Shapeshifter's Academy (Chapter 2, Part 2)

Pronunciations: Korik Vopnir (Core-ik Vop-neer), Doshack (Doe-shack), Nixie Valadin (Nix-ey Val-ah-din), Megan Phara (Meg-an Far-ah), Jett Daedri (Jet Day-dree), Flynn Daedri (Fl-in Day-dree), Salphira (Sal-fear-ah), Lisma Myrshad (Liz-mah Meer-shad), Ciro Amberscand (Seer-oh Am-ber-scand)

Hours past, but they went by faster than Kasmira thought they would. Especially since her thoughts were so scattered with worry that she couldn't focus on anything else. But the bus was now slowing down in front of a huge, gaping cave entrance.

Kasmira gawked in awe and surprise, beside her, she felt Hugo doing the same. The school... was a cave? She stared at the darkness within the school, and wondered how they were suppose to see. Luscious, green Ivy grew up one side of the cave, and a dusty dirt ground surrounded the entrance.

“Alright, everyone off,” Mr. Samuel shouted, stepping off the bus. “Just leave your baggage on the bus. Someone with have it checked and brought to your room later on.”

Kasmira jumped to her feet with everyone else and walked down the bus isle behind Hugo. She hopped off the green bus and felt grass that was so tall it tickled her ankles.. She followed Mr. Samuel with her fellow students towards the cave.

Mr. Samuel stopped at the dark entrance. “Now,” he said, “its vitally important that we stick together. There are no lights anywhere near the beginning of the cave. This is for protection purposes because we hope this will help create less attraction. We are going to travel in single-file through the darkness, each student is required to hold on to the shirt of the person in front of you. Do this now.”

Everyone began to move, each person fighting for a spot in the front. Which was how Kasmira ended up the back, Hugo just in front of her.

Sighing, she placed a hand on his shoulder and waited for the line to move.

“But before we enter I would like to remind you of a few school rules,” Mr Samuel said dryly, as if he had done this way too many times. “First of all, you will always refer to teachers as Professor, sir, or ma'am. There is no exception to this rule and must be applied at all times. Secondly, leaving the school is prohibited without permission. And last, Shifting into your animal Form while being under the age of sixteen and without permission from a teacher, is not aloud.” His eyes flashed, meeting the gaze of each student individually. “Okay then, follow me.” He turned around and stepped into the darkness of the cave.

Kasmira walked forward with the rest of the students. She strained her eyes to see anything within the cave, but it seemed like they just wouldn't work. She felt comforted by the grasp she had on Hugo's shoulder, but she didn't like the thought that being in the very back meant that if anyone in front of her swayed away from the path, she would follow, and become hopelessly lost.

She swallowed hard and trekked on, surprised that the cave was so warm and dry, and that the ground was so smooth, without rocks or anything else to trip over.

“How far do you think it is?” she heard Hugo whisper.

“Hopefully not too far,” she breathed. She hated the dark. It had always been one of her biggest fears.

And as if sensing her discomfort, he said, “Did you know that tigers can see in the dark?”

Kasmira suppressed a giggle of pleasure. “Then its a good thing I'm going to be a tiger.”

She was beginning to see a faint light up ahead, it grew much brighter with each step she took. She squinted as she left the darkness, trying to make out figures. At first she only see Hugo, then her eyes adjusted and she was amazed at what she saw.

A huge iron gate stood before them, and behind that was a long, golden pathway that veered off to the left. Small, glittering chandeliers hung from the ceiling and let out near blinding amounts of light.

Kasmira watched as Mr. Samuel took out a key and turned a lock on the gate. It swung open and he stepped through, everyone following after him. Kasmira marveled at the virtually glowing floor as she heard the gate shut itself behind her.

“This place is great!” Hugo gushed, not bothering to keep his voice down.

Kasmira was too excited—or maybe too nervous—to reply. They rounded the left bend and sound suddenly pounded upon her ears. It sounded like a bunch of people talking all at once. A yellow figure sat in the middle of the pathway and she had to stand on the very tips of her toes to get a good look at it. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized what it was.

