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Chapter 5

Viola blinked before turning to look up at the old man defiantly, “What’s that supposed to mean?!” She couldn’t believe he was assuming she’d cause trouble right after meeting her. Maybe her brother had told him stories. “What do you mean I’m going to give you trouble?” she asked before turning to face her brother with a scowl, “What’d you tell him, Cedar?”

The old man put a hand on Viola’s shoulder, laughing a raspy throaty laugh that made her suddenly want a glass of water, “Your brother hasn’t told me anything bad about you, dear Viola. I just mean that training you will be difficult. I’m sure you were already told that your powers were supposed to have awakened years ago. The fact that they are now just means that it’ll be harder for you to get the hang of using them.”

“But why is that going to cause trouble for you?” she asked.

He smiled, “You’re not the first witch to discover her powers late. It’s always difficult to train the late bloomers because they’re not as accustomed to this life as their classmates and their powers grow rapidly, tending to be harder to control. Lightning is difficult enough to harness and wield without being in the hands of a teenager who was raised in the human world. As you learn and adjust to the way things work here, you’ll find that your power will react to strong emotions, so mind your temper and be aware.”

Viola shook her head, “How angry do you expect me to get, Mister... um....”

He smiled, “Headmaster Altair Calarook, or just Headmaster is fine.” He paused for a moment, “The classes here aren’t the same as what you’re used to in the human schools. Here you’ll be studying more than math, english, and all those other subjects. Magic and defense are necessary here and those courses can be frustrating when you’re against someone more physically or magically capable than you.”

Viola nodded, “Then I’ll be careful.” The idea of using her power again scared her, and she felt like a rock was sitting in the pit of her stomach.

Headmaster Calarook smiled and patted her head, “Alright, well Cedar, would you mind escorting your sister to the cafeteria, her roommate is waiting for her there. She’ll give young Viola a tour of the school and show her to her dorm while you get back to your work.”

Cedar nodded as he stepped up beside Viola, “Of course, sir. Is there something specific I needed to do work wise?”

Headmaster Calarook smiled slowly and nodded, resting a hand on his chin, “You could say that, the other teachers will fill you in when you get to the meeting room, they should be waiting for you now.” He glanced at Viola for a moment before his gaze shifted back to Cedar, “You have a new student in your ranks after all.”

Viola looked up at her brother curiously, it was strange seeing her older brother at work and serious. For some reason, she didn’t really believe that this meeting for the teachers was just because they had a new student to deal with. Then again, the headmaster had said she’d be a difficult student and if anyone knew how to handle her, it was her older brother.

Cedar rested a hand on Viola’s shoulder and gently guided her away from the desk, “Then we’ll be heading to the cafeteria, sir.”

The headmaster smiled at the two of them and nodded, “Welcome to Naessaria, Viola. We’re happy to have you here. Good luck with your studies.”

Viola smiled, “Thank you, I appreciate it.”

Cedar quickly said another goodbye to the headmaster has he closed the door behind them on exiting the large luxurious office.

As the two siblings made their way down the hall, Viola felt Karma brush up against her leg. Glancing down at the fox, her golden eyes were staring up at her curiously. He seemed nice.

Viola smiled and stooped down to pick Karma up and wrap her arms around the fox’s middle, “He did, but he was kinda strange.”

Cedar laughed, “Just wait until you meet everyone else here.”

“So why is it that all the teachers are meeting as soon as you get back?” Viola asked, looking up at her brother.

He was quiet for a moment but shook his head, patting Viola on the head, “It’s nothing you need to worry about, Vi. Just focus on adjusting to the school for now.”

Viola frowned but didn’t press the subject. Instead she decided to turn her attention toward the elegant hallways. She was amazed to see that she hadn’t seen everything when she first came in. There were floating flower pots hovering by the stairwell as the two of them made their way down. They sort of roamed the space by the stairs.

As she gazed at the different exotic and strange plants, she spotted one pot that looked semi-familiar; a small cluster of large venus flytraps unlike any she’d ever seen, startling blue where green should’ve been, the normally red mouth a sea green.

Just as she was about to ask Cedar about the weird colors, a movement mixed in with the blue caught her eye. Pausing on the step beside the hovering pot, she leaned a little closer only to spot a tiny person with blue skin and teal hair, dangling halfway out of one of a closed flytrap and struggling. Dragonfly wings flapped urgently on the back.

A... fairy?

On closer look, Viola realized it was female. She blended in with the flytraps so well that if she hadn’t been moving, Viola wouldn’t have spotted her. The fairy looked up at her pleadingly, her eyes darting around toward a little lizard with wings perched on the railing not far from her. It was eyeing the fairy hungrily.

