Verder crested the rise with a pristine suit and lazy breath. Unbothered by the ascent or the ‘help’ he’d given. While she and, if the groans proved anything most of the others were still nursing aches.

Evening had well fallen by this point, adding a pale orange tint to the world. Two had eaten little since morning, late as it was she felt the familiar pangs of hunger creeping up on her. Two could manage for a few days and she doubted the school’s oddites included starvation.

Abery could persist on the glut of snacks he’d brought and Igni. She glanced and the winged man, presently watching Verder part the crowd with his mere presence on his way to the gate. She wasn’t sure if Igni ate.

Musing complete she dragged herself to her feet and joined the others ambling around the teacher. The gate groaned open at his approach. The metal master ascended into the wall, screeching all the way as stone ground against mechanisms that sounded as if they had gone unoiled for a thousand years,

Then they poured through in the teacher’s wake.

The interior made a sort of sense. They stepped into a wide paved courtyard, its stones as mismatched as the walls. To either side of it stood two buildings she could only describe as barracks. They were squat heavy things built to last and endure and like all things in this place, they bore the scars. Other buildings dotted the surroundings, all bore the same theme.

Rather than a place of magic this felt like somewhere dreams went to die and be forged into blades. Her stomach sank at the sight but a discongruity halted the fall. In the distance between the varying structures that sprouted along the paths that led from the courtyard.

She saw a glimpse of gleaming wood and flowing purple cloth.

“Girls to the left lads to the right.” Verder’s gruff voice shook them from their thoughts. The gate slamming shut behind them snapped them to attention. “You are to be present in this courtyard an hour after dawn. Someone will be here to take you to your orientation, after which permanent lodgings will be assigned. You are dismissed” With that he walked off.

Leaving a collection of students from varied backgrounds and of mixed ages, to self organize. Two quickly found her way to the crowd’s edge, taking her companions with her.

“What are we doing ma’am.” Abery gaze flicked between her and the quickly developing messes. Igni simply looked on, feathers puffed in interest.

“I am going to wait for the fighting to die down then choose one of the remaining rooms. I recommend you do the same.”She sighed as she looked splintering group. Some had already ran off to get first pick. “I recommend you do the same or go now.”

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Abery only seemed to half hear. He’d frozen at the word fight. Whether in fear or wonder, she couldn’t tell.

“Why do you think there will be fights?” Igni turned his attention to her.

Two managed to keep her features from twisting as she sought an answer beyond ‘people are assholes’. It took a surprising effort to put her belief into words. Abey ran off to his barrack and the crowd had parted by the time she found some. “Pride, fear and purposiveness I guess.”

Igni met her words with a silence that drew her on.

“Some will have rooms they prefer, even if all of them were the same. Others might fear ending up with something bad and more than a few will see something decide it’s theirs and refuse any other option. I imagine there are those who’ll do all of the above” Despite her rambling cadence, he listened attentively. “So conflict and fighting in one way or another. It doesn’t help that a lot of them are nobles or rich. They expect to get what they want which adds fuel to the fire. The only way to win is not to play.”

It felt cynical and overly verbose when she laid it out. She could’ve summed it all up as ‘conflicting interest’ and saved the effort. Igni glanced away and Two followed his gaze.

At the entrance to the male barracks people jostled to get through the entrance, A process that could have lasted a dozen or so seconds became stretched into minutes. Until the crowd parted as Lux waded into the building only to resume immediately after. There weren’t even that many students.

Igni humed and Two huffed. “I suppose you’re right,” he sounded disappointed and amused. hHs gaze returned to her.”But they seem to have different opinions. So why do you believe it.” He stared into her eyes and not for the first time she was taken by how the soft grey of his iris seemed to melt into the white.

She glanced away. “I guess I just have low expectations.” Her voice was stilted rather than flat. She was hesitant and she despised it. The reason for her hesitancy was obvious but she could do little about it, Igni wanted the best for people. She didn’t.

When she glanced back a small smile greeted her. He wasn’t judging her instead a curious glint shone in his eyes, the evening sin cast his wings in shades of gold and deep brown. “Am I included amongst people,”

Two blinked rapidly as her brain scrambled for a response. Then her better reasons found her and dragged her skittering thoughts to heel. Her eyes narrowed into a slit glare. “That’s to be decided .” She replied acidly.

Igni’s face remained serene as if he didn’t know what he did, yet his wings gave him away. A slight flutter betrayed his amusement. “Well, I wish you a good evening and good night Two. I am curious which side of people I end up on.”

“As am I.” She said while fighting a losing war to keep her lips from arcing up. He turned away and she followed his back with a glare. It was only as he stooped into the building that the smile cracked through her surface.

She enjoyed it for a while. Surrounded by unfamiliar sights and unfamiliar pleople it felt nice knowing there was someone to joke with. She calmed her features and entered the barracks, but her steps felt a tad lighter.

She didn’t believe all would be well, but for whatever pain life would throw at her, she promised to remember the good bits too.