Mike

(Room 57, House Zayin, Academy Dorms)

A voice shook Mike awake.

"Wake up now, wake up! Students, did I not say twenty minutes only, then you must assemble in the Courtyard? Come now, no more dawdling!"

Mike jumped out of bed, now missing its mysterious pull, and scrambled to get out of his room and down into the courtyard. As he burst out his door, he witnessed practically everyone running out of their rooms simultaneously, eyeing each other in confusion as they bolted down the hallway.

They must have woken us all up simultaneously. Mike thought as he overheard some conversation.

"Hey, were you all asleep too?"

"I can't even remember more than opening my door!"

"Yeah, then suddenly someone is screaming inside my head to wake up."

"Wait, so we all just took a random five-minute catnap?"

Mike smirked as they reached the reception area. Rounding the corner he saw the girls all streaming down the stairs to join in the mad dash. He glanced around for Sam, but couldn’t see her. Everyone rushed out the doors and down the steps into the courtyard, where Calum was waiting, arms crossed with a stern look on his face. As the last stragglers made it, Calum used his amplified voice to address them.

"Right, since you all decided to take your time, we'll need to take a small jog to get to the Assembly on time. Line up into six lines of 50, 3 for boys and 3 for girls. You'll be running alongside each other, now hurry up!"

The frazzled students lined up as quickly as they could, Mike finding himself near the front of the second boy's line.

"Alright, let's move out, No questions until after assembly since most will be answered by the President there in any case. Follow me, newbies!" Calum took off at quite the pace, on the verge of running.

This is going to be a really fast jog. Mike thought dejectedly. He wasn't averse to running, just not eager right after waking up.

They ran out of the courtyard and along the cart road Calum had driven with Mike yesterday as they made their way towards the signage reading 'Grand Concourse' as well as 'Great Hall'. As they ran, Mike began to notice other groups of students also running along the road, all seemingly behind them, clearly coming from different houses.

"Come on Zayin, don't let our house be shown up, yeah? Keep running! This is nothing. You're supposed to be exceptional! Show your peers and the President your resolve!" Calum shouted out. The run lasted around seven minutes and was definitely not something Mike had been expecting to do before his first Assembly at magic school. Those around him were showing signs of serious fatigue, but they pushed themselves hard, and finally, a large round building came into view. The running students slowed to a walk, now coming upon the building which had Mike and the students around him in awe, a mix of oohs and aahs punctuating the air amidst heavy breathing.

The outside of the structure had literal moving statues cast along the exterior, depicting what looked like an epic battle. On the one side, Livari, and aliens of various types, all battling what looked like hideous monsters on the other. Beautiful flowing water with fountains interspersed between them surrounded the foot of the building, with a tall stairway being the only apparent entrance.

There was large wooden lettering above the doorway, in an unfamiliar language which Mike assumed said 'Grand Hall'. It seemed that their house had arrived first at the hall, and as they entered, glasses of water floated over to each person, who took them gratefully as they passed the threshold. Calum, still leading the gawking and huffing students walked a short way into the foyer, gesturing to follow as they came to one of the many entrances to the hall proper. There, the students were met with a sight that just one month ago every world leader had seen, under the influence of 'Peace'. The enormous circular hall, with polished murals, floor, and ceiling, as well as the moving waves crashing against rocks along the walls, it was breathtaking. And then...

There in the middle, was the most beautiful display of nature Mike had ever seen, but upside down. The trees, a waterfall, the ground, everything! And there, perched on an upside-down rock in the center, was...

"La'ar!?" Mike blurted aloud, garnering a couple of confused looks as Calum led them into the gallery. By now, House Zayin, or just Zayin, as they were now known, were filing into seats at Calum's direction, somehow perfectly filling up one of the 12 sets of stands encircling the hall. At the same time, the other houses were also entering, and the tell-tale buzz of hundreds of students excitably chatting filled the stadium. On the side opposite the main entrance was another entrance, where uniformed students and what looked like staff began filing in. The seating nearest their entrance had two sections that were somewhat separated, almost set apart from the ten stands clearly meant for the ten houses. Those students walked in almost stiffly, seemingly offended at the noise coming from the brand-new students. Around Mike, a bunch of them were talking.

"I'm super confused, like, I don't mind running and the floating cups were awesome, but I feel as if something else is going on, ya know?" The guy next to him mentioned to a girl behind him.

"Same! This place is awesome though, I've never seen a hall this gorgeous, only in like, ancient churches and stuff!" she replied.

"This is kinda what we signed up for though, I was expecting boot camp to be honest!" Mike piped up.

"Wow, you think it's gonna be that bad?" the same guy next to him commented.

"Why would they give us powers if they didn't want us to use them? It kinda makes sense that this won't be a walk in the park." the girl behind them reasoned.

It was then that Mike received a message request.

• Message Request - Samantha Ricario Briceau

Accept?

