Chapter One.

Anxiety...Excitement...Wonder, these were the emotions coursing through Sebastian's mind. Today, Sebastian was about to relive a memory altogether too familiar to him. Today, he was to be enrolled into a new school, following his recent "relocation of academic study", as his previous school puts it. As Sebastian sat in the corridor, outside of those tall dark, oak doors, a wall clock ticked away. With each passing tick, his anxiety heightened and with every tock, his heart skipped a beat. He took a deep breath in attempt to flush his mind of all the unease in his mind, raising his head up from the gaze of his feet and admiring the hand carved mouldings and statues of men.

Sebastian's gaze shifted to the towering doors, their grandiose bodies adorned with the craved figure of a centaur. As he broke through the cloud of glum around his mind, he began to wonder what exactly must be guarded behind such doors. Sebastian, the book worm he was, reckoned there would be endless shelves of books, just filled with all sorts of wisdom. Around him, the school remained functional, uniformed students passing through the arched halls; teachers heading to their assigned classes in all manner of forms. Sebastian couldn't help but retreat further into his shell due to his irrational fear of people and their possible criticism for his entire being.

As the clock kept ticking, Sebastian's green eyes continued to wander, running out of things to admire and bask in. Just as he was about to completely lose his patience, the massive doors heaved inwards completely by themselves. Sebastian quickly got up out of relief and mended his chestnut coloured hair and buttoned his jacket. A rhythmic, quick tapping began to emanate from within the doors growing closer and louder. Sebastian paced ever so closer to the doors at ever so cautiously, suddenly coming face to face with the Headmaster's secretary, Miss Bloomberg.

"Lancaster? Sebastian Lancaster?", she asked from beneath the thick lenses of her gold rimmed glasses. "Um – Yes, that's me", replied Sebastian shakily. "Right this way please", Ms. Bloomberg instructed with her warm Southern American accent as she immediately turned and began speed walking back deeper into the doors. Ms. Bloomberg was originally from North Carolina, having moved to the United Kingdom to pursue education in arts. Over the years, as her studies carried on, she was hired in the very same institution that she used to study at. As Sebastian trailed after Ms. Bloomberg, her entire being bobbed as she paced forward, until they arrived in front of another pair doors, similar to that out in the corridor only twice their size.

Here, the walls were a deep grey, unlike the wood panelled halls before. The floors were also stone and were polished to the highest degree. The entire area felt monumentally heavy, making Sebastian all the more intimidated. "Right", exclaimed Ms. Bloomberg, "as you know, Headmaster Regulus has scheduled a meeting with you to discuss your enrolment at the Institution." At cue, Sebastian's face grew grim, nodding in compliance. "You may enter whenever you're ready", beckoned Ms. Bloomberg to the large doors.

Sebastian hesitantly paced over to the ominous arch, stopping to steady his breath at their entrance. His clammy hands gripped the gilded doorknob and twisted with hesitance. The door opened as if pulled from the inside, revealing the grandeur that was the headmaster's study. Sebastian gazed in awe at the towering shelves of books, scrolls, and perched gargoyles, adjusting their shingly bodies atop their pedestal. Beautifully crafted tables lined the lower level of the study, alchemist's apparatus bubbling and fizzing away. From atop the level, a bright light shone down, illuminating the lower tier. Suddenly, that light was halted and a long shadow cast over Sebastian. "Hello Grandson.", greeted Regulus Lancaster.

"Hello, Grandfather.", a tone of disdain washing over Sebastian's voice. "Join me.", Regulus ordered. Sebastian did so with a noticeable air of repugnance in his gait. He climbed the spiralling staircase upwards and was encountered by the Patrician of the Lancaster Family. The Headmaster was strikingly tall, imbued in wisdom and power never before as refined. He stood comfortably at six-foot four donning a wonderfully tailored suit with his stark white hair slicked back. The presence of such a man in such a setting could only have made Sebastian feel uncomfortably intimidated.

Sebastian and the Headmaster held locked gazes which resembled that of cornered hounds, a confrontation was almost guaranteed. Regulus slowly paced toward his grandson, slowly removing his hands from his trouser pockets. He embraced Sebastian tightly. In response almost as if out of instinct Sebastian reeled back, taking a moment to compose himself. "I suppose you spoke with Father?", Sebastian said as he cleared his throat. "Ah yes!" Regulus responded as he started to pace back to his desk, "I must say though grandson, I was quite satisfied to learn you agreed to start school here." "Agreed!?", snapped Sebastian, "I figured that it would have been sooner or later that my family would get tired of handing me off to different schools and drunk Uncles; and force me to become a student in the family business!"

An expression of disgust manifested itself onto Regulus face, "Do you think it was out of pleasure that we did those shameful deeds?!" "Was it really your premonition that we enjoyed having to send one of our own away to be sneered at? Shamed? Mocked?" Sebastian's rage pacified in an instant, him not responding. "Instead, Grandson, you should be contended with this opportunity of yours.", Regulus stated, "Now, please have a seat and compose your petulant emotions." Sebastian, still red in the face, made his way to the leather chair in front of Regulus' magnificently carved desk. As he plopped down, taking breaths of quietude, Regulus searched in of the many locked drawers in his desk. "Right, these are your essentials", the Headmaster beckoned handing Sebastian a leather satchel. "What might these be?", Sebastian asked repugnantly as he undid the cord holding it shut.

"In there, you'll find your necessary handbooks, maps, class schedules as well as other forms of school documentation that needs to be given to Mrs. Bloomberg", Regulus stated. Sebastian shuffled through the case noticing an old looking key at the bottom. He emptied the items onto the desk, retrieving the key. "What is this for?", he asked. "That is the key for you room", Regulus replied. "It says Vice Principal's Wing on the label", remarked Sebastian looking at the thick parchment attached to the key. "Indeed, it does.", Regulus said, "We haven't had a Vice Principal in over two hundred years, so I suppose there won't be a problem." Sebastian said nothing as he tucked the key into his pocket.

He slowly rose from his seat and turned his back to his grandfather, "Where is it then?" "What are you referring to?", asked Regulus. "Where I'll be staying, my lodgings How will I find it?." Sebastian said in a dull tone. "Ah! Right, there'll be another student waiting for you outside, he'll attend to you." Regulus responded as he looked at the time on his brightly polished pocket watch. "You go along now, there's much to be done and much to see", instructed Regulus. He shifted himself over the large window of his study, overlooking the courtyard. Sebastian paused once more, gazing at his grandfather before making way over to the doors once more, "Of course." As he exited, he heard the fleeting whisper from Regulus, one he did not anticipate, "Be cautious..."

Sebastian slowly close the doors with a silent gesture, he thought nothing of what just happened and looked up to see the headmaster's secretary already standing before him. Ms. Bloomberg large eyes pierced into to Sebastian who was uncomfortably close to him, so much so that he could feel the warmth from her presence. "Master Lancaster, your guide is here to assist you, Sir", Ms Bloomberg quickly stated as he immediately beelined towards the waiting area, leaving Sebastian behind. She scurried along, each step with a purpose. With Sebastian trailing behind she led him into the company of someone Sebastian would never part with. "Master Lancaster, may I introduce you to Master Watson of House Michael", Ms. Bloomberg said. The student stood up from his seat and turned towards Sebastian, twiddling with the comb in his hair, ready to upset Sebastian.