Walking outside, it was another beautiful autumn morning. The sun was out and the red, orange, and yellow leaves gave the campus vibrancy and life. I went to the Fyron Dormitory and stepped inside the red brick tower, a small set of steps stood before me. My breathing was erratic and sweat conquered my hands.
It was 7:50 a.m. Students were hanging out in the cafe in the lobby area. The same girl from the previous day was still at the front desk counter.
Did she ever leave her post? I wondered.
Professor Shia stood at the top of the steps, smiling and waving at me. "You're early. I like that. Shall we start the announcement now?"
"Let's rip off the band-aid," I said with a smirk.
"Excuse me, everyone!" Professor Shia boomed.
All the students hanging around the lobby stopped and gave their attention. More kids filed in from the other hallways. Most of them stared at Professor Shia, but some gazed at me like an animal in a zoo. Others whispered to each other, and a few read a textbook on their lap. They didn't look too different from the glazed-over careless eyes I commonly saw in my high school. Nevertheless, my heart thumped in my chest. Even though I wasn’t sure if I had to say anything, I was trembling.
"Now that I have most of your attention, I will make this quick. We have thrilling news in the fire mage family. Someone from the Nomagi World has transferred to our school. His name is Rollie Magpie, and he'll be living here with all of you and attending classes. I hope that all of you––"
"Ahhhhhh!" An ear-piercing screech came from outside the building.
Goosebumps coated my skin, and hushed chatter broke out.
A few students snickered, but most people looked around, trying to locate where the sound came from.
"Excuse that interruption. Hopefully, it's just some students having fun outside. I know all of you can get loud occasionally," Professor Shia said. "Anyways, where was I?”
"Ahhhhhh!"
Another bone-chilling scream came from outside.
"Help!"
Professor Shia's eyes widened. "Everyone, wait right here. I'll be right back!" She ran down the steps and shoved open the door.
All the students in front of me jogged toward the windows at my sides. I joined the crowd in the back and peered out the window.
I was relieved to no longer be the center of attention, but I was concerned about what was going on.
Near the entrance, Professor Shia ran towards three students in light blue cloaks.
My skin tingled.
My blood ran cold.
Everything around me felt like it was going in slow motion.
A hellion crept towards the three students with its wicked jaws dangling open and its claws ready to attack. Saliva oozed down the fangs with its yellow eyes bulging. It stepped closer and let out a blood-curdling roar. Professor Shia ran closer to the students, but the hellion leaped forward and slashed one of them. The kid hit the ground, and everyone around me gasped. Some kids shouted, "What's happening?!" from behind.
The student lay on the ground, and slowly a pool of blood formed underneath him. I recognized him as Bradley, the one who greeted me in the academic building.
He was so nice in that short passing.
The other two shrieked and sprinted away. Opening its jaws, the hellion stared over the victim. Then Professor Shia held out her hand, and a brilliant blast of fire shot out like a cannon, obliterating the hellion.
"Whoa!" someone yelled.
Professor Shia knelt by the injured student, and a few other adults jogged toward them. Everyone around me broke out in nervous chatter.
"What was that thing?" a kid next to me asked.
"Did anyone see who it attacked?"
"I think it was Bradley Donovan."
"I hope he's okay!"
"Does anyone know what the heck that thing was?"
"A hellion," I said.
People near me paused, stunned.
"Really? I've heard about ‘em, but I've never seen one! I hear they sometimes fly around in the ocean. What's it doing here?"
"Not sure," I said.
"Hey, wait, how do you know about hellions? Didn't you just get here?"
"I saw one on my way in."
The kid next to me dropped his jaw. "What! No way, you're making this up."
"No, he's right,” another kid said, “that thing was a hellion. I've seen one fly around in the sky before. I thought there was some repellent all over campus to prevent these creatures from coming in.”
One of the adults in a yellow cloak broke away from Professor Shia and ran toward our building. He popped his head in the door and hollered, "All morning classes are canceled! All morning classes are canceled! An emergency situation has arisen, and Principal Pine will be notified. Everyone must stay indoors until further notice!"