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

Y/N

Mike nearly smacked his head. He had wanted to message Sam but had gotten caught up in the run and the rush of everything. He accepted her message.

'Hey, I see you in the front! I got your message, what did you mean where's everyone? Didn't you sleep? Seems like we all slept really long, but no one else seems to have put it together yet. Kinda confused. You good?'

Mike turned around in his seat to scan for Sam, finding her waving a few rows behind him, though on the other side of their section.

Man, she is way too perceptive! I wonder if it has to do with her gift?... Mike mused as he waved back. He mentally texted her as he turned away.

'Hey, good to see you up and okay. Yeah, I guess you could say I was there first, and I did sleep. Will catch you up later if you want.'

Mike sent the message and was about to turn around and see if she had read it, but it was then that a wave of energy rippled across the room, and it immediately fell silent. There wasn't a single mouth moving as every scrap of attention was diverted to the pale green figure now floating the right way around and slowly descending from the ceiling. He didn't speak anyone into submission, rather, to Mike it felt as though the incredibly constrained presence La'ar had was cracked open just a little so that everyone's magic senses were jolted to attention. La'ar allowed his legs to unfurl beneath him as he floated towards House Zayin's block. That was when he spoke, every word clear as though he were right in front of them.

"Chosen! Welcome, to the Academy, and your new home for the next few years. It is my honor and pleasure to welcome you on this auspicious day. I wish to clarify a small point of contention that only a few of you will have grasped. Please take a moment to check what date today is."

Thousands of hands in the house's blocks swiped across and tapped the air in front of them. Mike noted that the two 'special' blocks didn't move a muscle. Gasps and chatter went up as people noticed and realized what had happened. As soon as La'ar spoke again, however, they quieted down immediately.

"It is almost exactly 24 hours since you arrived at the Academy, and due to your intrinsic nature, a small yet practical prank was played on you as an 'initiation' of sorts, yet also with a vital purpose in mind. Humans, as you know, do not naturally interact with magic, nor do they have the innate ability to harness it. Therefore, it stands to reason that as you move into a new environment that is far denser in magic, your bodies would need a brief period of adjustment so as to acclimate to it without harming yourselves." La'ar said in a tone that brooked no argument as he floated up to our block and then circled across to the others, but not before looking Mike dead in the eyes as he passed.

"I may be more than 10,000 years old, but I remember clearly the shenanigans I and my friends would get up to when we first discovered magic. I do not wish to be an overlord to you, nor do I wish for you to feel as though you exist under martial law, with every thought and movement being monitored, certainly not. My wish is for each and every one of you to grow and develop into exceptional young Chosen, distinct and unique all in your own ways, with Gifts that suit you best, and allow you to thrive and flourish. For this reason, we had you sleep, to allow your body time to adjust naturally and without constraint or danger, which you would have faced yesterday had you decided to use your gift in more than even the most basic manners. In short, using your power of the cuff yesterday would have killed you, and you needed to adjust to a magical environment anyway, seeing as none of you 3000 came from a magical place." La'ar continued to lecture.

"This is not a statement showing a lack of faith in you, but rather a guarantee for us, to ensure you all live to see another day. For you see, my beloved Chosen…" At this La'ars voice became grave. "Your gifts are quite literally the stuff of life and death. And the Livari value the sanctity of life incredibly highly. To us, a lost life is unacceptable, and so we wish to guide and protect you as best we can, until such a time as you do not require that protection anymore. For this reason, you were made to rest before today began. I apologize if the actions we took may have seemed cruel, though please understand it was and always will be in your best interests." La'ar said as he now floated back to the center of the hall near the 'hanging garden'.

"Now, to address a few other queries you may have. You will be surprised to note that you presently reside on Earth. More specifically, Antarctica. It is here where the magic that surrounds your world can most easily be accessed, and so it was decided that Earth's Academy would be constructed here. If you're wondering why you're not freezing to death, more than 200 years ago an artifact was gifted to a few particularly adept human beings, many of whom would later become the first Chosen. This artifact generates a magical barrier which cannot be pierced, by gaze or otherwise, and was set to allow a large space with which to create your Academy safely." La'ar addressed as several whispers began to emanate from the gallery of students.

"Furthermore, this brings us to another question which I will gladly answer." he spoke, before gesturing to the 'special' galleries behind him. "The Chosen you see now seated in the 'legacy' segments of the gallery are the descendants and fruit of those first intrepid pioneers that began the works you now see before you. In other words, there have been sorcerers amongst humanity for the last 227 years, and they have not been idle. They took the task set upon them by the Livari all those centuries ago and fulfilled most of their calling to completion. They built the Academy, prepared the world for magic in fiction and media, and awaited the Livari's arrival with bated breath. Now, here they are before you. Let us congratulate them for their tireless work and the sacrifices they've made for the betterment of Earth." La'ar spoke magnanimously, before starting the clap that took off and thundered around the hall to whoops and cheers as the now flustered 'legacy' segments rose to their feet one and all, looking uncertain and perplexed at the praise they were being showered with.

