{~Sam~}They grinned and pulled their hood off making my eyes widen comically. As I thought 'Well crap'It was a girl, one I knew well...too well. I sighed and shook my head before I stood and said: "So Karissa...when did you get to Forga?"She grinned and grabbed my arm, slinging it over her shoulder and started to walk toward town, she glanced at me and replied "I moved to Forga during the middle of my sophomore year. I got to Chanswick a couple days ago, and was just on an errand for my pops when I ran into you. How'd you get here anyway? After...you know...the accident."I sighed and shrugged then muttered, "I applied for a change in schooling...I'm going to the school of magically gifted in Sangea called...something with a P."She nodded and I looked up to see that we were at the gates of the city, we got to a motel and walked to one of the rooms. We got into the room and she sat me down then walked over to a bag on the corner, I groaned and held my shoulder gingerly. I looked up to see Karissa with medical supplies in her hands, she looked down at me and said "wounds?"I showed her my shoulder then motioned to my chest where three very visible claw marks were, she sighed softly and said "shirt off"I raised an eyebrow and smirked then said: "not even going to buy me dinner?"She rolled her eyes and replied "Just take the shirt off Sam. We can get this done quicker."I laughed then took off my shirt and winced as she started to dress my wounds, she was done a few minutes later and I slipped back into my shirt and nodded to her. She chuckled and sat down and asked: "So you're going to finish school or what?"I nodded then laid down and replied "yeah...I only have two years of high school left so, might as well make it worthwhile."She smiled and yawned then said "well you better get going, the bus is coming in 10 minutes"I groaned and got up and quickly said my goodbyes then hurried back to my hotel room and grabbed my things then hurried towards the bus station, I got there just as the last few people were boarding. I panted as I boarded and handed the driver the required amount to ride and get to Sangea, I then sat down with my stuff underneath the seat and laid my head back against the seat. I glanced to the side when I heard "is this seat taken?"I shook my head and smiled at Karissa and replied: "when is it ever?"She chuckled and sat after putting her luggage away, I laid my head and yawned and grabbed my headphones, then turned my music on after asking Karissa to wake me up when we got to Sangea.I woke about four hours later to Karissa shaking me, I groaned and swatted halfheartedly at her. She laughed and stood to get her bags, I soon followed after grabbing my bag and we started for her home.We soon arrived at her home and I whistled as I stared at her home. It was a decently sized three story house with a large yard and two door garage. I smiled and followed her as she walked in and l followed close behind while looking around. I turned when I heard a familiar loud voice and saw Karissa hugging someone who was really buff. I smiled and set my bag down as the man walked over and gave me a bone-crushing hug as he exclaimed " Well if it isn't Samuel! How ya been boy?!"I laughed ignoring the pain and hugged him back as I replied: "I'm doing just fine Mr.Daniels, better than I was last time we met."He nodded solemnly and asked "So what brings you to Sangea? Last time we met you were in Greka."I nodded and replied, "I wanted a restart and moving here gave me that chance...that and I can work on my magic in peace at the school."He nodded and laid a hand on my shoulders and said: "As you know my house is always open to you, Karissa show him to the guest room."She nodded and motioned me to follow her. I grabbed my bag and we started up the stairs and down a hallway, until we came to a door. I smiled at Karissa in thanks after she pointed out the bathroom and hallway closet. She then disappeared back downstairs and I walked into the guest room, it was a simple room with a bed, window, and a dresser with a mirror.I set my bag down and sat on the bed then got up and walked across to the bathroom, I started to breathe heavily and closed the door placing my hands on the sink and started to sweat heavily. I gasped and glanced up at the mirror to see my eyes glowing orange and my teeth started to sharpen into points. I quickly washed my face then glanced back up at the mirror to see myself normal, I shook my head and steadied my breathing before washing my face again and walking back into the guest room. I sighed and laid down and closed my eyes drifting off into sleep.I woke up the next day sore and hungry and since I didn't wanna overstay my welcome, I quietly got up and grabbed my bag and started for the door. Just as I was about to open the door I heard someone clear their throat and I froze. Busted. I turned around and saw Karissa tapping her foot with her arms crossed, I sighed as she asked: "where do you think you're going, Sam?"I shrugged and replied, "i..don't want to bother Y'all too much."she sighed and shook her head as she replied: "Sam...you're like family to us, why would you be a bother?"I looked away and shrugged as she sighed and