"Lao ge, Lao ge, what do we have here? some stray cats? What's wrong are you kids lost? or here to enroll at our prestigious academy?" asked the ash blond haired principal. He was tall, had neatly combed ash blond hair tied in a ponytail and crystal blue eyes, broad shoulders, quite young around thirty or thirty two years of age and looked very strict. "picked them up at the port sir, mass and sails damaged, foreigners looking for a warm place to stay during the storm. The inn was closed so brought them here sir, hope you don't mind." said the old shipwright. The principal looked rather displeased and unwelcoming, glared at each of them then smirked and said "well looks like it cannot be helped then we will provide them with rooms in the dorms but it won't be free, the school will be shut down or in lock down and so will the whole island be during the storm and mind you this one can last for days so work here if you want food and rooms. I'll call each one of you tomorrow morning to see what tasks you can do best so for today rest up. Grigory my male secretary here will show the males to the boys' dorms and baths and Ludmilla my female assistant will take the girls to the girls' dorms and baths." said the principle, who then stormed off to his own quarters.
The baths were refreshing and warm and the Himawari crew members went off to bed. Prince Rhydian and Prince Kai were in the same room and Prince Yusha and Marquis Helio shared another room and as for the girls, Melody, Kristina and Lari shared a room and Princess Sophia alas was alone, Sharing the room of two female students of the school as one bed there was empty.
"So your name is Sophia Evergarden huh?" asked one of the girls. They were both beautiful with long black silky smooth straight hair just like Sophia's, had fair skin and were slender just like Sophia. "Nice to meet you, I am Yang Meimei and this is Lin Lu." said one of the girls. "uhuh nice to meet you girls" said Sophia all awkward. after chatting for a while they fell asleep, then suddenly a weird sound woke Sophia up.
*thud thud thud*
*whack*
a muffled scream as well was heard followed by running footsteps on the creaking old wooden floors of the building then vigorous knocks on the door to Sophia's dorm room. The loud knocks woke the other two girls up but they did not appear to be surprised. "It's Miyuki again? Lin lu, get the door please." Lin Lu nodded and opened the door and inside came in a breathless girl still in her academy uniform which was a long sleeved ruffled white shirt, a pleated long burgundy skirt, a burgundy blazer, black ribbon around the neck and emerald and gold brooch on the knot of the robbin bow. "girls we have to solve them!" the girl exclaimed. Yang Mei threw a pillow at her and said " Miyuki, let us sleep will you we'll discuss things at our club meeting tomorrow after classes are dismissed as usual, go back to your room." Miyuki shook her head in disagreement and said "you have a spare bed anyway and my room is too far ahead so I'll sleep here today. Oh what do we have here? a new girl?"
Sophia nodded and introduced herself as Sophia Evergarden and offered Miyuki the bed to sleep in as she was going out for some fresh air.
"Something is definitely odd about this place, something feels off." Sophia was talking to herself while walking down the hallway. She kept thinking so hard about everything here that she got lost and found herself outdoors on the trerace bridge. "eh? where am I? where do I go now?" she whispered to herself. It was blustery and raining hard and she suddenly felt a broad hand on her shoulder, turned her head to look who it was and met with the deadly glare of the Ash blond principal. His glare sent chills down her spine and she could not move an inch. Finally the principal's facial expression softened and his grip on Sophia's shoulder loosened and said " What are you doing here at this hour and amidst the storm? you should be asleep." Sophia cleared her throat, nodded amd apologised explaining that she cannot fall asleep. The Principal sighed and asked her to follow him since the gate to the other side was closed off now and she could not return to her dorm room. He took her into a fancy room full of golden brocade, silk and lace curtains and full of book shelves. "This is my quarters, feel free to use the space as your own, you may read any books you feel like here. if you need anything, ring this bell. Either Grigory or Ludmilla will come to serve you. Oh and you may call me Oberon, you seem like an adult and not a teenager, so do your crew mates aren't they?" Said principal Oberon who handed Sophia a mug of hot chocolate and wrapped her in a muffler as her nose was getting red. He then sat at his study while Sophia quietly sipped her hot chocolate beside him. "ack it's too hot" said Sophia that made principal Oberon chuckle. "what, what's so funny OBE-RON?" asked Sophia annoyed. "You remind me of my sister, she was about your age and died of mysterious ways. In truth she had disappeared three months ago and her body was found in a coffin that drifted to the shores of this island from the sea. She was a cheerful girl I daresay and our family and home was always lively with her around but once we found her body a month ago my father took his own life and my mother is depressed, anyway you remind me of her. Tell me miss Evergarden or should I call you Your majesty crown princess Sophia de Leiden, can you and your friends do me a favor? "
Sophia's pupils dialted in shock. "you must be confused as to how I know your identity, I've known you since you were born. I am a distant cousin of yours. You were too little the last time I visited Leiden so you won't remember, but can you and your friends help me investigate my sister's case as well as the omnimous rumors popular among the students? you see I came to work here five months ago, was transferred here from the capital. Tomorrow after school hours, you and your friends shall join the mystery club of the school to which I personally am the club advisor of and help them with this investigation. You have had good detective instincs since you were little, what do you say?" continued Oberon. Sophia nodded in agreement and went to the room she was given in Oberon's quarters to sleep.
There again from the wall next door some thuding sounds and other weird sounds could be heard. "this place is dangerous for sure, I have a bad feeling about this." Thought Sophia.