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Even though the gates were open when I arrived, Kawaakari Academy was still intimidating.
Or, maybe not intimidating, exactly. It was a beautiful building, with neat courtyards and that sparkling fountain right in the center of the front one, all the buildings carved out of rose-stone in the softest pink, with any concrete sections painted to match, all the windows polished and gleaming. The wrought iron gates were as shiny as was sure they had been the day the school was built, and the carved marble lotuses to honour Goddess Akari still majestic on the pillars of the main gateway I was now standing at. There were students buzzing and milling around in the courtyard, a number with holdalls and suitcases and other bulky bags, either returning sophomore or senior boarders or newbies like me. They all looked elegant and refined in their school uniforms, but also happy. The air was filled with laughter, and an extra level of joy indicated by pretty streamers hung from the fences and fairy-lights carefully threaded into the branches of trees, no doubt ready to automatically turn on the moment the sun set.
It was beautiful, and wonderful, and I had been waiting for this day for ages. I couldn’t wait to start my school life and all the adventures and fun that it had promised. But the fact remained, I was intimidated. How could I not be?
This was Kawaakari Academy, after all. The Kawaakari Academy, the one everyone in all the lands from Azenor to Leocadia to Zohara knew about and aspired to go to. The school that had been founded in the wake of the Great War, 300 years ago now. Any year, it would be a prestige and an honour for any young magician to be able to walk through its doors to be educated here, but this year was more special than most, for two reasons.
First off, the Kawaakari Academy Magic Games, and second, it was the school’s tri-centenary.
Thinking of all this, watching everything around me, I took a deep breath. Come on, pull yourself together. It was fine, it would be fine. Realising that if I stood here any longer I’d be blocking the way, I grabbed up the handles of my luggage and determinedly walked forward, passing through those open gates.
As I did, I kept a look-out for those of my friends who would also be joining the school this year. Some of us had already formed groups for the Magic Games, but I knew that during orientation there would be time for the groups to finish forming so I wasn’t worried about the gaps that we still had. Well, not more than usual.
As I walked past the water-fountain, I impulsively stuck my hand out and watched the water splash over it, catching the sunlight and sparkling. I grinned, then pulled my hand away and shook it dry. At that moment, I noticed a girl doing the same thing. There were cherry blossom petals in her hair, presumably having been blown there by the wind, but somehow they made her look prettier than she already was as she too enjoyed the sparkliness of the water. I gawped for a moment, then remembered myself, and felt my cheeks redden. Aaaaaa, what if she notices me staring? I wiped the remaining dampness of my hand against the side of my bag, not wanting to sully my blazer, and then continued on, heading through the front doors and joining the clearly marked out queue to the office, where we’d receive our orientation packs.
I turned back as I did, but I didn’t see the girl or any of my friends. Ah, well, hopefully I will catch up with them in the Freshman Orientation, or maybe one of them will be my room-mate? I passed the time by looking around me, admiring the décor and trying to squint at the noticeboard opposite to me. The interior was decorated nicely too, with pretty streamers and bunting, and I wondered if there would be a party of any kind during the year to mark the occasion of the school being 300 years old. I did not remember any mentions of it, but maybe it would be in the orientation pack.
Finally, finally, I reached the front, where a soft looking, simply dressed woman sat, with long silvery blond hair in a ponytail tied by a thick bow, and thoughtful eyes. She looked serious for a moment but then when she looked up she smiled, making me feel all warm and cosy on the inside. A label next to her read Professor Snow, and I assumed that was her name.
“Ah, I see you’re here for Freshman Orientation too. What’s your name?” Professor Snow asked.
I gave it to her, and then she looked behind me at my luggage.
“Full-time boarder or weekly boarder?”
“Full-time.”
I could easily have been a weekly boarder, or even a day student, but I’d wanted to experience every last thing Kawaakari had to offer, immerse myself in the life here. That, naturally, meant full-time boarding. It was not like I wouldn’t be able to keep in touch with family and old friends anyway, after all.
“Alright let me just…ah yes, here you are. There’s a map and timetable in there alongside all the other things you will have been told about. The quickest route to your dorms is up the staircase just outside the cafeteria. Make sure you’re in the Main Hall by 8:30am for Headmaster Cher’s orientation assembly. Have you got any questions?”
“No, no, that’s fine, thank you!”
The lady smiled, and then momentarily reached underneath her desk. I blinked, confused, and I wasn’t any more clearer when she emerged with a clear packet of cookies, neatly tied with a ribbon.
“Here you go, take these as a little token of welcome. Remember, you can ask either of the Headteachers or your own tutor if you have any problems, alright? My door will always be open too. I hope you will enjoy your time at Kawaakari Academy.”
“Thank you!” I said again, grinning.
I took the cookies, gave a bow, and carried on my way.
…
My dorm-room, named Edelweiss, had a carving of what I assumed was the flower in question on the door itself. I put my hand on the golden doorknob and opened it and stepped into the medium-sized room.
