Chapter 9 - Welcome to Moxarth, We've Been Expecting You

Mr.Brown was busy cooking breakfast while Matilda sat on the edge of her bed, looking around her room. Novrug mentioned taking enough clothes that would last her the entire first year and of course, that meant "Take your entire closet with you." He also mentioned that he'd wait for her at the gates of Moxarth and take her to meet Orae, who was so desperately waiting to meet her. She gathered her luggage and her backpack, took one last look at her room, and made her way to the kitchen. "Oh, goodie! You're awake. Here, take your breakfast." Mr.Brown placed a plate on the counter as Matilda took a seat on a stool. A paper was laying next to a book that was directed to Matilda.

Matilda,

Please remember to get to the M bus before 3 PM. Getting here early will help you meet Orae and the others properly. I've also left a paper with directions on how to get to the forest. Please make sure you follow it to get there safely.

Best wishes,

Novrug

"Well, I know what time I have to leave," Matilda murmurs as she stuffs her face with pancakes. Mr.Brown chuckled as he leaned his hands on the counter, taking a deep breath. "Your mother would be so proud."

"I don't think she's ever wanted me to attend magic school," said Matilda, laughing. He lets out a small chuckle and grabs his jacket along with his briefcase. He had offered to take her to the spot she needed to go but Matilda remembered what Novrug had told her.

Medians had no way of seeing what we see

Even though she had no idea what Medians were and what he meant by 'we' , she had turned him down. "It's not far from here, I think I'll walk." He gave her a look. "Are you sure? I don't mind driving you." She assured him that it was fine and she knew where to go and finally, Mr.Brown gave in. "Alright. If you need anything, call me." He patted her shoulder before leaving. She quickly downed her pancakes and grabbed her things, leaving her home behind.

She passed the Bennet's house, deciding to say goodbye. Stopping at their door, she pressed the doorbell and Bria quickly opened the door. "Hey! I just wanted to stop by and say goodbye. I'm off to Moxarth, surprisingly."

Bria's eyes widened but Matilda wasn't quick to notice. "Moxarth? Never heard of it." Matilda would've felt stupid right about now but she didn't. She was excited and curious about Moxarth, as though Bria was confused. Matilda did catch Bria's weird behavior afterward but she just ignored it.

"Is Carla home?" asked Matilda.

"Um, no she's not. She had to step out to get a few things." Bria mutters. "Oh, well could you tell her that I stopped by?" Matilda asked as she made her way off of the steps. "Yes," Bria said quickly before slamming the door. Well, wasn't that nice? Matilda didn't stop to take breaks or get something to eat, she kept her pace until she had reached Penrose Way. She pulled out the paper with directions Novrug had left for her.

How To Get To The Doveshire Forest

Walk past the coffee shop and the bookstore until you've reached a street labeled "Penrose Way." Cross that street and you'll find yourself in Doveshire Forest

"Doveshire? I didn't know that was the name. Yet, I feel Novrug likes to surprise people." Matilda muttered to herself as she walked up to the forest, feeling a shiver run down her spine. She glanced down at the paper.

Keep walking until you reach the end of a dirt path with overgrown grass. To your right will be a pile of branches and dried leaves. Remove that and you'll see the wooden door with a symbol that should look like a dove.

Matilda turned to her right after reaching the end of the dirt path. She pushed aside the branches, the same wooden door she saw before was there. The dove symbol was in the middle, Matilda let out a sigh of relief, knowing that she wasn't lost.

Slide your hand over the dove and it'll glow bright white, opening for you. Once inside, do not stop at any of the shops, even if they ask.

She walked down the steep stairs as the door closed behind her. The chatter wasn't loud this time and Matilda noticed there weren't as many people as before. Lucky for her, none of the shop owners had stopped her or asked her questions. She did notice that in the water were quite a few sea animals, taking leaps and doing tricks while the people watching from the ground.

Make your way to the very end where you'll see the Oceanmire sign. Wait for the M bus. It'll take you to Moxarth, where I'll be waiting.

Professor Novrug

He wrote his name in large script, causing Matilda to chuckle. She walked to the end, noticing the big "Oceanmire" sign hung over the path where people walked back and forth. It was a good thing that she didn't need to buy a ticket or show an ID to anyone, it saved her time and embarrassment. "M bus is arriving in four minutes!" She heard a bus conductor called out from the bus lines. It wasn't close to 3 PM but Matilda was glad she got here early. If she had her father take her, she would've missed the bus and Novrug would've been upset.

She walked up to the bus lines and noticed a gate open, a bus driving down the path, turning the corner, and pulling up to where people waited. "All aboard! The bus does not wait more than five minutes! Anyone who misses this arrival must wait another ten minutes!" The conductor shouted as Matilda hopped onto the bus. His voice was surprisingly loud and it startled her from how close he was.

