The train doors slid open, and Professor Fiordivita, Lucas, and Jaein stepped onto the platform. Calisto quickly helped Yoojin put on the choker before following the others. Yoojin's eyes widened as he took in the sights and sounds of the bustling Central Station.
Despite the stunning design and architecture of the station, the students and professors paid it no mind, as if it were a common sight. They followed the designated path to the port, as Professor Fiordivita had explained that the Olympians' Academies were located on untraceable islands, and they would need to take a ship to reach their destination.
The white walls towered above them, adorned with lit torches that cast flickering shadows across the space. Above, a glass dome supported by marble columns allowed the moonlight to stream in, bathing the room in a soft, ethereal glow.
As Calisto dragged Yoojin further into the room, they passed in front of a massive fountain in the center. The fountain was ornate and grand, with a large bronze statue of a muscular merman kneeling in the basin. His head was thrown back, and his arms raised a conch from which a jet of water spurted, splashing into a pool below. Other statues surrounded the fountain, each one carved with incredible detail and skill.
Yoojin couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and awe at the incredible space. Though he may not have known much about architecture, he knew that this place was truly special.
As they made their way through the station, Yoojin felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement. He had never attended a magical school like Celestial Academy before, and he didn't know what to expect. Since starting junior high school, he had developed a mild form of social phobia, which made it difficult for him to interact with groups of people. It was enough to cause him to be homeschooled.
Fortunately, if he didn't have to speak to strangers, if he had a good feeling about others, or if he was accompanied by someone he was more than acquainted with, his phobia wouldn't be triggered. Yoojin was grateful to have his best friend with him and he had a good feeling about Jaein and Lucas, so he hoped that everything would be alright. He was determined to make the most of his time at the Academy.
They came to a stop in front of an elevator, and thanks to his friend's guidance, he managed not to bump into anyone. The elevator arrived, and they stepped inside. The ride was short, but the walls of the elevator were adorned with intricate carvings and glowing runes, making it feel like a journey through time and space.
Finally, the doors opened, and the group stepped out into a dimly lit hallway. The walls were lined with tapestries depicting scenes from ancient mythology. They reached the end of the hallway and entered a room that looked like a meeting room. Inside, two people, a woman and a man, were waiting for them.
Yoojin's nerves began to get the best of him, but he tried to remain calm and composed.
"Good evening, Headmistress Blackwood and Deputy Headmaster Nakajima. I hope you had a good trip here." the professor said. Yoojin felt a wave of anxiety wash over him as he looked at the two important figures in front of him. He didn't want to make a bad impression.
Headmistress Blackwood was a tall, imposing woman with a stern expression on her face. Her bronze skin complemented her light makeup, red lips, and dark brown hair in a bun, with some strands of hair escaping. Her dark hazel eyes seemed to penetrate through Yoojin, and her modern navy asymmetrical blazer, white pants, and navy stiletto shoes gave her an avant-garde look that Yoojin didn't expect from the headmistress of a magical school. She exuded an aura of power and authority that made Yoojin feel a little intimidated.
Deputy Headmaster Nakajima, on the other hand, was a smaller man with a quiet demeanor. He had short, straight ebony hair, onyx eyes, and wore a classic navy blazer, white shirt, navy tie, and white pants. He seemed to be observing everything that was happening around him, taking in every detail.
Both the headmistress and the deputy had the Academy's coat of arms on the left side of their blazers, where the heart was. Despite their similar attire, the headmistress's avant-garde style contrasted with the deputy's classic style.
Yoojin didn't feel anything from the man, and that's when he realized that the Olympians might be able to mask their powers. He wondered if it was a common ability among them.
"Good evening, everyone," Headmistress Blackwood said in a no-nonsense tone before turning to Yoojin. "I am Headmistress Thalia Blackwood, and this is Deputy Headmaster Shogo Nakajima. We are here to welcome you to our school and to answer any questions you may have."
Yoojin took a deep breath and tried to calm his nerves, his hands slightly trembling. He knew that he had to speak up and introduce himself, but his voice caught in his throat.
Calisto, who had been observing the situation, took his best friend's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze, silently supporting him and reminding him that he was not alone.
"I'm Yoojin Delaney. Thank you for coming here to meet me." he managed to say, feeling his cheeks flush with embarrassment.
Headmistress Blackwood nodded, leaning forward, her expression and voice softening slightly. "Can you tell me more about how everything began? How did you board the wrong train?"
Yoojin took a deep breath and began to recount what had happened to him. He told them about the strange nightmare that he couldn't remember, the sudden appearance of the thick fog where it was impossible to see, and the footsteps that were pursuing him up to the train station.
