Neo felt a massive tug on his guts, forcing his stomach into his mouth as he slowed rapidly before stopping.

Even though Neo didn't feel as if he had splattered into the hard earth, he hadn't landed yet. His eyes opened to find that he had stopped a few inches off the ground in a large arena. It had several entrances and some stands for people to sit. Looking down, he saw that he was above some sort of enchantment.

He heard some unknown voice, "If yer want to get down, then stand up!"

Neo replied curtly as his stomach started reeling, "What? Stand up? I am in midair how can I stand up."

"Don't yer get snippy with me, now move before that stupid meteor crushes you," said the voice.

Neo’s eyes bulged as he looked up and saw a blue light falling out of the sky.

Standing up he found almost instantly that there was a resistance that he could push against. Not questioning anything, he jumped to the ground and found the world spinning as he got up too quickly. He gripped his head and walked away from the landing pad.

He heard a great boom as Gie landed with a spectacular fire and blue light. Neo was incredulous as Gie had managed to land in a superhero position in the molten hole it had just made.

Neo imagined that had he been standing there, he would have of been smashed to bits all over the place. After a few moments he emptied his stomach and was quite glad to take a seat on the sandy floor as his head was still spinning.

Then Bethany skipped over with a huge grin, "That was awesome! How'd you like it Neo."

Neo looked up pale faced and she decided the answer herself. She tried to comfort him instead, "Don't worry it'll be better next time."

The meteorite had removed himself from its hole and walked over to both of them without missing a step. Suddenly, Gie was much furrier as something was clawing at its face while shouting, "Didn't I tell you last time you plummeted down that I'd tear yer bloody face off!"

Neo just watched as this furred creature clawed and picked at the rock’s simple face while Gie didn't move or defend himself.

Laughter was all Neo could do as he watched the furry creature removed itself from Gie’s upper body leaving a clean slate where his face just was.

After laughing for a few minutes at Gie's expense, Neo eventually got over it. Though, he giggled a little every time he looked at Gie’s expression, or lack thereof.

Meanwhile, the furry creature had walked back to the hole in the ground and moved his hands in front of himself. His hands glowed a brownish colour and earth poured from them and into the hole until it disappeared as if it wasn't there.

’Wow!’ Neo thought, ‘That was awesome!’

Forgetting about the faceless Gie, he walked over to the furry man using magic.

Now close to the hole, Neo poked it but found it solid. He thought that it might have been cement at first because of the way it flowed.

“How’d you do that?” He asked the furry person. The person had a lightly extended neck, long thin horns, and pooling black eyes.

The furry person looked around towards Neo and started moving very slowly away from him. It was the polar opposite of what Neo had just witnessed.

"Sorry," Neo said, shaking himself from looking into the inky darkness, "My name is Neo, I was wondering how you did that?"

Neo pointed at where the hole had been. The goat like creature looked where Neo was pointing and answered his question in it slow motion, "I am a darkness and earth magic user!" After waiting about a minute for the goat-man to say more, Bethany had drawn up beside Neo and was tugging on his shirt.

Once the old goat had answered the question, he slowly continued moving away again. Neo looked at Bethany for answers, but he found that her head was bowed. "Thank you Master Elfin, for the knowledge you gave us!"

Neo realised that he should hold his tongue and wait to ask any questions until later.

Elfin eventually left the arena, Neo also realised that the other two teachers were not coming down.

He turned to Bethany, "So… What was that about?"

"He's a teacher and under no obligation to tell you anything, especially not their abilities or magic, apart from in the classroom where they teach you of course. But, don't ever ask a teacher about their magic."

"Ok, lesson learned. Don't ask about the teachers magic. So, what does he do?"

"Well as I told you Master Elfin is a teacher and the Gatekeeper for the school. People call him the slow watcher, behind his back of course, but you saw how fast he dealt with Gie. He’s anything but slow."

"So why was he so slow, hell, what is he?"

Bethany shrugged, "Very few people find out and those who do don't tell for some reason, but there are many theories. I am sure you'll find some out later."

