Visit of the school

The group surrounded me like a protective, buzzing hive of energy as we left the classroom. Their chatter filled the corridor, and I felt myself being swept along, their enthusiasm contagious but overwhelming.

The halls of the high school were significantly larger and grander than the middle school, with vaulted ceilings and walls lined with intricate carvings that depicted legendary battles and magical feats.

Each tile underfoot gleamed, the polished stone catching the sunlight filtering through enormous arched windows.

"First things first," Amara said, her braided hair swinging as she turned to look at me. "You need to know where the essentials are. You don't want to get lost on your first week."

"Or accidentally wander into Lareth's hangout," Lila added with a mischievous grin, making me cringe at the thought of running into him again so soon. "Trust me, no one wants that."

"Lila," Sienna scolded lightly, though her tone was more amused than reprimanding. "Let's keep it civil, okay?"

Lila shrugged. "I'm just saying. It's for her own good."

Kei, quiet as ever, stayed close to the back, but her sharp gaze swept over the surroundings as if cataloging every detail. I got the impression she didn't speak much, but when she did, it would be important.

"So, over there is the main library," Amara began, pointing to a towering set of oak doors with intricate runes carved into the wood.

They shimmered faintly with enchantments meant to preserve and protect the wealth of knowledge within.

"It's huge like, three stories huge. If you need books on anything, that's the place to go. Just don't touch the restricted section unless you have permission."

"Why?" I asked, genuinely curious. "What's in the restricted section?"

"Stuff that can melt your brain," Lila said, making a dramatic exploding gesture near her head. "Advanced spells, dangerous artifacts, maybe even a few cursed grimoires. They keep it locked down for a reason."

Sienna rolled her eyes. "It's not as dramatic as she makes it sound. Mostly it's just things that require a higher rank to access. But the librarians are strict, so don't even think about sneaking in."

Noted. As much as the idea of forbidden knowledge intrigued me, I wasn't eager to test the limits of my fledgling reputation just yet.

We continued down the corridor, the girls pointing out various classrooms and important landmarks.

The alchemy labs were next, a series of rooms with reinforced glass windows. Inside, students were hunched over bubbling cauldrons and intricate magical apparatuses. The faint scent of sulfur and herbs wafted through the air, making my nose wrinkle.

"Alchemy's fun if you're into mixing stuff," Sienna explained. "But it's easy to mess up. One wrong ingredient, and boom! You've got a disaster on your hands."

"Or your face," Lila added, snickering. "There's this guy in my year who turned himself green for a week because he added swamp moss instead of sage. Classic rookie mistake."

We passed by the potion storage rooms next, the heavy iron doors lined with protective sigils. Kei finally spoke up, her soft voice drawing my attention.

"The potions here are categorized by type and effect. If you're ever hurt or drained, the red and blue shelves are your go-to. Just don't touch the black shelves unless it's an emergency."

"Why?" I asked again, sensing a pattern in this school's mysterious warnings.

"Because the black potions are super potent," Amara answered. "Healing, strength, mana boosts—everything amplified to dangerous levels. They'll fix you up, sure, but they come with risks. Side effects, withdrawal, stuff like that."

I nodded, committing the information to memory. It felt like there were a hundred rules to navigate here, and I didn't want to stumble into any traps unprepared.

The tour continued, and we eventually reached the dining hall. Unlike the smaller cafeteria I'd been used to, this was a grand banquet hall with long wooden tables stretching the length of the room.

Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their crystals glowing softly with enchanted light. Students were scattered around, some eating, others chatting animatedly.

The smell of roasted meat, fresh bread, and spiced vegetables wafted through the air, making my stomach growl.

"This is where you'll spend your breaks if you're not out exploring," Amara said. "The food's decent, though the portions depend on your rank."

"That's stupid," I muttered before I could stop myself.

"Welcome to high school," Lila said with a wry smile. "Everything's about rank here. It's like an unspoken currency."

"Doesn't mean you can't cheat the system," Sienna added. "Stick with us, and you'll be fine."

Their casual confidence made me feel oddly reassured, even if I wasn't entirely convinced. We left the dining hall and made our way outside, stepping into a sprawling courtyard surrounded by high stone walls.

The grass was perfectly trimmed, and paths of white gravel crisscrossed the space. A massive fountain stood in the center, its water cascading down in shimmering arcs. Statues of legendary mages lined the perimeter, their stony gazes fixed on the horizon.

"This is the main courtyard," Sienna said. "It's a popular spot for hanging out between classes. Just... avoid the west corner."

"Let me guess," I said dryly. "Lareth?"

"Bingo," Lila said, laughing. "You're catching on."

We moved on, crossing the courtyard and entering another building. The atmosphere shifted immediately, the air tinged with the faint metallic scent of mana.

This was clearly a place of power, its walls humming softly with energy. The floors were a polished dark stone, and the light here was dimmer, coming from enchanted sconces along the walls.

"This is the combat wing," Amara said, her voice dropping to a more serious tone. "Training rooms, sparring arenas, and, of course, the infamous testing grounds."

The last words hung in the air like a challenge. I glanced around, taking in the stark, utilitarian design of the space.

This was where magic met physicality, where theory became practice. My pulse quickened slightly, a mix of anticipation and nerves.

We passed a series of doors, each labeled with a different purpose: endurance training, elemental control, weapon enhancement. The sounds of magic echoed faintly through the halls explosions, shouts, the clash of metal against metal.

Finally, we stopped in front of a large double door made of reinforced steel. Intricate runes were etched into its surface, glowing faintly with protective wards. Amara placed a hand on the door, turning to me with a grin.

"Ready to see the heart of the school?" she asked.

I swallowed, the weight of the moment settling over me. "Let's do this."

She pushed the door open, and we stepped into the training grounds.