The sound of hooves comes down the road that leads to Everscents' four acre house. The sight of two Reindeer comes into view, pulling behind them a maroon and white carriage with gold trimming and silver steel as wheels. Silver lasts longer than wood. And easier to fix. If a wooden wheel is broken it has to be replaced as the wood can't be repaired when it's splintered and cracked. However steel can be welded back.
"Elias!" Everscent screams back at the open front door behind her, her platinum-white hair lifting with the wind. "The carriage is here!" Her voice shrieks. She ignores the wines of the deer as they trot closer. She pulls at the sleeve of her red blazer, the striped tie around her neck matching her pleated skirt.
Now that she's wearing the academy uniform, something she's always dreamed of since she was sixteen, she can't wait to get out of it. No one told her it would be so itchy.
"What have I told you about your shouting!" Versance yells as he walks out of the double doors. Her brother comes out behind him, carrying two luggages behind him. His white hair is disheveled, his tie loose and the top three buttons of his shirt undone. Ever groans, he packed a lot more than she did. "If you scare away the deer again, you'll have to find another way to the academy!"
Ever smirks, as if her father's voice was any better. She steps past him and comes to stop in front of her brother. "Mother would slap you upside the head if she saw you like this." She sighs. She reaches up to button his shirt the rest of the way up, then tightens his tie, and straightens his collar.
The reindeer, although skittish now, don't run away and stop so the carriage door is right in front of them. The Coachman hops down from his seat at the front and bows.
"My lady." He says and opens the carriage door.
"Not a god damned lady." Ever mutters as she climbs in.
"Excuse her." Versance says loud enough for her to hear. "She's upset because her mother had to leave a week early and couldn't see her off."
"She's unreasonable, is what she is." Elias mutters as he climbs in. He glares at her as he takes the bench seat opposite of her.
Annoyed, she kicks him in the shin, "Am not." Ever mutters. She begrudgingly lets Versance lean in through the door to kiss her cheek.
"It's the first day of your first year. Don't be a grump." He says softly. He pats Elias's head and steps back. The Coachman shuts the door, accepts the tip from Versance and begins the journey to the academy. The long journey.
"Must you always be so bitter?" Elias asks. He leans back against the carriage wall, his legs spread wide and leaving her little room.
"Not always." Ever sighs. She reaches down to adjust her pleated skirt and when Elias glances out of the window, she shoves the tip of her shoe into his thigh, digging into the sensitive flesh.
"Ow, dragon gods!" Elias curses. He scrambles to close his legs and Everscent smirks. She ignores his glare and looks out the window, her arms crossed over her chest.
"Maybe you shouldn't have broken into the museum." Elias speaks up.
"MaYbE yOu ShOuLdN't HaVe-" Ever starts to mock him but he slaps a palm over her mouth. She glares at him over his fingers, her pale brows narrowed and her eyes cold as an endless sea.
"Just act your age, please?" He huffs, "I don't want to deal with this the entire ride there."
She pushes his hand away with a glower, "Fine." She stands up and leans out of the window so only her lower waist is inside. The wind pushes her hair back, and she reaches up to keep it out of her face.
"What are you-" Elias asks when she starts to climb out, the fabric of her skirt billowing in the wind.
Ever ignores him as she climbs up onto the open seat next to the Coachman. The deer run at the front, the reins in the coachmans hands.
"Uh, wh-" He starts to ask, his jaw slack as he tries to comprehend why she would risk her life like she did.
"Just," She waves ahead of them, "Continue."
The Coachman clears his throat. Ever ignores him and takes in the sights. Their manor is nothing but a speck behind them now, and they are now exiting their hometown. It's not the first time she's leaving Berome. She and Elias often traveled with their father when he couldn't afford to leave them at home, especially when their mother is gone for three quarters of the year.
***
Hunters Elite Academy - or HEA- is more of a rundown castle that hasn't been upgraded in centuries than it is a school. Her mother calls it character. Everscent calls the Academy Board cheap. Traffic picks up the moment they reach the road that leads up through the woods to the school grounds. Carriages stand in place, moving slower than an old, injured draeven. Those who don't have rides, walk alongside them, making it difficult for anyone to navigate.
"Is it always like this?" Everscent murmurs from her spot on the bench.
"Not always." The Coachman answers her. She glances over at him and raises an eyebrow. "It's only like this because it's the start of the new year. Once the parents have gone, there will only be staff and students. Much less crowded then."
They follow the line of carriages down the trail and reach the front gate that leads to a roundabout. Students and parents crowd the front court yard, making it difficult for the young Coachman to navigate.
"We'll just get off here." Elias calls the boy. "You can drop our luggage there." He sticks his arm out of the carriage window and points to a spot where luggage upon luggage are piled up to be sorted and taken to their proper rooms.