Neo looked around at what felt like an old Roman arena. It was all stone with little comfort and sandy flooring. "By the way, where are the other two?" he asked while looking at the now walking away Bethany.

"Ow,they’re going the to the docks of course."

"So, we didn't have to jump? I almost died of a heart attack!"

Bethany sheepishly fiddled with her fingers, "Well no, but life is a risk. We are born to die, so why not experience everything you can!"

Neo couldn't reply to that. It reminded him of his old life and what he'd missed before, either because he wasn't courageous enough or because he let people stop him by telling him what he could and couldn't do. He realised that it shouldn't be like. Maybe he should be more like Bethany, jumping at the opportunity that was presented and bowing to no one. He liked the thought of that as his mind stirred.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

While this thought whirled around his mind they wandered out through a large double door that ledinto a locker room.

One thing above all that Neo noticed was the smell. It had a sweet irony smell, telling the story of the battle that took place there.

As they moved past the prep room, they continued into a reception room. Only after that room did they exit the arena where Neo was greeted by but the sight of dozens of students running, flying, cycling and swimming.

There were canals, which were constructed throughout the grounds of the academy, along with equally large buildings that had a mixture of spires, greenhouses, and stone buildings.

Snapping back to the now after his short selfreflection he asked, "So where do we go now?"

Bethany pulled out a notebook flipping to a set page and pulled her goggles down to read, acting extremely polite. "The schedule for today says we're going to see the headmaster and then get you situated in the in dorms. That'll be it for tonight. Then tomorrow you'll start classes properly. But, since they have no idea what you can do, they'll need to test you in combat."

She finished with her tongue poking out and a massive grin on her face, "Don't think I haven't been busy while you've been lying down all week."

"Thank you, Bethany, I am glad someone is organised, because I am having trouble keeping up with all this exercise and excitement."

Neo yawned as the thought of sleep and bed came to mind.

They continued onward into the centre of the academy where there was a large building standing proudly. At first glance, the rock face looked perfect, there weren’t even any grooves. But, on closer inspection, he could see there were chiseled signs and images that Neo recognised as druidic symbols with forestry etched around them. It was a beautiful sight to see. Like the central symbol above the main doors into the reception room in the arena, the building also had a beautiful dragon lying under a tree.

They entered the main entrance which led them to a marble floored, high ceiling room with lit floating orbs in the air brightening the space up.

Bethany went up to the receptionist and talked for a few moments before she came back and informed him that the headmaster was in a meeting and they'd have to wait for a while.

But Neo was a little grateful as he sat down and rested his body which felt weak. It was an exciting experience as he watched all the different students going about their daily business in the matching uniforms. The females wore skirts and blouses and the males had trousers and a shirt. Both had a symbol of a dragon lying under a tree embroidered into the jackets and shirts.

Neo realised then that he'd have to put with dressing up in uniform from now until he graduates again. Why would someone want to go back to school and wear those horrible uniforms? He knew the answer. It was because it would level the playing field so that there wouldn't be as much of a difference between a poor student and a rich one, not to mention all the peer pressure that comes with keeping up with the Joneses. It was also a badge of pride, creating an identity for the school.

Unfortunately, Neo's rest didn't last as long as he wished before the receptionist came from behind the counter to inform them that the headmaster was ready to see them.

If there one thing Neo hated more than anything, it was stopping and starting when all he wanted to do was to sleep and rest.

Begrudgingly, Neo got up from his comfortable seat and followed the recptionist through the hallways, past classrooms which were either in use or left empty. It took them quite a while to. Once they entered the passage Neo examined the long red-carpet and forest patterns on the walls.

Neo managed to get glances in the rooms along the way and he saw lots of teachers at their desks discussing something with their co-workers. Some of the teachers were curious about the new arrivals and were poking their heads out to see better.

They came to the end of the corridor, to a double set of doors which the Receptionist pushed open, introducing them as she did, "Sir the new student is here, Young Master Neo and his companions Bethany Truth Shredder and Protector Gie."

With a small crowd of interested teachers behind them, Neo was quite glad when the door closed behind him as the receptionist left.

