//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: No Pressure // Story: Serenity's Tale // by ElementofOrder //------------------------------// Serenity’s Tale- Chapter 3: No Pressure      “I assume whatever you had to tell your daughter was urgent, Lord Equilibrium.” “It was, Headmistress. Is Master Ether available to oversee Serenity’s aptitude test?” Winter Gaze glanced at Serenity dismissively, then returned her focus to the Unicorn stallion in front of her.      I honestly don’t see the point in giving a four year old filly an aptitude test. The school’s founder shouldn’t have to waste her time with something so trivial. Bah, this is such a waste of all our time. “Yes, she will be joining me in overseeing the test,” Winter replied irritably.      She then turned her focus to Serenity, looking down at the filly with annoyance and slight scorn. “Normally we don’t give aptitude tests to foals quite as young as you. However, due to your father’s insistence, we are making this one exception.” Serenity nodded and curtsied, maintaining a calm demeanor. “Yes ma’am, Miss Headmistress.” I hope that scary old mare doesn’t have to watch over the whole test. “Do what you can and do your best,” said Equilibrium.      Winter Gaze led Serenity into the testing room, where an old mare sat on a cushion dozing peacefully. Winter groaned, placed a hoof on the bridge of her muzzle and loudly cleared her throat. The orange mare snorted as she woke up with a start. “Huh? What’s going on? Is it lunch time already?” The mare brushed her grayed mane out of her eyes and then squinted as she spotted Serenity, who bowed as she said hello.      “Oh, who do we have here?” “My name is Serenity, ma’am.” “She is Lord Equilibrium’s youngest daughter, Master Ether. It is time for her aptitude test, remember?” Ether laughed and tapped her head with a hoof. “Ha ha! That time already, eh? Well, let’s get started shall we? Oh, before we do, may you pass me my bifocals Serenity?” “Yes ma’am.”      Serenity looked around the room until she found three pairs of glasses lying on a counter. One pair had crescent-shaped lenses, the second pair had triangular lenses and the third pair had star-shaped lenses. These eyeglasses sure are shaped funny. “Which one would you like to wear, Miss Ether?” Winter’s ear and tail twitched.      “You shall address her by either of her proper epithets. ‘Master Ether’, ‘Ether the Wise’ or ‘Ether the Enlightened’.” Ether gave an amused whinny as she dismissed Winter’s correction with a wave of her hoof. “Neigh, there’s no need to be that formal, little Serenity. ‘Miss Ether’ will do just fine. As for the bifocals, pick any pair you want. Surprise me!”      Serenity levitated the crescent-shaped glasses to the old sage, who examined them before placing them on her muzzle. “Ah, interesting choice. What made you select this pair?” “Master Ether, with all due respect, we need to begin the—“ Ether silenced Winter with a raise of her hoof and waited for the filly’s answer.      “Well, I just liked the way this pair looked. It felt like a good choice.” Wait, what if she wanted a different pair of eyeglasses? Or she thinks the eyeglasses I picked were ugly? “Do you like these eyeglasses?” Ether smiled as she patted Serenity’s head. “Of course! That’s why I wear either of these pairs of bifocals,” she replied. That and each pair has enchanted lenses. “I wanted to see which pair you liked. Now that I can see properly, how about some activities?”      Ether had Serenity build with blocks, solve puzzles—with and without her magic—and cast random spells. While Serenity was enjoying herself, Winter Gaze’s patience wore thinner by the second. Why does Master Ether insist on delaying the test with these meaningless trifles? Winter tapped a hoof against the polished wood floor and cleared her throat.      “If you don’t mind, Ether the Wise, I have a school to run and this filly has a test to take.” “Patience is a virtue you really need to work on, Winter Gaze. I know what I’m doing. They don’t call me ‘Ether the Wise’ for nothing.” Ether’s horn glowed a brilliant yellow orange aura as she pointed it at the icy-eyed headmistress. “Now sit your rump down, be quiet and let me work before I zap you into a crow!”      Winter Gaze obediently complied, her cheeks burning red. H-how dare she lecture me like an ignorant yearling! She is the one wasting time playing childish little games! The light gray mare took deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself. Calm down, Winter old girl. Everything she does has some sort of purpose or reason.