The bright lights and plentiful sounds are quickly replaced with the familiar dark, quiet room. The only sound is the birds' muffler song outside the covered window. My blanket falls as I move to a seated position. The fog clears just enough for a reminder to make it's way through. The dying blue light of the temporal shard indicates it's about thirty hexonts after eight.
Panic fills my chest as I realize the orientation starts soon. I jump out of bed, quickly pulling the academy issued uniform out of the closet and throwing it on. My hand shoots for the door before freezing with a shudder when the scene of waking Tesha up runs through my head. I pull up on the door handle to keep the top of the door from rubbing against the frame. Small clacks sound from the heels of the shoes, causing me too cringe with every step.
"Good. You're awake." The unexpected voice makes me flinch. "I was about to rip you out of bed myself." Tesha sets down a plate. "Eat."
"You're up?"
"I couldn't have you crying to Mother because you were starving throughout orientation." More harshly this time, "Now eat."
I take a seat and begin eating the breakfast. Tesha starts running a comb through my messy hair. A painless pull on my soft ear interrupts my quick eating. "Are you trying to choke your way out of this? Slow down."
"Did Mom or Dad make you do this?" I ask after I swallow the current bite.
"They were already out when I-" she glances at the temporal shard. "Damn it! You're going to be late!"
She hurries me out of the chair and to the door.
The sun's blinding rays and the gentle breeze greet me when I step out. A rush of air passes as someone, also dressed in the academy uniform, runs by.
"Hey fox! Gates are closing soon!"
With their warning, I, too, start running down the cobble road.
* * * * * *
"That… was close…" My breaths are heavy and I fall against the wall. My running companion collapses.
An announcement rings throughout the room. "Headmaster Nix will give his speech in ten hexonts. Please find a seat."
With a breath, I push off the wall and extend my hand to help my classmate up. He takes it and staggers into an stand. We find some empty seats and I start mentally preparing myself for what will likely be a long, boring speech. A relatively young looking human walk towards the center of the stage. Despite the preparation, dread weighs down my heart when I see the stack of note cards they're sorting through.
He tests the air crystal, presumably checking the charge and how well it carries sound.
"Greetings, first years, and welcome to Zefon Academy. We are all elated to have so many new faces in our school." One glance at the line of instructors disproves that. "I'm sure you're all eager for the placement exam, but first, I must go over the rules and regulations…"
His words become muffled and unclear as my mind wanders elsewhere. The main thing that at least momentarily brings my attention back to him is when he mentions the rules of dueling other students. For the most part, I'm distracted by the beastfolk girl who seems to be taking notes on the rules. I make a mental note to avoid her.
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