Andrianna entered the large grey painted gates. If asked she thought they looked like the entrance to a jail. The building itself looked dull and professional light gray painted walls on the outside as if each wall was announcing the impending doom upon entrance.
On either side of the main entrance were courts. One was a basketball court while the other was by Andrianna's guess the one for volleyball. She would explore one of the courts today in the break she thought. With a sigh she walked ahead suddenly feeling the gush of wind against the nape of her neck. Stopping her in her track. She stood there motionless as the smell of rain engulfed her senses. The pitter patters resonating inside her skull. She did not need to see the black veiled cloak or hear her cruel laughter to know. She was here and Andrianna knew it.
She took in a long breath, chanting her new motto, "She can't really hurt you." Over and over. The sentence barely heard by anyone but her. And she started to walk again.
One slow step at a time, bracing herself for what lay ahead and beside her. Upon entering the building she was greeted by the idle of Athena standing proudly in the center. The deity made of gold looked regal in her long Peplos and laurel wreath. Her features were soft and yet her eyes held no warmth. The paradoxical nature of her personality caught beautifully by the artist.
Much like the shape of each wing of the building the statue rested in the center of a hexagonal space. The flooring of the area of the statue was placed was the only part of the building that was light yellow in color. Dimly lit to compliment the soft glow of the statue. Over all giving of an understated look of modesty and money.
At the edge of the entrance were two flights of stairs for the students. The building was five floors high having two wings connected in the center. Each wing had a foyer in the center which was where the morning mass took place. Around each foyer which was basically a hexagonal workplace for the teacher in charge of the entire grade were six classrooms labeled alphabetically. A batch of 300 students was divided accordingly.
As the grades increased the higher up the floor went.
The central building that connected the two wings had a cafeteria on each floor. And the walls held the logos of each house. Aside from being divided into different classrooms the students were divided into houses. Some Indian tradition the founder of the school had implemented. He had named this school after his own back in his home town and designed it in exactly the same manner. And therefore like everything else, the houses even were based on some of the greatest Indian minds. Well, most of them at least. Each picked for a great quality they bore.
The first was in the shade of light yellow. It was called Akbar. After the Mughal emperor who was not only a great influence on the history of Indian but was well known for his bravery. And that was what this house represented.
The second was Prussian blue. This one was called Swami Vivekananda. He was famous philosopher and a very gifted orator that played a major role in inspiring patriotism during the time of British rule. He represented leadership but above all the importance of self-awareness. Or that's what they were told anyways.
The third was Sky blue which was Einstein. The scientist. He obviously represented intelligence.
Then came in dark green. This was Mahatma Gandhi. He is known as the father of the India. He was freedom fighter and the first in their kind to pick the path of non-violence. He was relentless in his pursuit for freedom and eventually the force that granted the country freedom. He represented persistence and hard work.
The next was red. This was Abraham Lincoln. The 16th president of America who fought against Black Slavery. One would assume he represented truth and justice.
And finally it was dark yellow representing Tagore. He was a well-known poet who even wrote the Indian national anthem. He represented Creativity.
These were believed to be the six mottos of strong leadership by the founder of the original school. Something, which greatly influenced Andrianna later in her life.
Without realizing the impact of those six portraits in that moment Andrianna sighed and walked the east wing on the first floor.
Class 1 – C.
That was what she was assigned.