The foyer was quiet, the only sound to be heard was the clacks of Kayla’s silver shoes on the marble-covered floor. She wore a long white robe and silver bracelets wrapped around either wrist. Her hair was long, falling to her side. The morning sun peered in through the open windows and fell on her. Her image silhouetted off the sun’s rays with a warm sensation.
She climbed up a stairwell, proceeding to the first floor. Along the lobby were students, all with white hair standing on either side as she walked through their midst. They bowed their heads in accord; each having an arm raised to their chest.
“My lady.” They echoed.
Kayla paid them no heed, waving them to stand at ease. Two of them followed behind her. A boy at her right, tall with grey eyes and short hair. His dark skin contrasted his hair colour. Bulging muscles from his white robe completed his frame. A girl by her left was slightly taller than Kayla. She had her hair packed into a ponytail and her slender eyes hid behind a pair of glasses. Her figure was beautiful, howbeit she paled in comparison to Kayla.
“Veerus, Micah,” She spoke.
“Yes, my lady.” They replied after her as the trio walked down the lobby.
“I assume my brother is in his room.”
“Indeed. He came earliest to the dorm with two other members of his Cadre. He hasn’t left the room since,” Micah replied. Her voice was as soft as a songbird’s.
“I knocked on his door last night. He refused to open; said he was spending time bonding with his Cadre,” Veerus spoke. His deep voice echoed in the lobby.
“Strengthening chants?” Kayla asked.
“No. I sensed no mana from the room,” Veerus replied.
“I see.”
Veerus narrowed his eyes as they approached a door at the end of the lobby. “Forgive me my lady but I must say, he’s full of himself. Hayden.”
“Well, it is expected,” Micah said. “Hayden is Lady Kayla’s brother after all. There is bound to be mischief considering his position.”
Kayla’s lips rose to a small smile. They had gotten to Hayden’s room. “I appreciate your concern Veerus, Micah. We’ll have to deal with him together. He’s a handful.”
“Your orders are absolute, my lady,” Veerus replied with a brief bow.
“…Both of you, wait here,” Kayla said as she opened the door.
Kayla stepped into the room. The curtains were closed, allowing little to no light into the room. The light from the sole chandelier dangling from the ceiling revealed Hayden in bed with two girls. She recognized them from the test. They had covered with the blankets and were fast asleep. This however could not prevent Kayla from taking a lengthy sigh.
“Hayden.”
Her brother continued to sleep; his arms wrapped around the girls at either side of him.
Kayla calmly proceeded to the chair where a pile of clothes had fallen. She picked up a pair of pants and walked to the window. With a glance at her brother, she weaved her fingers together.
“Spirits of Ilia, hear me. I call for the orb void.” She chanted.
Instantly, Kayla and Hayden were warped to a small white room. It was ball-shaped. And though it had a floor, the mana made the room feel spherical.
Hayden’s blue eyes widened as he woke up nude on the floor.
“What…”
“Good morning, brother,” Kayla tossed the pants at Hayden who caught them and sighed.
“Is it morning already?” He groaned as he put on the pants. After pulling the zip, he could feel it was loose. “You forgot my belt.”
“Bringing in members of your cell to your personal room as an Arcstone is prohibited.”
“Relax sister,” Hayden chuckled. “All we did was spend time bonding.”
“You’re sleeping with them.”
“I fucked them just one night.”
“One night is how long we’ve been here.”
Hayden sighed. “Look, if I’m to get stronger, it’s something I have to do.”
“Not really, you don’t. You’re already strong. Do not make yourself look pitiful.” Kayla folded her arms
Hayden moaned and ran his fingers through his hair. “Can I have a chair please?” He asked looking around.
Kayla snapped her fingers and a chair appeared behind her brother. Hayden sat on what felt like wood. He glanced a look at his sister to show his discomfort. Kayla, however, kept a straight face. Hayden chuckled and crossed his arms.
“Well? What do you want from me, sister?”
“This morning, we’re having the first assembly. I came to remind you; else you’d have slept it over.”
“I promise to be on my best behaviour.” Hayden raised his right hand and gave a smile.
“Good. One more thing.”
“What is it?”
“That boy. The Morpher.”
Hayden raised a brow. “The one with brown hair? I think his name was Tobey.”
“I need you to keep an eye on him.”
Hayden let out a long whistle. “Wow. Not even 24 hours and you’ve picked someone of interest. How rare.”
“I’m simply being cautious.”
“Is he enough to place even you on edge?”
“You didn’t see his battle yesterday.”
“He fought again?” Hayden said letting out a laugh. “He’s interesting.”
“Around sunset. His Cadre fought against Renbao’s clone and they beat it. They’ve got all the Masters talking.”
“Hmmm… Well? Are you bothered?”
“No. He simply strikes me as different singularly because of his magic, nothing more.”
“I see.” Hayden sighed. He had experiences like this before. She had scarcely asked him to look out for people before, people who Hayden eventually had considered “Dangerous”. However, as he looked into the crystal eyes of his sister, he was reminded that there was none more dangerous than she.
