Cyrene rolls me out of the main building and down a long sidewalk. It's night out already and a cold breeze makes goosebumps rise up on my arms. The more I see this place, the creepier it gets. There isn't a single student in sight.
"I guess I should give you some background information," Cyrene breaks the silence.
I flinch at the sound of her voice.
"For starters Ashy, err, Asherah was right. This is a very elite school for Casters. All of the students here had to apply and go through rigorous tests to get in. Although if you ask me, they really do just let anyone in if they have enough money," She grumbles.
"Humans and Witches have that in common," the words come out of my mouth before I have a chance to stop them. I cringe right after,
"I mean Casters..." I correct myself after a beat of silence.
"Sorry," I say when she still hasn't said anything.
She just sighs.
"Please reframe from using that slur around here or in general."
"Sorry," I mumble again.
"Moving along, Belmore was founded only about 50 years ago. Most Caster schools attempt to hide and blend right in but not Belmore. This school established itself right in the middle of what was once a small town. As a statement I guess. It was to help establish unity between Casters and non-casters. Build a bridge of peace. If everyone can see what Casters are doing it takes away the scary aspects. You can't hide when you are out in the middle of everything. I too went to Belmore when I was younger."
"If you ask me putting this school here did nothing but stir up trouble. Everything was fine until you guys showed up," I grumble.
"You guys?"
"You know what I mean."
"Emery, let me remind you, you are one of us now. You are including in the blanket statement of you guys."
I clench my jaw and stare off into the distance, not addressing that statement.
She sighs again.
"Regardless, the school is meant to be a symbol of peace. An olive branch if you will. Casters who choose to come here are putting their necks out on the line. Choosing to be representations of the school but also of Casters as a whole community. Although some people are better left out of that limelight."
"There's something we can agree on," I snort in amusement.
"To your left is the original building of the school, that what was first built. Today it houses all of the basic classes a Caster must attend. Spellcasting, energy conservation, and Magical history. The easy stuff. That is where you will be spending most of your time here for the first few months. You are more than a little behind, to say the least. So you will need to work extra hard to catch up. Most of the students here have already gone through what is called Pretrainer's School. Meaning they were put into classes and trained to be a Caster since they were five years old. You could say Pretrainer's school is a prerequisite to getting into this academy. But that's not common for regular Caster schools. Most Caster schools are very much like the American School system you are used to."
"Just great, not only did I get stuck here, but everyone here is super smart and I'm basically as dumb as a monkey."
"You'll catch up," she assures me.
"Don't hold your breath."
"The classes admittedly are more meant as a refresher class than to actually teach you. But that is why you have me. I'll help you build a solid foundation. This school is very unique in that most Casters who go to school get to choose two. One for their grade years and another for the after years, Think of it like college. This is school is different in that it combines both. You'll have Casters of all ages and skill level mingling here. It helps promote healthy competition and keeps them from feeling like they are trapped in a prison. They really do have some type of community here. You can find people as young as 13 here or as old as 28. There really isn't a grade system here. It's all based on skill. You take the classes you want, challenge yourself. If the class is too hard for your skill level then they will let you know. Most of the time they put you in a beginner's version of the class. You of course will be stuck with people your age, although you are way below their skill level. For the first few months, you will be in classes with casters a lot younger than you. When I think you are ready, I'll move you up."
"That's like super embarrassing! I have to be in class with a bunch of babies!?"
"For now, and they aren't babies. Most of them will still be leagues above you."
"Not helping."
"You are going to be on what I like to call the teenage schedule. You will have the same lunch and dinner period as people your age. You will be seeing them around most often. Although younger ones have earlier times and older ones have later times. There are also time slots for the library and other facilities. You can read your student handbook for that info."
"What happens if I go to a different time slot than my own?" I ask.
"Nothing, you will just be out of place and it might throw off your schedule. Why?"
"No reason..."
"Well, here we are," She stops in front of Ash Ruin Hall. "We still have much to discuss but first thing tomorrow I'm going to need you to come with me to see the elders on the Celestial Council. We just have a few questions for you."
"We? Are you an elder?"
"In training, but soon I will be." She smiled.
"Oh."
"What, you thought I would be older?" she snorted, amused by her own inside perceptions.
"Well, they are called Elders."
"Another definition for elder actually means leader. I think that's what we are going for. That being said there may be a few old bags or two."
I laugh.
"What, didn't think I'd call the elders old bags?"
"Well, yeah."
"I tell it as it is, I think you will find we have that in common. It's a defining trait for star casters, after all the harsh honest truth is our specialty."
"It is?"
"We are star casters. Our light uncovers all things hidden. The truth cannot hide from us. It is the main staple of light magic, well more prominent than a few other main staples."
Who would have thought that the truth really is my specialty, in a literal sense? I think I am going to like Cyrene; she seems like someone I'll get along with. She looks to be in her mid-20's her oak brown hair is in a braid that falls to her shoulder blades. There is a small mole on her chin and her right ear has a decent chunk missing as if someone took a pair of scissors and loped off a part of the curve.
"What else can we do?" I asked.
"In due time, for now, you just need to know that honesty is our best policy. In order to stay attuned to the energy around you and use your powers to their fullest ability, you have to remain honest, not only with others but with yourself as well."
"Okay."