Understanding, Viola quickly set Karma down and leaned over to grab the potted plant to pull it closer to her. It didn’t budge. Grumbling about the nonsense of that, she leaned over the railing to the stairs and gently forced the trap open enough to release it’s captive. The fairy quickly shot out from the plant and ducked behind Viola’s hair, clinging to the locks of red.

“Are you finished?” Cedar asked, amused. “That was nice of you, Vi.”

She turned to look at her brother, who had taken a few more steps ahead before he realized that she was missing, “Why do you say that?”

He laughed, “Because you only just learned about the magic world, now you’re rescuing fairies in need.”

She glanced at the fairy where she’d hovered by her shoulder and then looked back to her brother as she caught up to him, “Does this happen often?”

The fairy frowned and fluttered right in front of her face, she crossed her arms and stood straight, staring down at Viola for a moment expression stern but quickly softened. She smiled and bowed to Viola, “Thank you, Vi!” she cheered suddenly.

The fairy’s voice surprised her. It was high-pitched and feminine but not nasally like she expected, just small like she was. “If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask me!” she added with a giggle before flying off.

Cedar grinned at her, “You already made a friend. Don’t be surprised if you find flowers or sweets in your room or bag. Fairies like to give gifts to people they attach themselves to and those they feel are worthy of their gifts.”

Viola ran a hand through her hair and shrugged, “I didn’t even do anything that special. She was stuck, that’s it.”

Her brother shrugged, “I doubt she sees it that way. Anyway, we need to get to the cafeteria before your roommate gets tired of waiting for you and leaves.” He began heading down the stairs again until he found a door that opened into a hall and gestured for her to follow him.

“Do you know who she is?” Viola asked curiously as she stepped through the door after him. She glanced around the hall as he guided her through. Doors of all kinds of shapes and sizes and colors lined the hall.

