The academy was huge. As we drove Mr. Afterdew pointed out different buildings and explained what they were. Off in the distance were six tall buildings in a circle. Each one was a different color and had an animal sitting on one of the corners. " What are those buildings?"
"They are the dorms that you will be staying in.The one with the lion is the Lionon dorm. It is for the ones blessed by Inti. The one with the phoenix is the Phoenix flame; they are the ones blessed by Blank. The ones blessed by blank are in the one with the fox and they are called Foxia. The one with the swan is the dorm for the ones blessed by blank. The dorm is called Swandian. The one with the ox is for the ones blessed by Blank. They are called Oxian. You will be staying in the one with the Raven on the top. Your dorm name is Ravensath."
" What is with the animal names?" I asked
" That is just what the school founder decided."
Mr. Afterdew drove me to the town part of the school. He informed me that I would be staying in the hotel that visitors stay in until the school year started. He handed me a stack of papers. They were the application and all other things I needed to enroll in the school. Luckily for me the school year started in a week. But it also gave me a week to fall into a depression stage. My own mother left me. I also thought about what the gods had told me. I never knew my father but I always thought that he was a light user like my mother. To distract myself from everything I sat down and completed all the paperwork. There was a sign up sheet for what I called rugby. IT had some weird magical name but based on the rules it was rugby but you were allowed to use your magic. I also decided the best way to get information on the gods to join the research club. That would allow me to have access to information that others did not. After the week was over I made my way to a small conference room in the Ravensath
Mr Afterdew walked in and said " Welcome to Allurian academy. I would like to thank you for choosing us as your school of choice. In your room is a packet that has a list of all the rules that we have here at Allurian. It also has a list of classes that you can sign up for. I just wanted to pop in here and welcome you to the school. For today and tomorrow you will be free to explore the school and get to know the surrounding area. We also have a shopping center along with several places to eat."
He continues on giving us a small overview of the rules along with telling us that all of our rooms would be on the first floor. There was a kitchen located on our floor as well that we were free to use as well. It was hard to believe that all of this was happening. Just a few days ago I was locked in a cell because I was a dark magician. We were released to the dorm leader. He informed us that we would be on the first floor. We were also told that the ones that signed up for rugby that we were to meet after our first class tomorrow for tryouts.I felt so uncomfortable being in the ravensath dorm. Several people gave me weird looks. I walked through the first floor looking for my name. I was at the end of the hallway. I also had a roommate. Her name is Rachal Belitene. She had short black hair cut in a bob. She was very quiet. The most I got out of her was her name. She refused to talk to me. I was hoping that throughout the school year we could become friends. I needed someone that was a follower of erebus to get information from. I had very little to set up.
The school uniform was simple. It was a pair of black skinny jeans with knee high flat boots and a simple tee shirt. The jacket was my favorite part. It went down to my knees. It was snug near my waist and flared out at the bottom. There was a raven patch on the left pocket on the right side that was the name of our dorm. We were given the rest of day one to get set up in the dorm. A few of us walked around to get familiar with the area. The next day was our first class, Magic 101. It was in a lone building towards the edge of the campus.
" Good morning everyone. I am mrs. brook and i will be your teacher for magic 101. to get started magic is energy. Everyone has energy in you when you are blessed by your god they give you the ability to turn that energy into power based on what element is represented by them. Some magic is harder to control than others.if you can calm your mind then you will have an easier time controlling that energy. Now let's get started. I want you to close your eyes and feel your energy flowing through your body. take that energy and try to make it take a visual form."
Closing my eyes I felt two types of energy. I feltone that was so familiar it was a nice warm filling. It was safe and homey. The other one was like night. It reminded me of sitting on the porch with mom watching the night sky and her telling me my dad was watching me. Since I was supposed to blend in I chose to try and manifest the darker one. When I started to move it ,it felt like a shiver running from my head to my arm. I was able to shape the energy into a small ball but it was hard to maintain. I opened my eyes when a wave of nausea hit me. Every eye was on me. The teacher looked a little shocked and said " that was very good, Miss Lightwood. How did it feel?"