"Is Bradley going to be okay?" someone asked.
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"I don't know! Just stay inside for now. I'm not even sure if breakfast will happen. I need to alert the other dormitories!" The professor sprinted back outside.
A silent pause filled the lounge before conversations started back up. I strode away from the crowd and sat on a couch by myself, watching the rest of the students from all different ages discussing and panicking.
I took a deep breath. Part of me was relieved no one paid attention to me, but I felt horrible about what happened to that kid. For some reason, I couldn't help but feel guilty.
Did my late-night travel lure in hellions or something? And that Bradley kid seemed so nice when I met him.
People walked around and waited for the next hour. Many of them sat by the window to watch what else might happen. I didn't want to sit over there surrounded by strangers, but I was curious.
Fortunately, someone yelled out, "They're taking Bradley away! They are hauling him out to the medical tower! Principal Pine is on his way here!"
All students crowded near the front doors. I stood up and hung out in the back as the entrance parted open, and Principal Pine entered with Professor Shia at his side. Jonathan was there too. Everyone was silent for Principal Pine as he took a deep breath and stared at all the students.
"Fire mages. It's always a pleasure being in your home, and I wish I had something more positive to discuss, but I do not. Earlier this morning, a hellion managed to get to campus," Principal Pine continued, but he paused after each sentence. "We have no idea how that happened. The staff here on campus are investigating the situation closely. The Mage Force will be coming to campus to stay outside buildings and monitor the outdoors in an hour. That said, we strongly recommend everyone stay inside when you can. Obviously, we want to continue classes this afternoon, so this incident hasn't disrupted too much of our schedule. The Mage Force Officers will be gone at night, but they will be back in the morning just before breakfast." Principal Pine silently scanned the crowd from left to right. "Some of you know the student, Bradley Donovan. He was the only one that was hurt. Bradley is being taken care of in the medical hall on campus and he should recover after a few days. Keep him in your thoughts. And sorry about this delay, But breakfast will take place in 1 hour at the dining hall. If some of you don't want to go outside for the day, even later this afternoon, your classes will be excused, but remember, the Mage Force will protect you. Does anyone have any questions?"
No one raised their hand, which I was a little surprised at. I raised my hand. Principal Pine noticed me and nodded.
"Has this happened before?" I asked.
"Not that I'm aware of. If it had happened, it would have been hundreds of years ago. You see, hellions have only ever spawned in the ocean. For one of them to get all the way to campus, even without our arcane deterrent, is extremely improbable. With the deterrent, it should be impossible. But we will be inquiring with Lementum Zoologists. Perhaps they have noticed a recent trend with hellions that we might need to keep an eye on. Anyone else have any other questions?" Principal Pine surveyed the rest of the students, but no one said anything. "I hope to see you at breakfast in an hour. Please travel in groups when possible. I'm terribly sorry this has happened, but rest assured, the safety of every student is our priority." Principal Pine turned around and headed out.
I waited in the lounge, unsure of what to do. Sitting on the couch, I stared at the rest of the students, chatting amongst themselves, panicked. I saw Professor Shia emerge from the crowd, but no one seemed to pay attention to her, except for a few students who asked her some questions.
Professor Shia approached me, though, with no one else around her and said, “Rollie, you have no idea how sorry I am that your first day is mired by this tragic event."
"It's okay, Professor Shia. I don't even know what the word mired means."
The corner of Professor Shia's lip curled up. "That's all right, it doesn't matter. Like I said, I'm sorry this has happened. If you'd like, I could introduce you to the students again, but I understand if––"
I shook my head and waved my hand. "Don't worry about it."
Professor Shia frowned slightly. "Well, I should show you to your room. It's on the 4th floor. You will share it with three other boys. Would you like to take a look?"
I shrugged. Part of me didn't care. I kept thinking about Bradley getting attacked. Even though I barely knew him, I felt I could shed a tear about it if I kept replaying the memory.