All done in soft, calming pale colours in contrast to the rich shades of the corridor and downstairs, there were two beds against opposite walls to each other, the window in-between them and looking out into part of one of the back courtyards. I walked over to the window and saw that from this point, I could see the forests that I knew were enchanted in order to protect us, in a similar manner to the gates and walls at the front. The rivers beyond, I knew, were further protection. I wonder if we’re allowed in there for anything, or not. Even if we were allowed in there for any reason, no doubt one of the conditions would be to make sure that we had a light of some nature with us at all times. After all, a forest was a place where complete darkness could lie.
Thinking of that, I turned back away from the window and surveyed the room. Sure enough, apart from the usual electrical lights, there were also candles and matches in baskets on the desks that stood next to each of our beds, as well oil-lamps decorated with lotus motifs and on each of our bedside tables what I presumed was a magical-powered lamp, shaped like the moon on wall brackets either side of the door.
Ah, I hope that whoever my roommate is won’t mind if the room is a little dimmer at night. Of course, I knew full well that complete darkness was dangerous, as it encouraged dark thoughts and ultimately the remembrance and idolisation of Kagami, as I had been told as a child when I’d complained about not being able to sleep in such light. Most people were lucky to be able to sleep perfectly even when it was as bright as day. Sadly, I was not one of them, but I was old enough now to cope with dim light in the room. Not that it was a choice, not really.
After all, I most definitely was not a heretic.
Trying not to fill my head with more worries along those lines, I glanced over at the neat pile of bags that were leaning against the bed on the left, which had pale green sheets. Clearly, my own roommate, whoever he or she or they were, had already arrived. I didn’t recognise any of the bags, so clearly it wasn’t one of my friends. I guess I shall just have to wait and see. I checked the time on my watch, and decided to drag my bags over to the bed (with yellow sheets, the colour of summer sunshine) that had been left and unpack later. All I needed was my satchel with my orientation pack, and to quickly check my phone, which I quickly did, seeing a few messages and replying to them, before tucking it back into the holdall I’d kept it in. I weighed up the cookies in my hand, then decided that I may as well take them with me. Once I checked my reflection in the mirror and adjusted my school uniform, I put the satchel on my shoulders and then headed back out of the room.
…
“Hey, hey, over here!”
Somehow, over the noise, I heard my name being called, and soon spotted a cluster of my friends waving madly. I lifted my hand in response and then rushed over.
“Took your time, didn’t you? And you’re local as well?” one of my friends teased.
“Hey, I’m here now, aren’t I?” I protested, pouting.
Another of my friends just chuckled and patted my shoulder, and I carefully pushed through to sit down in the seat that had been saved for me, almost bumping into someone in the process.
“Ah, I’m sorry!” I apologised to the person in question. “I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
The person blinked sleepily, then shrugged and shook their head.
“Nah, it’s fine. The seats are pretty packed together anyway, aren’t they?”
“Too right.” I commiserated. “Anyway, what’s your name?”
The way I saw it, it made sense that I may as well try to get to know a few more people. Make some new, additional friends as part of the experience. Who knew, they may even end up in my final Magic Games group? But even if they didn’t, I was looking forward to the possibility of new bonds.
The person seemed to agree with that (or at least, they were too polite to tell me to buzz off) and they nodded slowly, giving their name. I then introduced myself, and those of my friends that I was with.
“So, what dorm room are you in?” my friend asked me.
“Edelweiss.” I replied. “You?”
A few answers came back-Fleur de Lis, Wallflower, Violet, Snowdrop. My new friend was in Apple blossom.
“Aww, so none of us are roommates after all,” one of my friends pouted. “Man, that sucks!”
“Yeah, it does,” another friend said. “But perhaps we’re in the same tutor groups? I’m with Professor Bin.”
“You are?” my new friend asked. “So am I.”
“Oh, sweet!”
My friend reached over me to high-five my new friend, who looked dazed for a moment before accepting the high-five cheerily enough. Out of curiosity, I took off my satchel so that I could check my own orientation pack to see which group I was in, and as I did, the others chatted about the teachers.
“You know, I heard Headmaster Cher is tutoring some of the freshmen this year around, and he doesn’t mind if we skip some classes. Something about practical knowledge.”
“That’s strange, what teacher allows that?”
“Dunno.”
“I don’t imagine that any of the teachers’ allow you to skip all the time though, that’d just be stupid.”
“Still, that’s quite cool! Man, anyone who has him as their tutor is properly lucky.”
“I’m with Headmaster Cher.” I murmured.
“YOU ARE?”
This shriek-in-unison came from two of my friends, and I looked up at them and laughed. I’m with the Headmaster. Even without the discovery that he could apparently be lenient, that was already pretty amazing. To be led by one of the two leading soldiers of the Great War, no less. I knew all the teachers were the best of the best of that time, but even so…
“Hey, either way,” one of my friends declared. “Whichever teacher you get for a tutor, you’re proper lucky.”
“What, because of who they are?” I asked, still thinking about that.
My friend rolled his eyes, and waved the sheet with the staff roster from his orientation pack at us.
“No, silly, have you looked at them? I mean, mm-mmm.”
