"Why do I have to go to school, Even?" Ienzo asked as his caretaker led him towards the building. "Why can't I just stay at the castle with the other apprentices and keep working?"

"Ansem wants you to follow the laws and not be treated as an exception. The laws say you are a child and all children should be in school."

Ienzo looked up at Even.

"Do I really count as a child?"

Even nodded.

"You may be a genius, but you're still only six."

Ienzo crossed his arms.

"Six and a HALF."

"Yes. Six and a half," Even corrected himself. They stepped into the building. "Now let's get you signed up for school."

Ienzo took Even's hand and followed him.

"What grade will I be in?"

"I don't know. That decision is up to the school but probably around seventh or so."

Ienzo nodded happily.

The pair followed signs to the office.

"Excuse me?" Even asked as he reached the counselor's office.

One of the women turned.

"Oh hello," she said sweetly and joined them. "How can I help you?"

Gesturing to Ienzo, he said, "I need to sign him up for school."

She looked down at Ienzo, who leaned closer to Even in fear.

"Is he a transfer?"

Even shook his head.

"No. He's never been in formal school before."

"How old is he?"

"Six." Ienzo nudged him. "And a half."

"Sounds like first grade but you will need to talk to a counselor. This is the middle school you see."

"I know. I teach Chemistry at the high school."

"Then why did you bring him here?"

"He is very clever and at least sixth grader would work."

The woman laughed.

"I'm sure he's very smart but six year olds don't belong in sixth grade. It doesn't work that way honey. Your son will be placed in first grade if he's good."

Ienzo stood up on his tiptoes to look at the woman.

"Excuse me, but Even is not my father and I may be six but I can handle the coursework."

The woman stared at him.

"May we talk to a counselor to get him placed now?" Even asked.

She tore her eyes away from Ienzo to look at Even.

"O-Of course. Just a moment." She pointed to some chairs. "You can sit down while you wait."

Even nodded politely and led Ienzo over to them.

Sitting down, he turned to Ienzo next to him.

"You're quite vocal today," he commented. "Any particular reason?"

Ienzo shrugged.

They were called back a few minutes later.

Greeting them was a woman in her thirties and a smile.

"Hello Even. How are you? Work got you busy?" she asked with a wink.

"It's fine Margret." Putting an arm around Ienzo he said, "I actually brought some of it with me."

Margret gasped.

"My my Even!" she scolded. "You never told me you had a child in that big castle!"

"I saw no need to," he said simply before turning to the boy. "Ienzo, this is Margret. She knows about our work so you can talk to her."

Ienzo nodded.

"Good morning, Ms. Margret. How are you?"

"Oh so polite! He must be yours Even!"

The boy stiffened.

Noticing, Even said quickly, "No. We're all raising him. Ansem adopted him and we all did too after that. Ienzo is the sixth apprentice."

Margret gasped.

"The elusive sixth apprentice is a six year old boy?"

"Yes but if you could keep that to yourself."

"Of course. Now," she turned to Ienzo. "What grade do you want to be in?"

He was surprised.

"I get to pick? I thought I had to take a test?"

"Well you do but I just wanted to know what you thought."

"I want to be where I should be."

She nodded.

"Good choice." She started pulling out the materials she would need. "You can go now Even. He's in good hands and don't you have a class to teach?"

Even looked down at his watch and nodded.

"Thank you Margret. And remember, not a word about who Ienzo is really."

"I promise."

"Good bye Ienzo. I shall see you this afternoon when school is dismissed."

He left.

"And you must balance the equation or your reaction will fail. Does that make sense?"

Even turned away from the board to see his students scribbling notes down.

He was halfway into his lesson and he was proud of his ability to keep his class engaged and make them understand.

No one ever failed his class.

"And then you-"

He was cut off by a knock on his door.

"Amanda?" The girl closest to the door looked up. "Can you open the door?"

She nodded and stood up.

Pushing open the door revealed-

"Ienzo?"

The little boy was standing in the doorway with a piece of paper in his hand.

A tall, fierce woman was behind him.

'WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?' he signed.

'THEY'RE MAKING ME TAKE CHEMISTY.'

'WELL OBVIOUSLY! YOU WOULDN'T BE HERE OTHERWISE! BUT I MEANT WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE HIGH SCHOOL? I THOUGHT THEY PUT YOU IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.'

'MARGRET MADE ME A FRESHMAN.'

'A FRESHMAN? IS SHE CRAZY? YOU'RE SIX!"

'I WAS TOO SMART FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL.'

'WELL OF COURSE YOU WERE BUT I THOUGHT EIGHTH GRADE WOULD BE THE CAP!'

'SHE WANTED TO MAKE ME A SENIOR.'

Even sighed and put a hand on his forehead.

"And who are you?" he asked the woman.

"I'm Ienzo's Trace. I make sure he fits in and understands."

"Fine. Ienzo take your seat. There's one in the back by Daniel. You," he addressed the woman. "Just stand out of the way."

'YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS SO JUST FOLLOW ALONG,' he signed to Ienzo before he walked away.

Ienzo nodded and went to his seat.

Even walked back to the front of the room again.

"Students? This is Ienzo. He's going to be joining our class."

AN: Yay! I finally wrote down this idea I had!

And more Ienzo and Even! :D

But things (like why Even is a teacher and why no one knows about the apprentices) will be explained later.

Anyway! See ya soon!

P.S. I already have most of the next chapter written out!