The Witch's Revenge

Chapter 2

The chubby girl's family turns to look at me when they hear that, her mother walking over to me.

"They let you come here alone?" Ah, English, Good. She's got an accent I can't place, but thankfully it's easy to understand. "Where are you from, boy? You look like you are from the Western States."

It's my eyes tilted downward at the outer corners. Makes me look like I'm always sad. It's a common trait back home. After the Migration Prohibition Act two centuries ago, several common traits popped up all over the world. We have our eyes, the Easter States have slightly pointed ears, Albinians all have purple eyes, and so on. This family all have brown hair and big, brown eyes. It's probably also a common trait, but I have no idea where from.

"Yeah," I reply, my voice almost giving out. "I came alone"

She looks puzzled, but leaves it be, retreating back to her family. Just then, the gates open, as silent as the first time, allowing us to enter.

I'm surprised by how massive the courtyard is. There is at least half a kilometre from the wall to the building itself. On my right is some sort of gathering of statues of all kinds. Some are of humans, others of animals, while some are of mythical creatures. The one that stands out the most is the really long dragon statue that's missing its tail. They're all cluttered together, and I can't tell what that means. Maybe they're getting rid of unwanted things? Each statues has at least one thing about it broken off.

The other side is perfectly free except for the many benches, which some students are sitting on, chatting amongst themselves. How are they so relaxed already? It's everyone's first day here ever, since this is the year of the school's opening. None of them could have been here before. Was there some sort of program I was unaware of? Were we allowed to come sooner? Woops?

I follow the family with the twins, since the father seems to know exactly what he's doing. He marches right up to the entrance, passing through without a care in the world. Walking over to the man behind the counter on our left, the man gestures his kids forward.

They both show the receptionista middle aged man who looks like he's about to fall asleep, with huge bags under his eyes, and a poorly-maintained beard their bracelets. Well, the girl is wearing it like a bracelet, but her tall brother has it around his neck. Each of theirs has a different pendant than mineor, well, a different engraving on the wooden pendant.

The boy's has a snake on it, looking sideways as it shows its fangs, while the girl's is a cat's paw. Did we all get animals? Why is mine a rooster, then? That doesn't seem right.

As the family moves on, I step up to the receptionist, showing him my pendant. "Hello"

He looks at me with tired, bloodshot eyes, giving a slow blink. Then he writes something down and gestures for me to move on. The all-blonde family is still here in the lobby, silently standing around, so I do that as well.

Are we waiting for someone? What time is it here, anyway? The Moonwalk spell didn't specify it would affect time directly, so if my math is right, it should be eight hours later here around nine A.M. Orientation should start soon, then.

"You nervous?"

I look to the side and see the big-eyed gin, now all alone "Yeah. Where'd your family go?"

She dismisses any worry with a wave of her hand, allowing me a glimpse of her pendant, Either a bear paw or a dog paw is on it. "Had to run. They might be late for their flight."

"They flew you all the way out here?" Wow, that must have cost a lot.

"Course they did," she laughs. "How else would people get here from all over the world?"

"Um, well. magic?" It seems like the obvious answer. Magic is slowly spreading throughout the world, replacing technology one place at a time. Everyone coming here has displayed some talent for it before in their lives, earning ourselves a full scholarship. Of all the people to use magic for everyday stuff, one might assume it would be us.

"No way!" she gasps, taking a step closer. "You can use magic?" She says it loud enough for the whole room to hear, silencing it entirely. The blonde twins are both narrowing their eyes at me the girl smiling, her brother scowling. The tattooed boy with darker skin doesn't seem interested at all. Other reactions are mixed, but the one I get most is surprice.

Is. Is it rare for witches to use magic? That doesn't sound right.

The silence is over in a second, the people going back to chatting. Hopefully, it isn't about me. I'm really bad at handling gossip. Don't like partaking in it, and don't like it being done to me.

"Sorry about that." The girl smiles sheepishly, offering me her hand. "Tm Maya"

"Hotaru." I don't take her hand though not big on physical contact. She frowns when I ignore her, putting her hand down.

“I don't have cooties, you know"

"Right, yeah. Sorry about that. I'm just... I have a thing."

Quirking a brow, she smirks. "Most boys do."

And now my face is red, and I can hardly think straight. What do I even say in response to that? What would be appropriate? If I follow along, it could be seen as inappropriate, but if I sulk, I might look like a prude. What's the correct route?

Thankfully, I am saved when a loud, deep voice starts resounding through the room, immediately silencing all the chatter.

"Everyone, may I have your attention?"

The voice is coming from a well-dressed, well-groomed man who is standing on elevated ground. I never even noticed the podium before Was it really there the whole time?

The man is tall and quite possibly the most handsome person I've ever seen. A good few of the girls notice it immediately, a few squeals causing their fathers to glare at the guy I doubt any of them would ever say a thing, though. The man's eyes have a sort of intensity that I really wouldn't want to mess with.

"You have a minute to say your goodbyes. After that, only the students will be permitted to remain"

A few gasps come, some people protesting. The mother of the blonde twins raises her hand. "But it's so soon! Can't we stay until they've settled?"

The man looks at her as though she might be a bug who had the nerve to crawl in front of him. "No."

The twins are both red in the face now, lowering their heads as their mother showers them in hugs and kisses. The father, as stoic and professional as he was while he was storming into the place, simply shakes his son's hand, then puts it on his daughter's shoulder. He's forced to pry their mother away from them, pulling her outside.

"Well, that's gonna be the talk of the place," Maya whispers. "Still, kinda wish mine could've stayed longer."

I look at her, not wanting the family to notice I'm staring. "You nervous?" Of course she is. We've already covered it, dumb dumb.

"Can't we at least take their things to their rooms?" a father calls out.

"No." The stern, handsome man has crossed his arms now, staring at his watch, "Half a minute."

"W-Wait!" a woman shrieks. "That's not nearly enough! We ought to meet the teachers first!"

"No"

"What's the curriculum like?! This is all brand new!"

"None of your business."

He keeps swatting the questions down like flies, not a single person continuing once they get hit with a no. After a

while, the parents finally back away, walking out of the building. A few tears come, but none from the students, That'd be the end of your social life. Even I know that, and I've never had one.

Once it's just us students, a few of them do wipe some tears away, doing their best to keep it hidden. Surprisingly, the blonde male twin is among them, earning a grin from his sister. He whispers something to her, probably telling her to shut up.

The stern, handsome man looks over us all, inspecting the crowd. "Congratulations. You are the first generation of witches at the AMA. Do us proud, and there may be a next year. It all depends on you." He quiets as the other students burst into applause, Maya among the most enthusiastic of thern. When it becomes clear the noise won't die out on its own, the man continues. "I am the vice-dean, Damon Lockwood. I will be the one handling most of the reports. If any of you have an issue to report, come to my office at the top of the Northern Tower”

He pauses, making sure we get it all. Northern Tower? Which one's that again?

"You will each be given a map of the school, as well as a compass. These will only be allowed for the first month, after which you will be expected to get around on your own."

Another pause, several other adults walking through the crowd, handing out compasses and maps. I take mine, then

lift the compass up to get a better look. The needle is going crazy, constantly spinning everywhere. Even as I set it down on my palm, the needle keeps going nuts.

Crap. I got a faulty one. Do I make it known? I don't wanna draw any attention... Better wait for this to be done, then go to Lockwood's office to exchange it.