“Fine. I got it.”
“Good. As usual, no one is to be aware of this.”
“Understood.”
Kayla nodded and clapped her hands. They were warped back Hayden’s room. Kayla stood by the window still, Hayden appeared on the opposite end of the room.
“I’ll see you at the assembly,” She said on her way out.
Hayden watched his sister shut the door behind her. He turned his eyes to the girls on his bed who had started to move slowly, both of them still half asleep.
“Wake up girls,” He said with a smile.
***
Minutes later, Hayden walked took brisk steps down the stairs and out the door of the dorm. Kayla and others stood outside as Hayden made his way towards them.
“Sorry, I’m late.” He said adjusting his blue jacket sleeves.
Without a word, they all marched down to the field where the assembly was to be held. The dormitories were arranged in a circle with a water fountain in the middle of it. At the top of the dormitories were carved statues, each representing the dorms as a house. A scorpion on the dorm with the name Earon carved unto it, a wolf on the dorm Zoroen, a Shark on the dorm Fereth and an eagle with spread wings on the dorm Arc.
The Arcstones had their dormitory separated from the rest located a short distance behind the main dorms. A single road lined either side by pine trees connected the dorms with the rest of the school.
The students were already at the field, murmuring as the Arcstones approached. A couple of supervisors were on the porches of the surrounding buildings, others were on the ground. Renbao stood afar off watching the new students form their lines.
Hayden and Kayla lined up beside the other first years as Veerus went up to the podium. Hayden scanned around; the gathered students were not more than thirty. He recognised a few faces from the previous day, but a couple were missing, including the Morpher…
“Attention.”
Veerus instantly absorbed everyone on the field with his voice.
“Today, we begin a new term in the academy. We give thanks to those who have gone and welcome those who have come. I am Veerus Arcstone, the current Mage Elect of the academy.
To the third years, I say let us continue to work together and shock the world even with our minimal numbers. To the second years, I say to keep a cool head, for the year ahead of you will be turbulent if you wish to succeed…”
Veerus paused and turned his eyes to the first years lined up by his right. He caught Kayla in a glimpse and they both shared a look.
“The spirits have blessed the first years with potential, they have a potential candidate to become the next Grand Mage. This is the best magical academy in the country. I urge you all to work hard, fight and take what belongs to you and use it for your own ends…”
Renbao who looked on at the assembly turned to his right where he heard footsteps approaching him. It was a tall girl, wearing the same apparel as he. She had blue hair weaved into two locks that fell over her shoulders. Her lips were painted blue to match her hair and her eyes. She was overly obsessed with the colour blue.
“Ren,” she said.
“Nelia,” Renbao replied.
Nelia walked up to him and smiled.
“I heard what happened yesterday. They say you took three students, everyone’s talking about it,” Nelia said. “They passed the test you gave them.”
“…Yeah,” Renbao replied with a low tone. He kept his eyes fixed on Veerus who continued with his speech. “One of them is Vassar.”
“What? A Morpher?” Nelia’s eyes widened.
“Master Sinix sent him to me on purpose,” Renbao replied chuckling.
“Damn that old man,” Nelia said. “Will you be alright?”
Renbao paused, listening to the speech from Veerus. He took out a toothpick from his pocket and placed it in his mouth.
… “As always, we will work towards achieving success in school events. Remember! Power is key! Some are ruled! And there are those who rule! We give thanks to the spirits-” Veerus still held everyone’s attention.
Renbao narrowed his eyes. “I’ll be fine, Nelia.”
He turned from the assembly and began walking away from her.
“Where are you going?”
Renbao looked a smile at her, “To see my student.”
***
Tobey sat on a white bed. He never imagined he would spend his first night at the healers. Projection of what’s to come. He thought as he stared into the windows of frosted glass placed on the walls next to him.
A tall dark-haired man opened the glass door. Tobey recognised him; the doctor who treated his wounds overnight with magic. A large portion of his scars had vanished along with his wounds being healed. Tobey could hardly recognise himself, even with some scars still there. He didn't look as battered down as he did twenty-four hours ago.
“He’s here,” the doctor spoke.
“How is he?”
“See for yourself.” The doctor gave way allowing Renbao to walk in. He closed the door leaving them both inside.
“Master Ren.”
“Please, Ren is fine,” Renbao said as he sat beside him on a chair. “When we’re alone that is.” Renbao crossed his legs and stared at Tobey, he noticed most of his wounds were healed. As always Tougen did a terrific job. “You heard the voice of the academy’s Mage Elect at the assembly?”
“I heard someone who was too loud. Who’s he supposed to be?”
“The most important and outright best student in the school,” Renbao said rolling his toothpick with his tongue.
“…Boring.”
“What?” Renbao asked chuckling.
“He’s boring. That’s a position confined to the compound of this school,” Tobey said.
“The IMA has a lot of connections, even more than you think,” Renbao leaned forward and crossed his arms giving him a straight look. “What position would you consider interesting?”
Tobey grinned. “The Grand Mage.”
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