Ayman Ibn Fadir Jaziri holds a promising build and stands at an average height for his age: 12. His skin is a rich tan, testament to his desert heritage, and his upturned hazel eyes hold a glint of curiosity and amusement. Ayman's darkhair is cropped short for practicality, often hidden beneath a keffiyeh that shields him from the harsh sun. His attire consists of simple yet sturdy fabrics, allowing for easy movement across the desert sands. He wears an aquatic pendant around his neck, a royal family heirloom that symbolises his connection to his people.
"Reynold… What are you doing here?" Penelope asked as she ignored the narrowed and questioning stare Ayman gave her. "What? Can't a guy be allowed to walk in the gardens from time-to-time? Anyways, Father has asked me to tell you that you gotta attend dinner this time. No excuses. Said something about introducing our wards. Also, it's damn hot out here, so get inside. Or at the very least just go sit on the balcony upstairs in the shade." Reynold emphasised on the last three words with a small glare that had a hint of something else Penelope couldn't identify. "Jeez, alright, you almost sound worried for me pft-" She held in a chuckle as Reynold stuttered over his words and started to walk off. He couldn't be worried….could he?
"You… are Lady Penelope, of the Eckart Duchy, correct?" Aymar, who had been silent throughout the whole conversation, spoke up as Reynold walked further away. "Why is an accomplished lady such as you, stuck here? Why have you chosen this place, when you could have chosen a country that could protect you much better than here? For example, Zephyria…"
Funnily enough, Aymar comes from a desert country called Zephyria which has an endless mass of high rocky mountains and sand dunes. However, his territory could be found near the coast but not on the coasts itself as the city itself was on the waters nearby. His city was consequently named "The HydroCity: Zephyria" by outsiders. Their culture is quite similar to multiple states in the Middle East but what differentiates them to Earth is the fact that Zephyria is renowned for their Dragons as their country is one of the seven main nests to house dragons from all over the world.
Honestly, kids these days are shameless! Penelope knew exactly what he was doing. And she wasn't going to fall for it! Nu-uh!
Before she had been brought to the Duchy, she was just about to enter the secondary school of an extremely prestigious academy: Neuter Academy of Kενός (Kenós). She never stopped attending the academy and had found herself getting a double multiple times to act in her place or sneak out when she wasn't expected to make an appearance. During her enrollment, she met a boy by the name Mikhail Ibn Tariq Jaziri who became a close friend of hers but she had soon realised that he craves for her in a way when she stumbled upon a couple of unsettling journals. The man himself was quite a looker, but just being one doesn't make him a perfect match for her.. and once he realised Penelope didn't reciprocate his feelings during graduation, he became even more obsessive.
Penelope was actually relieved to hear some rumours about being the lover of a certain blond which had kept Mikhail at bay. The academy was also of great help as they noticed signs of an unhealthy relationship and managed to add an unsuspecting bodyguard in her clique.
Neuter Academy is a renowned school of magic nestled amidst an empty void, that is deficient of time, showing only blinking stars and wonderful swirls of complementing colours. It sits on softclouds that blend and turns into a lusciously soft and cool green lawn. The academy is a harmonious blend of ancient architecture and ethereal beauty with its walls purposely shaped into a pentagon. Nine towers reached towards the heavens: five of them built on the points of its pentagonal walls while four branched out between them. Its ancient walls were adorned with shimmering runes that pulsed to life with mystic waves of magic which formed a clear geodesic dome starting from where the clouds began to blend and is made to ward off evil intent and protect its students from major harm.
Upon entering Neuter's grand gates, one is greeted by enchanted gardens, where flora from different realms and time intermingle in a kaleidoscope of colours. The school's interior boasts sprawling libraries with shelves that hold books, grimoires and tomes as old as time, whispering secrets of spells and incantations along with dark histories and exciting fiction. Stained glass windows depicting legendary wizards and mythical creatures bathe the halls in mystifying light.
