Chapter 9: Stars Shine Brightly in Darkness

~Third Person P.O.V~

Leo, Ashley, and Hope found themselves traversing the many cobblestone corridors of the Equilibrium, searching for their first class.

"So, uh Hope" Leo spoke with a slightly uneasy tone as he rubbed his nape.

"Hm?" Hope hummed, her pinkish eyes scanning the runes above the doors that dot the halls of learning.

"When.. exactly are we gonna see Piper again?" Leo asked, his warm brown eyes slowly shifted from left to right, the worry about his friend finally getting to him.

"Soon enough, I suppose.. I can message Ezra to come and have lunch with us" Hope said, making a left, nearing a room with a glowing light blue crystal above it.

"Ezra?" Ashley asked, raising a brow as the trio's pace slow, nearing the room.

"He's our... handyman, of sorts." Hope paused for a moment in thought.

"He fixes, installs, and/or builds most of what we use that isn't based around magic." Hope smiled at the pair as they stopped in front of the door. "He's a good friend, but for now let's get to class."

As Leo and Ashley are guided to their seats by Hope they look around the class, the students number about a hundred, the room was clean and pristine though the twins found it rather odd that in addition to the room being quite similar in design to a college lecture hall, there was even greater room on the lowest level than what was needed for the lecturer and her board. All were facing the front of the class where scrolls, tomes books, and a strange device on a table sat. Both Ashley and her brother were about to ask Hope about it when a tall slim figure garbed in robes walked into the room at a calm pace.

"Good morning, class." Krystal spoke in a smooth calming voice, one that seemed to stroke the ears.

"Good morning, Miss Krystal" The class said in unison, Leo and Ashley following along. Once the class greeted her, Krystal stood in front of the lecture hall, her arms behind her back, hands clenched into fists. Her head lifted slightly just enough so now both Leo and Ashley could clearly see her eyes.

Krystal's eyes were a haunting icy blue, she had no white in her eyes instead, the color went past her pupils and into her sclera. Her eyes glowed dimly under the hood, barely noticeable to anyone but those who tried their best to observe, among them was Ashley.

Krystal's composure softened as she noticed Leo and Ashley. Relaxing her shoulders, she took a breath, eyeing the twins.

"I'm glad to see you two found my class in time." She spoke with a voice as delicate as freshly fallen snow.

"I knew I could trust Hope" Krystal spoke, her gaze turning to the ashen haired girl.

"Now, I believe an explanation should be given about my class." Krystal continued, turning her attention to the floating scrolls and tomes.

"I teach magical theorem, Order History and finally Ley Energy Manipulation or Thaumaturgy " Krystal spoke, with each core principle a separate tome flew to hover in front of her, the pages swiftly turning back and forth as lights beamed out. "I also conduct in-depth archival studies into matters of arcane, and not."

Ashley seemingly comprehending nearly every word, leaving Leo in the dust, a look of barely concealed confusion on the boy's face.

"Psst." A brown-haired boy in thick-rimmed glasses who's cheeks were dotted by freckles called out to Leo from a row behind. "She basically means that she teaches us how and why magic works, plus the history of the orders."

Leo turned back, an awkward yet sweet smile on his lips. "Thanks!" He whispered, careful not to draw attention.

"Now with that out of the way, I think we should begin" Krystal said, clasping her gloved hands together. The words escaped her lips, soft and smooth. The woman carries with her an air of mystery and intrigue yet she speaks with the tender voice of a mother.

"Class, I would like you to turn your attention to the projection." She spoke just as she finished turning on the device on her table.

Suddenly a massive projection of all of Feyomere came into being, filling the room and earning a few startled voices in the crowd. Though some parts were notably.. blank. Born in bands of golden light held together by marvels of technology built by a mind of wonders.

The diagram spun slowly on its axis, tilting ever so slightly, barely noticeable.

"Now, Lesson 1 in Magical Theorem." Krystal spoke, her gaze focused on the controls of the device, not a moment later a certain number of golden bands began to glow white.

Now with certain bands highlighted, Krystal moved in front of her desk, drawing interest once again to herself. She clasped her palms together.

"What we perceive and interpret as.. magic" her unique stress on the final word of her previous statement only amplified the air of wonder as she opened her hands and a dozen butterflies flew out, the beautiful luminescent creatures left trails of cold mist as they flew throughout the lecture hall.

Leo and Ashley, both the newest members of Krystal's class were both at a loss for words. Leo's mouth was slightly agape while his sister's eyes were wide, a butterfly began to near Leo.

"Well hello there" Leo said with a smile, the butterfly seemed to find him quite interesting indeed because it decided to perch itself on his right hand, resting on the long wooden desk. As his eyes traversed the minuscule creature he notices that it was translucent, its body made of ice and wings made of snow.

*snap!*

And suddenly all the butterflies in the room burst out into snow, snowflakes began to fall all around them as Leo sat back in awe.

"Is actually the manipulation of what we call, Ley Energy." Krystal continued "Would anyone from the class like to explain what exactly Ley Energy is?" A few hands raised, Krystal stood with her arms her back. Hands clenched into fists. She eyed the room calmly.

"How about.. ah yes, how about we hear from miss Dark" everyone's attention was drawn to Hope, her pink eyes looking at miss Krystal.