" Um, a little weird." I answered very confusedly.
" I bet it did. When you get the chance you should go do some research on using magic. " She turned to the class and said " Actually this is a homework assignment due at the end of the month. I want each of you to keep practicing manifesting your magic . while doing that research all the things your god could bless you with. Then write a two thousand word essay detailing what you learned about your god and your own power. Class is dismissed"
Several students shot daggers at me because we got assigned homework on our first day. I rolled my eyes. It is not like it was my fault. I did not ask for homework. But since I had to do it I decided to get started and go to the library. It was easy to find on the campus. I walked in and felt a sense of comfort. I asked the person at the desk if they could point me in the direction of the books on gods. She said " They are in the back corner sweetie. If you will give me a moment I will show you."
Before I answered Mr. Afterdew said " I can take her since I am heading that way."
She nodded and thanked him. I followed him through the maze of books. " So what type of book are you looking for exactly?"
" I am looking for one on Erebus and one on Rahu."
His eyes widened and said " Rahu do you know who he is?"
" Sort of that is why I am wanting to read more about him."
He led me all the way to the back wall of the library. " I can do you one better than a book."
He pulled open a door to reveal a tunnel. We walked through the stone tunnel for a while. The further we went the darker it got and more moss was growing down the sides. We soon made it to an old library room. The walls were lined with faded books. In the center were two leather chairs. Sitting in one was a man in his late seventies with grey hair slicked back. He was smoking a long pipe. " Good morning Jordan, What can I do for you?"
" I have someone that you should speak to. She is trying to find more information on Rahu."
The old man turned around and studied me for several minutes. He looked like he was having a conversation with himself. He smiled and said " Come have a seat Alaina it seems that we do have a lot to talk about. Jordan you can get back to what you were doing. I will escort her out when we are done talking."
" Yes sir." Mr Afterdew said and he turned and walked away.
The old man motioned for me to sit down. He said " I know you have several questions so let me start off by introducing myself. I am Magnus Grimm, the school's founder. I am also a follower of Rahu."
My head started to spin trying to process what he said " You are saying that you are the school founder, does that not make you over a thousand years old?"
He nodded his head yes. " How are you still alive?"
" Rahu has given me a little bit more of his power so that I can live longer. I was one of the last ones that he blessed before Erebus took over."
" What does any of this have to do with me?"
" We have reason to believe that Erebus is after something in our school. Rahu and Inti are teaming up to try and stop him. We need someone on our side to infiltrate the dark side."
" That still does not tell me what this has to do with me. Why did they choose me?"
" You have a very important role in this but most of it is not for me to explain. I wish I could but now is not the right time."
" So what now? If you can't tell me then what am I supposed to do?"
" Get to know the people in your dorm. Find out what they want from the school."
"Won't they be very suspicious of me. Erebus will know that he did not claim me won't he?"
" Not necessarily. He is blessing so many people right now that he can not feel or talk to all of them. He is probably only talking to the ones that he needs to do his dirty work."
" Why can't he just come and get what he needs from the school himself? Or why can't he just take over and kill the other gods himself?"
" Gods can not kill each other. And as far as coming to the school we have a barrier up. When I created this place I wanted a place so that students can learn without being thrown into the trouble of the gods. So I found someone that knew a way to create a barrier. I made it so that the gods can not visit their people so that the students can focus on learning."
We talked for several more hours . I did not learn much about why I was chosen but I did learn that this is not the first time that the gods have gone to war like this. Brigit the fire goddess had tried this before, just not to this extent. Magnus said that he was going to start talking to the others who are like him and see what he can find out. So I guess there are more like him that have lived for several thousand years. After talking to the school founder I headed to the rugby tryout.