Attanya

Apprentice Leah

Melody

After they got the girl the continued their travels, much closer than Melody thought. But there had yet to be an uneventful day so why would it start now. It was after she wakes the next day that Naif puts his theory to the test. He has her jump into the pond fully clothed to see if she contains a rare gift, one that she had been showing the traits of for the past couple of weeks. She has the ability to control water as an extension of herself.

            After Naif discovered her ability to manipulate water, their schedule changed. Each morning they would wake before dawn, start the fire and begin practicing. It didn’t take more than a few days for her to get the basics down.

            Each day they fly until the sun sets, then bath in order while setting up camp. The child, Kali, and Melody would bathe together. It hardly felt uncomfortable, almost as if she had been meant to take the girl in the first place. They played in the water until the last of their energy was gone, then Melody would brush through her hair and braid it. Not long after they would sleep. A schedule that made each day normal.

            Along the way they stopped at a small town called Calloon for a Resupply, that is where Melody received her first uniform official uniform. It was tight around her chest but other than that it fit well, it even flattered her. It was of thicker material than what Rider Samsel originally gave her but was of a simple tunic cut. There was symmetrical trim around each hole, and the belts ends. Melody was also received two harem style pants and thick wool socks with matching gloves. Although it was brown Kali received similar attire.

            By the twentieth day, they arrived in the Capital. The weather was frosty but Kaleigh kept them warm. When she got the first whiff of smoke she looked over Kaleigh’s shoulder to see the growing signs of inhabitation.

            Buildings made of stone cropped up closer and closer until it was so crowded that it could actually be called a town. There were people throbbing through the cobble stone streets, tromping to their destinations.

            They watched the life below them with curiosity. “This is amazing; I’ve never seen a town like this. It’s huge.” Melody shouted over her shoulder.

            Dirik leaned forward. “It is. I have seen big towns but never this large.” He pointed to a very large set of buildings that stood on a hill side that was close to being called a cliff, the one at the very top looked like it was among the clouds. “I think we’re almost to the College.”

            She beamed at the thought of seeing this school. However she looked back down at the town and tried to find the difference between the buildings, each of them were distinctly the same yet different.

            :We’re about twenty minutes until touch down. Welcome to your new school.: Kaleigh spoke to the both of them so they smiled at the same time. Just after she spoke they descended another hundred feet, now the smells were rising from the crowds. Meat, various oils, smoke, florescent, and many other un-identifiable smells, but it was then that they flew over a hundred foot wall. A wave of energy passed through them as they crossed it, on either side of the road they followed were thick forests going as far as she could see. It didn’t take long to pass through the smallest part of the forest; they were on a stretch of flat land that took them a few minutes to cross.

            This school was far more than any school Melody had ever seen. It was a stunning piece of work that was a shame to be a school. It was so tall that if she were to stand at the foot of it she would be craning to even glance at its end. But what was wondrous wasn’t just the endless windows and sunning architectural curves but that it was part of the mountain behind it. There were windows along the deep gray stone walls that were slightly glowing from within and nearly half of the building was tracing up the wall. The parts of the cliff face that wasn’t part of the building had art work carved into it, Dragons and Pegisi were everywhere but there were many things she couldn’t comprehend.

            The thought of climbing that daily made her blanch, but Kaleigh nipped that one in the bud. :There are magical shoots that are used to speed things along. It is beautiful is it no?:

            :That is an understatement. Its beyond stunning.:

            Before she knew it, they were on the ground being escorted to the Dean to be evaluated. In fact the next hour passed so quickly that she could hardly remember what happened except that she was soon whisked away by the much smaller twin of Dirik. She stood around five foot four and had the body of a ten year old boy but the mouth of a sailor. Her bright brown eyes saw every nervous habit, reluctant answer and uncomfortable movement. Although Apprentice Apprentice Leah didn’t know it, the girl presented much more complications.

            Those revealed themselves when they went to bath right before dinner. The tiny Apprentice explained the school building as she walked her to and from her new room. The third, fourth, and fifth floors are the dorms regardless of school affiliation or gender. However the first two floors are strictly for classrooms while the upper levels are divided between work, Healing and specialized classes. The two of the four towers are for the Mage’s , the other two are either communications or decoding.

