Natti Lancaster's Arc

Chapter 5 of 5

Natti sat at her kitchen table with three letters spread in front of her. Two instructors had written back—both interested in teaching at her school. The soil expert could start in two months, and the livestock handler wanted to visit the farm next week. Her tail curled with satisfaction as she added their names to her master schedule. She pulled out a fresh sheet of paper and calculated the costs again. With two confirmed instructors, she could officially call it a teaching staff. Her pencil moved faster now, sketching out a basic class rotation. Morning sessions for crops, afternoon sessions for animals. The numbers worked. Everything was finally clicking into place. She flipped to a fresh page and drew the farm layout from memory. The school buildings stood ready, but students would need more than classrooms. Her pencil marked three spots on the map. First, an aqueduct at the entrance—sandstone arches carrying water downhill, decorated with colored tiles. The sound of flowing water would greet arriving students. Second, a garden with raised stone beds near the main building. Each bed could mark a graduate's name and the year they finished. Students could see proof that others had succeeded before them. Third, a workshop building where finished projects could go on display. Tools, crafted items, anything that showed what people learned here. She calculated the costs and timelines for each addition. Billy would ask questions soon. The farm had changed too much for him not to notice. But these weren't just decorations—they were proof the school could actually work. Natti traced her finger over the aqueduct drawing. Water conservation was practical. The memorial garden taught plant care while honoring achievements. The workshop gave students a goal to work toward. Every piece served two purposes. That's what made them worth building. She stacked the letters and tucked them into her notebook. Two instructors confirmed, three new features planned, and a class schedule that actually functioned. Her whiskers twitched as she stood and walked to the window. The barn stood quiet in the afternoon light, her research notes still hidden beneath the floorboards. Soon she wouldn't need to hide anything. Soon the whole farm would be teaching what she'd spent five years learning on her own. She pressed her paw against the glass and smiled. The school was becoming real, one confirmed detail at a time.