Before the awkward silence could get any worse, we got our keys and a map of the school where the male dormitories were. Of course the Chancellor said goodbye, as he could not be our guide for the rest of the way.
Instead he sent for a student to show them around. But not before he sent use to our rooms to rest, as we had not had any time to relax. From the trolls, wolves, and the meeting with deities, we have not had a single second to just collapse in relief.
John led the way up to the second floor, counting the door numbers until we finally reached our room. By the time John had opened the door, I was already past him to collapse onto the bed to the right of the room.
Bang!
"ow"
Instead of the softness of memory foam mattress that I was used to. I fell onto what I could only guess was a mattress filled with gravel.
John could only shake his head with a smile at my antics, before placing his bag by the dresser, and joining me with a similar bang.
*sigh* "this is the life."
"you said it, in fact, five stars on the review" I answered sarcastically. "still, hard to believe we will be staying here for so many years."
"ha, our friends back at school would not believe any of this, even if we tried to tell them."
The mention of back home was like a bucket of cold water dumped on my enthusiasm. The feelings I had kept bottled up, threatened to spill.
A hollow silence filled the room for a time before I spoke with a voice dripping with emotion.
"do my parents realize I am gone?"
"...."
*******
With a start I realized that we had fallen asleep, and looking out the window at the light, I could see that it was still early. Wouldn't want to be tardy on our first day of mage school.
Even saying it in my head felt weird. No matter what I have seen or experienced, there is a part of me that feels detached from it all, like at any moment I could wake up from this dream. But with a sigh, I knew it deep inside that it is real, figuratively and literally, with that mage core thing inside my body.
Sending a part of my conscience within, I managed to navigate much faster to my core than the first time. With a start, I realized that it was different. I flew around it and realized... it was bigger, and although it was not by much, a part of me could tell.
Shaking my head, I groggily sat up, knowing that today I would most likely get the answer. Rubbing my eyes, I turned to John who was snoring and tangled in the blankets, and had a puddle of drool from his mouth.
I had to stifle a laugh at the sight, as this is the man that many women are swooning over, well, look at your dream boy now ladies!
I can hear the bards now, the hero shall vanquish the demon king with his loud snoring, and drown the minions in his drool.
Standing up I stretched, before moving to wake up John.
"John wakey wakey!" pulling off his blanket and opening up the shades to let the bright light in.
Most would think of this as cruel, but I have learned over the years that it is almost impossible to wake John up the 'nice' way. In fact I learned most of my tricks from the maids, whenever I slept over at his place.
"Ah the sweet memories, all those beautiful maids." I say contently
"What was that?" a tired John says still half asleep.
"Oh it's nothing you lucky bas- never mind, just enjoying the new day before the start of school" John nods, and moves to get dressed.
We both discover, however, a new addition to our room that was not their yesterday, two chests situated at the foot of our beds, with a note on top of mine. opening up the letter I start reading while John checks the contents of the chest.
Holding up what I could only assume is the school uniform. "What's the letter say?"
"Hm? Oh its a letter from the chancellor wishing us good luck on our first day, a few bad joke... I'll skip those, oh and he had prepared two new uniforms for us, along with a couple of spares." flipping it over I realize that there is more. "it also says that he could not be the one to guide us so he is sending a senior student to show us around."
"Oh, well that was nice of him. though we should probably get dressed, we wouldn't want to keep our guide waiting."
I agree and open up my own chest, which came with the same outfit as Johns, thought it was different in that it came with a...robe.
"You gotta be kidding me, I am not dressing up as frickin Gandalf the rest of the school year."
John simply shrugs, "I don't know Alex, maybe robes are a common thing here."
"Ok I get that, but why doesn't your uniform come with it. I mean they even gave you a new sword and scabbard, while I get-" rummaging through the chest I find a bunch of feather pens, ink jars, and a blank book."
John looks to where I point, and just realizes the weapon by the chest. He soon unsheathes it and uses some quick slashes to test it out.
He nods in satisfaction before strapping the weapon to his waist. "I couldn't tell you why, maybe it has to do with you being a conjurer?"
I reluctantly put the robe on, along with the rest of the outfit, and instead of scratchy cotton that I expected, it was instead quite comfortable, and not at all hot to wear. Though that still didn't make me feel like less of some Jedi wannabe.
Placing what I would think I would need that day in a brown satchel, me and John finally set out, with me taking the lead and running right into something soft.
"omph!"
"Oh, I am so sorry..." I was speechless, and for once so was John at the goddess before them.
I had said that Alice was pretty, but she was still coming into it. The woman in front of us, however, with the long golden hair, sea green eyes seemed to emit a maturity that Alice could not even hope to gain. Even her heart shaped face was enhanced further by a beauty mark under her left eye, and an hourglass shape.
I felt my face go slightly red in embarrassment. "I am so sorry for running into you mam."
She simply bowed and gave us a gentle smile. "No harm was done to my person, besides it is I who should apologize for standing so close to the doorway." she lifted an elegant hand to stop me from protesting further. "We must not let this simple episode trouble us any further, as we have much ground to cover as I show you two around."
"Wait I thought a student was going to be our guide?" showing my confusion.
This causes her to laugh, which sounded like music to both my and John's ears. "I am a student."
"But you look more like a teacher than a student, I mean you couldn't be older than twenty-five"
"Hahaha, I am much older than that in human years, but I do believe we have wasted enough time and introductions are in order. I am the healer Elora of the elven kingdom." she gave another fluid bow which caused her hair to shift and revealed her pointed ears.
"I am John Brighten, thank you for your time." answered John with a bow of his own.
"I have heard much of you young hero, it is an honor." This caused something I thought I would never have seen before, John blushing!
"Alex Fowler, it is nice to meet a fellow conjurer."
Alex could not help bust stamer a little. He figured she was a conjurer from the woden staff on her back and the robe that did nothing to hide her figure.
"The same, now let me show you to..."
Yea, I had a feeling that this would not be so bad, I thought as I stared at Elora's beutiful smiling face as she pointed to key places of interest around the school.