***
Leonidas and the group of First-Years were directed toward a maze-like, hallway filled with irregular turns.
It took them half an hour, until finally their destination appeared. They came to a wide open area, one that was filled with nothing but emptiness. Contained within its walls was only a single thing: an oval doorway embedded into the ceiling, painted in a captivating purple hue. The light it emitted was intense and fiery; its dazzling shades of violet seemed to dance around them like falling stars, radiating energy throughout their surroundings.
Arayal raised her hands and declared, "Behold, one of many magical portals found in Valhalla. This specific one," she said turning to the group of eager First-Year students, "transports you to your dormitories here in this realm; nowhere else. Do you understand?"
The First-Years bowed in solemn understanding; Leonidas was so enraptured by the mystery of this 'portal' that he found himself incapable of uttering a single word, offering only a respectful bow of his head in response.
"Excellent." Arayal began. "Contrary to popular belief, traversing a portal is not as complicated as one may think. Though it can cause an unpleasant feeling of dizziness, this sensation is only temporary and passes quickly. Thus far, no major incidents have occurred - yet." She gave them a wolfish grin as she continued.
The group of First-Years shuddered.
"Legend has it that in eons past, the children of Jupiter, Pluto, and Neptune; wove together their Celestia to form the first portal in Skygard's history. And here before us stands its legacy," she declared proudly as she gestured towards the shimmering portal.
"Now, are there any volunteers?" Arayal inquired. Silence met her, and she heaved a heavy sigh before her gaze rested on Leonidas. "You there, what is your name?
Leonidas's gaze was transfixed on the magical portal before him, so much so that he almost missed Arayal's questioning. Coming back to reality, he responded with,"My name? It is Leonidas."
"Leonidas? A name fitting for an Avatar of War," Arayal acknowledged with a short nod. "Now, get in the portal."
"What?"
"Get in the portal."
Leonidas's jaw clenched inadvertently, but he followed her orders without question. As he approached the portal, powerful energy seemed to course through him, as if an invisible force were drawing him closer. The aura emanating from the portal grew brighter and brighter until it was almost blinding, and crackling sparks of electricity flew through the air. With a deep breath to steady himself, Leonidas stepped inside.
In an instant, Leonidas's world was turned upside down. His stomach churned and dryness rose in his throat, a wave of nausea washing over him like a flood. He felt light-headed and his ears buzzed as if someone were ringing a bell from afar. When he opened his eyes, the world before him had been subsumed in an enigmatic, swirling violet essence. Then suddenly there was a blinding light which enveloped everything in its path until Leonidas was thrust into another place.
Greeting him was a large hallway, longer and more slender than the Great Hall. The walls of the corridor were lined with an array of expensive and exotic items, taking on a vibrant mix of colors. He looked up to take in the captivating murals on the ceiling; its glassy floor reflected all manner of hues befitting its grandeur.
A variety of rooms were tucked away in the hallway, each one possessing a unique shade, carefully chosen to match the room it was situated in front of.
He stared intently at the very top row; from left to right they were a soft gray like an overcast sky, then a vivid blue that resembled waves rolling in from the sea, and finally an impenetrable black.
As his eyes made their way down from top to bottom, he noticed all sorts of different colors - a gradient of gold, to a tint of pink; all of them radiated equally under the sun above.
Leonidas stared across the field to where a scarlet, red door stood out brighter than the rest. It seemed almost to be calling for him, and he knew with certainty that it was his dormitory - surely befitting an Avatar of War.
More and more students descended from the ceiling above, some dropping like stones and others plummeting with a painful belly-flop. Most of them stumbled and retched upon impact, taking a moment to gather their bearings before continuing on.
Last, but not least, arrived Arayal, landing gracefully. "Behold, the First-Year dormitories," she announced. "Your dormitory is proportional to the deity who blessed you." Some eyes shifted to Leo, who whistled nonchalantly. "Do you all understand?"
The First-Years bowed in acknowledgment. A woman adorned in a lavish, silver-hued robe stepped forward and asked, "What are the rules?"
Arayal rattled off a list of strict regulations, but Leonidas was too distracted to listen. His mind was elsewhere as she droned on and on.
"And last of all," Arayal continued gravely, shaking his head in warning. "The consequences of engaging in any romantically inappropriate activities are severe. Do I make myself clear?"
Once again, the crowd of First-Years all nodded in agreement, though some of them couldn't help but snicker behind fake coughs.
Leo nudged Leonidas whilst laughing. "She really thinks we're going to follow that rule?"
"That is all. Make sure to familiarize yourselves with your dormitories, and get a good night's rest; tomorrow marks the beginning of your attendance at Valhalla. I wish you all the best and I'll see you soon," Arayal concluded.
With that, the First-Years dispersed. Out of the corner of Leonidas' eye, he saw Arayal motioning for Leo to follow her; she must have remembered he hadn't been blessed by a deity and had to find different lodgings. Leo reluctantly followed after her, departing from Leonidas' sight.
Leonidas turned, and ventured toward the deep, crimson door that bled a bloody-red hue. He could feel eyes on him, following his every step; Leonidas was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with this newfound attention by the second.
The towering door loomed in front of Leonidas. His heart raced with anticipation as he reached out and grabbed the brass doorknob. He paused for a moment to take a deep breath before eagerly turning the knob and stepping into the room.
The room was bathed in an eerie, red light. It was as if the walls were illuminated from within, shining with a mystical energy. In its glow the furniture appeared to move on its own accord and swirl into different shapes like mist forms twirling across a lake's surface. Despite swirling shadows darting between them, it felt invitingly cozy -- almost like a nursery.
On the back wall, Leonidas peered at a bed with a combination of red and black on its cover. A piece of parchment rested on top, as if it was left there for him to read. Oblivious to what the ink contained, he stepped closer in order to get a better look. It read:
Period One: Battle-Magus Training
Period Two: History of Skygard
Period Three: D.A.C.M
Period Four: Lunch
Period Five: The Art of War
Leonidas was overjoyed; he was about to embark on his Celestia studies. And that isn't all; for the first time in days, he had a place to rest. Taking a deep breath of relief, he crumbled onto his bed and drifted off into peaceful sleep.
***