The door creaks so bad, that it echoes down every which way of the building itself. I'm pretty sure I could hear it from my dorm room. Okay, maybe that is exaggerated.
As we enter the room, a person stands in the middle of the room at a nearby desk. It is the great wizard Griffin. He also so happens to be the Headmaster of the academy. Standing before me is one of the best wizards known all over the world. Even my little hometown knows of him and his reputation. He's certainly taller than I expected him to be, but he's the same height as Kyle here. His hair is a golden brown that's slicked back into a professional business style. But that's not what draws my attention. His eyes are an amber red, like a spark from a freshly lit fire. Also, side note but who only goes by Griffin? Is that his first or last name?
"Welcome Freya. Thank you Kyle for bringing her here to me." Kyle takes a bow with an arm across his chest. "Of course sir."
"Come here, you two." Walking up behind the headmaster is a stern man with long jet black hair and Caribbean blue eyes. He seems like the kind of man that is hard to get to know, and really enforces punishment on those who deserve it. But, I stride up to the two of them as I was asked, with Kyle still by my side. Before I can even think, I begin spewing words.
"It's a pleasure to meet you! I am Freya. T-t-thank you for accepting me as a stud-." Because I spoke too fast, I stumbled over my words. I can feel my face flush to a beat of red. "Oh, no need to be nervous!" The Headmaster says in a laughable tone.
"I'm sorry." I say as I breathe deeply. I can't believe I've lost composure in front of the Headmaster like this. Ugh I'm so embarrassed. "I'd like to formally greet and welcome you to the Gervorshe Royal Magic Academy. I welcome you from the bottom of my heart." His smile is extraordinary and full of life and sunlight. I deeply bow in honor of being in his presence. " I am Headmaster Griffin and this is-," he is cut off by the man next to him.
"A professor at this school. Charles Henderson." I take another deep bow, but towards him. He seems to be even more intimidating than Kyle is, and I can't help but feel small specks of sweat dripping down the back of my neck with nervousness.
"I trust you know where your class is?" The Headmaster says. I nod in agreement to his words, too afraid to say I wasn't sure if it was 24A or 24B. "Good. Now there are some things I need to explain before you start attending this academy." His happy expression turns very serious and it makes me more nervous than I already am.
"First, allow me to tell you about the buddy system. A buddy is another student you are paired with at random. To put it simply, think of them as your partner." I blush a little and can't help but let out a small giggle. "A partner?"
"Yes," Professor Henderson cuts in. "When it appears that two students will be a good influence on each other, their school emblem begins to glow, signifying that they have become buddies." I turn toward Kyle for a more simple explanation since it doesn't seem I am going to get one anywhere else. "That means they both glow. Which means that two students who have been buddied up together have their lives entwined." He smiles at me then turns his attention back to the two gentlemen in front of us.
"Grades, evaluations, and what not, will worsen for the other person if one of you does poorly. Thus, the two of them must work together, letting iron sharpen iron." I am taken back in absolute shock. If I did poorly on class assignments or exams or something of that nature, that could affect my partner in theirs as well. Even if they did amazing. That's quite a bit of pressure to put on one person.
"Haha, well you'll have to work hard to make sure that doesn't happen," the Headmaster says exuberantly. His chuckles seem quite comforting and loose, which makes me feel a tad bit more at ease than I thought I'd be. "However, buddies are extremely hard to find. The majority of students don't find their buddies till graduation. So you really needn't worry or get ahead of yourself."
"Yes sir," I say in a confirming voice, trying not to show that I am relieved. "But sir I do have a question, but it's not about this buddy system?" He changes his body language, and sits down a little bit on the end of the desk behind him. "Go on child."
"Why did a novice witch like myself end up with an Acceptance Letter to enter this school." I can't help but lock my eyes on something else besides his eyes or face. I am too anxious to hear his answer. He chuckles to himself then walks forward and places a hand on top of my head.
"Remember this Freya - what you can see isn't all there is." I open my mouth, ready to ask another question but he stops me. "No more questions for now, or you won't grow." I take a deep bow once again and take a deep breath as I look him in the eyes again. "Thank you, I will take your advice so I may graduate." Professor Henderson stifles a chuckle under his breath. "She thinks she'll graduate." Kyle looks at him. "Wait, she doesn't know?"
I let out a cough to let them know how confused I am with their brief and private conversation. "Freya, look at your acceptance letter again." For a moment, I am confused. I had a speaking acceptance letter with me, how would I have a - but then I remember that I got a smaller handheld copy of it along with the map. I take my backpack off my shoulder and dig in my bag till I pull it out. Surprisingly, after getting the textbooks I need for my classes from Amelia, it really is hard to find anything. After fishing it out of my bag I take a look.
While taking a really, really close look at the letter, the word provisional sticks out. WHAT?!?! "You've been let into the academy for a period of 13 days." The Headmaster says, taking a step away from me. "And on the last day of the trial, you'll be determined whether you'll be suitable to officially enroll here or not. This will take place at the ceremony called 'The Judgement'." I let out a gasp of bewilderment and disbelief. I guess they can tell from my expression that I am nowhere near happy with this sudden news. So my tuition wasn't paid for. They just cast a wide search for a wizard or witch who could have potential and sent me the acceptance letter.
"The scales of judgement will determine to see if you are worthy to be enrolled here officially as a student. Which means, you aren't actually a student here." I can feel my heart completely drop into my stomach, then back up to my throat like I am going to throw up. I'm really not a student after all? I take a few steps away from them again, not wanting to be in this room anymore. I knew this was all too good to be true. Everything was going so perfectly. I even had a roommate who was ready to spend the next couple years with me.
"Freya," the Headmaster says as he cuts me out of my thoughts. "If you act as your heart guides you, then you will find your way." I practically fall down as I seem to still be backing away. As my heart guides me? And he hasn't even told me the 2nd rule…
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