Chapter II - The Academy

Flames engulf everything in sight, the trees, the sky, and the fox-masked figure on the cliff. Replaced by screams and groans of agony and pain, a gleaming crimson stare, flashing in the night like two red moons in the sky.

The ground rumbles, "You. WILL PAY."

My eyes snap open with a gasp, sitting up with my head pounding.

"Huff..huff..."

Sweat rolled down my forehead, as my vision blurs into focus, the bright sunlight filtered through my blinds and splashed across my sheets in rays.

Running a hand through my morning bed-head, I pause to catch my breath.

"Hf...hmn...that nightmare...again."

There was a clatter of pots and pans before my door bursts open.

"Sister! It's time!"

I groan, burying my face into my blankets, "No...argh."

My dear ol' brother was nearly beaming with excitement, grin wide, and practically bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"We're going to the academy sister! The. Academy."

I bury my head further into the blankets, "Nooo...its too early for this..."

North clangs together a ladle and a pan, noisily trying to get me out of the warm bed, and into the cold morning.

"Come on! You were always the one who scouted the area of a mission before the day it's supposed to happen! We should do the same with the school grounds so we have a headstart if the target is there, they don't have the home advantage."

I knew he was right, but...

"...ugh."

He may annoy the hell out of me sometimes, but his logic isn't flawed...

I roll out of bed with minimal grumbling, "Who..da..hell...why do schools have students wake up so early..."

I got ready hurriedly and lightly hit North's arm, shoving a piece of already made toast from the table and into my mouth on my way out, "race you."

I take off.

After a short journey running into alleyways and hopping past rooftops, I squint up upon the white bricked buildings of the school, noting the tall iron gates standing guard at the entrance, daring any intruders to cross.

'Just a normal day of casually running across the tops of rooftops...' I thought...

"Here we are, Arcami Academy."

North gapes up at the impressive structures on campus, "I can't believe we are actually here...at the world's most prestigious private school and the home of the Triple-A Elite."

I give him a blank stare,"..who?"

"You know! One of the world's most skilled and powerful groups of Adventurers! Ones that strive to help protect the people of this land!" He turns to me, a hint of sadness in his voice, "We could have come here, and became some of the best Adventurers the world has ever seen..." He casts his gaze sadly toward the school,

"Unfortunately...fate had other plans." He brightens again, "But! We are here now, and let us make the most of it!"

I remembered when we were children, North would always talk about how he and I will get into the best school there is, and become Adventurers just like our parents. I was fine with that path...but life had driven us onto a different one, a more dangerous one.

I nod slowly, "Yes...but remember what we came here for." I pull out the letter of acceptance that I received the day before we left, "Also, it seems I have failed to notice this was a pretty strict prestigious school..."

North coughs, "Kof..yeah. Though I have no doubt u will excel in all of your classes."

I raise an eyebrow at him.

I have nothing against the academy...however, it's just a painful reminder of my non-existent mastery of magic...my hesitance and fear when I'm using weapons where everyone can watch, and the incident last year.

I sigh as I flip open the letter, "...Let us just finish what our idiot father started."

I slip the letter into a slot in the wall and the gates seem to emit a faint glow before disappearing as quickly as it appeared.

I turn to face North and gesture towards the gates with a smirk, "Well? Shall we begin this adventure?"

North gives me a mock bow, "After you, my lady."

I roll my eyes, pulling him through the iron gates with me.

A warm tingle passes as I walk straight through the bars of the gate, North in tow.

"Whoa, that was weird," North said as he stares back where he just came through.

"Yes, fascinating." I quickly make my way down the stone-paved path, toward what I expected was the main building.

"Hey! Wait up!" North shouts as he jogs to catch up.

A flash of a familiar blue catches my eye, I stop.

North skids to a halt next to me, "What? What is it?"

I shake my head, "Nothing, a trick of the light probably." I continue my stride.

North matches his pace to mine, marveling at the flowers in the garden.

We walk past a glittering fountain and arrive at a pair of gleaming glass doors. I push them open to a well-kept interior, with sleek marble tiled floors and pots of plants giving the hallways almost a homey aura.

"Huh. This must be what luxury feels like." I scan the halls, which were empty at the moment. I walk over to a plant, and brush a hand over its leaves, "Look at that...not fake plants."

North studies a large sheet of paper pinned to a bulletin board, "I recognize some of the names on here, lots of influential nobles and wealthy families."

I huff, "Figures." I notice the room right next to the board, "Hey, that's probably the main office, maybe they know what we are supposed to do now in this place." I walk through the doorless doorway, North following close behind.

We enter into an office and or waiting area.

Without looking up from her computer, a woman that I assumed was the secretary greeted us, "You two must be the exchange students, I had expected your arrival." She glances at the clock hanging on the wall. "Though earlier than we thought."

"Oh I see, could this be a bad time?"North asked.

The secretary waves a well-manicured hand, "No matter, we are prepared. But, your student tour guides were scheduled to meet at the end of the day, which was when we thought you were coming." She twists her hand in a gesture and two pieces of paper float toward us. "These are the times for the core classes. You are free to observe before you officially start, there are still some things that have to be done."

North takes one out of the air and pockets it, "Thank you ma' am."

I pluck the other out of the air as well, "...Thank you."

The woman simply gives us a small nod and gets back to typing on her computer.

I place the paper in the pocket of my jeans and start out the doorway.

North follows me out, "Arent you going to see what the classes are like?"

"No, I will just relax before the stress happens." Walking down the hall I turn back to give him a small smile, "Don't worry, I will try not to get into trouble." Then I quickly disappear around a corner.

I sigh to myself softly, once I was alone.

...Even now, North still hangs on to that dream of attending this academy, becoming an adventurer under the teachings of some of the greatest mentors in the five continents. Though we are now, on this mission that could be the turning point of the decades worth of underlying conflict between the fractions.

I curiously open a door outside to the courtyard, taking in the beds of flowers and a familiar fountain in the middle of the pathway. Stepping onto the path, I slowly soak in the quiet, and the scent of nature accompanied by the warm sunshine.

Then suddenly, an adrupt screech stirs the quiet.

"-SCREEEE!"