PHASE 4: In Which Training Begins in Earnest
Chapter 76 – Late on the First Day
Monday morning and the sun is up, the birds are busy in the world outside, but it seems the tenants inside room SC01 of the Special Class Division still haven’t stirred.
Finally, a door opens near the end of the hall, and out runs Sebastian in a rumpled uniform. Behind him trails a young girl looking fluttered as she runs after her master.
“Wake up!” Sebastian shouts, pounding on the opposite doors facing each other at the other end of the hall. “We overslept!”
The door to his left suddenly flew open. A wide eyed boy with a nest of brown hair rushes our and nearly collides with him.
“What time is it?!” he called to his roommate as he ran to the bathroom before Seb could reach it.
Seb, unable to get to the toilet before Dorin, went back to pounding on Johan’s door instead.
“Johan! You still alive in there?” he called. There was no answer. Seb checked the door, finding it locked. “Unlock.” he whispers to the door knob.
A click and the door swings inside the room, showing Johan slumped on his bed, a young dragon whelp sleeping as soundly on his back.
“Toilet’s open!” shouts Dorin as he enters Johan’s room and shakes their friend from his slumber. “Hey Johan! Wake up!” Dagon slips off the sleeping mage’s back and looks up irritatingly at Dorin.
“Mmm... not today...” Johan mumbled in his sleep.
“You need to get up, orientations are today, remember?” Dorin pull’s his arm and drags him out of the room. Johan could hardly stand up.
He took the fire mage into the bathroom just as Seb got out, and dumps him in the half full tub.
“What the fuck `n hell...!!!” screamed Johan, suddenly awake. He slipped several times back in the cold water until he finally found enough strength to raise himself up by holding on to both sides of the tub.
“Hurry up!” Sebastian called to the grinning Dorin and the cursing Johan. “We’re already half an hour late for our orientation!”
When the three finally got out of the dorm, they noticed that the place was almost empty. The rest of the students have already left for their respective classes. They rushed to the main grounds of the Magic division – the old Ravante Castle deep inside the woods.
“During school days, a small shuttle service goes back and forth from the dorm to the main castle of the Magic Division Grounds.” Seb explained as they got to the nearest bus stop. “We’re just in time too...”
A small vehicle was coming their way. The side was open, with seats in the middle where students can sit, facing outside. The three of them hurriedly came aboard.
“To the Magic Division, please...” Dorin told the elderly driver.
“Aren’t you three a bit late for class?” the driver asked.
“We overslept...” Dorin answered. Johan stiffed a yawn by his left, while at his other side, Seb was checking the contents of his inner pockets.
“I’m hungry...” grumbled Johan as they got off the main gates.
[No time] wrote Seb. [We should have been in the main auditorium an hour ago, the professors would probably roast us alive.]
“This is all the fault of those Morells’...” grumbled Johan, “We should have left much earlier if they didn’t insist to get us clean of miasma – which was also their fault!”
“Yeah, my back is still sore from all that rubbing...” Dorin mumbled.
[It was pointless, the miasma was cleansed when Johan released the Holy Flame] wrote Seb, [I bet they just wanted to keep us longer so they can learn more about us]
“Yeah...” Johan frowned, “They were especially interested with Benette.”
[Probably because that medic was able to re-grow the missing chunks of flesh on Octavious’ arm in just minutes!] Seb looked at Dorin as they finally entered the main palace building. [Even your aunt would have difficulty doing that.]
“You ask me, they were more interested in, Johan.” Dorin replied. “What room was it again?” he asked Seb.
[Just straight ahead.]
The three late students finally reached their destination. They pushed the door back and braced themselves for what they might find inside the spacey auditorium. It was a large hall converted into a room with rows of seats and a raised dais in front. On the stage was a table and on the table were several professors, including Professor Althea, Professor Dupont, Professor Raevers, Professor Dimitrio and another professor with black skin, not unlike the Morells. The black skinned professor stood in front of the table and seemed to be discussing something with the rest of the professors.
“You’re late!” yelled professor Raevers as they entered the room. “Being part of the Special Classes does not give you the right to be impudent!”
[Our apologies, Professors, we have no excuse for being late.] wrote Seb who gave a curt bow.
“We are ready to accept any punishment,” Dorin added meekly, “This really is all our fault.”
No, no, this is quite fine.” the dark skinned professor interrupted them. “It’s been so long since we have students who actually deserve to be in the special class,” he continued, “It must have been nerve racking to be part of such a prestigious class, thus their late arrival.”