walked, encasing me in a hug and muttering "well... I can't stop you and I know how you are, but just know that we're always here for you and our door is always open. There are a couple apartments close to the school that give discounts to students so you should be able to find them quite easily..and there are training areas in the forests that elves and dryads frequent so if you want to train go there, so you won't die okay. And do call me once in a while alright..if nothing else than to check up on me and tell me you're still alive."I smiled and thanked her before turning and walking out only looking back once to see Karissa staring after me worriedly.I started walking towards downtown Sangea, my eyes always on alert for anything suspicious. Something I had been forced to learn at a young age, finding none I looked ahead satisfied as I got downtown to see even at this time of morning a lot of people were up and about with their business. I looked around then started to walk over to a Red Roof Inn, I walked in and looked around as I headed towards the front desk. It had a homely feel to it and just generated an indescribable type of feel. I shook it off as I got to the desk and asked: "hi, I was told there was a school called Pixonia near here, could you point me in the direction please?"The desk clerk nodded and replied, "of course, it's rather easy to spot if you know what you're looking for."I shrugged, looking rather sheepish "yeah... I'm kinda new here. I'm a transfer."She nodded and replied "don't worry, we deal with tourists and new students all the time. Once you leave, take a right and go all the way down the market district until you come to a donut shop called Bonnie's Best, then you're gonna want to take a left there and you should see a castle-like structure and you are at Pixonia. Lucky for you, it's registration week and you will be able to register yourself with the school. Good luck."I nodded and smiled then thanked her and turned walking out of the building and following her directions, I stopped at Bonnie's Best and got two glazed donuts and a coffee then headed towards Pixonia. It was like the clerk had said, basically just a replica of Hogwarts, though more of a modern design than the medieval style than what the movie portrayed. I walked towards the gates spotting a couple of people walking in and out, most were most likely students and merchants but I saw some tourists. I looked around and walked into the gates then headed towards a booth that had a sign that read 'New students and Tourists'. Walking towards it I saw a few people crowding around it asking questions, taking pamphlets and signing up.I waited patiently and sighed then walked to another side of the booth and waited for someone to address me. It didn't take long when a lady turned my way with a smile and asked: "Hi I'm Kate how can I help you today?"I smiled back and replied "Yes, I'd like to enroll in Pixonia as a student"She nodded and started to rummage through some papers then handed me a couple of papers and said: "Sign these then return them to me before the end of the registration week and we will get everything sorted out for you."I nodded with a smile and started to turn away when I bumped into someone, I glanced at the person to be met with a glare and an annoyed look. It was a girl, she was wearing a crop top with short shorts and Nikes, she was basically your typical queen bee and further proved that by saying "hmph watch where you're going, tourist!"I gulped as she turned and walked off with a huff. I shook it off as deja vu because she suspiciously looked like someone I used to know. And when she left we hadn't exactly been the best of friends. I shook it off trying to erase her face from my mind as I headed back towards Bonnie's Best. I should be able to finish this in a couple of minutes and return it today since it was only like 6 in the morning and it wasn't a big package of papers. I sighed softly as I sat in a corner and started to fill out the papers. Surprisingly, it took about an hour. Considering it had a lot more information than I thought, magic was my best guess. I looked around the donut shop noticing that more people had come in to get coffees and donuts to wake up, I stood up and stretched then grabbed the papers and headed back towards Pixonia, what my mistake was, I never looked around the shop to see if anyone was watching me, and when I left. I gained a follower.I glanced at one of the digital clocks that were posted in many of the shops to see that it was 9 am. I groaned softly as I once again passed through the gates and walked over to the registration booth. I looked around and gazed at the architecture, noting how their walls had a defensive look and various places where you could easily defend the entrance from stuff. I shook my head and turned my attention to the line, I was next after a group of teens and simply waited just tapping my foot. I felt as if someone was watching me but simply shrugged it off as it was a fleeting feeling that simply bounced through my mind, the teens in front of me walked off and I walked forward and asked: "Hi can I talk to Kate please?"The man nodded and turned to tap a girl's