Chapter 2

   "Oh, shoot!" says Mr. Reap from the front, "We've gotta go to the assembly. Everyone, we're going to the the main hall. It's on your maps."

  The twenty-whatever teens in the class get up and grab their bags while filing out to go to this assembly in question. Thinking back now it might be thirty, as Mr. Reap said, but I don't have the best memory. I keep close to both Hala and the twins. I didn't realize it, but I thought Hala was petite, but she's actually a pretty tall girl. She easily could put her arm on my shoulder and lean. I'm two inches shorter than her, while the twins are about the same height as Hala. 

  What I do notice though is that Sylvester has shorter cut hair in the back while Lucius has his bangs styled like spikes that fall over his brow softly. I think I'm starting to figure out what's different between the two of them, but I'm having some trouble still. They both have radiant grins, tanned skin, laughter like sunshine, and worst of all, they talk the same way. It's a funny nightmare, but with them as my friends, I'm not complaining. I take it onto myself to really find the distinction, and I'm inclined to think I'll eventually, eventually, find it.

  Walking inside the school, which is really a mix of modern scientific design and late renaissance architecture, I look around enjoying the look of it. I never really got to see renaissance buildings up close, however much I looked at travel catalogues of Europe, but this really is wonderful to see. Thinking back to book I checked out at the local library in my town of provenance, I can tell the ornate carvings, the several marble statues standing in niches above the hall, and the paintings of mythological instances, are all from that period. The glass windows, elevators here and there, and the steel beams exposed tastefully in spots to melt together with the renaissance create a very dynamic and aesthetic interior. I think for a moment that at night it might be creepy to walk in this hall which during the day would be alright, but I assure myself I won't be here at that time so don't worry about it.

  Other classes gather in the halls, and we all head in the general direction we're supposed to with Mr. Reap leading us. I'm pretty sure he's just showing us around because it's the first day and most of us would be sheep with no shepherd. Other teachers I spot too, and up ahead there's a pair of large doors that are open, and inside with a room with a large dome above letting in light from the sky and sun are several long tables spread out like petals around the center of the room, where there's a round platform. 

  Two-thirds of the room, from the 11th and 12th grade, are filled with teens. They all turn excitedly to look at us as we enter, and siblings either wave or hide from one another. Mr. Reap along with the other teachers lead their students to open tables, and we all sit down in short time. Mr. Reap stands at the end of ours, and chats with a close-by teacher. She has on a simple white suit with a pair of ruby earrings and a quaint silver necklace. Her blonde hair cut just below her ear in a horizontal line and attire gives a sharp and alert appearance, but from her smile and bright voice, I can tell she's a nice person who only looks sharp.

  Being in the middle of the long table, I can't hear their conversation, but they stop talking soon as a group of obviously distinguished teachers, or maybe faculty, walk in and head to the literal center-stage. It's just something in the way they walk and also seem to check the room for things I don't know that discloses that they're important.

  The older students who know them wave and call their names, and I get the impression that this school is filled with an intangible amiable something, something warm and bright like the summer air. Something I can breathe in and feel fill up my chest.

  The adults who enter the hall are numerous, but specifically one man and two women who get up onto the center stage are obviously distinguished. I can tell by the way the main in a suit and how he climbs up the steps to the stage first must be the principal here. He smiles before taking a microphone to talk to everyone, though the speakers seem to be floating in the air. The first time I'm seeing this magic.

  "Hello, new students," says the man, and smiles before turning to the 11th and 12th graders, "and of course, greetings to the residing students."

  There's a general call of laughter from the upper grades, and the man chuckles. It's then that I take in his appearance of a simply light-grey suit and a tall build with some span. He has two streaks of white hair near his ears, and I'm guessing his age somewhere around mid-forties.

  "Well, I'd like to congratulate you on your entrance into the Combined College of Magic Science. It's my honor to welcome you in and to also introduce myself as your principal. I am Ulysses Warp, and you may call my Mr. Warp should you ask me for help in any situation."

  "I'd also like to introduce the vice principal, Doctor Elina Cartwright," says Mr. Warp as he gestures to one of the ladies, who has her auburn hair in a bun and wears a simple milk-colored cardigan over a navy skirt. 

  She waves and steps up to the microphone and begins to talk as well. 

  "Hello, new students," she starts, and then addresses the older students after some shouts, "I'd also like to welcome you to this institute, and I'm very happy to see all of you. We've been expecting you, and I can tell you on behalf of the faculty here we're so happy to see all of you."

  "Starting tomorrow, you all will begin class. But for today, you'll be shown around the grounds of this school by your homeroom teachers and also receive information about how this school operates. I'm pretty sure this is a new experience for all of you, but I'd like to kindly remind you that that faculty here are more than ready to help direct you."

  "Also," continues Doctor Cartwright, "there are plenty of activities for the new students to do having entered this institution. Some clubs I can list off are soccer, swimming, chess, and gardening. There are also clubs related to magical mechanisms, and I'm pretty sure your seniors are more than happy to invite you to their clubs."

  In response to that, the older teens cheer as a crowd and Doctor Cartwright smiles again.

  "And, I'm now going to introduce the school nurse, Doctor Helena Clue," says Doctor Cartwright, "should you need any treating to your health, she will assist you. Though I'd say that you should do your best to remain intact, as your safety is of utmost importance in this institute."

  Doctor Clue, a woman with grey hair and a doctor's coat on nods along with a smile, and so does Mr. Warp. I hear some laughter in the older grades, but the teachers hush them.