Stepping forward Neo saw an old man sitting behind a massive oak desk, and it made Neo think. ‘What is it with the huge desk, is he trying to intimate those who enter or what? Don't they know that fear is the worst way of managing? Sure, it’s less work, but often things go a bit beyond them as no one wants to be here. So they avoid coming, and trouble starts when they go behind the bosses back to avoid him or her.’

Waiting for the old man to start talking, Neo took in the surroundings. Apart from the desk there were huge bookcases. Neo tried looking for any books he knew, but there was nothing. Not a single one.

It was a long while before the old man even looked up from his desk and, finally, Neo could see he was another beast kin. Neo thought that he was an owl. He had mistaken his white feathers for the white hair of an old man at first. It made sense, he guessed, to pair wisdom and magic. The headmaster’s big eyes disturbed him very much, as if he was looking at a predator who didn't even see Neo as anything more than the human he looked like at the moment, seeing as he had covered the blotches of scales before leaving.

The old man spoke, breaking whatever hold he had over Neo as the man didn't nearly look as dangerous as before. "Hello Neo. I have a report detailing everything you've done, and I even have a direct order from the council to take you in and teach you. I'll be clear, I don't like being ordered to do anything. So, I am going to have you take a test, as any other wannabe has to do, to enter my academy. If you pass,then this academy would do everything we can to save you,and if you don't then we'll use you as a case study in biological manipulation and study you!"

Neo was quivering, ‘Damn, that intensity is insane how is he doing that?’ Looking toward Bethany he could see that she was standing perfectly normal, if a little silent and obedient.

Surprisingly, Neo found that he was growing angry and doing so seemed to relieve the intensity that he was feeling. Forming a fist, an image of tearing the throat out of this arrogant old man popped into mind.

Neo took a step forward, and another, with his vicious intent raising so much that the pressure had gone, and instead, the old man was sweating. But, he didn't have any worry written on his face, only interest and curiosity.

This was a clear warning, but it didn't dissuade his anger, it only enraged him. Stepping forward, he glanced back to see Bethany. She had her eyes closed and tears were forming and dropping to the ground.

Bethany’s worry and caring were like a wet blanket. Twice in one day she made him stop and think. His anger abated as he took a step back, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. He took another and breathed even deeper and released his anger into the universe.

Once he was sure he had his anger under control, he opened his eyes and found the headmaster smiling and nodding.

He felt a small pair of arms around his waist, and a now slightly moist T-shirt as Bethany hugged him.

"I hated that, everything going inky black, it gives me the creeps. I've never seen something like it before."

Patting Bethany on the back Neo looked back at the owl man, who was looking a little concerned and confused at the image in front of him.

"Sorry about that Neo, I had heard you might have an emotional problem with that dragon blood flowing through you, and I wanted to test you before letting you near my students who can be very annoying. Anyway, it's why you might feel a little hot in here since I used my mana to get a reaction. You passed, by the way, I was checking if you could control yourself which you did, eventually."

'Thanks to Bethany!' Neo thought

The Headmaster directed them to a set of leather chairs. "My name's Helix. I've had a timetable made for you, with special classes for you to learn control that anger, learn magic, and combat like the other students. But first, we need to learn what skills you have before assigning you to exact classes. I'll have you go with our best instructor to be assessed, then you'll be able to rest for the day."

Neo coughed, "I was told that I shouldn't be doing any activity and I tend to listen to my doctor. You know, like everyone should."

Helix waved his hand, "Don't worry about it, I'll have a healer there to make sure you don't die."

Neo slightly panicked, "What do you mean ‘make sure I don't die’, would I die from the test?"

Helix shrugged, "You shouldn't, but I won't have you test against a student. That would be just too dangerous and uncontrolled."

Neo nodded in understanding. He didn't really have any magic, so if he stood against a student who didn't have good control that would most definitely kill him.

A little while later, as they were discussing his room and that of his bodyguards, there was a knock on the door. Helix called out for whoever it was to enter. Neo got up to see who it was and found a hulking great big lion kin with bulging muscles, a luscious mane, and shining fangs and claws.

Neo took in the fantastic sight and thought, ‘This is going to be fun!’ as a smile sprouted on his face.