“What ever the reason,” said another professor with streaks of grey in his red hair. “We don’t all have any more time to spare. Just get it over with”
“Please take a seat on the chairs provided.” said Professor Raevers.
Seb and the rest looked to their right where five chairs were placed, at the end of which, was already occupied.
“Benette!” Johan called to the army medic. “What are you doing here?”
Benette looked at them, his face full of worry. “Professor Althea told me to come...” he mumbled, “not sure why...”
“We have been waiting for an hour now,” Professor Dupont interfered. “Please take your seats so we can start.”
Gentlemen,” continued the elderly professor with red hair streaked with gray. “I am Leopold Louise Alcione, dean of the Magic department and head of the Magical Defence and Offence department.” he looked to his left where the dark skinned professor sat. “This beside me is Professor Reginald Morell who will temporarily replace Professor Morell from the Arcane Arts Department and Professor Jacob Dupont who is currently taking Professor Gerstein’s place in the Alchemy department.” he then faced the other side. “To my right are Professor Belladona Dimitrio, head of Herbal Lore, Professor Kylyne Rose Raevers, head of Charms and Enchantment and Professor Agate Althea head of the Magic Medical arts.”
The four students nodded at the professors in front of them as the Dean went on. “As you know, the four of you have been chosen to be part of the special classes...”
“Um... I do beg your pardon but...” a very small voice wavered.”
“What is it?” the dean said with irritation, “Speak up!”
Benette stood up from his seat, his face burning red. “I’m very sorry sir, but I do believe that I am in the wrong place...” he said in a louder voice. “I am from the military department...”
“It’s fine, Lt. Benette, we have already contacted your department.” Professor Althea answered him. “You have been accepted as a special case for the special class, as per request of certain... professors in the university...” She seemed to look sideways at the new Morell in the staff.
“B-but professor...” Benette seemed to trail off, then spoke again, “M-my father would be most... displeased if...”
“Do not be concerned about the small details.” the dean cut him off. “We have already sent correspondence to your house. You will be cross enrolled in both the Millitary department and the Magic department.”
“But my father...” Benette insisted once more.
“There is nothing to worry about, 2nd Lt. Patrice Francoise Benette.” the new Professor Morel chimed in with a charming smile. “It is a privilege to be part of a Special Class Sphere. I’m sure your father would be ecstatic to learn that you are now a part of it.”
“Moving on to more important things,” Dean Alcione harrumphed, “We have the courses we have tailored to each one of your abilities and the schedule for each course.”
At this, a person from behind them handed them a folder each, containing files about their courses inside.
“As part of the SP, you will have fixed classes, most of them together with the rest of the SP students. For your free periods, you can choose from the list included in your files.” the students opened the files and read the documents inside. “All the courses in all three divisions available to you are included there. You can use your own discretion on whether or not you wish to add more units to your schedule, or if you prefer, to leave it free.” added the Dean. “Just make sure you can handle all the lessons.” he looked at the 4 students in front of him. “Any questions?”
Dorin raised a hand. “Yes?”
“May I ask why I need to study ‘Basic Elements 101’?” he asked with a frown on his face.
“It is a basic subject for alchemy.” Professor Dupont answered him. “It deals will the basics of the table of elements in chemistry and other sciences.”
“But I already know my elements!” Dorin insisted. “Why do I need to study such basic information?”
“Then may I ask you to give me the atomic number and atomic weight of Tungsten?” Dupont asked with a smile.
Dorin was silent.
“You should be glad you don’t have ‘Communications 101’ and ‘GMRC 101’ in your list... what ever that is...” mumbled Johan.
“Are there anymore questions?” The dean asked once more. “If there aren’t any more then...”
There was a sharp knock on the door before it was suddenly pushed open. All of the people looked back at the tall double doors at the far end of the auditorium where 2 people stood. One was dressed all in black, while the other, with his long reddish black hair, wore a gray suit and was trying to hold the other back.
“Professor Wolfsbane.” Dean Alcione called out to the two, sounding surprised, “Nice of you to join us,” he added, “We were beginning to think that you would not be showing up as the head of the magical creatures class this year as well.”
“Yes, we have – “ Damien Wolfsbane started, but was rudely interrupted by his companion.
“Where’s the young dragon?” his companion suddenly said. “Why is he not here?”