shoulder behind him and speaking with her, she nodded replying and disappeared then reappeared a few seconds later with a girl holding her arm. The girl then turned towards me and I recognized Kate, she walked over to me with a smile and asked: "Hii how can I help you?"I smiled back and replied, "Hi Kate, a couple hours ago you gave me a packet to fill out so I can enroll in Pixonia, and I finished with it a couple of minutes ago."She nodded and took it as I held it out, she looked over it quickly to look for mistakes and nodded saying "yup everything seems to be in order so I will put this in the enrollment box and you should get a letter by the tomorrow or by Friday at the latest, is there anything else?"I shook my head and voiced my thanks before turning and left the campus and decided to do some training. I got to the forest that Karissa had recommended and looked around, I didn't spot anything that seemed worth a challenge until I came upon a cave, I looked around the place taking note of the various large scratches and fur in places, there was also scales and I gulped as I heard a hiss and saw a shadow move towards me from the back of the cave.I pulled my war picks out and got into a stance with a wary gaze, the monster came into view and I cursed my luck. It had the head of a lion and the butt of a goat with the goat head on its back and a tail with the head and body of a serpent. I gulped as I muttered "A chimera....great but its young so I can do this"It roared and I dodged out of the way as it immediately lunged at me and swiped, I took a swipe at the snake head as it attempted to bite me. I bent and flipped out of the way as the snake head tore a chunk of dirt then spat it out and glared at me, I smirked as I held my picks ready then muttered a spell. It roared and attempted to lunge at me when the ground shook and it started to stumble around on its feet with a bewildered look. I started to dash towards it when the goat started to bleat and its eyes filled with a misty look. I jumped vaulting off the lion head and kicking the goat just as it finished its spell and the ground stopped shaking and the monster gained its footing. I cursed my luck then held on as the Chimera started to bounce around the clearing trying to dislodge me.I slammed a war pick into the goat's head multiple times and just as I was flung away it gave a loud bleating cry then fell limp, I smiled then hit a tree and groaned as I slid down to my knees. I reached in my pocket and pulled out a health potion flask, I opened it and took a swig to get my bearings back then stood and squared off with the Chimera who was staring at me hatefully, I grinned and slammed my picks into the ground sending a shock wave towards the monster. It jumped out of the way and started to roar and jump around creating spots of poison with its snake head. I tried keeping my eyes on it but it kept jumping around until it launched itself towards me.I attempted to dodge out of the way but it caught me and pinned me down then roared victoriously as I struggled, I caught sight of my pick just inches from my fingertips and quietly grabbed it then as the Chimera was boasting, I slammed it into the bottom of its jaw and sent it reeling. I got up and shook my head as the monster was roaring in pain, it attempted to dislodge the ax and I took that chance to run and baseball slide underneath it and grabbing my weapon brutally dragging it through its stomach cutting it open then as I slide out from under him then turned and blocked a strike from the snake head, it buried itself in the ground and I ran up its neck then jumped slamming my pick into the base cutting it off and landing on its back, it writhed in pain and I panted running up the back and jumped as the Chimera bucked up to dislodge me and giving me a boost as I fell slamming both my war picks into its skull finally killing it.I panted heavily as I climbed off the dead monster then set to carving the useful items from its corpse. I found the horns of the goat head, fangs from the snake, some monster blood, and the claws from the lion. I had also found a Chimera crystal, it was small since the monster was young but the crystals were like diamonds but black and could grow the size of a baseball or even larger, no one knew why they grew but they were useful for taming the creatures. I slipped it into my pocket and came face to face with the stare of one female, she was wearing a crop top with short shorts and Nike's. She crossed her arms and said, "you aren't a regular tourist, and you fight like him...who are you?"I raised an eyebrow masking my suspicion behind a wary gaze and asked "I'm sorry...who are you? Who do I fight like?"She took a step closer as her eyes lit up sending me a step back "You....you look like him" I gulped as she got closer and gently brushed a piece of my hair away showing a small scar just before my ear, her eyes lit up and she gasped "S-Sammy?"I gently raised my head and stared into her recognizable ocean blue eyes that glistened with tears and replied "Well...Breonna Gray. Last person I expected to meet here."I smiled sadly at the girl opposite me, Breonna, the first girl that captured my heart and left a good