“They are all hot, that is true.” Another friend said, nodding sagely.
I stared at the two of them, jaw almost dropping to the floor.
“They’re three hundred years old.”
Now it was their turn to look at me as if I had grown two heads. I just stared at them in astonishment.
“So? Hotness knows no age-I bet Professor Bin would say something like that. And they are, you can’t deny it-just look at them. Look at Headmaster Cher’s seductive smile, Professor Yanovi’s cute face, Professor Keno’s eyes and how Professor Ar-“
I interrupted before this could all get out of hand, blushing as I quickly glanced to the stage to make sure none of the teachers were on the stage (I would die if they could hear us, even from this far), and reiterated my original point:
“They’re three hundred years old.”
“Actually, it’s the school that’s three hundred years old.”
I whipped around to look at my new friend, who was now less sleepy and more smirky. When it was clear that I hadn’t comprehended, they chuckled:
“Look, it’s the three-hundredth anniversary, right?”
“Yeeeeah?”
“And all the teachers here are the same ones who founded this school, and who fought in the Great War?”
“Yeeeeeah??”
“They weren’t exactly newborn babies when they did all that, were they?”
I narrowed my eyes at my new friend. You’re enjoying this way too much. My friend chuckled again and leaned back in their chair very slightly.
“So what I’m saying is,” they finally got to the point. “Is that the teachers are all actually older than three hundred, a great deal, I’d imagine.”
“…”
I thought about this for a moment, and then face-palmed.
“You realise that’s WORSE, right?”
This made all my friends, new and old, burst into raucous laughter. A few people sitting in the row in front of us turned around momentarily, making me blush furiously. But when they turned away again and my friends were still giggling, I started to see the funny side a little and I began to laugh myself, shaking my head at the ridiculousness of it all. It helped that the stage was still empty and I could see no sign of the teachers yet.
“Fair,” a friend said. “Teachers aren’t everyone’s type, are they? But hey, we can dream, right?”
“Sure we can!” another friend declared confidently.
“Your dreams are deluded.” I informed them staunchly, smiling even so.
I decided not to mention that the pretty girl with flowers in her hair had more or less cancelled out any potential teacher crushes for me. After all, I hadn’t even seen her in this hall, though that could easily be down to how packed it was. That, or she may not have even been a freshman. But hey, plenty of time to find that out, right?
I reached into my satchel and pulled out the packet of cookies and waved them at my friends.
“Anyone want to share Professor Snow’s cookies with me?”
It turned out that everyone had indeed received cookies from the gentle-mannered teacher, each packet a different flavour. Mine were dark chocolate and honey, my new friend’s salted caramel and strawberry. Those of a couple of my other friends had some identifiable components, and others not so much-possibly magical fruits or flavours, but either way utterly divine.
“Awww, man,” one of my friends said. “I left my cookies up in my room so I can’t swap you.”
I tilted my head to a side and pretended to think about this, and then nodded and handed him a cookie.
“Here, have one anyway,” I said. “But you owe me one-remember, I know where you live.”
I narrowed my eyes and did my best impression of someone creepy and threatening as I held it out. My friend grabbed the cookie from my hand and then whacked me jokingly on the head with the staff roster he was still holding. I pretended to cry out in pain and swoon, making my friends laugh again and the people in the front row turn to look at us.
“Are you going to be really weird the whole way through this?”
“Oh, we’re always weird, but don’t worry, we know when to be weird covertly.” My new friend told them smartly.
This earned us eyes that rolled so hard I could near enough hear them. One of the front-row freshmen snorted, and then they turned back again. I widened my eyes dramatically and looked at my friends, giving a mock-concerned shrug. Similar looks were given by the rest of them, and then I dug into my orientation pack and pulled out my timetable and we all started to compare them, working out which lessons we shared during the week and which ones we didn’t.
Then, the lights changed, casting the room in the deep blue of night. Gasps echoed through the room, and I sat up straight, folding my hands in my lap and looking towards the stage. Small lights like stars or fireflies started to flicker above us, all across the ceiling and some wrapped along the opulent pillars. Then, finally, a bright spotlight shone on the stage, revealing a podium
And standing at this podium, Headmaster Cher, flanked by the three tutors for the freshmen-Void, Keno and Bin. Headmaster Cher’s cloak matched the light that had soaked the room, with the spotlight making the gold details on it shimmer. His hair was neat and brushed over his shoulder, caught in a thin, long ponytail. Standing there so tall and regal, he looked around at all of us with his piercing eyes for what felt like the longest time before finally, he broke out into the same smile one of my friends had such a thing for. Confident, bright, slightly crooked. It sent shivers down me, both good and bad.
Headmaster Cher. My tutor.
For a moment, he looked my way, almost as if right at me. I sucked in a breath and tried to make myself seem more. More confident, more prepared. Confident and worthy of not just being his tutee, but being here. Here, at Kawaakari. I gazed back, and after yet another stretched out moment his smile seemed to widen, and he placed his hands against the podium and began speaking:
“Greetings, dear students. Welcome to Kawaakari…”