At the heart of the school lies its prestigious library that is rooted deep underground with a small round building as a disguise. The deeper one goes, the darker the whispers of knowledge become. Secrets that very few students are able to access as its requirements to be able to do so are close to futility. The knowledge that students have free access to is frequently being updated when a much better book is published by an author
Circling the library is the Grand Hall where students gather to mingle and eat while celebrating its many festivities. Instead of a wall on each side, the Grand Hall has only one which is attached to the library. The other side is wide open with towering pillars here and there supporting its structure showcasing its ever-changing courtyard. However, regardless of the artificial temperature outside, the students and staff do not get affected as an invisible barrier of wards upon wards act as the 'wall'.
Neuter Academy offers a comprehensive curriculum that spans the spectrum of magical disciplines. Students have the opportunity to specialise in Divinity, Sciences, Humanities, and Commerce. The faculty itself is composed of wixen that have full masteries under their belt ready to impart their bountiful knowledge through interactive lectures and hands-on experiments. Millions of various kinds of students from different dimensions and timelines attend, readying themselves to consume knowledge and graduate with the confidence of a master.
Divinity is a subject that helps its students to see the before, the after, and the maybe. It also teaches the magic of the divine and encourages believers of religions to grow a better bond with their chosen god(s). The sciences do not only include the subjects that the mundanes learn, as essential as those subjects are, the school provides Potionology, Herbalism, Alchemy, Conjuration, Transmogrification and more. Humanities include many more subjects compared to the others: Soulism, Elementology, Dreamweaving, and Energy Manipulation are a fair few. Commerce is most probably the category with the least subjects as they include Business, Legilimency and Occlumency, Linguistics of all kinds, and Aura Configuration.
Beyond its academic offerings, Neuter provides students a chance to meet and investigate magical creatures and artifacts within the Academy's own menagerie and galleries with halls of rich and pure history. The Astral Observatory atop the highest tower, the library, offers breathtaking views of celestial phenomena, and hidden chambers underground hold trials and riddles to challenge and hone a student's magical abilities. Aspiring wizards not only learn the intricacies of magic but also the responsibility that comes with wielding such power. Lessons on ethics, balance, and the history of magic help students understand the importance of using their skills for the betterment of both the magical and non-magical realms.
The transportation is a humongous teleporting circular platform connecting to a path winding up to the academy's gate with six statues representing the founders of this academy carved at the edges of the platform and one more standing in the middle who was the one to unite the other six.
The first founder, who united all, was Archmage Elara Eldrith; She was tall and regal, with flowingly straight silver hair and dreamy blue eyes that had swirls of purple and pupils that seem to have its edges try to reach outwards to something like an octopus's limbs which appeared to hold many secrets she wasn't supposed to know. She was known to exude an air of wisdom, mystery and authority which paired perfectly with her skill in debate and diplomacy allowing her to be a natural advisor for people. Elara was a master of divinity, known for her ability to peer into the threads of fate and glean insights from the cosmos while being known as an atheist and an omnist.
The second founder was Thorne Black-klau who had broad-shoulders with dark shaggy hair and deep velvet green eyes with Gucci bags right under with an overall appearance of a rugged and homeless man despite being known to be the most handsome out of the founders. Thorne possessed a weathered look and he was also notoriously known to have a love of sleeping outdoors regardless of the situation he was in. The man was fiercely possessive of his friends yet extremely rude to those that aren't but his loyalty was unmatched. Thorne specialised in magic that connected him with nature and herbalism, using his abilities to mend the land and heal the wounds of the world which had come naturally as he had come from a background of nomadic druids.
The third founder was Aurelias Volkova who had wild curls of raven hair and striking violet eyes with a splattering of gold in the eyes. She carries an air of elegance and holds herself with poise which had reflected on a noble lineage but those who had known her personally knew her to be wild and carefree. Aurelias was known for her wit and deception as she excelled in complex magical theory and is a keen strategist who specialised in illusion and space magic, manipulating perception and weaving intricate enchantments that challenge the laws of physics.
The fourth founder was a man with two sides: Calder Fireforge. He was a stout and fiery-haired man who had exuded warmth and energy despite his every-burning temper. His golden eyes sparkled with an inner flame that had black streaks; Energetic yet temperamental, Calder was the heart of the founders known to be able to form fast connections and inspire others with his enthusiasm but many had also noted his permanent pessimism which highly contrasted with his energy. Calder's mastery lies in fire magic, temperature manipulation having grown up in a family of blacksmiths welding flames for both practical and artistic purposes which led to his inextinguishable fascination towards the art of fire.