"I know. This situation has left everyone rattled.” Professor Shia sighed. “I understand if you're not up to seeing the room and meeting people. But I actually saw your roommates walking around here already. So if we go see your room, you won't have to meet anyone or shake any hands. I promise."
I thought about it for a moment. "Okay, I'll check it out."
Professor Shia escorted me to the stairwell, and we went up four floors. I really appreciated the spiral flagstone staircase. It was like nothing I had ever seen. It was wide as well, probably because it had to accommodate so many students simultaneously. She took me to the fourth floor, room 418.
Before going inside, she knocked and waited for a response. "This is Professor Shia. I am coming inside your room with your new roommate with me."
Silence replied.
Professor Shia connected her skeleton key and unlocked the door. Inside, we were in a small living room. A coffee table in the center, two couches on opposite sides, and two tall and narrow windows with a fireplace in between them.
"Wow, this looks amazing," I said.
"And in here, this will be your bedroom," Professor Shia said as she approached a door off to the side. She knocked on it and turned the handle.
"Uh, who is it?" someone said from the other side in a hazy voice.
Professor Shia's eyes widened, and she jumped back from the door. "My goodness! I'm so sorry. I knocked on the door and didn't think anyone was there."
"It's okay, I'm just in the middle of––" the person yawned, ending with an obnoxious high pitch. "I was, uh, just in the middle of sleeping." The conversation carried on through the door.
"Mortimer, I have your new roommate here. His name is Rollie. I was showing him around and wanted to take him to his room."
"Wait. I have a roommate now? Why?"
"Well, Rollie is from the Nomagi World and happens to be a fire mage. We want to give him a warm welcome on campus and enjoy his experience here."
"Oh. Nice to meet you, man. I'm Mortimer," he said through the wall.
"I'm sorry he hasn't come out to greet you," Professor Shia whispered. "He's a bit of a sleepy kid. Perpetually tired. I'm sure you've met people like him before?"
"Kind of sounds like me," I smirked. "Nice to meet you too, Mortimer. I'm Rollie. I'll be moving in later tonight with my stuff."
"Okay. Well, I'm going back to sleep. I have some time still before class starts."
"You don't want any breakfast?"
"Nah. I usually skip it, to be honest."
Professor Shia exhaled irritably. "You know, it might be why you're so tired all the time. Breakfast helps give you energy through the day."
"Yeah... but it really doesn't, though. Sorry.”
I was about to crack up, but I held it in.
"Look, Mortimer, I'm sorry to keep bothering you, but something happened this morning. Did you hear about what happened with Bradley Donovan?"
"I don't even know who that is."
Professor Shia explained the entire incident.
"Whoa, that's pretty messed up," Mortimer said. "But you said that we don't have classes this afternoon?"
Professor Shia shook her head, even though Mortimer couldn’t see. "You will be excused from class if you decide not to attend, but it's strongly encouraged you do. Mage Force Officers will be on campus to ensure nothing goes wrong."
"Yeah, I'm not so sure about all this. I'll just wait until tomorrow to see how things go."
Professor Shia rubbed her forehead. "Would you at least like to come out and introduce yourself to your roommate?"
"That's all right. I'm still getting up. I can meet him later when I'm more awake."
"As if that will ever happen. Good day to you, Mr. Mortimer. I'll be by later to help Rollie move in."
"Okay, thanks for popping in. Nice meeting you, Rollie."
"Nice meeting you, too," I said. I found the whole conversation through the wall bizarre, but he seemed nice enough, which was a relief.
"Come on, we'll go to the dining hall for breakfast," Professor Shia said, "and before I forget, here's your class schedule for this semester."
Professor Shia handed me a small scroll. I unraveled it and saw that I had My first class at 9:30, Boltology with Professor Shia. My second class was Elixirs with Professor Michaels at 11:00. Then there was Lementum Geography and Social Studies with Professor Hawthorne. Finally, career class with Professor Rhonda at 3:00. I loved how the schedule was spaced out.