1 First Day of Class

"...nk you for everything, I love you. After I g..."

"Ahh!"

I get up, breathing heavily. As I wipe off the cold sweat on my forehead, I recall the nightmare I had. Shaking my head to forget the dream, I get up from my bed and head to the washroom.

After washing my face, I look at myself in the mirror. A brown-haired boy with freckles and a scar across his cheek stares back at me. A feeling of disgust and anger arises in me, but I just clench my hands and walk into the shower. As the cold water pours onto my head, my emotions fade away into anguish. Feeling empty on the inside, I apply soap onto myself and scrub myself, not feeling any pain from the fresh-cut wounds on my left arm. Stepping out of the shower, I dry myself off before putting on some clothes, a sweater, and baggy cargo pants. I take my meds after eating breakfast before going back to my bedside, I pickup the faded picture on the table beside the bed and a sad smile creeps onto my face. Rubbing the picture a bit with my finger, I place it back down before taking a bottle out from underneath my bed. I place the bottle of vodka on the table and then bring out a shot cup. I pour a shot before letting out a small prayer towards the picture. After the prayer, I take the shot and then I hide everything so that no one finds out that I have alcohol in my dorm. Completing my daily routine, I begin getting ready for class.

Packing everything into my bag, I wear my bag and leave my dark dorm room. Instantly, bright lights flood my eyes and the noises became louder. I see many people exiting their dorms as well as they walk towards the same destination, the auditorium. A lot of senior students in gaudy outfits were standing around guiding the 1st years to the auditorium while welcoming them to the Golden Fox Magic Academy.

After everyone was seated, a professor walked onto the stage and started the welcoming speech. The professor had chestnut brown hair, brown eyes and seemed to be around 40 years old.

"Hello everyone. I welcome you all to our academy. As you might know already, in this academy, your status from your respective countries does not matter, even the nobles from Daruvian Empire. Even though our academy is situated in the Daruvian Empire, we do not conform to their laws and do not adhere to them. Although we have close ties to them, we are both separate entities. The only thing that matters in this academy is your skill in magic, only that will dictate your status here. Work hard, and you can receive anything you may wish for. There are always a few pompous and spoiled students that enter our academy, but you will all realize you have no right to be arrogant here. So instead of wasting our time with your antics, just act humble. Now let's move on. I will pass the mic onto the Headmaster, John, but before I go, I will like to inform you all that I will be your professor for Integral Structures of Magics. You may call me Professor Mike. Let's welcome the headmaster onto the stage now. "

As the professor hands the mic over to the headmaster, the person beside me turns to look at me. The blonde boy smiles and says,

"Hey, my name is Ethan, what's your name?"

I look at him, let out an inaudible sigh and say with a monotone voice,

"I'm Fred."

Still smiling, the boy continues,

"I'm in the Magic Research stream, what about you?"

I reply back with a slightly irritated voice,

"I'm in the Magical Warfare stream."

Noticing my unwillingness to converse with him, he backs off and stares back at the stage. The professor had already walked off and the headmaster stepped up to speak.

"Hello everyone, my name is John Wolfenstein. I am the headmaster of the.."

I look around me to see everyone looking at the headmaster with admiring expressions. Everyone respected the headmaster as he is one of the only five people that are considered an Archmage, the highest rank a magician could reach. Not to mention the fact that the headmaster was proficient in warfare. The headmaster didn't look amazing as he looked like an old man, albeit a fit one. He had white hair and wrinkles from aging, and a long white beard. Even though he didn't look amazing, I know not to judge someone based on their appearance. Regaining my focus, I look back at the stage.

"...engths and improve on your weaknesses. At this academy, you will improve in all 4 of the fundamentals of magic...."

The speech from the headmaster continued for another 30 minutes before he dismissed us. I stood up, grabbing my bag and slinging it over my shoulder. As I left, I noticed Ethan glance at me, but I ignored it and continued on my way. Looking at my schedule, I headed towards my first class, looking at the maps here and there so that I don't get lost.

After going through a few buildings, I arrive at my lecture hall, room 365. I open the door and enter, noticing that there were around 30 students already in the lecture hall. I sit at the front of the class by myself and take out all of my books. Looking at the time, I had 5 minutes before class started, so I start to doodle in my book. As I am drawing the first thing that popped up into my head, a Sun Fire Lotus, more students start flooding into the hall, bringing in more noise. As the other students start to introduce themselves to get to know each other better, I notice someone approach me.

Even though I made sure to emit an aura that deters others from approaching me, the person behind still came towards me. A girl with black hair sat besides me.

"That's an amazing drawing of a Sun Fire Lotus. Have you ever seen one before?"

I answer with exasperation,

"Thank you, and yes I have seen one of them before. It is actually my favorite flower."

Although I am not usually this talkative, Sun Fire Lotus's are the exception because of their meaning to me.

"Oh sorry about that, I forgot to introduce myself, my name is Cassandra Li."

From her name to how she looks, it was obvious she was of eastern descent, maybe she was from the Shao Lin Dynasty. Dismissing my thoughts, I introduce myself,

"I'm Fred."

"Hey, Fred it's nice to meet you. The main reason I actually came to talk to you is because I feel like I seen you before. Were you at Silver Silk Roads during the Mithril War a few years ago?"

I tense up, but my expression doesn't change. As I am about to respond, the professor walks in.

"Hello guys, it's nice to meet you again. I probably don't need to introduce myself, so let's get right into the course outline."

The professor that walked in was professor Mike. Taking this as her cue, Cassandra leaves to go sit with her friends.

After my other classes for the day end, I leave towards my dorm. On the way towards my dorm, I see many of my classmates scampering around, getting ready for frosh. None of them were stressed out for classes yet because during the first week, there is no content taught, or at least for the 1st year students.

Looking at these happy students, I hang my head as I head towards my dorm downcast, feeling self-pity and self-hatred.