As the applause died down, it was apparent that La'ar had the full support of the new Chosen, each one of them, including Mike, eagerly awaiting his next revelation. "Fret not, I will not be addressing the Academy's storied history any further, lest I ruffle the historian's feathers as it were," he smirked, arching a brow at one of the female staff in the legacy section, who promptly turned beet red at the attention. "From here onwards I would simply like to address you with regards to your purpose, not only at the Academy but at large. In short, I can assure you that you are quite literally the most special former humans that have ever walked this planet. Here you will train in your Gift, learn its essence, and become so well-versed in your talents that they will become like second nature to you. I also wish to reiterate to you that not one of you will be allowed to face challenges in the 'real world' that you cannot handle. You are here to study after all, not become living soldiers off the bat, as some here might like to suggest." he looked around pointedly at several faces, including Calum. This revelation came as a reassurance to many, who had clearly steeled themselves, same as Mike, for the worst. Sounds of joy and relief washed around the hall, and some disgruntlement from the legacy gallery.

"However," La'ar announced with gravity, "Do not mistake this courtesy as an excuse to be slothful and lax. You will be expected to do your utmost in your studies, the training of your Gift, and eventually, your future assignments as Chosen. Let me put this as succinctly as possible." La'ar lowered his voice to a dangerous calm. "If you do not put in the effort, or you surmise that 'cruising' your way through this Academy is an option, you will be summarily dismissed from the Academy, stripped of your Gift, rejected from the Link, and the Agreement made null and void to you. Your memory of this place, your studies, your friends, and your life here at the Academy, will be ripped from the corners of your mind, and you will be left with nothing but the knowledge of your failure, the longing for that which you can never replace or find again, and of course, the disgrace of being an 'Ex-Chosen'." he ended severely.

The room was shockingly quiet, with even the 'legacies' looking not smug, but serious, as though they had understood this truth from the beginning.

"Some of you may think this harsh, but in the coming days, you will understand why we are so strict on the Chosen. It will include what you like to call a 'field trip', to a faraway place. There you will understand the gravity of what we face." he said with finality. "That being said, do not think that we are so heartless as to simply give you powers and say 'work hard'," he said to a still silent room. "For you will find the compensation for being here and for being a Chosen to be most enticing. For just being a student, those of you who were once poor and destitute, your days of poverty are over. A monthly stipend of $10,000 is allotted to each student, who may do with it what they will. Your parents or guardians will of course be informed of this, so that it is a clear and transparent adjustment. Should issues arise, you may discuss them with us of course. Furthermore, the rewards for excellence in your studies and eventual assignments go beyond the mere monetary compensation, which is also vast. The Link is your access to the rest of the Galaxy, and by extension, your family's as well. The better you do, the more your privileges concerning the use of teleporters, extra-solar travel, and galactic purchasing increase. In other words my Chosen, you can become the equivalent of royalty, and not just on this planet." La'ar said with a smirk, warming up the room as excitable chatter began to fill the air.

"That being said, the more promise you show, the more interest will be placed on you, and the better the equipment, support, and other such advantages will be afforded to you eventually. That is just the tip of the iceberg." La'ar said as he twirled in the air to look at each gallery.

"You may be wondering why such potential extravagance might be afforded to you or the Chosen at all for that matter. The answer to that question will come with the upcoming field trip. Let all these potential incentives and more motivate you to do your best." he said before changing tack.

"I have a few more minor announcements to make. Firstly, yes, your first day of classes begins today. Secondly, you will be granted access to contact your families by 8 PM this evening. Thirdly, as you ought to know, your lodgings and food, whilst here, are free of charge. The only time you will interact with money here is to purchase goods from the Link, this includes Earth or any other Link-connected planet. And lastly..." La'ar's words rang out as he snapped his fingers.

In the blink of an eye, thousands of gasps and cries were heard as the Chosen were all now neatly standing outside in front of the entrance to what Mike recognized as the Colosseum. Everyone looked around themselves, perplexed by the sudden change, their brains struggling to comprehend what had just occurred. As far as Mike could tell, they had just been 'mass teleported' right in front of their giant gym, the realization becoming especially apparent since everyone began noticing that their clothes had been changed to gym-wear, alongside their teleporting.

La'ar's dominating presence focused everyone's attention on him, as he floated above their heads. "You may be wondering what your first class is, and who it will be with. I'm pleased to announce that your first class is a combination of Physical and Gift exercises. A benchmark of your base abilities as they stand right now." La'ar stated as jaws all over dropped at the dawning realization of what was happening. Mike was mentally prepared for the challenge, but soon his jaw too was hanging wide. "Oh, and your teacher..." La'ar said as he split himself into 12 bodies, each of them speaking simultaneously as their arms spread wide. "...will be me!" With that, each La'ar was hovering in front of what Mike realized was every house that had been together in the galleries. "Welcome to class, Chosen!"