Cedar made his way to the end of the hall and down another flight of stairs in a dimly lit path way, obviously not a common path for students. “No, I’m not sure who she is yet but I’m sure you’ll like her.”

~~~

“Are you sure this is the right way?” Viola asked Cedar, “I feel like we’ve been walking for ages.”

Cedar waved off her complaints, “I know my way around here, Vi.”

“Then why doesn’t it feel like you do?” she grumbled. It felt as if Cedar had changed their direction a dozen times until they found yet another hallway to walk down. This one wasn’t lined with doors and she could hear chatter coming from the room at the end of the hall.

“There are a lot of ways to and into the cafeteria, you’ll find that out pretty soon. I was just trying to take a short cut,” he explained.

Viola sighed, “If that was a short cut, I don’t want to see the real thing. How do people manage to get around this place so easily?”

Cedar just laughed as he pushed on one of the large doors, allowing Viola to enter before him.

Reluctantly, she stepped through the door but paused as soon as she saw what seemed to be the mass of the student body of Naessaria. There were people with wings like angels, both white and black. There were guys and girls with scales along their cheeks, like she’d seen when she first walked in, their hair strange colors that she’d never seen before, even dyed. Tall, slender, noble people with pointed ears. She saw plates and bowls and spoons and trays floating in thin air. Students with fang-like teeth sipping on a suspicious thick red liquid. Exotic animals sat at the tables, tigers, bears, wolves. There where people with smaller animals with them, snakes, rabbits, cats, birds. She assumed that those were the others like her.

Cedar gently put a hand on her shoulder and urged her forward, his blue eyes scanned the room, looking for anyone looking for them. “It’s okay, Vi,” he whispered to her.

Some of the students closer to the doors paused in their conversation to stop and stare at them, mostly at Viola. She felt the urge to cling to her brother’s side like she used to when she was little and he’d walk her to kindergarten for their mother. The stares made her nervous. She was a fish out of water. No, she was a fish taken from her tiny aquarium with everything she knew and placed in an ocean of different fish she’d never seen before and was pretty sure wanted to gobble her up whole.

Karma brushed against Viola’s leg, Relax. These people won’t hurt you. She soothed, trying to comfort her charge.

Viola glanced down to the fox and nodded, “Right.”

“Professor Silva?” a new voice asked, drawing Viola’s attention to a girl about her age standing in front of them, “I was told to you were coming with a new student. I’m supposed to show her around.”

Cedar smiled, “Ah! Daniella! I didn’t know it would be you. Let me introduce the two of you.” He placed a hand on Viola’s head, “This is my sister, Viola, and her familiar, Karma. The two of them will be joining you in your dorm as well.” He looked down to Viola, “Vi, this is Daniella Santi. She’s one of my students.”

Viola eyed the girl curiously for a moment. They were about the same height but Daniella was beautiful and shapely and attractive in ways that she’d always wished she’d been. Long flowing dark hair, hazel colored eyes, flawless skin, all things she envied about the girl. She seemed friendly enough.

She held a hand out to the girl and smiled pleasantly, “It’s nice to meet you, Daniella.”

Daniella’s eyes shifted to Viola’s outstretched hand and she took step back, “Likewise. You can call me Dani, by the way. Most people who know me do,” she smiled at her, flashing a dazzling set of… vampire fangs.

Cedar looked between the two girls, “Well, if you need me, Daniella will show you where to find me, Vi. I’ll see you sometime tomorrow.” He turned to walk away, waving to Viola over his shoulder.

Viola watched as he went through the large double doors and disappeared from her sight. She suddenly felt lost and alone. Picking up Karma just for something familiar to have close, she turned to look at Dani again.

The vampire girl gave her a friendly smile, “If you’re hungry or anything we can stay for a bit. If you’d rather wait to eat, I can go ahead and show you around the school and to the dorms. There’s always food stocked up in the dorm kitchens and snacks in the rec rooms.”

She shook her head, “I’d appreciate seeing where the classrooms and stuff are first and the dorms, if that’s okay?”

Dani smiled and nodded, “Of course, come on, I took a peek at your class schedule when your things were brought to the dorm earlier so I can show you where your classes will be and what to expect from each teacher you have.” She guided Viola out a side door that lead outside into a courtyard filled with flowers and a fountain and more students lounging around, “Actually, you have a few classes with me so I can help you with class work too since you’re behind.”

“That would be really nice!” Viola said with a smile, it was nice knowing that at least she’d be having some classes with someone she knew even if it was just an acquaintance she’d just met.

“Great, just let me know when you need anything.”

They made their way across the expanse of the courtyard, following what appeared to be cobblestone path, over a little bridge over a pond whose rock railing appeared so smooth and perfect Viola wanted to trail her fingers along it to see if it was as soft as it looked. Reaching over to trail her fingertips over it and delighted to see that it was smooth, Viola was startled when the bridge began to shift under her feet, the sound of something rumbling coming from under her.

“Wh-what is that?” Violed asked to Dani’s still-walking back as she clutched the railing.

Dani looked back at her and blinked in confusion before realizing, laughing, “Oh, that? That’s not anything to worry about. The bridges are finicky sometimes--don’t like staying still for too long. Can’t blame them, really.”

“You mean to tell me the bridges are sentient?”

“Well… I really wouldn’t say that, more like they just get... bored.”

Viola just knew she was going to be getting lost because a non-sentient sentient bridge decided to move while she was on it and force her to take another route.

Warily, Viola watched as the bridge settled back into its spot on the ground; unwilling to let go of the railing in case it moved again, she followed Dani to the other side.

“It won’t move again, you know,” Dani said amused but not harsh, the smile on her face softening Viola’s embarrassment… A little.

“Why won’t it move again?” she asked, a little dubiously, not sure if she should trust Dani’s judgement.

The girl shrugged, “Most of them only move every few days or so.”

“Why do they move?” she asked, turning to look at the bridge that had decided to wiggle as they passed over it.

Dani grinned a bit at that question, “That’s probably better answered by one of the witches but I think it’s a spelled stone used in the bridges. I don’t know, it’s not something most of us ever really think about.”