lasting effect on my life. She was crying and I gently wrapped my hands around her and awkwardly gave her a hug, she sniffled after crying for a couple minutes and I patted her back. She sadly smiled and asked "W-what are you doing in Forga? I thought you loved Greka."I shrugged and replied "Just wanted a new start I guess"She nodded and I pulled away and said: "since when did you wear crop tops and short shorts, you aren't exactly the...skinny type Bre."She shrugged "Trying something new...I..wanted to start over and I thought replacing a big part of my life would do that... I was wrong"I nodded with a grimace and said: "Come on, let's get to town, we'll catch up there."She nodded and we walked quietly back to the town and decided on catching up at a coffee shop. I ordered some lemon cake and she had a latte, we sat down after getting our orders and I broke the awkward silence by saying "So I'm guessing you are one of the students then..at the school."She nodded with a reply, "yeah, I wanted to practice my Earth magic...try to surpass you ya know."I grimaced on the inside and nodded "Yeah... I registered today to finish high school and my education."She nodded and we sat in a comfortable silence while we ate and drank our orders, sometimes even getting refills or seconds. We decided that it was best we went our separate ways in terms of our past relationship and go where the gods take us, we were going to stay friends but weren't going to 'pursue' a relationship per se. Nonetheless, we would stay in touch.I smiled and gently hugged her back as she laid her head on my shoulder and murmured "Be safe... I know how reckless you were when we were together. Couldn't even keep you still."I chuckled and nodded "Yeah...yeah I'll try. Only if you go back to being the girl I once knew" I repliedShe bit her lip then sighed and nodded and soon we were on our own again.I had gone back to Bonnie's Best to clear my head and decided to look for a motel to stay in, hopefully, I would get a discount due to being a soon-to-be student. I found a motel generally close to the school and knocked on the door labeled 'admission office'. A man's voice rang out "Come on in."I walked in and spotted who had spoken. He was sitting behind a desk with his feet on a lower part of it and was playing on his phone. I walked over to him and asked: "Hi, can I rent a room for a couple days?"He nodded and sat up pulling some papers from the desk as he said "Of course, we have a few rooms available, do you have any preference on room shape or furnishings? And how long will you be staying as we have rooms designed for long and short stays."I thought then replied "I will take a medium-sized room, I do not believe that I will be staying more than a week so I will just reserve it for a week. How much?"He was writing stuff down as I talked and nodded and said: "a medium-sized room rented for a week, do you have a membership with Motel 8 or are you a student at the school?" I nodded and replied, "I am enrolling in the school at the moment, will I still be able to get the discount?"He nodded and said, "Of course, so a student discount will bring your total down to $105."I nodded and handed him my card, he took it and soon I had a key-card that read '15' in one of the corners. I found my room quickly and set my bag on the king-sized bed and looked around the room. It was fairly sized and had a couch with a TV on the left side by the door with a bathroom opposite the couch on the right side of the room. I sat down and pulled out my phone. I hardly used it since I had no need too but I needed something to bother myself with. I had taken a nap soon after becoming bored and was awoken by my phone ringing. I sat up, grabbing my phone and answering it with a simple "Hello?"A woman's voice answered "Hi, may I speak to Samuel Degray?" I replied "This is him"I could hear the smile as she said "Oh good! I was calling about your application to our armor and weapon design shop, Phoenix Metallurgy, we were wondering if you wanted to come in and be interviewed for a job here." I stopped and started to smile when the woman's voice came on and I responded: "Of course when can I come in and be interviewed?" Her voice sounded ecstatic as she replied: "Can you be here in thirty minutes?" I smiled, "Of course, I will be there in thirty minutes."We said our goodbyes and I got up grabbing some clothes and quickly getting into the shower, I got out five minutes later and got dressed then glanced at the time '5:40', twenty minutes left and I grabbed my key card and slipped into my shoes then headed out the door towards the square. I got to the square and found Phoenix Metallurgy evident by the glowing sign on the front of the store. I walked in and saw there was a blonde sitting at the reception desk typing away with a bored look on her face. I walked over and said "Hello, I recently applied for a job here and was called in for an interview with...I don't believe I got her name, unfortunately"She looked up with interest and asked: "Are you Samuel Degray?" I nodded and she continued "Alright, go down the hall to the left and have a seat on the benches and the lady who called you should be right along."I