I'm Seraphine Eldridge. Royal Princess Seraphine Eldridge of the Kingdom of Elbs, the last living descendant of the Eldridge bloodline. The royals of Elbs were the most envied clan world wide at a time. There's a secret special to our bloodline alone. No one knows why it is as it is.. but well it is. We can see magic. Off course how one see differs individually, every Eldridge can see magic and hence somehow, magic doesn't work on us. So, no magic in this world could harm us and we grew to be the strongest empire of its time. All Eldridges were efficient in magic. We aren't witches and wizards but are counted as such as we excell in magic. It comes so naturally. The world feared us and we ruled four huge states for centuries. Maintaining peace and harmony and order and dignity. But the glory ended with my grandfather. No one inherited his genes and hence the kingdom went down to ruins.
(Twist is, yes, none inherited but me. I have those great genes and that is a great secret I can't reveal to anyone ever. It has been hidden, Lord knows why but, fromever to forever. But I don't think I can hide it for long now.. and that'll be my one-way ticket to hell for sure..)
Here I am, at the very not-so-welcoming gate of The Academy of Wonders for All. This truly was the last place that I ever wanted to be.
My story doesn't start with an owl delivering a letter or car flying me to the academy or a family crying behind missing me already as I leave for this mistake-of-my-life place. My story starts with heavy breathing, mud in my shoes, way too much luggage (which I swear was begging me to turn around), and a goat. A goat that wouldn't stop staring at me as I dragged my life through the dirt. (How I secretly wished this was some shapeshifter who would eventually stop staring and will come help...)
Anyways.
Well, what's the cry. It's not like I was dragging this all from my home. Academy picks their students itself. I only turned out to be so very misfortune that the portal dropped me a mile away from the gate.
"I swear this has to be someone's doing! I can't possibly be soo unlucky!" I said, my lungs barely alive anymore.
Stomping my feet, I stopped to breath for a moment as I reached the huge sturdy iron gates. The goat kept staring me.
'What the hell..'
"Hi. I'm Sera, and you are?" I introduced myself to the goat, smiling.
No response.
'Of course.' I rolled my eyes and picked my bags up again.
You'd be thinking, why not use magic?
Because the Academy has one very specific rule: no using magic on campus until they teach it to you. And unfortunately, this whole muddy mile was within the Academy's grounds. I could see the magical boundaries. Of course I could. I'm an Eldridge, after all.
I looked up at the sign board. It was a grand grand board. So elegant and antique. But it seemed like some student took his or her heart out at the board. The name was scratched out by magic and then rewritten neatly again over it. Under the name written in huge letters made of pure gold: "The Academy of Wonders for All", were written some words hidden or erased by magic. I squinted my eyes to read, it said; "welcome to the school of magic arts and highly questionable choices". This left me with a smile. I hope this student wasn't punished much.
As I entered the gates, a guardroom appeared. I walked straight to it, hoping for directions and help.
"Your name missy?" A middle aged man asked. He had soft features but one can tell he must've spent his whole life there in that cabin or something. He was in usual clothes not in uniform and sounded somewhat gentlemanly (elegant) to be honest.
"Seraphine Eldridge." I answered with a smile and (don't know why) a nod.
"And your year is?"
"First. Just starting the session."
How could he not guess that seeing how I was struggling. 'Ok.. perhaps I'm wrong. Perhaps he isn't some experienced one but some hard working one..? Someone who had worked alot but perhaps not so much on the field?..'
"Oh my dear." He gasped as his eyes eventually fell on my bags. He quickly came out to help. Thank goodness.
"So, Eldridge, yes? From Elbs?"
"Yes. You know the place?"
"Quite nice and far from here. Yes I do. So Miss Eldridge is human, yes?"
I nodded. Had he not stated the next line, I would've gotten irritated on him for being noisy.
"Ok. I'll take these to your dorm then, you can check yourself in at the administration office. They'll ask you to do a bunch of things so you can have a lunch first I'll suggest. Cafeteria is in that building. Or you can come with me I'll show you the way to your dorm and you can have something in the common room, rest and then show up to the administration office. Better make a friend who can show you around." He said smiling and winking at his secret tip.
I couldn't help but awe. He was damn nice. Literally soo gentleman. And I was sooo tired. Of course I took his advice and went in for a lazy start. Rest then work.
The place he took me looked like a side castle for guests back at home. It was beautiful and grand but not extravagant. 'I miss home, and mother and father...'
"Here we are, Primus Artherium Hall. The dormitory of Humans and hybrids. I hope you like it." He said.
It was all bricked. Once it must have been painted grey-green. Now only fading bricked red was left with occasional spots of either grey or green at places. Well it all was only adding in on its charm. It was all surrounded with a ton of herbs and flowers. And they were all reaping magic. But the smell was so calming and mesmerising.
For clarification, the dorms were all divided per clans. Humans, witches and wizards were under one label and held a separate dorm in a separate ground, and so did all other clans.
As we entered the building there was this huge ceiling-ed gigantic hall. It was magnificent and breathtaking. The workers must have loved this place to make it into this pretty one. He took me up the stairs on the right to another hall.
"This is the common room. That way is the kitchen and dinning. It's not that grand but you'll like it. That door is of the dorm incharge. He is a naggy human so be on toes."
He left my luggage and me there.
'Ohh.. I forgot to ask his name..'
But my feet were already rushing towards the dorm incharge's room. I was dead tired and sleep was all I could think of.
The signboard at the door read: Mr. Moss the dormitory incharge. He opened up after knocking on his door thrice and waiting for almost ten minutes.