That made sense, most people grew up around these things and weren’t surprised by the magic of Fidonia. “So that’s not just unique to Naessaria?”

She shook her head, “No, they’re all over the country, mostly in Kaphis though. Pretty much any built by witches of old.”

Karma padded along behind them along the cobblestone path, content on listening to their conversation without interrupting as Dani guided them into a door on the far side of the courtyard.

Upon entering, Viola found herself surrounded by books of all kinds. There were books flying about the room with wings, undoubtedly meant to keep just anyone from reading them. She saw stacks upon stacks on tables and some locked on shelves with chains. Glancing up she realized that that wasn’t even half of the the room, the room seemed to go on and on into the tower.

“This is the library, if you’re not careful you could get lost in here so we’re always supposed to let the librarians know whenever we’re going upstairs,” Dani explained without giving Viola the chance to gaze around the room any longer, moving onto the next important part of the tour.

Next, they went around to the different classrooms and auditoriums and even training rooms for specific magics and skills, telling her here and there about the eccentric personalities of some of the teachers. The classrooms were much like how normal classrooms where, each student getting their own desk or at least a table that they shared with other students while the teacher sat at the front with. Karma found it convenient that some of the classrooms had cushions under the seats for familiars. She even went as far as to test one out, her fluffy red tail curling around on her as she peeked out over the fur, an amused twinkle in her eye.

Dani explained that the familiars usually just did as they pleased while their masters were in classes but they did have to be around while they studied magic since they were linked to the magic of their masters.

Before heading to the dorms, Dani showed Viola to a few more places around the school, like to supply shops, where the phones were, to the garden out back and the indoor salt water pool installed for the siren students. Viola had been especially fascinated by the garden in the back of the school that divided the school from the dorms. There were more exotic plants like she’d seen floating around the stairs and around the rest of the school and hovering around the flowered plants, she could spot fairies soaring around. It was a little bit like watching butterflies chase each other around the backyard in the summers back home, only now she could hear the muffled giggles and chatter from the fairies.

The dorms were built separate from the main castle so they had to pass through the gravel path through the garden. The boys’ and girls’ dorms were split between two towers, connected by a large recreation area with one side being sofas and music and lounging and the other for games of different kinds like darts, billiards, and cards just to name some Viola was familiar with.

Inside the girls dorm tower, they climbed the spiral stairs that corkscrewed up the tower. At each level two doors were on either side and the pattern continued up to the top of the tower that led out to a balcony and the rooftop. Each door had a number on it.

Dani had Viola follow her about what she guessed was halfway until they stopped in front of a door with the number 28 hanging in gold on the wooden frame molding.

“Is this really the only place for students to live?” Viola asked as Dani placed a hand on the handle, “It seems too small for all the students.”

She smiled, “That’s true, this place wouldn’t house all the students of Naessaria, anyone who lives in Kaphis generally just stays at home and doesn’t live on campus. The sirens generally take the river back to the ocean and are only here for school events. Elves live in the forests around the city in their own homes. It’s pretty much just witches, vampires, and weres that live on campus.”

It must be tense for vampires and weres that live together, Karma spoke up.

Dani smiled and shrugged, “It’s not that bad, generally it’s only a problem for the really old fashioned people. In Fidonia, the bad blood between vampires and weres isn’t much of an issue, usually. Their scent isn’t always pleasant to us and vice versa but we’ve grown used to it.” She smiled, “Now, are you ready to see the room?”

Viola smiled and nodded, “Yep, open the door.”

Dani grinned in her usual way, fangs flashing in the process. Viola had quickly learned that it wasn’t a conscious effort for Dani, just something that happened naturally for her.

She pushed the door open and let it swing in, revealing the room for Viola. Inside it was nice, more extravagant than she had expected and again, the room was bigger than seemed possible. The room was split down the middle with a full sized bed on either side and a window between. One side was mostly bare with boxes and books scattered across the bed, the bag with all her clothes and personal objects that she’d left with Cedar was sitting on the floor by the bed, and even the blanket her mother knitted for her when she was a child was folded up on the sheets.

The other side of the room was fairly extravagant. It was as if she was looking at a princess’ room, only it wasn’t all pink and girly like she’d imagine a princess’ room, but held the same splendor and fancy tastes of one. Maroon bed sheets spread neatly over the bed with a satin pillowcase. Viola half expected there to be a canopy over the bed but the size of the room wouldn’t allow it. There was a fancy vanity resting against the wall by a door beside the closet which was split down the middle for each of their things. A desk rested at the end of each bed with shelves stacked against the side of the wall.

“What do you think?” Dani said as she strode across the room to sink into her own bed. “I would have put your things away for you but I was afraid it would be over stepping if I did.”

She shook her head, “No, that’s okay. This room is amazing but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to make my side as fancy as yours.”

“You don’t need to, make it up however your comfortable with, my mother did most of this one day while I was in class,” she said with a shrug.

Viola nodded before peeking into the bathroom. It was much like any other bathroom, just a toilet, sink, mirror, and standing shower. At least that part was normal.

She stepped back into the room and over to her bed and things, “Thanks for showing me around today.” She began going through her things, peeking into the boxes curiously to see what books she had.

“So when is my first day of classes?” she asked curiously.

Dani smiled, “Tomorrow.”

She nodded, “Then I guess I should get unpacked and find something to eat, huh?” The girls shared a smile.

Dani hopped up, “I’ll help.”

“Thanks,” she said, stepping over to make room for her as she pulled books from boxes. She was beginning to think she’d like having a roommate after all.