"Breathe in, breath out...You got this." Placing a hand against her pounding chest, a girl continuously repeated those words like a mantra, in hopes of melting the ice in her nerves. After all, where her feet stood was where millions of students first started: the Orientation Hall of Hexanus Academy. An academy where even novices would become fully-fledged magicians through its rigorous classes.
And here she was, a human raised in some desolate forest. Actually, her father would be peeved if he heard that. "The Haven of Kismet is not some forest, kiddo! It is the birthplace of our ancestors, who passed down the secret art of transformation—" And cue the three-hour-long lectures that kept her from lulling asleep.
"Hmph, Father''s reaction to my acceptance was so lukewarm, I''d bet he couldn''t give two nuts about it," she muttered, crossing her arms. "Still, Hexanus Academy is much more grandiose than I anticipated..." Looking around, she saw the colossal stained glass windows that towered over her, each one inscribed with each of the Academy''s past, present, and future. A day where numerous civilizations waged war against each other, a time when peace was bestowed upon the land, and a wish that all civilizations would be united through an eternal alliance. Before she clenched her fist.
"I made it this far...At least, this is my chance to gauge a better reaction from Father." She nodded resolutely until someone announced, "Aurelie Erwin to Booth No. 8. I repeat, Aurelie Erwin to Booth No. 8."
"And the first step is getting through the orientation."
Striding over to an intricate "No. 8" sign, she was face to face with an elderly, bespectacled woman, who was currently viewing several documents.
"You''re Ms. Aurelie, I presume?" Finally looking up, the woman fixed her glasses, examining the student before her. A young girl with ash blonde hair, inquisitive hazel-green eyes, and a simple attire of a cotton blouse, a vintage vest, and a khaki shorts. A scarlet ribbon was weaved through her silky hair, which caressed both of her shoulders. Slung over her shoulder was a traveler''s leather satchel, fitted with many pouches.
"Yes, ma''am," Aurelie answered, poised.
"Interesting...You''re quite different from what I envisioned," the teller answered, while adding, "I don''t believe we have had many students coming from the Haven of Kismet. Especially for a location that''s so remote."
"Ah...At least I was able to subvert your expectations," the girl awkwardly asked, scratching the back of her neck. "Did she mean that in a good or bad way?"
"That is to say that many of our students do come from various regions across Hexanus, so I suppose making a decent appearance fares well in making first impressions," the former muttered before clearing her throat. "But please don''t mind it as such. Just treat this as an old woman''s babbling." The creases on the woman''s features soften, giving way to a more lighthearted expression. "You''re the daughter of the famous inventor, Mr. Erwin, aren''t you?"
"Erm, I think you might be looking into it too hard, ma''am. Perhaps our last names are simply a stroke of coincidence," Aurelie reluctantly answered, her hands at her sides. "To think she''d bring up Father''s name...It turns out the old man really is famous around these parts."
Edward Erwin—the name that dominated the tabloids in days past. Some say that they''ve never seen the inventor make a public appearance, but only amounted to pure speculation about what he really looked like.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
"Gigantic shadow lurks in the pipes of Crowburgh, followed by the sound of tinkering metal—"
"Mysterious benefactor sends the world''s first ever plane to soar through the skies!"
Such rumors and speculations only amounted to hearsay, but people often attributed the name to some of the most mysterious inventions that have been created thus far.
A bubble machine that could encapsulate houses and brings them far and beyond, a rotary gear-shaped cabin that operated as civilian transport, and so on.
"Oh, I see. Pardon my premature judgment, Ms. Aurelie. Seems like the moniker is merely just a name," the teller briefly chuckled before scanning the last of the documents. "Now all we need your government-issued card, and you''ll be set to go."
"R-Right..." Slipping her satchel off her shoulder, the girl hurriedly searched through the compartments, her hands rummaging each one. "I''m sure I put it here somewhere..." she thought before brushing against something furry. Its body was long, and the sudden touch sent it slithering around her palm.
"Huh?" Aurelie raised her brow, and she saw a plastic card being clamp shut between someone''s paws.
"Psst, here''s your card, Relly," an all-too-familiar voice said, whilst meeting the girl''s surprised eyes with its beady ones.
"F-Father?!" she exclaimed before clamping her mouth.
"Hm, is something the matter, Ms. Aurelie?" the teller asked, fixing their glasses. "If you don''t have your card, then you still have an alternative option—"
"N-No, I''m fine! Thanks for asking!" Aurelie quickly answered, slapping the card onto the desk. "If that''ll be all, then can I head to the entrance hall after this is finished?"
"Oh, of course..." The woman nodded, puzzlement etched in her brows, as she swiped the card through the crystal scryglass.
"All documents have been confirmed. We thank you for your time with us, and we wish you all the best for your time here at the Hexanus Academy. You''ll find all the relevant information on this personalized handbook," the scryglass explained, signaled by the teller giving out the aforementioned items.
"We wish you a stellar time here, Ms. Aurelie," the woman said, bidding farewell to her.
"Thank you." After curtsying, the girl quickly strode through the hallways, her steps quickening with each heartbeat. Clutching her satchel to her chest, she looked to and fro for any onlookers, and peered into the dark compartment.
"Father, what are you even doing here?!" she whisper-shouted, while her eyes kept glancing back and forth from her hiding spot.
"Why, checking whether my kiddo''s already gotten everything figured out! Do you know how long I''ve been curled up in that cramped space?" the little creature complained, and its little ears twitched indignantly. "It''s not so often that I''d get the chance to leave the forest, you know?"
"Mhm..." Appearing unconvinced, Aurelie muttered, "Sounds to me that your indifference was just a way of hiding your frenetic worries. Don''t tell me you were there the last three days I''ve been traveling."
"And if I say yes, then you''re not going to leave your poor papa out in the cold and rain, are you?" the ermine remarked, gesturing with a paw.
"Ha...Not like I have any other choice. But to think my own father would be keeping me company all the way over here..." she muttered to herself before straightening her shoulders. "Fine, but you better stay put. There shouldn''t be any freshman having a familiar already, so try not to attract too much attention to us," she advised as the other passerby paid wary glances her way.
"Oh, so it is true. Explains all of the birds, frogs, and other critters running around," her father noted, tilting his head from one of the satchel''s pouches. Around them were students of different species and features; some of them ranging from having a long neck to others whose ears twitched atop their head. The older students, who wore distinct uniforms, had animals perched on their shoulders or following beside them.
"Yeah...And who knew that the famous Edward Erwin was actually an ermine all along?" Aurelie murmured before throwing her satchel back on. "There''s only an hour before the official orientation starts, so let''s get a move on."
"Right with you, kiddo!" Edward agreed before dipping back into the pocket.
"Breathe in, breathe out...Hexanus Academy, here I go!" the girl repeated before taking her first step into the illustrious school of magic.