Chapter Text
Tam
My first day at Foxfire. It was something I was dreading and looking forward to at the same time. It wasn’t that I liked learning that much. But now I could finally escape my parents sometimes and be with Linh more. I hadn’t been able to really be with her that much since she started a year ago. She wasn’t actually older, our parents just created the illusion of it. And I only went along with it, because Linh would’ve been banished. Now they decided that she had to do the first year of Foxfire completely on her own. I hadn’t even been allowed to be in the same room with her when she was studying! I sighed and walked to what I presumed was my locker. There I licked the DNA strip and dumped the books I didn’t need until after lunch. Suddenly I felt two hands on my shoulders and when I turned, I stared right into the face of my twin sister, Linh.
‘Hi, Tam! How you doing this morning?’ she said. I smiled and answered: ‘Well I woke up pretty early for this, so not in the best mood, but Foxfire seems already better than just sitting at ‘’home’’, having to listen to our parents.’ She smiled back and linked her arm through mine. ‘Want to walk with me to orientation?’ I nodded and we walked to the hall.
After orientation I quickly looked at my schedule to find out where I needed to go. Which was completely useless, because I still didn’t know where I needed to go, because I didn't know what was where. Linh must have seen my confusion and she asked: ‘What’s your morning session? I could help you find it!’ ‘Elementalism. Is it a very difficult session?’ I asked her. ‘Nah, you just have to watch out that you don’t electrocute someone. But I have Alchemy next and those two are really close to each other! Follow me!’ She let loose of my arm and walked fast towards the hallway on the right. I quickly followed her, afraid to lose her in the chaos of prodigies getting to their morning sessions. After she dropped me at the classroom, she walked off to her own session.
I gulped as I opened the door to find a male elf with wavy, ash blonde hair and navy blue eyes waiting for me. ‘So the prince has finally arrived!’ he says in an irritated tone. ‘Let’s begin, shall we?’ I sat down in one of the two chairs. ‘Since you’re late, I will make this quick. I do not respect any hateful talk about anyone. No disrespecting bad matches, twins or Talentless. I also appreciate it if you would come on time, because that way I can make the best of the time I have to teach you. Understood?’ I nodded. Seems like I could actually be friends with this Mentor. I mean, we basically have the same morals and he seems friendly! What more can you want?
‘Since this is your first session, I will go easy on you. But don’t expect me to be nice when you disrespect my rules. Now let’s really begin. My name is Nico Casnem, and I know you should technically refer to me as Sir Casnem, but I would prefer if you would refer to me as Sir Nico or just Nico. What’s your name?’ I stared at the ground and answered: ‘Tam’ ‘And what’s your surname Tam?’ he asked kindly. ‘Song, my name is Tam Song.’ His eyes darkened and he seemed to understand why I was unwilling at first to tell him I’m a Song. My parents reputation is probably the opposite of his morals. ‘I see. Lucky for me you seem nothing like your parents.’ After a bit of an awkward silence he started talking about the basics of Elementalism. When I finally was allowed to actually do something, he wanted me to try bottle a rainstorm. I tried that but the rainstorm made such big shadows that my ability started taking over and we ended up needing to go to the Healing Center.
‘Are you going to give me detention?’ I asked nervously. I didn’t want that to be my reputation. The kid who got detention on his first day. ‘No, I won’t. It was an accident. But you have to get your ability under control, or else you could be banished.’ I almost flinched when he said that. Imagine that. I nearly saved Linh from banishment. She couldn’t do anything if I would get banished.
‘What do we have here? Where are you and your prodigy going, Sir Casnem?’ We both jumped and then realized we encountered a small problem: Dame Alina, the principal of Foxfire. ‘Dame Alina! Good to see you!’ Nico answered nervously. ‘Cut to the chase, Sir Casnem. What are you and mr. Song doing in the hallways during sessions?’ Nico gulped and answered: ‘There was a minor… accident during our session and mr. Song was injured, so I planned on making a short visit to the Healing Center.’ She pinched her nosebridge and then flashed us a forced smile. ‘Well, it seems we have a second prodigy who gets detention on their first day. I expect you in the upcoming lunch detention.’ Nico tried to protest, but she cut him off. ‘No protest. Or do you want it to be worse? Now go to the Healing Center you two! I don’t want to see you ditching again!’ She walked off to her office and Nico exhaled.
‘Pfffff, she can be such a-’ He went quiet and shot me a look. I was confused. What had he planned to say? ‘Let’s me quick. We don’t want to irritate her any more.’ When we arrived at the Healing Center, a male with dark brown, wild hair and steel blue eyes was already waiting for them. He flashed Nico a smile and then turned to Tam. ‘Dame Alina came by and she told me what happened. It’s Tam, right?’ I nodded and he continued: ‘My name is Elwin. I’m Foxfire’s physician.’ He smiled at me and I smiled nervously back. ‘Well, let’s get you back on track!’
***
Luckily for me I didn’t encounter Linh on my way to Lunch Detention. I could hear her lecture in my head already. When I opened the door I saw that there was another boy in there. He had messy blonde hair and ice blue eyes. At least I wasn’t alone. ‘Go sit mr. Song, then this detention can begin,’ the Mentor in the room said. I sat down next to the boy and the Mentor turned their back to us. ‘What’s your name ‘’mr. Song’’?’ the boy asked. ‘Tam, what’s your name?’ I whispered back. ‘Keefe, good to meet you Tam. How did ya end up here?’ ‘Dame Alina found out there was a minor incident during my Elementalism session, so she sent me here.’ ‘Ugh, she’s soooo strict, I can’t stand her, and I’ve only been here for a day! She sent me here just because I was ditching on some boring session! So unnecessary!’ I laughed and the Mentor shot us a look. We both straightened, but when their back was turned again we had a full on silent laugh attack. We just sat there, wheezing like two idiots. Which is probably what we were. I didn't knew much about Keefe, but I knew one thing for sure. I just made my first friend.