Chapter 5: Cassandra

The tube led beneath the river that fed the pristine waters surrounding the Enchanted Academy. All along the way we could see creatures swimming playfully, eating plants and having not a worry in the world. They were unlike any sea creatures I'd seen before. They watched us with intrigue, understanding what we were and how different we were from them. Some swam alongside the tube, waving with fins as we waved with hands.

I knew such a world existed but had never been allowed near the river or on the tube as both were exclusively for those heading to and from the Enchanted Academy. I'd dreamed of coming here. Though, as I said to Guildmaster Ren, I wasn't sure how successful I would be. Even as a child I dreamt of this very place, my parents promising someday it would happen. I never believed them. I still didn't, because I couldn't believe I was good enough to graduate from a place with such prestige.

Before I even stepped foot on the dock leading to the bridge crossing over to the academy, I felt a kinship with all around me, like it was the place I belonged above all other places. The buildings before me were nothing short of incredible, the sun's reflection off the buildings warming to the skin.

"All ten structures are made of crystal created from the waters surrounding the academy," Braeden said. "Most of the buildings have taken hundreds of years to build."

"I had no idea it was so large," I said, feeling humbled.

"The two buildings to the left are dorms. The one next to it is the gathering place and cafeteria." He pointed at the center building. "That's the administration building. You'll want to stay out of there. The other buildings are for instruction, and one houses the apartments for the instructors. On the far backside is the arena where we'll train and where games are played in front of the student body."

"How do you know all this?" I moved to the bridge with Braeden, him holding my hand, me feeling more at ease than I'd ever felt before. Suddenly everything I thought impossible seemed possible.

"I have a friend who found it on the dark web," he said.

"That's impossible. The Internet was outlawed years ago."

"You keep believing that." Braeden smiled. "Outlawed but not shut down."

"I think this is the place, Braeden. Where I was meant to be." I turned to him. "Do you feel the power?"

Braeden held my hand. "I feel it as well. Like everything that has happened in our lives has led us to this moment. This is where the best witches and warlocks learn the trade. They learn to master the skills they were born with." He nodded at the bridge. "When we cross, our lives will change forever."

"Then let's change our lives," I said, and we started forward, crossing the bridge and then suddenly stopping. Braeden dropped my hand and stepped away. "Cass, your hands."

I raised my hands, the left blue, the right fiery red. "My powers," I said. I moved my hands together and started to create a fireball.

"Whoa," Braeden said and lowered my hands. "Not yet. Let's at least get inside and take the tour and get orientation out of the way."

I shook my head, though I thought he did it more out of fear I might destroy something. "I believe in me, Braeden. I have no doubts in my ability."

We approached the main entrance, and the two stained-glass doors opened. Part of me reconsidered going forward. What if I failed? What if I became a liability to the academy the way I'd become a liability to the guild?

"Names please." The man appeared from the shadows. He may have been three-feet tall. Maybe. His glasses hung on a large crooked nose that sat between two old, weary eyes. Long, gray eyebrows hung over the old eyes. He pulled a slate of glass from his pocket and tapped a button on the screen. The screen glowed, and the man rubbed his chin. He eyed us suspiciously and maybe with a bit of fear.

"Um, Braeden Lebeaux," Braeden said.

"Cassandra Clarke," I followed.

The man stared at me as if he were seeing a monster. He then tapped several buttons on the screen and suddenly two printouts slid from the top of the screen, leaving me in awe. "Your orientation schedule and your tentative class schedule. Please step ahead to the yellow line. Your tour will begin shortly." His lip trembled when he looked up at me again.

"Hexes and Potions 101, Magical Defense Spells 101, and Field and Mission training," I said.

"I've got the first and last one with you," Braeden said, smiling. He was always smiling, always upbeat about everything. I guess he had to be if he were going to deal with all my baggage.

We moved forward, and I took a glance back at the old man. Walking backward, he disappeared into the darkness as if he never existed, though I would never forget his reaction to me. My reputation had arrived well before I did.

Though the outside of the building had been made of crystal, the inside reminded me of the dark wood in the old pictures I saw of libraries that once existed. Along the walls were pictures of famous witches and warlocks most of whom I'd heard of, some I assumed were long gone.

We stopped at the yellow line, and then the line moved forward. Braeden and I shared a glance and then stepped forward, the toes of our shoes touching the line. The yellow line moved again, but we did not. The line moved back but again danced forward. Then our ears were drawn to the laughing behind us.

"William Dashell Bancroft. My friends, that means you," he said to me and tapped me on the shoulder. "Call me Dash." He squeezed between Braeden and I. "You'll learn to either hate me or love me."

"I'm thinking hate," I replied. He was much taller than either of us, his blond hair pulled back tightly into a ponytail. His emerald eyes were ice cold and lonely. A tattoo adorned his left bicep, a picture of two older people inside a fireball. He wore black but not the way Braeden wore black. William, who was not my friend yet, wore black because he was trouble.

He swirled his finger, and the yellow line moved again.

"I'm not amused," I said, and he frowned.

Still standing between Braeden and I, he put an arm around my shoulders and then Braeden's. "A couple of newbies," he said. He nodded at the two young men with him. "That's Kyler Bowen and Oliver Morris." He dropped his arm from Braeden's shoulders and turned to me, the emerald specs in his eyes moving in a circular motion and forming a swirl in his pupils. "And you are?"

"Cassandra Clarke," I said but offered no more. I saw no need for everyone to get their panties in a wad. They would find out soon enough.

"Oliver," Oliver Morris said and stepped forward. He was the shortest of the three but had odd, handsome features, like he was better than his looks. "Hmm." He held my other hand. "You are five-foot-two or 62 inches. Or 157.48 centimeters." He rested his chin on his right hand. "I believe 110 pounds or 49.89516 kilograms."

"A lady doesn't tell her age or weight," I quipped.

"Ignore the brainiac," Kyler said. "He's smart. We get it." He moved Oliver away. "Kyler Bowen, artist extraordinaire." He reached into his front pocket and pulled out a perfect dozen red roses and placed them in my hand. He then held up a thumb as if to take aim at me. Using his other hand, he began drawing a picture in the air, a picture of me. "Anything you need, I'm at your service."

Dash reached out and waved his hand through the picture, and it dissipated. "Forget these two. Welcome to the academy. I'm the guy who can get things. You remember that and you'll do fine."

I glanced at Braeden who just shrugged. I could see jealousy beginning to fill his eyes. Neither of us were used to other guys being around. Even at the guild the men kept their distance, though I thought Braeden had a lot to do with that.