“Its about time, Drake,” the lion growled, his powerful voice booming off the walls and sending shivers down Kasmira's back. “Master Vopnir was about to send someone after you.”

“I had... some business to take care of,” Mr. Samuel said stiffly. “Now if you don't mind, Amberscand, we need to pass.”

If Kasmira hadn't been so fascinated by the talking lion, she might have noticed the tension in the air, and the uncomfortable way Mr. Samuel and Amberscand spoke to each other.

The lion stepped gracefully aside, his shoulder muscles shifting strongly beneath his skin.

Mr. Samuel moved forward and everyone followed again.

Kasmira stared as she past the lion, and she could have sworn he met her gaze for half a second before looking away.

“That was Boris Amberscand,” Mr. Samuel said from the front, “For a couple of you, he will be your teacher. He teaches students Ranked Hero by Master Vopnir—the owner of this school—and shows them how to better hone their new skills. Professor Amberscand also makes a habit of guarding the Truzig main entrance and patrolling around all the different corridors and passageways. Get used to seeing him.”

The sound of talking was grew louder as they approached the end of the pathway.

The low ceiling suddenly rose, high above everyone's head.

Kasmira gasped at the amount people within this enormous room. A huge round table sat in the center of the golden room, with people who looked like her Professors seated around it. Smaller round tables were scattered around anywhere one would fit, and virtually all of them were full. Four windows at the very back of the room let in any light the setting sun would shed, and gave the room an even bigger feeling—if that was possible.

A man sitting at the center table stood, and everything went silent. He had greying hair and a short beard. His face was wary, but his eyes glimmered with nothing but wisdom and cleverness. He wore loose maroon-colored clothes, and a golden necklace that was so big it nearly draped around his thin shoulders.

“Welcome!” he bellowed, raising a hand of greeting towards Mr Samuel's group.

The other teachers were now on their feet, studying the newcomers.

“Thank you, Master Vopnir,” Mr Samuel replied as he dipped his head in a half bow. “We have six new students. Four from Doshack; Nixie Valadin, Megan Phara, Jett Daedri, and Flynn Daedri. Two from Salphira; Kasmira Brookshire and Hugo Keith.”

“Very good.” Master Vopnir smiled. “Welcome new students. Take a seat anywhere, the feast is about to begin. Today we eat and enjoy ourselves, tomorrow we start a new school year.”

Mr. Samuel nodded a good-bye to the teachers and left.

Kasmira stared around at room, feeling utterly out of place and self conscious.

“Let's sit over here,” she heard Hugo whisper, taking her hand and leading her to a table that looked like it could fit two more people.

She was thankful for him taking charge, but she didn't want to seem like the weak link on the very first day at her new school. They sat down next to each other and were immediately showered down upon with welcomes.

“I'm Logan Sol,” said a boy to Kasmira's left. He looked to be about sixteen. “And these are my friends, Leah, Jasper, Ash, and Sage.” He gestured to each person in turn, each of them saying their own hellos, and flashing smiles.

Kasmira tried to smile at each of them, but she felt overwhelmed, and hadn't realized they were waiting for her introduction until they were all in an awkward silence.

“I'm Hugo Keith,” Hugo said, breaking it.

“Kasmira Brookshire,” she managed softly.

She heard chuckles from around table.

“Is she shy, Hugo?” asked the boy Kasmira thought she remembered was Ash.

A flame of embarrassment flared within Kasmira and felt her checks flush.

“No,” Hugo said firmly. She could have sworn she saw his eyes flash.

Ash's lips curled in a grin of mockery, but before he could say anything, someone else spoke.

“Now that all our new students have found their seats,” Master Vopnir said, still standing, “I think its time to start the feast.”

Right then people burst into the room, carrying large plates of food and drinks.

Kasmira stared as food was placed on her table—most of it being stuff she had never seen before, let alone tasted. Logan Sol and his friends on the other hand, dug right in, stuffing their faces and laughing together. She side-glanced at Hugo, who looked just as hesitant as she did.