nodded and thanked her then went and sat down in one of the chairs and waited, soon a lady walked out directly at 6 pm and opened her mouth just about to say something when she spotted me, she tilted her head and asked "Mr.Degray?" I nodded and she smiled and gestured for me to follow as she spoke: "it's good that you came, I am Brianna Forester, we understand that you are going to be registering at Pixonia am I correct?"I nodded and she continued as she sat behind a desk and I sat opposite her in a chair "Alright, we have some positions available and since you will be a student you will need an apprenticeship, we'll start you off as a simple blacksmith tech. You'll be paid minimum wage which is about $10 an hour as well as a workers compensation, and that is about $40 an hour. So that is about $50 an hour, now how long do you wish to work a day, and how long each week?"I replied with a confused look "Uhm...I guess 4 hours a day and 5 days a week for now." She nodded and continued writing stuff down then leaned back into her chair with a smile"Well, you're hired"I blinked and asked, "Wait, aren't you gonna ask me questions about my life or something along those lines?" She laughed and replied "I can see the fire in your eyes and the earth in your bones, I would be a fool to not hire you, and while we do have the minimum wage and workers compensation, you were hired and you actually took the time to come in. I'm not going to lie, we've fallen on hard times due to..competition but I believe that you'll do fine here."I nodded and thought to myself then turned my attention back to her "So, what will I be doing?" she nodded "You'll be creating various objects and equipment such as armor, weapons, or jewelry if you fancy that. The more you make and the better quality you make, the higher your title is. Such as an Ascendant forger being of high title gets some of the hardest jobs but they also get high pay."I nodded and smiled, "Alright, I'm in."I soon left the blacksmith with a satisfied smile and a paper in my hands, I headed back to my motel room and flopped on the bed with a smile. I glanced at the paper that had my work schedule and sighed happily.The next day I was back in the blacksmith shop for my first day, the girl at the front desk smiled when she saw me again and spoke as I neared the desk "Welcome back, here for your first day?" I nodded and she smiled more "well I'm Kylie and if you need anything just ask. It's what I'm here for after all."I nodded and sat down beside the desk and checked the time, 3:40, I was about twenty minutes early and when Ms.Forester walked out and saw me she looked puzzled, I smiled as she checked the time then sighed and said "Mr.Degray, you do know you have another twenty minutes before you are to be here right?" I replied with a smile "yeah, I wasn't doing anything so I thought I could come in early and get a tour of where I would work, and please call me Samuel, you're my boss."She nodded and gave me a smile then nodded for me to follow, I stood and she gave me the tour of the workshop. She grazed over the workroom and the offices, she instructed that I would get one soon. She led me to the back of the shop where the shop areas were, she smiled as she opened the door with a simple statement "and this is where the magic happens"She opened the door and I widened my eyes. We had gone down some stairs that led to a set of double doors and when it opened three people looked up, two boys and a girl. I smiled as the one in charge walked over and stopped in front of my new boss, she glanced at me as she asked "New hire?"Brianna nodded with a reply "Yup, says he's had some experience with metallurgy but for today get to know him and test the waters."The girl nodded and motioned for me to follow, Brianna gave me a smile before disappearing back out the door. I smiled back and followed the girl who introduced herself as Madelyne, she smiled as she started to talk as we walked around the workshop. "So you'll be working under me, and alongside these two guys here, Mack and Ben. They have some experience and guessing by the pendants you are wearing, you have some as well?"I shrugged and responded "I simply know how to put enchantments onto already made objects. Not smithing said objects."She nodded and walked over to an unlit forge that held a station used for various metallurgy, evident by the used look on it. She gestured towards it and said "well I'll teach you the basics, this is gonna be your station from here on. Sorry if it's a little used."I shrugged and smiled as she gathered some tools from around the workshop and set them onto the station and gestured for me to stand in front of it. I moved and she moved to take the place on the opposite side of the table facing me. "alright, now I'm gonna show you how to make a dagger alright?" She said with a small smileI soon got home after four hours and hopped into the shower. I started to wash my hair as I went over the day's events in my head, I linked up with my childhood sweetheart and got a job. I was shown how to craft a dagger with iron, a gem, and leather. The water cascaded down my face as I closed my eyes as my thoughts wandered and the day seemed to stop.