After Professor Thorkelssoon concluded the sorting ceremony, with every student now assigned to their respective dorms, she handed each of us a detailed map of the sprawling Unity Academy. "Now," she commanded, her voice still carrying that authoritative edge, "proceed to your assigned dormitories. Orientation for each dorm will begin in one hour."
I said my goodbyes to Enchidna and Raika. "Good luck to both of you," I told them, knowing we'd now be heading our separate ways. My cousin, despite her new assignment to Armania Dorm, simply flashed me her usual mischievous grin. "Try not to get into too much trouble without me, cousin," she called out, a playful challenge in her voice that made me grin back. Raika, ever stoic, merely gave a slight nod before turning to follow the surge of students heading towards the Merlin Dorm.
As I unfolded the map, I quickly located the different dormitories. "Oh, Merlin Dorm is right near here," I muttered to myself, tracing the lines on the parchment. It was situated in a tall, slender tower right beside the academy's grand library. "Very Merlin, indeed," I mused, appreciating the symbolic placement for a dorm dedicated to wisdom and knowledge.
My finger then moved to Armania Dorm. "Ah, it's on the lake," I noted, seeing its position on the academy grounds. A beautiful, serene structure nestled by a shimmering body of water. "Very Iskiran," I commented, imagining the elegant Iskiran students moving through its halls.
And then, I found my own assignment: Dolorian Dorm. My eyebrows raised in surprise. "Yes, the Dolorian Dorm is located on the black cliff at the very edge of the academy grounds." The map showed it perched precariously on the precipice, a stark, imposing structure. This academy truly was massive. "It's on a cliff, of course," I chuckled, understanding the design choice. Bernard Dolores was a Kaynari, after all, and their people were known for their mountainous, industrial cities built into the very earth.
I began my walk to the dorm, following the map. Along the way, I spotted Yor Dolores, the Kaynari woman, also heading in the same direction. She was as stoic as ever.
"Hi, Yor," I greeted her. She just gave me a quick glance. "Hi," she responded flatly, her emotionless face giving nothing away. She didn't seem annoyed or tell me to leave her alone, so we simply walked together. I tried to strike up conversation, but her replies were limited to simple "yes" or "no" answers. I even tried a witty observation about a passing squirrel, but it was met with the same blank stare. Well, that's okay, I thought. At least she doesn't hate me.
Eventually, we arrived at our destination. But instead of a building, we were met by a sight that stole the air from my lungs: a monolithic black cliff, an obsidian titan whose jagged summit scraped the very sky. It wasn't just a cliff; it was a primordial wall of stone, raw and unyielding, that seemed to dwarf the entire academy grounds. There was nothing else—just this immense, dark precipice. "Where is the dorm?" I wondered aloud, my voice feeling strangely small against its scale, looking around in utter confusion.
Then, I saw another familiar face: Henry Von Gallahad, the Human Headmaster's son, standing by the cliff edge, staring intensely at the rock face.
"Hi, Henry," I said, trying to be friendly. He just glanced at me, a tense look in his eyes.
"Mind your business," he grunted, immediately turning back to the cliff. "Okay," I thought, a small sigh escaping me, "he either hates me, or that cliff is really fascinating."
Just then, a beacon of warmth arrived. It was Gianna De La Tiente, the Iskiran beauty, whose smile was as comforting as a mother's embrace. "Hi to you both," she said to Yor and me, her voice soft and inviting. "Quite the welcome, isn't it? A cliff for a dorm!" she chuckled, a light sound that softened the tension. She looked at Henry, but didn't push, seemingly understanding his need for solitude.
Suddenly, with a faint fwoosh from above, an Aetherian landed gracefully beside us. It was Jove Winderaand, another one of our Dolorian dorm mates. He flashed a wide, playful smile at me, Yor, and Gianna, greeting us cheerfully. He even nudged Henry with an elbow, a teasing glint in his eye. "Enjoying the view, mate?" he quipped. Henry merely grumbled, "Just leave me alone." Jove, unfazed, simply laughed, then turned back to us, shaking his head with a grin. "Oh, he's just a big softie, really," he chuckled, winking at us, before resuming his cheerful demeanor.
We just stood there for a while, all five of us – me, Yor, Henry, Gianna, and Jove – wondering if this really was our dorm, if the black cliff was all there was. Then, with another soft fwoosh from the air, a different Aetherian descended. He was tall and surprisingly lean for his race, with long black hair that billowed around his head as he landed with graceful precision. He wore a purple robe adorned with the Wolf crest of Dolorian Dorm, indicating he was likely a senior student, perhaps even a prefect, sent to guide us.
"Welcome to Dolorian, first years!" he announced, his voice a clear, ringing baritone that effortlessly carried and echoed against the cliff face. "In Dolorian, nothing is granted. Everything must be earned. So, find your entrance!" And with that, before any of us could even open our mouths to ask a single question, he ascended back into the sky, disappearing from view as quickly as he had arrived
We stood dumbfounded for a moment, pondering. "Seriously? Find our own entrance?" Jove groaned, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "What kind of 'welcome' is this? Just point us to the door already!" My gaze swept over my new peers. "What are your binds?" I asked, hoping their abilities might offer a clue.
Jove, ever the first to speak, immediately replied, "My bind is Wind, and my subtype is Wind Enhancement. I can make myself faster, like the wind, or make any object or even people move faster. That's it!" He finished with a flourish.
Next, Yor. Her stoic expression didn't change as she spoke. "My bind is Metal. I can make earth turn into metal, and turn metal into anything I desire." Woah, Metal? Not Earth, but Metal? That was a first for me; I'd only ever heard of Earth Binds among the Kaynari..
Then, Gianna, with her warm smile, shared, "My bind is Mist. I can cast mist that can cause confusion or even enchant someone to my will." Oh, that's scary, I thought, impressed by the potential of her power.
Finally, Henry, still staring intensely at the cliff, mumbled, "My bind is Fire. But it's not like Drakarian fire. Mine's... for enchanting weapons, or creating them, turning pure flame into steel."
I then told them, "My bind is Void, but I'm still figuring out what it is." I kept quiet about its single, terrifying, accidental use.
After hearing their abilities, I looked at Yor, a new idea forming. "Can you scan if there are any holes in this cliff?" I asked. She nodded, understanding immediately. Yor placed her hand flat against the sheer rock face. After a moment, her eyes subtly widened. She pointed. "There's a hole," she said, her voice still flat, "about one hundred meters to our left, hidden behind some thick bushes." "Alright, Yor! Leave it to the Kaynari to know the rocks better than the rocks know themselves," Jove cheered, and Gianna giggled, a light, melodious sound.
Without hesitation, we walked towards the spot she indicated. Pushing aside the dense foliage, we indeed found a small, dark opening in the cliff face. It was the entrance. We stepped inside.