She turned back to the piles of food before her, biting her lower lip. Gathering her courage, she took her empty plate and began to pile food on it. After she was almost done getting all the food she wanted, Hugo joined her and ended up getting a spoonful of everything.

Surprisingly, Kasmira liked virtually all the food she had gotten, and went back for seconds.

Logan and his group spoke during the whole feast, laughing and giggling, shouting and arguing. But she and Hugo didn't speak, though they often exchanged silent conversations with their eyes and smiling mouths.

When everyone in the room seemed like they had finished, Master Vopnir stood and, just like the first time, everything immediately fell silent.

“I believe its time we all turn in for the night,” he said. “For now, all new students will sleep in the Average Dormitory. Professor Myrshad--” he gestured to a woman who looked to be in her upper fifties “--will escort our new students, along with the Average Ranked, to their sleeping quarters.”

Professor Myrshad stood and started off.

Hugo got to his feet and Kasmira followed.

She looked back at Logan and his gang. “Are you coming?” she asked.

“Oh no, we're not in Average Rank,” Logan answered.

Kasmira nodded and went off after Professor Myrshad. She felt Hugo right behind her.

She watched as more students left their tables and trailed after the teacher. She hurried to catch up as Professor Myrshad left the room through a separate door Kasmira had not noticed before. She and Hugo were soon walking amongst the group. She saw Megan Phara—the one who had been talking to Nixie Valadin on the bus—just to her left. And quickly found Nixie talking smartly to boy who seemed to be enjoying the attention way too much.

Professor Myrshad led them up and down corridors, and took turns left and right, until Kasmira was very disoriented and knew she'd never be able to walk anywhere by herself without getting lost. Finally, they came to a stop at a large door, which was guard by a brown bear.

The bear sniffed the air, and gave a single nod in Professor Myrshad's direction before stepping away from the door. “Greetings, Lisma,” he said strongly.

Professor Myrshad gave a grunt of acknowledgment and pushed open the door. “Tark, show our new students where they shall be sleeping.”

A tall young man with dark hair and pale skin stepped forward. “Yes, Professor,” he said, his voice smooth and dripping with maturity.

Professor Myrshad strode away, her green robes trailing behind her.

Tark walked through the door and stood aside to let everyone else in.

Kasmira heard the door shut behind her. She gazed around at this new room. The lights were dim and a warm fire blazed to right of her. Furniture was scattered everywhere across the dark carpet, and large painting of forests and places of beauty hung on the walls. To her left she saw a stairway that went up farther than she could see from where she was standing.

“I am Norman Tark,” the pale-skinned boy said, getting her attention. “I am the Leading Student of Average Rank Dormitory. For those of you whole get put into this Rank, which will likely be a lot of you, I am someone you look to for guidance and help. I also can give orders that you must follow, or I will report you to a teacher.” He paused, meeting each other the new student's gaze. “Now, follow me so they I may show you where you will be sleep for the night.”

Norman turned and started up the stairs.

Kasmira and Hugo hurried after him. The stairway went around twice before splitting off in two directions. Norman stopped here.

“From this point on,” he said, “boys and girls are to be separated. Girls take the left flight, boys the right.” And without another word he went back down the stairs.

At first all was still. Then good-byes were said and soon Kasmira and Hugo were the only ones left.

“I'll see you tomorrow, I guess,” Hugo said softly.

“Yeah,” Kasmira said, rubbing the back of her neck. “Good-night, then.”

He nodded. “See you.” He walked up the right stairway.

Kasmira took the left and quickly found herself at another door. She pushed it open and shut it behind her. This room was darker than the main room she had just been in, and had beds lining the walls. She saw that Nixie and Megan had already chosen a bed side by side. They glared at her as she passed them. She returned the favor by sticking out her tongue, and continued down the room to the very last bed, which for some reason had her baggage next to it, along with her raven.

She sat down on the bed and was surprised at the softness. She sat back on the headboard. She heard something to the left of her and saw that there was a girl in the bed next to her, asleep, her blonde hair spread wildly around her neck.

Kasmira watched the girl's chest rise slowly up and down in a very peaceful motion.