"Don't worry about the elders they like to act all big and bad, but the truth is they are all big softies. Just tell the truth and you'll be fine," She rubs my shoulder.
It's not the elders I'm worried about. As if reading my mind she kneels down next to me so that we were eye level and says,
"People often get defensive when they think that someone is categorizing them or judging them based on something they can't control. Maybe if you stopped treating them and looking at them differently, they would do the same to you. Just try and get along. Start fresh. What happened is behind you now, reach out to them. You are bound to make at least one friend."
"Don't hold your breath," I mutter.
"Emery, Asherah is right about one thing. You won't get very far here acting like this. Give them a chance. We aren't like what they say on Tv. We are people too, just like you. Sure we mess up and make mistakes just like everyone else, but everyone else isn't always called out on those mistakes. Most people can move on, Casters are held to a higher standard. A standard you too will have to learn to live with."
"I never asked for this," I feel my eyes water.
"I know, and I know this is probably all scary for you. I know it's not easy. Trust me I know."
"You do?"
"I was an outcast too. You see Star Casters are very rare. So rare that until you, I was the only one. People looked at me and treated me differently, it was scary for me trying to learn things that no one could teach me. I was all alone. But I made a name for myself and it's up to you to do the same. Forge your own path and start a new chapter. You can't go back to what you had, so you might as well make the most of what you have now. One day people won't look at you and see you as that girl who hates Casters. They will see you for you. It's up to you to decide who Emery Ellison is going to be. You can pity yourself and revel in your misfortune. Or you can get up, dust yourself off, and start over. Only you can decide how well it goes from here on out."
I took a deep breath and eyed the purple door.
"It's not always going to be this hard, one day opening that door will be so easy you won't have to think about it. Or better yet, one day you'll be running to open that door. Eager to see your friends. The possibilities for your future are endless."
When she said that I was brought back to that strange scene. The future me in a burning building, telling me not to trust. The explosion, the one that probably killed my future self. A horrible heavy pit settled in my stomach. I absently rubbed my hand.
"Alright then, enough of the pep talk, let's do this thing." She rolls me over to the door.
She opens the door and I brace for the worst. Just like when I first got here girls are lounging around the common room doing various activities. All eyes instantly fall on me. Cyrene wheels me inside and takes me to the hidden elevator.
Whispers and murmurs about me fill the room.
"Here let me help," the same girl from before moves to help Cyrene maneuver me into the elevator.
I think I remember someone calling her Ro.
"Thank you," Cyrene smiles at her.
"I'm Rowena, but people call me Ro." The girl said to me.
"Emery," I mutter.
"Ro, would you mind making sure Emery here gets some dinner. She hasn't eaten in days, don't let her fool you. This girl is starving."
I glare at Cyrene.
She flashes me a supporting smile.
As if I needed her help making friends.
I look back to Ro who is eyeing me in caution.
"Sure, no problem." She says.
I sigh and sink deeper into my chair.
We get out of the elevator and Cyrene rolls me to the room with the door newly reattached. She unlocks it and rolls me inside. It's almost a completely different room. There is only one bed and all of Dariyah's stuff is gone. I let out a sigh of relief.
"Alright then, see you bright and early tomorrow Emery. I'll come get you," with that Cyrene literally flashed out of existence. Like she teleported or something. I let out a surprised yelp.
Is that something I can do?
Can all casters flash out of existence?
Because let me tell you, that would come in handy so many times.
"Hey, I just wanted to say sorry about everything that happened to you. People here are just on edge lately. The last thing we wanted was for a person like you to get turned into a Caster. No offense. Also, Dariyah is just an awful person. We try not to associate with her," Ro says.
"Why is everyone on edge?" I ask.
"Read the room. People aren't exactly happy with Casters. With each passing day, the divide between us and everyone else grows bigger. The haters are multiplying while our numbers go down. Just a couple weeks ago some idiots vandalized the school. Spray painted Witches all over the walls. People here are scared, there have even been talks that the city wants to shut down the school. This stuff with Dariyah didn't help our case at all. And then you get chosen, not exactly the picture or the message we want to send. This school is home to all of us, for some people, it's the only home they've ever known. To lose it, would be to lose everything. Lose this unspoken battle going on. Casters just want to be accepted like everyone else. So yeah we are on edge, because of you Asherah has already been to several meetings with the city about them wanting to shut the school down. We all worked hard to get here, we earned our spots. To have it all taken away would be the biggest f-you the non-casters could throw at us."
"Oh... I didn't know that." I avert my eyes.
"Now you do. So you see Emery it's not you everyone hates, we are just frustrated and angry at the situation. You are the straw that broke the camel's back."
"If it's any consolation. I don't want to be here just as much as everyone doesn't want me here."
"I think you only don't want to be here because your scared. For the first time in a long time, you don't know anything about anything. Once you get to know everyone and everything I think you'll like it here."
"Don't hold your breath."
"I'm confident. I can help you out around here, protect you from Dariyah and Vega. Those two are nightmares."
"I don't need protection," I snap at her.
"Suit yourself, I was just trying to be nice," She shrugs before moving to leave.
"Wait!" I call.
She pauses in her steps.
"C-could I sit with you during lunch and dinner?" I ask.
"Sure," she shrugs before leaving.
I sigh in relief.
At least I won't have to worry about another incident.
Or so I hope.
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