The inside of the bus was large, with three seats on either side. Above the passengers were the overhead compartments where people put their luggage. Someone had offered to help Matilda put hers up there and she thanked them. Suddenly, there was a rumble throughout the bus and the driver had started the gas. Matilda watched the bus lines disappear as the bus drove into the opening gate. The sign above the gate switched to "Moxarth" and Matilda felt herself get excited. It was dark for a couple of minutes before the bus reached a bright hole at the end of the tunnel.

Glancing out of the window, Matilda noticed that the road she was on was above nothing but water. The closer the bus got to Moxarth, the better look she got. The road then reached a large piece of land with a few houses scattered and then the gates of Moxarth. "Welcome to Moxarth, passengers please gather all of your things and step off once the bus has come to a complete stop."

Matilda had grabbed her stuff when the bus stopped in front of a gate and stepped off. She took a look around her, noticing that there were pointy fences surrounding the property of Moxarth. Two lamp posts on either side and stones scattered around the base of the lamps. The gates opened and Novrug walked out to greet Matilda. If only he knew how excited she was to see him. "Matilda! You've made it!" He beamed as he pulled her into a hug. For his height, his hugs weren't as bad. The bus rumbled once again, drove down the path, made a U circle, and drove off to the opening gate towards Oceanmire.

"I hope your journey to Doveshire Forest was delightful and not too complicated?" Novrug asked. "I followed exactly everything you wrote on the paper." She told him. She followed him further down the path which stopped at a circle made of grass walls. There was a black carriage on the left side with a horse who was eating an apple. "Come, Alde will take your luggage to the back and drive us to the doors of Moxarth." Novrug handed a man whose body leaned forward, Matilda's things and hopped into the seat. He grabbed her hand and helped her next to him. Alde patted his horse as he hopped onto the front seat. Normally, carriages are a little slow but Alde's horse was the opposite. They reached the doors faster than Mr.Brown finding a parking spot at Wigston.

"Thank you, Alde. For your hard work you've done today, you can take the rest of the day off." Novrug grabbed Matilda's luggage while she grabbed her backpack. The doors cracked open as they walked in, lines of columns surrounded hallways that led to the spiral staircases. In the middle were a large water fountain and benches surrounding it. Towards the back were doors that led to places Matilda was unaware of. "This place is huge!" Matilda exclaimed as Novrug grinned. "You haven't seen everything just yet. Come on, kid. Let's put your things in your room and meet Orae. She's been dying to meet you."

Novrug led her towards the fountain and took a deep breath of the coolness. He then took her to one of the doors and led her down a narrow hallway. He turned the corner and walked across another narrow hallway. She noticed there were windows from the ceiling to the floor within every four blocks on the wall. Novrug stopped at a door labeled "dorms" and opened it, letting Matilda in first. "Go up the steps and you'll find your room. Put your things down and come back. I'll be here." Novrug handed her luggage and closed the door behind her.

She walked up the steps and down a hallway. "I feel like I'd get lost in all of these hallways," Matilda muttered to herself as she walked past a few doors that had some students' names labeled on the side. She finally found hers and luckily, it wasn't locked. All she had to do was put her things down and if it wasn't for Novrug's terrible patience, she would've taken a better look at her room.

Finding her way back towards the dorm's room, she found Novrug leaning over a grass patch in front of an opening. He always seemed to keep his words, regardless of what he was doing. "Perfect! Orae is at the Bonfire, doing what Orae does." Novrug led her down the same halls before turning to an opening that led to the back of Moxarth. There was nothing but land that went on from what Matilda was able to see. Novrug turned to the left and showed her a rocky path that led towards a large Floral Arch. Flowers that twirled around the base of the Arch were releasing a waterfall of shimmer and swaying to the rhythm of the wind. They walked down the steps and passed a few garden trellis'. "Here we are."

The Bonfire was surrounded by a brown trellis with gardenia leaves. Directly in the middle was a circle made of large stone and branches lit on fire. A woman was facing the fire, a smile crept on her face. She wore a long blue gown and a glitter blue cape that reached the end of her gown. She had her hair in a low bun and two tight curly strands on either side of her face. Novrug cleared his throat as the woman turned, realizing that Matilda had gotten here already.

"Is that the magnificent Matilda I've been waiting to meet?" The woman asked, reaching her hand up in the air and shutting it into a fist. The fire from the Bonfire had gone out and Matilda knew that she caused it to go out. "Yes, it is. She just arrived moments ago. I showed her to her room before coming here."

"Thank you Novrug, you always know how to make students feel welcomed." She turned her gaze towards Matilda, her crystal blue eyes were captivating her, making her feel shy. "Headmistress Orae, it's wonderful to have you here." She reached her hand out to shake Matilda's and gave her a wide grin. Matilda felt drawn to her and for some reason, she felt drawn to everyone she met. "Allow me to properly welcome you to Moxarth." Orae picked her dress up and stepped back, raising her hands in the air.

"Welcome to Moxarth, we've been expecting you."