Sylph

The school bell rang down the hallway, echoing in your head. The hallway fell silent, everyone had scattered to their classrooms, and only your uncertain footsteps could be heard. You tried to find your class or at least catch a teacher. The new school seemed a completely unfamiliar and scary place. You were lucky to catch your teacher in the hallway. She was looking for you. She led you to the right classroom and opened the door. Daylight fell on your face, illuminating a new classroom. Unfamiliar faces stared at you with curiosity; you felt like you were a guinea pig. Sitting at the far desk, you stared at the board, scribbling in your notebook.

You were always a good student. At your previous school, you were a loner, hardly interacting with anyone. Your father's new job forced you to move. You didn't particularly regret it or miss the place. You quickly settled into your new class, and your classmates turned out to be quite friendly.

But the only one who attracted the attention of the class, and even most of the school, including the principal, was Sylph. Another troublemaker, always using his fists to settle scores, with a perpetually frozen, insolent grin on his face. He often disrupted lessons with his antics: he'd start arguing with the teacher, or blast his loudspeaker for the entire class to hear. He irritated you because he was a terrible student himself and wouldn't let you do the same. He wasn't expelled because his parents, who were sponsors of the school, were the reason he didn't get expelled. Later, he disappeared for a couple of days, and you were already glad about that.

One day during recess, when you were sitting quietly at your desk, solving some problems, he burst into the classroom. He immediately headed towards you, pulled out the nearest chair, and sat down across from you.

• Swot, do you want a contract?

You stared at him, pushing the book away from your face. He continued with a sly grin:

• You will help me with my studies, and I will pay for your education here.

Tuition at this school is really expensive, your parents worked hard to send you here. The offer sounded logical, but why you?