Ravenfire
The Academy

I decided to go for one last early morning walk through the snowy hills around the castle. I wasn’t sure what kind of place the academy would look like and whether it would have the same scenery here, so I wanted to take it all in before I left… and hopefully grab a few parts I could use for my projects from the broken machinery buried under the snow.

Midway through my peaceful walk, I couldn’t help but feel that I was being followed. It was rather obvious with the second pair of footsteps that accompanied mine as I moved. I suddenly turned around and threw a snowball at my stalker.

“Ow!” It landed directly on his face, causing him to curse and wipe off the snow.

“Why are you following me, Salamander?” I demanded to know.

Salamander went out of his hiding place and dusted the snow off his clothes. “Trying to see if you’re up to no good. What are you doing in this desolate area?”

“Taking a walk.”

“This hardly seems like the place for a leisurely walk. What are you really up to?”

I sighed. “Scavenging for parts.”

“For your bombs that might one day cause the demise of the academy?”

“If you’re lucky, you might even get to experience it first-hand. Are you sure it’s a good idea to leave Elliot all alone in the castle?”

“If he tries to run away again, I won’t bother chasing him. Once was enough.”

I found it odd that he continued following me. It almost seemed like he had something he wanted to say, but struggled finding the words.

Finally, he broke the silence. “You were also called by the horned serpent. What did it say to you?”

“Also? It’s not just me?” His statement surprised me.

“We new students seem to have a knack for brushing sides with the dark. So, are you answering my question or not?”

“It said some sort of poem. It sounded like a riddle.”

“Do you remember what it was?”

“Something about the four seasons and a fifth one.”

“Did it start with something like: Winter of dreams, of power yearning?”

“Yes! That’s exactly how it started.”

“Interesting. That’s the poem they plaster all over the academy to remind students of the domains of magic.”

“Who wrote it?”

“The academy’s founder, Emrys Blackthorn. It was the last poem he wrote before he died.”

“What did the horned serpent say when it visited you?”

“Same as you. A strange vision and that poem. And don’t ask me about them. I’m about as clueless as you. I wouldn’t go as far as following you all the way here if I knew what they meant. I was hoping you’d have more information.”

“You mentioned before that the spells it taught us are forbidden. Why is that?”

“The Unending and the Unmending are two spells that mess with fate itself. To the majority of the mages’ circle, those spells shouldn’t exist. And there shouldn’t be a fifth Meister.”

“Nor a fifth season?”

“The season of shadows is like a dark cloud that seeks to unravel the order established by the four Meisters.” He paused. “At least, that’s what they believe. Nobody really knows.”

I nodded. “Makes sense why they’d forbid it.”

“Enough talk. We’d better return to the castle before the professor drags us back with his golems.” He turned around to leave. “Are you coming?”

As much as I wanted to keep walking, Salamander was right. I followed him back to the castle.

Salamander and I gathered together in the common room with our trunks ready. Meanwhile, Elliot stayed in his room, avoiding us as usual. I really wondered how he was going to fare at the academy if he’s always afraid of people. Not long after, the professor entered with a golem carrying three sets of black and white clothing on hangers. Another golem followed with three pairs of leather school shoes.

Prof. Ariston announced with pleasure, “Students, these are your school uniforms, specially tailored to your exact measurements. Put them on and then we’ll be off to the academy.”

Salamander and I each took a uniform set to change into them while the professor went to inform Elliot. I stood in front of a mirror to fix my black necktie and the buttons on my white long-sleeved shirt. The black skirt fit me exactly, its length all the way to my knees. Monochrome. Just the way I liked it. Once I was satisfied, I put on the black uniform jacket that had the academy’s crest on it.

“How do I look?” I asked Salamander when I returned to the common room. He was looking rather smart and elegant himself, nothing too different from his usual set of clothes.

He examined me from top to bottom. “There are gargoyles better looking than you.”

“Disdainful as always,” I replied without taking offence.

He folded his arms. “You know I’d reply with an insult, so why do you even bother asking?”

I shrugged. “I just wanted to see what creative insult you’d come up with this time.”

Salamander didn’t reply and went back to fixing his tie, probably deciding that continuing the conversation topic was a waste of his time.

“I wonder what Elliot would say…” I looked around for any sign of the scared boy.

“Give him a break. He’s been hiding from you all morning,” he replied without taking his eyes off his tie.

Once everyone was ready, the professor had us gather at the living quarters on the first floor. He too had his own trunk and travelling essentials prepared. He quickly checked his pocket watch for the time. “It seems that we are all ready. I might have spent too much time organising my things. I do hope we’ll make it to the entrance ceremony on time.”

“So how are we getting there? By train, ship, or carriage?” I asked. Frankly, I was excited to find out how mages get around.

“No need for those. We have something much more convenient.” He removed the cloth covering a tall ornate mirror. It looked nothing out of the ordinary at first glance.

“We’re travelling through… here?” I asked to clarify.