  "Well, now that's said," says Mr. Warp, clapping his hands, and above us in the air mini fireworks go off, caused by his hands, "I'd say again welcome, and that we're happy to have you. Welcome to our loud big family here at CCMS."

  The older grades clap and cheer, and so does the faculty. I'm now quite certain that this school is genial by default, and I should be very appreciative of that. 

  After the welcome ends, the new teens are led out and split up into their classes, being shown around the school grounds. I go along and am close to the twins and Hala, as well as a tall, quiet, and muscled girl named Morgan and a boy named Thames who's also tall but lean. 

  Being close to them, I go with Mr. Reap leading us around to look at the several courtyards, and also the portions of the institute. Looking at the map as well as looking the building itself, I note that the CCMS is largely a circle with arms sticking out. There are six arms sticking out subtly with the same length, and each one has a specialty in a subject. Science, magic, literature, math, history, and social science. Two arms though are for the dorms and are large, being near the bottom of the map.

  Within the outer wall of the college, which around is a forest and the mountains that I saw, along with the dorms, are several courtyards. Five of them, with one being particularly bigger than the rest. I think we'll get to that later.

  After walking up a staircase, we get to the second floor, looking at classrooms, labs, and also just the teachers. The ones who are present like in the lab as a chemistry teacher, or in the planetarium as an astronomer meet us and wave. It's really nice, the whole experience, and I'm not just ready to meet these teachers in classes that I might have with them, but also the content they'll teach me. Being excited with all that could happen, I talk and whisper a small amount to Hala and the twins, which is rare since I'd usually be silent all through school. Talking with friends is new, and doing it now I don't think I could ever go back to not having close acquaintances likes this.

  While leaving one hall, we pass in front of a set of large arched windows. Glancing at the map I carried along with me, I realize it look out into the larger garden, the biggest one that's in this place. I spot a small, separate building, maybe not even a building, almost like a mausoleum, in dark brown and grey values sits alone. Hidden by some trees, it's almost impossible to see. Looking at where it sits in respect to my map, it seems to be an independent building, detached from the walls of the garden, and I can only tell this by guessing it's size, being mostly hidden in trees.

  Thinking that it must have to do with a subject that's taught here, I look at the map again, which has quite a few names for what's being taught in different wings of this college, but find nothing to suggest anything. Nary words to divulge anything. For a second, I'm thinking I'm seeing something odd, or I'm not seeing something, but then come to the conclusion that I am indeed not seeing any notation for that specific building. The mausoleum seems to be distinctly independent and mysterious.

  "Hey, Revel!" calls Lucius from the group that's moved off a little from where I stopped in front of the window, "What's the issue?"

  "Nothing," I say while catching up, "I just saw something, I think a mausoleum in the garden there."

  "Are you sure? I didn't see anything," says Lucius.

  "I'm pretty sure I saw it," I say.

  "Saw what?" asks Hala.

  "A mausoleum," I say.

  "Really? I didn't see it," says Hala, and I feel as if something is off.

  "Maybe you can ask Mr. Reap about it later," suggests Syl, as he tells me to call him.

  "I'll do that," I say, and it ends with that.

  "Alright guys," says Mr. Reap from the front of the group, "we'll head back to HR, pass out a few things like papers, and then you all will have to go pick up your textbooks."

  Mr. Reap leads us like a mother duck to the homeroom of ours, and we all take our seats as Mr. Reap passes out our schedules. I can recall that when I was doing the papers for this college I had to select several courses and other academic information, and that must influence this schedule I'm going to get.

  Going to get the schedule as Mr. Reap calls me up to the front of the class, and I get it with a thank-you. On my way back, I bump into another kid, a taller one than me, and I say sorry to which he says back with a killer grin not to worry about it. He has dark hair like me, though his eyes have an earth tone. Something about him sticks in my mind, and I walk away thinking something I don't understand.

  Arriving at my desk, I look over my assigned routine with Hala and the twins. They seem to share several classes with me.

  "Hey, do you have majestic theory as your third class?" asks Lucius to me.

  "Yeah," I answer.

  "Me too," says Hala, holding up her paper.

  "I don't," says Syl with some sadness.

  "I have English, and then History," I say.

  "Ooh! Sweet! I have those two classes," says Syl, perking up.

  "I have those two as well," says Hala.

  "I don't," says Lucius.

  Going over more of the schedule together, we find the classes we'll be together, and then after Mr. Reap lets us go we talk about those while going to pick up our textbooks. 

 The textbooks, different from my old ones in middle school aren't large and bulky, and I can keep some of them. I guess I have some support from the government and I have them to myself. I can recall that along with these and the ones in my room at the dorms, it'll be important to keep them clean and safe. 

  Looking at a clock on the wall near us, it's actually lunchtime. That's good, because I was just getting ready to eat. The great hall is where lunch is served, so I head there with Hala, Lu, Syl. Morgan and Thames have also met up with us, and we enter the great hall. After the food we pick up trays of food and sit down, we begin to converse. Morgan and Thames who were sitting in a different part of the class now talk with us about their schedules. 

  I'm part of this conversation, quite different from before, and I'm enjoying my new time at this school. I'd never believe I could talk with anybody, much less five other people, in a lively conversation like this, on the first day of a new school of all places and times. It's unbelievably heartening, and even if I don't smile through it, I am content and am an active participant. Tomorrow classes with content will start, but I think the rest of today is just free for the 10th graders. Which is fine with me. I'm fine with anything really, in this school, because it's so nice.