Eline (Eh-Lin) Lindqvisk was the fifth founder who was always seen with a gentle look on her face that hid the devious and seductive nature that she held that's linked to her ancestry. Graceful and serene, Eline's blond hair flowed like water, and her crystalline calm eyes reflected her affinity for the winds which occasionally shone with fury. Eline possesses a calming presence and was known as an advocate for balance and harmony in all things with expertise lying in wind magic, controlling loose particles and the atmosphere to mend and protect misty environments. She had hailed from a desolated coastal village near a thick forest, where her connection to the high winds fostered.
The sixth founder was Mikhail Volkova who was a twin of Aurelias and had the same demeanour and mischief as his sister. With piercing violet eyes just like his twin's but with splashes of silver, he was often the more optimistic of the two and was known for his analytical approach and hilarious pranks that were played by the twins. Despite the fact that Mikhail excelled in time manipulation which had allowed him to preserve artefacts, restore environments and gain insight into unseen realms, Mikhail was commonly found to be chronically tardy. Mikhail was an isolated scholar before joining the founders, in an effort to find found family.
The seventh and final founder was Kofi Ndlovu who was often not in the best state of mind, in fact, they were the most pessimistic out of the seven founders and had always talked of death. They did not have a specific appearance as they were ever-changing and were usually seen as a dark glitching figure hidden in one of the founders' shadows with red hooded eyes peeking out. Kofi wasn't their actual name but it was something that Elara had given them when she noticed their habit of stacking coffee beans on top of each other in an attempt to make a sculpture; They themselves are unable to talk but they communicate by manipulating people's 'gut feelings' into guessing what they were thinking. Their mastery over mind magic and the water element allowed them to occasionally take the form of an intersex humanoid being with light brown hair and poppy-red eyes which was a small hint as to Kofi's origins that were shrouded in mystery.
The founders of the Neuter Academy of Kενός were a diverse group. Among the founders of the Neuter Academy, several of them possessed inhuman characteristics: Elara who was a seer; Thorne who was a druid; Calder who was a descendant of a dwarf; Eline who was half Mist Elf; Kofi was a shade while Aurelias and Mikhail were humans. Due to the diversity the group had, it allowed students from multiple cultures to feel welcomed and appreciated. This allowed the school to rise in popularity very quickly.
In a month's time, Nari would be able to attend Neuter's Primary School as a first year. But before that, Penelope wanted to help her as much as she could to get a good start on her first day. Penelope looked back to where Nari had busied herself with "hard" (-in Nari's opinion) maths questions with intense laser focus. She seemed to have taken a contemplative expression with a small pout and puffed cheeks as she debated with herself if 1 + 0 = 10 since you're bringing them together or if 1 + 0 = 1 as zero represents no fingers while one represents one finger and adding them together will do no difference to the one finger.
Penelope had to hold in a coo that was threatening to come out and went back into the gazebo to assist Nari in her arduous journey of mathematics. Penelope had to occasionally remind Nari to eat some of the snacks that was given by Emily as she played Nari's hair into a cute braid. She had a small smile and raised an eyebrow, noticing that Nari gave a wide-eyed look at her while her head was facing the paper as if it was an attempt to make Penelope give in and give her the answers.
Once Nari had finished her small quiz, it was nearing sunset already. Noting this, Penelope packed away the things and asked a maid to take the remaining dishes from the snacks the two had. The two walked off towards the side entrance that would lead to a hallway for the wards.
"Si- … Siyeon-Unnie?" Nari started in Eorkan, which Penelope told her earlier to speak more of this language, as they walked to which Penelope merely hummed in acknowledgement of the question. "Why… uhm.. why do thay look at yew that way?" With a few mispronunciations, Nari asked, feeling worried as to why they shot looks of hatred towards her Unnie. "Who's they, Sweetling?" Penelope asked. "The mi- mydes…" Nari answered back, looking at her like a saddened puppy. "The maids? Oh, they always look at me like that. It's been like that since the Duke took me in from the streets. Something about replacing the Duke's original daughter."
"That's bean" Nari said with a pout and looked down. "What's happened, happened Lily. Let's go up so we can get ready to meet each other, ey?" Nari perked up at that and began to run ahead, giggling.