“Mirrors serve as portals throughout territories governed by mages. It is the best mode of transport,” he explained. Two taps from the professor’s gloved hand was all it took to activate the mirror and turn it into a doorway. He smiled at all of us. “In you go.”

Beyond the doorway was a strange world where there was no snow. The trees all had leaves and flowers were all in bloom. I believe they call this season ‘spring’. Having lived in a world of perpetual winter for most of my life, seeing a snow-less and green scenery was very unusual. I’d seen photos of it in old books that survived the war, but I never thought I’d see it with my own eyes. Even Elliot had the same reaction as me.

“It’s beautiful,” I said as I looked through the window. “How is it possible?”

“We’re in an area that has been partially merged with the other universe. That’s why the endless winter doesn’t happen here,” Salamander explained. He was unfortunately cut short by the professor who urged us to make haste.

“I’d normally give a tour, but we’re a tad bit late for the ceremony,” Prof. Ariston said as we rushed through the halls of the old gothic castle that housed the academy.

I marvelled at the interior with its high walls and large stained glass windows. A long crimson carpet ran from one end of the hall to the opposite end with ornate furniture and decor lined on both its sides. Paintings of historical figures and places important to the academy covered the walls. It was my first time being at such a grand-looking place.

We eventually stopped in front of large wooden doors. The professor told us to enter silently and find our seats among the students while he took his place among the faculty members. The three of us sat together in the last row inside the large hall as the academy’s headmaster, Marcurius Scheep, gave a speech at the podium in front.

The headmaster looked much younger than Prof. Ariston with his youthful golden hair and features. He showed every sign of a man who carried some sort of weight on his shoulders. In this case, that weight was probably the affairs of the academy, including that cryptic message the lady called Hermia brought to Prof. Ariston.

He continued, “We come together not because of our ability to manipulate the world using magic, but because we bear the knowledge of the truth of the world. Many years ago, after mankind destroyed itself with nuclear weapons and caused this unending winter on earth, the sheer scale of the destruction also rippled beyond the universe. This may come as a shock to some, but our universe is slowly merging with another. Magic and our ability to control it only began after this catastrophic event. Our goal in this institution is not only to train you in your magical abilities, but to learn about this new reality and either adapt to it or possibly stop it.”

The room was immediately filled with whispers and chatter. I wasn’t the only one shocked to hear about the universe merging. I glanced at Salamander. He looked rather calm about it. Elliot, on the other hand, was sweating nervously after hearing the speech. He could really use some consoling, but I would only make things worse if I were to do it.

The entrance ceremony ended after the new students were welcomed into the fold. The students slowly left the hall to either head to their respective dormitories or mingle with other students in the courtyard.

I made my way to the girls’ dormitory to unpack my things in my room. Prof. Hermia Philomela, the small lady who visited the professor that night at the castle, gladly led me to the building while Prof. Ariston showed Salamander and Elliot to their rooms. She was very friendly and pleasing. If she didn’t dress similarly to the other professors, I would have mistaken her as a fellow student.

“Each student is assigned a roommate. I hope both of you get along,” she told me before she stopped in front of the door to my room.

Any roommate is probably better than that prick Salamander. I’d even take Elliot even if he spent most of the day cowering from my presence.

The moment I went inside, a cheerful-looking girl with wavy blonde hair greeted me with a sweet smile. I couldn’t decide which was more frightening: my roommate or her pastel-coloured floral decorations that took up her side of the room. Both of them stuck out like a sore thumb in this dark and foreboding environment. Prof. Hermia bid us goodbye and closed the door.

Emma Sweetblossom. She had the beauty of a goddess and the personality of an affectionate older sister, basically a walking potential housewife no boy could resist. I couldn’t think of a single bad thing about her, except maybe that she’s too good, but that really doesn’t make any sense, does it? She was the embodiment of perfection and that frightened me to the core. I don’t know if it’s sheer luck or misfortune to end up in the same room as her.

She stopped in front of me with a friendly smile and extended her hand. “I’m…”

“Emma Sweetblossom,” I completed her sentence.

She was visibly surprised. “Oh. I guess you already knew my name. Are you a Winter student perhaps?”

“It’s plastered right there on your side of the room with flowers.” I pointed at her wall.

“Oh!” She laughed. “I forgot about that.”

“You must be a Spring student based on… the excessive display of visual material pertaining to colourful flora and herbivorous fauna.” I tried my best to say it nicely. I wasn’t really that good at talking to people.

“You’re very perceptive!” She was amused by my statement. Thank goodness. “I can’t tell what you are yet. I’ll take a guess once you start decorating your side of the room.”

“Oh. I’m just going to leave it like that.” I began to unpack my things.

“You’re not going to decorate it to make yourself feel at home? I decorate mine so I’ll feel like I’m back in my own room at home.”

“I don’t need to feel at home. It’s not like I’ll be spending most of my time in this room.” A few minutes was all it took for me to finish unpacking. Quick and efficient.

“Where are you going?” Emma asked when she noticed me walk towards the door.

“The library. There’s something I want to check out. See you later, Emma.” I waved and left before she could stop me.

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