Orientation

Over the past month the doors of the dormitory had gradually changed from green to red, now only a few green doors remained.

Fred had introduced to a number of fellow students, other students who had not immediately dismissed him for still being a Novice Mage. Rudy, Janus and Luis were the most friendly of the bunch, immediately taking to Kothar and badgering him with questions of Balin.

Rudy was a small boy with ginger curls who had lived in the outskirts of Ursten in a small village, and had been tested by a travelling mage who had brought him to the Academy.

Janus, in contrast to Rudy, was thin and lanky, with slick long black hair and dark eyes. He was the child of a travelling merchant, and had lived the majority of his life in the skies, playing amongst the cargo in the hold of his father's airship.

Finally, Luis was the oddest of the bunch, he was diminutive compared to the other students, and protested it was because he had yet to have his growth spurt. However, he maintained that he was the most senior of all the students and that he be accorded appropriate resect but he declined to ever speak of his age or background.

Kothar, having never experienced the environment of a school, his education happening in labs and microbiomes, relished in the antics of the group, watching them with joy. Sometimes he would even join in, granting the fluffy seats of the common area a static charge, shocking anyone who sat in them.

Soon, the day for orientation came, and the students were called to gather outside the main building, where earth mages had created seating, a stage and even a podium from the very ground. The boys craned their heads and pushed over each other to get a glance at the girls, who were seated on the opposite side. Once all the students were seated, an old man took to the podium.

"Welcome." The old man spoke quietly, but every student heard him clearly, as if he were sitting right next to them, rather than being up on the stage. He wore long white robes, with the serpent of Trinquile clearly embroidered on the front. He had long flowing white hair, accompanied by a beard of equal length.

"I am the headmaster of the Academy, I welcome you all to the beginning of a great journey of learning, growth and magic. You are the future of magic and will achieve great things, on the battlefield, discovering new magic or uncovering new uses for old magic. Be well, and know that now, you have a second home." The headmaster then suddenly raised his arms, a massive gust of wind blew across all the seated students, the students opened their squinted eyes and noticed that the headmaster had disappeared.

"He loves doing that to impress the new students." Fred murmured to Kothar and Luis.

After sitting through a number of droning speeches from their prospective teachers, finally the Headmaster returned to the podium, appearing as suddenly as he had disappeared, with a strong gust of wind.

"I'm sure all the wonderful teachers have given you an idea of what the classes will consist of. You may attend any classes you wish, and I encourage you to make the most of our extensive library collection."

The Headmaster paused, sweeping his steely gaze over the assembled students.

"Tomorrow your classes begin, but tonight, we feast!"

The dining room was perhaps the most mundane of all the parts of the Academy that Kothar had seen so far. There were five long wooden tables, four which were parallel and ran the length of the room, with a fifth table perpendicular to the others, where the Headmaster and teachers were sat. The room was lit by flaming torches and candles, giving the room a cozy warm glow.

The two outermost tables were for the Novices, with the boys on the side of their dormitory and vice versa. The Beginner Mages were sat in a similar fashion, as a result the room was divided with the male student Mages on one side and the females on the other.

Kothar got his first look at the Beginner Mages of the Academy, they wore a similar all white uniform, however theirs had a black stripe running down one side, to signify that they had advanced. Additionally, they had all sorts of colorful equipment and accessories. Some had finely crafted wands in specially made holsters at their hips, others leaned their staffs against the dining table. They all sparkled with jewelry, which was inlaid with mana crystals.

The teachers were similar in this aspect, but their accessories held much larger mana crystals and their equipment and garments swam with runes. The tables were arrayed with a wide variety of dishes, roast meats, casseroles, soups, breads as well as some exotic dishes that Kothar could not name. There was a massive fish that had been roasted whole, and stared glassy eyed at Kothar.

"WILHELM!" A dark haired bulky Beginner Mage yelled out as he lunged across the table.

"What's the matter, Davos?" A slim young man with delicate features replied, presumably Wilhelm, he had a slight smirk on his.

"I know you were out in the taverns last night with my girlfriend! Everybody saw you!" Davos now had one hand raised, a ball of magma swirling in mid air.

"Come now Davos, we all know relationships are forbidden between the male and female students, how could you have a girlfriend? I admit was in the taverns, but I enjoyed a few drinks with my fellow male mages." Wilhem raised a palm, a swirling shield of wind rising up around him.

"You dirty little-" Davos flung the ball of magma across at Wilhem, who simply sat patiently behind his shield. The magma spattered harmlessly on the shield, quickly being cooled and falling to the ground as rock. Seeing his attack was ineffective, Davos roared and magma began to flow over his skin.

"ENOUGH." The whisper somehow resounded in everybody's ears. A slight pressure weighed on Kothar, but looking at how Davos and Wilhem were slumped and sweating, they must of been feeling it many times over.

"Need I remind you all that there is to be no conflict between students, outside of sanctioned duels. Wilhelm, Davos I will be seeing you both at dawn tomorrow outside my tower. Continue." The Headmaster then returned to his casserole, as if he had not been disturbed at all.

Kothar stared over at Wilhelm and Davos, both of whom had their heads down, pale and dripping with sweat as they picked at their food.

"I wouldn't want to be them tomorrow." Fred quipped, with chuckles from around the table answering him.