"Ley energy is in essence power, it is the living energy of Feyomere itself. By shaping and forming the Ley Energies we are capable of creating what we call Magic." Hope said, not missing a beat. Ashley raised a brow,

surprised. Not quite expecting her timid friend to be so... precise.

"Very good, Hope. Now, Ley Energies run throughout Feyomere like blood through veins in channels we call Ley Lines." Krystal spoke once more, gesturing to the massive globe on display with her right hand.

"The closer we are to one of these lines the more potent out magic." Krystal continued, now walking back to the controls of the device.

"But sometimes the Ley Lines converge like streams forming rivers, we call these river 'Conduits'." She continued as the conduits on Feyomere lit up in blue.

"These are beds of magical energy, and are of the utmost importance in our field research." Krystal paused, allowing her class to take down notes. Leo and Ashley exchanged a look, Hope taking note she spoke up. "I've got it, covered guys." She smiled at the twins.

"Each conduit is marked by what we call, a Sigil." Krystal continued, walking in front of her desk once more she raised her hands.

"A conduit could be marked by a sigil stone, tree, mountain, river, and on rare occasions even a sentient entity." With each example, she spoke she birthed an illustration of each in Frost and Ice.

"A sigil acts as a beacon of sorts, a way for us to pinpoint conduits. Thus they also amplify the magic of those around them several hundred times over what they are usually capable of turning a novice thaumaturgist into a master conjuror." Krystal continued her lesson, well into an hour and a half before suddenly the sound of icy chimes rang out into her lecture hall, her glowing blue eyes turning down to a concealed black watch.

"Alright class, with today's lecture over I look forward to seeing you all after lunch. At which point, we'll be having demonstrations of your magical capabilities. Maybe even some cross-training if we have time." Krystal continued a smile on her lips though covered by her mask. "Class dismissed."

~Time Skip to Lunch~

Leo and Ashley guided by Hope eventually found themselves in the feasting hall, large burning braziers gave light to the cobblestone hall, a massive burning pyre at the center behind which were several different food stalls, students and staff all crowded around each other trying to get to the stall first.

"This must be different from what you're used to." Hope spoke as they traversed the hall, passing several tables and earning a few looks from the students far enough and averting the gaze of those close enough to her. Ashley turning to Leo, noticing it once more, her brother simply shrugging and making an 'I don't know, you ask her!' Expression.

Ashley simply rolled her eyes at her brother, choosing to entertain her friend's try at conversation. "I guess you could say that" Ashley began, her warm brown eyes scanning the room seeing the sights who's scents her nose gleefully takes in.

"Everything here seems far more.. appetizing than what we're used to. Though here people seem more.. disorganized" She continues before being abruptly shoved by someone behind her.

"Hey! Watch where you're going assho-" the girl in question, suddenly frozen in place being on the receiving end of one of Ashley's death glares.

"I-i I'm sorry"

Ashley's eyes buried daggers into her soul before Leo pulled her away an awkward laugh escaping his lips "Let's- uh go get... lunch sis."

"Fine."

After a few minutes pass they manage to near a stall serving an assortment of items ranging from plates of pasta, smoothies, fries foods, and salads to burgers, pizza slices, and steamed buns. Hope explains that they pay through a credit system, they earn credits by accomplishing tasks or aceing subjects. That is added on top of the basic credit score given at the end of every month.

Ashley, Leo, and Hope managed to find a table setting their food down on it. Ashley having ordered a white sauce pasta, Leo opting for ice cream and some fries with hope deciding to have some chili fries and a sandwich.

"So, yeah basically these credit things can be used for food, entertainment, study materials, and even clothes." The brown-haired boy from earlier popped up, sitting beside Leo, a large pizza box in hand.

"Hey, you're that guy from class." Leo said with a smile, dipping his fries in his ice cream. "I didn't catch your name."

"Aww.. don't you recognize me, roomie?" The boy said, willing the first pizza slice to levitate towards him.

"Wait, Collin?! Is that you?" Leo said, his eyes wide, his sister simply raising a brow at the exchange, Hope seemed busy with her phone.

"Yup, its ya boi. Colin!" He said, missing his mouth and smearing the warm oozy cheese all over his freckled cheeks. "Whoops."

"I'm- wait.. how exactly are you.. aren't you.. you know, dead?"

"What, don't like the disguise?" He winks, "I possessed this guy just this morning, he was in the john."

".........."

"Ahhhh you should have seen your face!" Collin said, phasing through the chair and laughing, holding his stomach.

"Nah, not really. I can change my Appearance and stuff, take on a more uh- living appearance." Colin smiled at the group "just another benefit of my awesomeness.. and also because I'm a specter."

"Moving on." Ashley said, disinterested to which Colin gave a surprised look saying 'Say wha?'

"Hope, you said we'd meet Piper and this Ezra friend of your's?" Ashley questioned, turning to her pink-pupil friend.

"Oh, yes. I just texted Ezra, he and your friend should be here any second now." Hope said, quietly eating her fries piece by piece.

Then a new voice spoke, one easily recognizable by the twins despite the cacophony of voices in the hall.

"Hey, guys! You miss me yet?"