Headmistress Blackwood listened intently, her eyes never leaving Yoojin's face. When he finished, she was silent for a while, as if considering what he had said.
Finally, she spoke. "Yoojin, I know this must all be very overwhelming for you. But I want you to know that you will be safe at the Academy. We will do everything in our power to protect you and help you with your powers. We will also run some tests to see what your powers are and help you find your Olympian relatives."
Yoojin nodded, feeling a sense of unease. "What will happen now?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Headmistress Blackwood smiled kindly. "You will begin your training, of course. We will help you learn to control your powers and discover your true potential. And who knows? You may even find that you have a place among the Olympians."
Deputy Headmaster Nakajima nodded in agreement. "Moreover, tomorrow morning, I will take you to your house to pack your things. For tonight, we have arranged for you to stay at the Academy's hotel at the station. It's the Academy's hotel for the school's visitors since it's not allowed for them to stay there if they don't have a close relative who attend the Academy."
Yoojin felt a sense of relief wash over him. He was still nervous, but he knew that he was in good hands. He looked at Calisto, who gave him a reassuring smile.
"Thank you," Yoojin said softly.
"Very well. If you have any more questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask. You can also come to find us during the school year," the deputy finished.
"Actually, I have one. I live with my grandmother and my cat, but most of the time, she is not at home. Would it be possible to take my cat with me? There is no one that can take care of Blue," Yoojin asked unsurely.
"Of course, you can bring your pet. There are some Olympians that come with their pets because they have to do with their powers," the headmistress answered.
"Thank you so much." Yoojin felt a sense of relief wash over him.
The headmistress and the deputy got up. "We will meet tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock in front of the fountain."
Yoojin felt his tense shoulders begin to slacken as he relaxed, realizing that the meeting was over. He followed the others out of the room and into the hotel, feeling grateful for their support. He knew that he had a lot to learn at Celestial Academy, but he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
Later that night, Yoojin and Calisto were sharing a room in the Academy's hotel. Yoojin was lying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, while Calisto was sitting at the desk, playing Sonic on his Switch.
"Are you okay?" Calisto asked, noticing Yoojin's distant expression when he turned around to look at his friend.
Yoojin sighed. "I don't know. It's all so overwhelming. I always thought that I was boring and ordinary. I couldn't even imagine my future. When I was a child, I never knew what job I wanted to do. Every child always says, 'I want to be a doctor' or 'I will be a lawyer like daddy,' but I never could imagine what I wanted to do. And now all of this has happened." Yoojin sighed again.
Calisto nodded. "I know what you mean. It's a lot to take in. But you'll get used to it. And who knows? Maybe you'll even enjoy it."
Yoojin smiled weakly. "I hope so. But what if I don't have any powers? What if I'm just a regular human?"
Calisto shrugged. "I doubt it. There's something different about you, Yoojin. I can feel it. When I first met you, I thought that you were an Olympian, but after some time, I wasn't so sure since you never reacted when I insisted on watching Hercules of Disney. So, I thought that you were simply a hybrid."
Yoojin looked at Calisto with panic in his eyes. "What do you mean? Are you saying that the only reason you became my friend is not because of me?"
Calisto saw his friend's distress and quickly reassured him. "No, I never thought that. You were looking really lonely like me, and I really wanted a friend." Calisto hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I don't know how to explain it. It's just a feeling I got when I saw you. Like there's something special about you. Something that sets you apart from everyone else. You know about my sixth sense, but that's also my power as an Olympian. I have a set of abilities called extrasensory perception focused on the future. My sixth sense is also called clairvoyance. I have other powers, but we can talk about them again when we know what your powers are. Anyway, what I mean is that I felt a connection with you, and I really wanted to be friends with you."
Yoojin felt a warmth spread through him at Calisto's words. He had always felt like an outsider, but maybe, just maybe, he had a place in this world after all.
He got up from his bed at the same time as his friend got up from his chair, and they fell into each other's arms, hugging tightly.
"Thanks, Calisto." he said softly. "That means a lot to me."
Calisto grinned. "No problem, Yoojin. And remember, we're friends because we enjoy each other's company, not because of any powers or abilities. Now we should get some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow."
Yoojin nodded before settling down on his bed and closing his eyes. Meanwhile, Calisto turned off the lights and also settled down. As he drifted off to sleep, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation for what was to come.
He knew that they both had a lot to learn at Celestial Academy, but with Calisto by his side, Yoojin felt confident that everything would be okay.
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