Evaline:
The sun still hadn't made its appearance when I finally stepped onto the bus, the sky above the academy painted in deep shades of indigo and slate.
Night rain had left everything damp and gleaming - the stone pathways, the iron railings, even the towering trees lining the perimeter looked darker, heavier, as if they were still half-asleep.
All ten buses were already parked in a neat line, with their engines humming softly and headlights cutting through the lingering mist. One by one, students climbed aboard, dragging backpacks, duffel bags, and sleepy bodies behind them.
Instructors were doing one final round, checking attendance lists, peering into buses, calling out names. Once they were done, they too would board, and then the academy gates would open, allowing us to descend the mountain and begin the trip we had all been talking about the past week.
