What met my eyes was a breathtaking sight, hundreds upon thousands of people bustling towards what seemed to be a one way ride.
A large contraption of steel and marble, hovering above the ground, it was long and cylindrical. It stretched as far as the eye can see, and the white of the marble was blotted with the sheer amount of people rushing to enter. They all had the same attire as me, there were this many students? I had no idea what I was getting myself into, a leap into the unknown. The quantity of students is not be understated, the sea of heads and black overcoats was something I had never seen before, having grown up in a small village, in a small duchy, with a small house.
My stride was broken when I finally joined the crowd, immersed within the different sounds and sights that I saw within this group. The prospective students all were chatting amongst each other, discussing their magic, discussing their abilities. That seemed counterproductive, I have no idea how big this academy is, but I have no doubt in my mind it is not large enough to accommodate every student here.
A man floating above us spoke, yet it was assisted by a magic that allowed it to roar out around the area we were in, "All aboard for Inevire Academy! Final call!"
The hopefuls picked up the pace and scattered towards the contraption; I follow, I do not want to miss out on this already, I had no idea where I even was, the linen bag strung across my back was jostling with the shoulders of students who pushed along.
Along the enormous line of the differing populous I finally come closer towards the entrance to one of the carriages; I climb the steps that lead up to the carriage, one of thousands. I scuttle onboard, looking around the vicinity for any seat I could sit down in. Instead, I am met with a large corridor, akin to that of a manor, within this corridor are offsets; simple rooms that hold up to twenty people. I peek around and try to find one with an adequate seat, upon taking a turn to the right I finally spot a free space. The door slides open by itself, the door opening gives way to an eruption of noise; people cheering, galavanting, the thud of luggage being put into the correct compartments.
"We finally made it, the academy!" One hopeful says, his hair was golden brown, one of his eyes mimics the shimmer of the sun.
"Not so fast, Cayus." Said another, he seemed melancholic in his speech, his hair was also raven black; his eyes as red as blood. Another vampire? Were they that common? He was sitting in the corner, "We haven't made it yet, in fact, our trial has just begun."
"What do you mean, trial? Explain yourself Veron."
I could see Veron's head cocking back, acting as a jumpstart to his body slouching over, his elbows resting on his knees. "Explain what? Do you think this many students are admitted to the most prestigious school in this land?"
"Now that you mention it... there were far too many people." Cayus' face was riddled with a moment of dread, he didn't know that this was only the beginning. But that was just a theory, surely.
I shake my bag off my shoulder, resting it against one of the chairs in the cabin, before taking my seat. Apart from Cayus and Veron, most seemed to have quietened down after Veron put things into perspective for everyone. I'm apart of that group, it was far too dreadful to interact with this many people at once, it's twenty people -- including me, sitting in one rather small cabin.
My eyes shift around the room, picking up on who I was with exactly. I spot a few non-human folk, beast-folk in other words, then I see some pointed ears, elves? Others were more monstrous than others, their teeth jutting out of their mouths like large tusks and their broad bulky builds being far more larger than the rest of these students. Almost like an ogre. Then a few were rather stout figures, however they already had facial hair at our age, their noses were pushed in, flat, yet wide.
"Well, no matter, we won't lose anyway, will we, Veron?" Cayus prattled on; I think he's trying to invigorate himself.
"No, no we won't." Veron abruptly replied.
"Well, what about the rest of you? We have a few hours until we reach the academy, where are you lot from? I'll start," Cayus was very outgoing, he did not fear crowds, it seemed like he was of noble birth; his cadence was very regal, as much as he tried to hide it, everyone in this room knew. "I'm Cayus, I've studied the art of the blade all my life, I have lived for this moment, getting to the academy that is."
Cayus looked around, no one seemed to have paid much heed to his speech, he looks at Veron pleadingly.
"I'm Veron Everi. A vampire from the Everi clan, I'm no low born vampire, but I will not try to lord over you all, just do not stand between me and my goals."
When he mentioned his clan the room seemed stunned, some gasps were heard and then the whispers began. The person next to me, one with pointed ears lowers his head down to my level to whisper,
"A vampire from the Everi clan, what a brutish, strong bloodline."
Well, that's another one of the nine clans... Nevere, Everi. I wonder if people know much about the Nevere clan, but Morgana did tell me not to use the name lightly, so I'll hold off for now.
One dwarfish looking man stands up proud, he slams his fist on his chest.
"Gregin Gorngold, son of Grogin. Lord of the Iren Mountains."
Another wave of surprise flushes the cabin. Had I just walked into the cabin of famous folk from a world I have no idea about? I just sit there playing with my fingers idly. Now one of those ogre-ish looking men stood up.
"Grok'on, smasher of skulls."
A barbaric greeting, others felt the same way, they all seemed to create space between him and the rest of us. A woman took it as her cue to stand up, her ears were pointed, like some others in the room.
"Elisandre, daughter of the King of Lasandrel."
Now the room was just an eruption of noise, this must've been a big blow to everyone in the cabin because their eyes had been stuck in a widened position. From what I had seen, this woman, Elisandre, was the leader of this particular group of elves that were in the cabin.
A large amount of people began their introductions, a couple beast-folk, some with scales like a lizard, others with fur like a lion. Human nobility, aristocracy, and the likes all were boasting of their lineage. Some other vampires, although none from any differing clans; some completely clanless, others with Veron in Everi. It went around in a circle until it reaches the very end. Me.
"Well, what about you, friend?" Cayus was calling out for me, I could feel it.
I stood up, breathing in deeply. "I am Gian, a vampire, although I do not know what that entails. I am a new-blood."
Silence.
What a disaster, but I didn't come here to make friends. I came to gain power.
I take my seat and stare at the floor.
"Wonderful! Well met everyone, let's all get along, since we will all be going to the same place!" Cayus was a bundle of sunlight, always optimistic, from the past two hours that I was trapped in here with him, that is what I saw.
"Inevire Academy! Inevire Academy! Welcome to Inevire Academy!"
What a thundering sound, it echoed throughout the cabin.
We made it. Now it begins.