emir. I just want to know where they got kazoos," Fairy Godmother whispered back, clearly amused with the whole thing.