We were driving up to a massive gate with stone walls, making it impossible to see what was behind it if you were thirty feet tall. 

Ron handed an ID to the man in charge of the gate's comings and goings. They then mumbled some words in the same language. The gentlemen nodded to both of us and let us through the gate. 

The road was about one to two miles long until we came up to this hill, on the other side of which was a beautiful building covered in ivy. We pulled up to these massive marble steps, with three people standing at the top, waiting for us. Ron parked and handed the keys to a valet, and both of us got out. 

“You are about to meet the headmaster of this academy as well as his son and assistant. You should feel privileged as not many get this opportunity to be greeted by him, so show him why you should be here”. Ron said. 

I nodded and took a deep breath. I have no idea who this man is, but with these expectations suddenly placed on me, I couldn’t help but feel nervous. 

Ron started up the stairs, and I followed. The walk up the stairs felt like an eternity. As we started to almost reach the top, I saw these golden brown eyes that I locked with. He was a younger gentleman who was staring at me very analytically, but we didn’t break eye contact. After a couple more seconds of walking and hauling our luggage, we finally made it to the top, where it levels out.

When we made it to the top, the three individuals greeted us.

“Ron, a pleasure to see you again, and Miss Phen, we have been awaiting you,” he said as he put his hand on my shoulder.

“Don’t touch me,” I said. “I don’t know who you are.”

He backed off as if he was scared of me, “I understand, I do apologize.”

I looked at Ron and he was astonished at what I did, I'm assuming it was speaking against the headmaster. I guess I’m already on the wrong side.

The headmaster started laughing. I was confused.

“Thank you so much for coming, Miss Phen. I do apologize if I have overstepped my boundaries, but we appreciate you coming to our fine academy, " he said, seeming genuine.

“Yes, thank you”. I said, still being cautious.

He put out his hand, “My name is Lance Williams. This is my assistant Penelope and my son Liam Williams. Once again, it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Phen,” he said as they all bowed.

The son looked at me excitedly, as if he had someone new here to mess with, someone who questioned his father for once.

They were all wonderful people. Penelope was fit and tall; you could tell she was solid with sharp features. The father also had robust, very sharp features and looked like he would be in a “hot but single looking for a wife” ad you’d find on the internet. Then the son looked like a supermodel, like someone you’d find on the Sexiest Man of the Year every year.

“My name is Phen, not Miss Phen,” I said, touching his hand.

“Alrighty, Phen, let's get straight to it.” He said with a grin.

Out of nowhere, a kick came flying to my face from Liam. I grabbed his foot and pulled him underneath me. I met my foot to his throat, holding him down. I didn’t even mean to do it, but my body did it independently.

“What the fuck!” I said, keeping my foot on his throat. 

“Penelope, write that down,” Lance said.

She nodded as she took note of what happened.

“Will someone explain to me why this kid just attacked me?”

“Kid? Liam said, He got up quicker than my eye could register causing me to fall. He caught me as I was about to fall. “I guess this kid just helped you out.”

“Yeah, we are not doing this. This is something out of a cheesy romance novel,” I said, pushing him away and then brushing off my clothes. “Care to explain why that happened, anyone?”

“It seems as if your awakening has happened,” Lance said with a smile.

“Awakening? No one has explained anything to me, and I need answers.” 

“Everything will be explained,” Lance said.

I had heard the same thing all day; it would be explained. I sighed and said, “And when will that be?”

‘Right after we get you settled, Liam, could you show Phen to her room and show her around? After that, bring her into the briefing room for an explanation of what is going on. I think she deserves one.”

Liam nodded, helped me pick up my stuff, and was ready to show me around.

“So, Phen? Do you have a boyfriend?” 

“No,” I responded quickly to shut down the conversation.

“How could someone as pretty as you do not have one?”

I looked at him, rolled my eyes, and kept walking.

“Ouch, no response.”

I looked back at him again and said nothing.

We walked up to these massive, magnificent doors as if engraved with the hours of an ancient civilization.

They opened on their own as if they were controlled by something.

“How did they open?”

“Look who’s talking now,”

“Just answer the question.”

‘Fine, fine. It's because it saw me and my amazing looks that it opened the door by itself,’ he said while winking. I assumed he thought it was “charming,” but I was physically repulsed by it.

“Never mind, forget I asked,” I said, not wanting to entertain him and his childishness.

“It's aura,” a random gentleman said as he walked beside us.

“Charlie!” Liam said as he threw his arm around him. I assume they’re close friends.

They were horsing around a little while greeting each other, so I gave them a moment to settle down.

The gentleman paused and looked at me, “You must be Phen?”

“Yes, and I’m presuming you’re Charlie,” I said with a chuckle.

“Correct! We have been so excited about your arrival; everyone has been getting impatient.”

My arrival? So far, I have had no answers as to what is going on, so my question is, why am I so special that everyone knows who I am?

“Liam, you better hurry up with the tour. The briefing starts in about two hours, and she needs to get her stuff unpacked.”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it,” Liam said as if he wasn’t excited

“All right, Phen, it's nice to meet you, and I’m excited to see you at the briefing soon!”

“Nice to meet you, Charlie. Hope to see you as well.”

As Charlie ran off, Liam and I were alone again. For some reason, this time, he had a different energy.

He started walking again.

“What’s going on? Are you not excited about the briefing?“ I asked out of curiosity.

He didn’t respond.

“Hello?” I asked again.

“It's not something you should concern yourself with.” He said sternly.

“Well, it seems we are going to have to get to know each other, so I would like to listen if you want to talk about it,” I offered.

He sighed, stopped walking, and looked me in the eyes.

“There is just so much in the world right now that has to be constantly reminded of its drains. The fact that we have to be soldiers, the fact they’re using us and will use you.”

My heart stopped. 

“Let's talk more about this in the bedroom so we can have more privacy,” he asked.

I nodded, and we walked to the room in silence.