As Parker stepped down off the last step, he took a deep breath. “Man, there’s got to be an easier way to get to our house.”

Master Sora started laughing, “There is, but you don’t know how to fly yet, so the stairs were our only option.”

Parker turned his head back and looked up the center of the spiral staircase. The center had to be twenty feet in diameter. “So you’re telling me that students and masters travel up and down the center of the stairs?”

Master Sora nodded, “The House of Erion is almost completely based out of the top of the tower because it is easiest for us to travel up the highest. However, The House of Gia also has classes high up because they create floating platforms that can carry them up.”

Parker looked stunned that this was even a possibility. “But where do The House of Gia students live if their classes are higher up in the castle?”

“The House of Gia common room is actually located under the castle in the caves. They use their element to help form the caves along with their living quarters. They can manipulate it to however they want it to be.”

Caleb’s eyes lit up. “That’s amazing! Where are the other houses located?”

Master Sora spoke, “The House of Leith is on the first floor and get to look straight out over the lake. And The House of Kenna is located on the third floor. Also, let you be warned, they have traps set in place just as we do, so do not try to enter without permission.”

Master Sora started walking towards the dining hall when Alexis spoke up. “So, is it just going to be first years at breakfast today?”

“No, no, no. It is everyone! This is the opening ceremony for the new school year. In fact, we’re the last to arrive, so let’s get moving.”

They turned and entered the dining hall, and stopped when they saw how many people there were.

“Welcome!” a booming voice said. Master Sora ushered everyone in and to take a seat at the open spots at the white tables.

Parker, Alexis and Caleb went to sit at the first white table they saw. They each grabbed a seat and then realized someone was already sitting there.

“Hi guys! How’s everything going?” Hailee seemed just as happy as she had from the night before. All of the other new members to The House of Erion filled in the other tables leaving just the four of them at that table.

“Are you excited? The opening ceremony is always really cool!” Just as Hailee said this, the lights went out.

The hall became very cold, like all of the heat had been sucked out. They could hear a crackling sound coming from above their heads, making them nervous for what it could be. A light shined across the ceiling quick, glistening off of the ice hanging down above them.

“That’s ice up there! Why is it cracking?” Alexis whispered in a scared voice. Right when she said the word ‘cracking’ the ice began to fall. The lights turned on, and everyone screamed. Just before the ice made it to their heads, a heat wave rushed out across the hall, evaporating all of the ice.

Fire rolled across the hall, a few feet above their heads. It looked like a fog rolling over a lake, but it put off an immense amount of heat.

“Welcome first years, to Lancastre: Academy for Imperials!” A roar of applause ripped through the air, followed by what felt like a hurricane of wind, cooling everyone off.

“This year will open your minds to new and amazing things you never imagined were possible.” The masters all stood up front, in a single file line, at the front of their house’s row.

Each row was a different house. On the left, Master Kingston stood in front of The House of Leith, with their blue tables. Next to her stood Master Sora at the front of The House of Erion’s white tables. The next row was The House of Gia, with Master Terra at the front and finally on the right was The House of Kenna and Master Keegan.

Master Terra stepped to the middle of the room. Parker remembered the night before when he was able to move all of their chairs and drop the tables into the floor. He was dying to know what was in store for today.

“The opening ceremony will begin after we eat our breakfast. So, fill your stomachs, and get to know your housemates!” When he finished his sentence, he raised his hands above his head and pushed them down, fast. The center of every table disappeared down into the ground. Master Terra raised his hands again and the centers came right back. However, they were now filled with what looked like Power Bars.

“Is this our breakfast?” Caleb asked. “It doesn’t look like a very filling one if so.”

Hailee had a grin on her face. “Just give it a try.”

They each took one from the center of the table and looked at it hesitantly. “Well, here’s to a new beginning!” They all took a bite and their taste buds exploded.

Alexis’s eyes opened wide. “Oh my gosh! It tastes like waffles with syrup! How is that possible?”

Parker was confused with her comment because his tasted like eggs and bacon. “You got a waffle bar? Mine tastes like eggs and bacon. It’s amazing! My mom used to always make me this for breakfast.”

“Mine tastes like peanut butter and jelly. I’ve had that for breakfast every day for as long as I can remember.” Caleb had a smile on his face as he took another bite.

Hailee looked back and forth between each of her new housemates. “The breakfast bar tastes like whatever you want it to. It usually ends up being the meal you like most. I don’t know how they make it do that but it’s different for everyone and they won’t tell you how they do it. I’ve been trying to figure it out since I got here. Most of the meals here are different types of those bars so no one can complain about not liking the food. However, from time to time, we do have an actual meal.”

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Parker was already done with his first bar and was reaching for his second. Hailee warned him, “Be careful on how many you eat. I know it feels like you could just keep eating them because they’re not very big, but eating two of them will be plenty to tide you over to lunch. I ate three once, and I could barely move after.”

“So, Hailee, you’re a second year right?” Alexis asked her, out of curiosity but also curious about why she would be the only second year. She could see hesitation from Hailee, like she didn’t want to say it.

“Yeah… and I’m sure you’ve heard that I’m the only second year in our house.”

Alexis nodded to her, “Can I ask why? You don’t have to answer, I totally understand!”

Hailee could tell that Alexis wasn’t trying to be nosey about it or be mean, just plain curiosity. “Well, when I arrived at the end of the wind tunnel, it was me and three others, that’s all. Then, when we got here, Master Sora sent me to The House of Erion room and the others to The House of Leith room. I sat in our room just waiting for others to show up but no one did. When Master Sora walked in, he said I was the only one that year.” They could tell that she still seemed a little sad about it.