"What's it!" He snarled.
"Uh..hi.. I'm the new student, Seraphine Eldridge. You can call me Sera. I'm enrolled in first year, and I just got here.." I didn't know what to say so I just trailed off. There was zero confidence in my tone and Mr. Moss's snarl disappeared seeing how shagged, confused and minute I looked.
"Eldridge of first year, lemme look at the list.." He shuffled some papers, then launched into what was clearly a memorized speech: "Your room's on the top floor. Each year, you move one floor down. Lobby is for registry. You cannot leave or enter without loging in and out yourself. And don't try to slip, I check the counter every 4 hours. First floor is divided into a small library, common room, kitchen and my room. Second floor is for the faculty teachers and staff. Third floor is for the 7th graders. Fourth for 6th. Fifth for 5th. Sixth for 4th. Seventh for 3rd. Eighth for second and you goes to the top floor the ninth. We have a terrace too. You can visit it freely but don't think of jumping, it's all secured with magic grills and shields and yes a portal straight to hell: you won't die but will be sent straight to the headmaster's office. Understand? No litter, no boys from other clans and no drinking or drugs are allowed if you are ever to be caught you'll find yourself sleeping with pigs the next! Do not cook after 11 pm, do not play loud music or party after 10 pm. Same punishment if you are ever caught. And ohh, all girls go to the right wing and all boys are in the left wing. And every room is shared by two students, your roommate has already checked in according to the data. Either me or someone from staff will check and evaluate room state once every week and 5 points will either be awarded or deducted as per the condition of the room. I strictly insist you to remember and follow all the regulations for peace of you, me and others. Understood are we Miss Eldridge of first year?"
I stared, wide-eyed. He hadn't paused to breathe. Must've delivered that speech a hundred times. A damn job this seemed, gosh.
"Understood are we, Miss Eldridge of first year?" he repeated louder.
"Oh.. yes. Yes, sir." I said nodding.
"Very well. This is your card key. You can morph it into a physical key too as per your liking. Room number 9/243 you are. Now off you go." And he shut the door on my face.
"Very well.." I muttered.
There weren't many students to be seen at this time of the day. It was 10 am well. Everyone must be in class.
I took the elevator to the 9th floor. It took me half hour to get all my bags in the room.
The room was big. Not bad. Of course not as big as my room back home. But as I said not bad. The wall were covered with antique style wallpapers. The furniture was all traditional too. There were separate spaces for me and the other girl with our names written on the bed-posts. 'Penn Ashcombe' her name read. She must've arrived just before me I guess. Her portion looked clean yet messy. Bags still not unpacked and alot of stuff piled on bed and floor.
I plopped in my bed, '..will unpack tomorrow..' I repeatedly said it as lullaby and fell asleep.
I dreamt of past. Just memories remembering themselves in my head by being on replay. I must've cried in sleep cause when I woke up my face and the pillow were all wet. Well better state being scared and shocked to death instead of waking up. Something pierced my back sharply. Like a nail. And I woke up to a dark room with thundering windows and something in my back.
A not-verly-loud-scream left my mouth.
"Light!" I said to illuminate the room. All the lights in the room lit up, makinge go blimd for a second. The room looked empty still. Penn hadn't returned yet. And it was night outside. I slept throughout the day. I quickly looked backwards. There was a pencil on the bed.
'So someone pocked me with a pencil. But I don't see anyone hidden. Or no wait.. under the bed...' and my breath got stuck in my chest.
I slowly lowered on bed to look down under the bed. And what I found terrified me for a second.
"A.. monkey?"
"Ape! He is an ape!" A voice cake from above. I quickly look up and my head smacked the other person's nose.
"Ohh.. oh.. sorry" I said handing her some tissues.
"You already know magic..?"
The tissues were brought out of this air. "Oh.. um.. yes.. a little."
"I'm Penn by the way. Penn Ashcombe. Ans this is my pet baby ape, you can call him Jam. Oh and you are?" She said stuffing tissues in her nose.
It must've been hurting bad.
"I'm sorry.."
"What a name." And she started chuckling.
'Shit.. how embarrassing..' i too started laughing.
"I'm Seraphine Eldridge. Sera you may call me. And I also have a pet and I was nervous what id my roommate doesn't like animals. I guess that's not problem. But your.. Jam is.. quite.. playful." I said looking at the pencil on my bed. My back was still hurting.
"Oh.. uh.. yea.. I'm sorry about that. Jam doesn't like people. By the way what is your pet?"
"Butterflies."
Her eyes got wide. "Wow!!"
I showed her my butterflies. The came in glowing fluttering their pretty wings. So colorful. So beautiful.
"So radiant." She said.
I smiled at her awe. Of course my butterflies were not like any other butterfly. They are personally cultivated by me at home.
"So.. Seraphine Eldridge? Sera?"
"Yes."
"Wait.. The Eldridge?! That Eldridge?!" Suddenly her smile was replaced with shock.
I kept my smile. Nodding. "Mm".
"Oh my god! I never thought.. I'm.. I'm soo sorry for your family and all."
"It's ok. It has already been three years."
"I was so heartbroken when i had heard the news. They were all so good people. I had met them..." And she kept talking but my head started to go blanck and I wanted to throw up. My stomach started to turn. I quickly put my hand on my mouth.
"Wh.. wh..what? Vomit? Toilet? Yes.. yes.. there!" Penn pointed to a door and I ran in.
She rushed in too to help me.
'I'm so lost..'