            At the very center of the building was a space that was wide enough for five Dragons to descend through the building. Above the large space was a glass ceiling that amplified the light so there was little need for candles.

            She chatted in an easy voice until they reached Melody’s room, number seventy-three. She explained that the numbers go clockwise and the evens were on the inside. After writing down her name and introducing Melody to her new room, she grabbed clothes and dragged her down the hall to the bathing room.

            Melody caught on quickly that she was being analyzed, but she wasn’t sure why yet. It wasn’t until Apprentice Leah explained a few people she knew that it made sense. Someone asked for Apprentice Leah to evaluate her, but for whatever reason she didn’t know.

            The girl stopped outside the bathing room, turned for effect. “This is the most crowded bathing room because of its proximity to the toilets but we’re a little early so it shouldn’t be too bad.” As soon as she opened the door steam billowed out.

            Apprentice Leah was correct to assume that there were only a few people because there were mostly empty tubs. “When you’re out of your dirty clothes put them in this hole and they’ll be washed and returned.” She walked away only to strip down and jump into the nearest bath.

            It’s like a cleaner version of a locker room, Melody thought as she followed suit and disrobed. There was a large tub that could hold twenty people at the far end of the room and ten smaller single person tubs in rows beside it.

            For the most part Melody was able to stay in the background and listen to them however she was eventually dragged in.

            “So who is your friend?” A woman with dark brown hair piled on her head motioned to her.

            Apprentice Leah answered for her. “Melody, Dragon Apprentice. She came with my brother.”

            She gasped. “The delicious one I plan on stealing?”

            Apprentice Leah laughed and nodded. “The same one.”

            She leaned in Melody’s direction and smiled. “So how did you become so lucky that you get to sleep next to such a handsome man?”

            Melody shrugged and lowered herself further into the water. That started a whole new chain of conversation that she wasn’t taking part in, when the conversation dried out she turned back to Melody.

The woman in the trough right next to her smiled. “Hey, new girl, catch.” She formed a bright flower in the palm of her hand and with a light blow sent it straight to Melody whom caught it gently.

            “They call me Aria, that’s a Mage’ flower so it won’t die. It’s a welcome gift.”

            The beauty of it inspired her to show her power in exchange. “Thank you. I can’t do anything as beautiful as this but I can do something.” Melody then stared off into the corner and concentrated. It was then that the steam began to change colors; it began in the air between the two girl’s tubs and expanded like a fire work. It swirled and twisted around the room until it reluctantly died out. When it did Melody let out the breath she had been holding. “I’m sorry I can’t hold it longer.”

            Apprentice Aria then laughed and stood from her tub. “Thank you, that was beautiful.”

            Possibly an hour they were in the dining hall, Kali found her way to Melody and stayed close until it was time to leave. It was then that Dirik introduced his best friend, Apprentice Etan, he stood a finger taller than his less handsome friend but had a tired feeling about him.

            Melody briefly exchanged words before quietly eating her food. The hall around them was the size of a football field with twelve tables made of a deep red brown wood. Each of those tables had water, bread, blue-ish cheese, various spices, and utensils in wooden plain jugs. There was a constant gentle hum of talking; nothing louder than a level voice, though a random outburst of laughter broke the hum.

            Everyone was happy; even though some were tired from the half day they had just endured. Friend’s sat together yet there was not a single person in sight. Among the students were enjoying their break between classes, it was so normal that Melody couldn’t help but to smile.

            A gong told the students that lunch was over; it was then that Apprentice Leah led Melody to the library. Apprentice Leah’s last words comforted her. “The Page was told to tell me that you liked to read, I thought the best place to leave you to let you get settled would be the library.” Apprentice Leah walked her to the nearest table and waved to a staircase. “If you take those up to your floor, your room should be the sixth or seventh on the right. You don’t have any duties tomorrow so just wander the campus to get familiar with it.”

            After she left, Melody stayed in the library reading random books until it was well past dinner time. Only then did she retire content with her situation.