The look on Alexis’s face told Hailee that she felt bad for her. “It’s okay though. It actually helped me out a lot. All of my element classes were one-on-one lessons with Master Sora. I’ve gotten really good. He says I could give the fourth years a run for their money.”

Everyone looked impressed, curious as to what they would be learning each year. They each finished their breakfast, and understood why Hailee warned them about only eating two.

“Thanks for telling me not to eat three of those! I’m stuffed.” Parker was rubbing his stomach while puffing his cheeks out. “I think I’ve got a food baby growing in me!”

“If you guys ever need help on anything, don’t hesitate to ask me! I love helping others out. In fact, I can even talk to Master Sora about helping you guys out in your flying lessons today. I caught on and learned how to fly on the first day. I bet I can help you do the same.”

A shocked expression lit Caleb’s face up. “You learned to fly in only a day? Are you serious? He said we should have it figured out by the end of the week.”

Hailee blushed a little and nodded her head slightly. “Yeah… I’m sure you guys will do great though!”

The four kids sat there talking about their lives from before the school for a few minutes. All of a sudden, their chairs scooted back from the table.

Everyone turned their heads to the front of the dining hall. “Let the New Year begin!” shouted Master Terra. He shot his hands into the air and twisted them in a circle around his head. The tables rose and began spinning rapidly.

Master Kingston stepped in front of him and brought her hands out in front of her. Behind them, a trail of water followed. She moved her arms around and the water did the same. Then, flicking her hands out in front of her, the streams of water shout out across the hall, splitting into many different streams.

Each one hit the top of a table and sprayed off, raining down on the rows of students. Master Terra walked to the middle of the hall and whispered something to one of his students.

A short, black haired boy stood up and followed him to the front of the room. Master Terra whispered something else to his student. Then, the ground under the boy’s feet began to rise. However, it was just a little tile of the floor that the boy was standing on. It floated through the air, higher and higher.

The House of Gia erupted in cheers for their fellow student. The poor boy looked terrified floating through the air.

Master Terra directed him to the table he had been sitting at. The boy took the opportunity to step off of the tile and onto the table. However, the boy now looked even more afraid, not knowing how to get down from the table.

Just as someone was standing on their chair to help him down, a breeze started to roll through the hall. Parker turned to look at Master Sora because he knew it had to be him.

Master Sora stood at the front, hands moving in circular motions, controlling the wind. Slowly, the boy began to rise in the air, held up only by the wind. The master slowly lowered him back down into his seat.

Everyone in the hall started clapping and cheering. When the applause died down, Master Sora took the lead. “This is merely an example of some of the things you will learn to do in your time at Lancastre. Now, will our first years all please rise?” He looked out, realizing that all of the tables were still higher than they should be.

As the first years were standing up, Master Terra quickly made the tables drop straight down into the floor so they were out of the way completely.

“Thank you Master Terra. These are our newcomers! Welcome, to Lancastre, your new home. We may belong to different houses or run in different circles, but we are all family. Working together, we accomplish amazing things.” In a fluid motion, Master Sora began moving his arms around. A breeze began to roll around the dining hall. All of a sudden, the first years from The House of Erion began to rise, not from their seats, but into the air.

A few screams let out, while all of the upperclassmen chuckled, knowing that something like this was going to happen. Master Sora began moving the first years from his house around through air. “Soon, you will be able to do this on your own. Our house is famous for having students who can fly.” The students floated through the air, multiple feet over the heads of everyone in the dining hall.

Master Keegan let out a wave of fire that rippled through the hall. Separating those in the air from those in their seats. The haze of fire stayed there, creating a barrier between the two sets of students. Then, in a flash, the fire dissipated and steam rose engulfing The House of Erion students floating in the air

Master Terra moved his hands around, forming certain shapes with his hands. It looked like he was making and “L” with his right hand and then he thrust it forwards and then pulled it back to his chest. At that moment, every chair in the room moved into rows up by the head table.

Screams let out around the room from the first years that were not expecting it. The rest of the room started laughing, clearly aware that it was going to happen.

“You will soon split off in order to head to your first classes. I know you’re excited about that, but first we need to go through some rules for the school.” Master Sora pointed to Master Kingston, motioning for her to begin.

“Upperclassmen, you know the rules, so be sure to help out our newcomers. I will however, go over some of the basics.

Rule One:

No attacking other students with your element.

Rule Two:

Students are not allowed in Master’s Chambers without permission

Rule Three:

Do not leave your house after curfew.

There are many more rules but those are a couple of the big ones I want to stress. The others you will learn as you go from the masters and from your housemates. First years, you will be meeting with the head master of your house. Second years, you will be with your other house master and everyone else will follow their schedules. Have a great first lesson!”

Parker looked at Alexis and Caleb. “Master Sora never told us we were going to meet. Where do you think we should go?” They both shook their heads then looked to Hailee for advice.

Before she could say anything, a whisper rang in their ears. “Meet me by the head table in the dining hall after everyone has left.”

They looked back and forth, trying to figure out if they each heard the same thing. Caleb asked, “Did you hear that? Or am I crazy?” Parker and Alexis nodded while Hailee started to laugh.

“It’s the same thing he did to me last year. It’s a really cool skill you’ll learn to use.”