Welcoming Back

[Mrs. Felix]

Mrs. Felix

.:A Strange World this is:.

Walking around the place was busy, people running back and forth getting things together. In the middle of the whole mess stood a pale woman with brownish red hair and an odd fashion. Her hair was curly and looked rather wild with curls all over the place and in every direction. Her Light blue shirt seemed normal enough, just a short sleeved button up shirt. Her black dress shoes were normal as well, along with her white skirt. Her entire outfit would seem to redeem her hair if it were not for one very frilly purple scarf around her neck. A scarf just as wild as her hair. Mrs. Felix, the schools eccentric teacher. Probably one of the strangest in the world, and a history teacher at that.

It was not just her appearance that made her strange but her teaching method as well. Once she took her class down to the main entrance one year and they built the Great Wall of China out of toilet paper roles. Even if the children all got plenty of education out of it the grounds keeper had not been amused. Still she always found a creative way of teaching class. From building walls to using history books for something other then reading. It was true what they say, you can indeed recreate the French Revolution.

Felix and some of the other professors had been working on it for months now. Fixing up the school to welcome back old students and especially Welcome first year students. Holding a clip board under her arm she walked around making sure that everything was in order. Sure she was not running the welcoming comity, but she was still useful. Like for instance she did all the artwork that they used on the welcoming banners. She also was the one who got the staff to do a tour around the school.

With the sleek slim black panther following in her shadow Abby made sure to look over the lists again. "Well Nestra, looks like we have everything ready." Looking at the grandfather clock she smiled, "And the students should be here soon now. The boat may have already pulled in and uploaded. I can't wait to welcome back a new school year."

"Yes, I am quite excited as well. Now promise me you will not do anything...strange or odd around the first year students. Last year was horrible, I had to clean up your mess and insist upon the little ones that you were a perfectly sane person. Though their have been times that I wonder."

Abby seemed to ignore the last part of what her friend had to say and continued on her way. Clytemnestra shook her head and followed behind her. As Abby walked over and started dusting off the grandfather clock with her purple scarf, she turned back and glanced at the doors. No one yet, not a single student.

[Sam]

Sam had walked back some kids that had seemed just as excited as her before they had all disappeared. She had been walking up the path from the boat to the school captured in her own thoughts and now she was alone in a unknown place. Sam started to walk faster, she could still hear voices so they could not be to far away from where she was right now.

Her eyes were drawn to the school and she admired what she was able to see and she was curious about how it looked on the inside. Sam stopped when she reached some big doors and peeked trough a corner. There were much people and with them many shadowy figures but no other kids yet, had she walked in the wrong direction?

Sam tried to calm herself down and brushed of her clothes, a black and purple sweater and jeans before she entered the room.

Wow it's amazing!

Sam walked around with starry eyes and tried to capture it all. When her eyes fell on a banner where it stood a welcome to first graders she was relieved and smiled. She had not walked wrong after all, most on the trip to the school she had been sitting and stared out the window lost in her own thoughts or drawing to make the time go faster, she had not tried to get friends like perhaps everybody else did, it was not like she did not wanted one or more, she just was not sure how to get one.

[Mrs. Felix]

The children started filling in and Mrs. Felix ran around looking for anyone who could help her organize the groups. All the older students walked directly into the Great hall without question, this was where the first day feast too place. Anyone who was already in a house and had their guardian went there and caught up on old times. The first years however had to be sorted and their guardians had to be revealed to them.

The head master and mistress were no where to be seen, perhaps already in the hall discussing affairs with the older students. It didn't matter, she was head of a house, she could gather up the first years and tell them what to expect. Walking across the gray stone floor her heels clicked as she stepped. Nestra close behind. All the older students waved to Nestra, but to the first years she was nothing more then a strange shadow that seemed to be there and yet was not there. Funny things human eyes were. Not trustworthy until your guardian showed you what was really there.

Climbing a few steps on the grate banister she stood under the light of the chandelier above and whistled to catch the students attention. All the chattering and gossiping stopped as older students walked away from younger siblings. "Now that I have your full attention I need all the first years to gather round. Come on then...don't be shy, I don't bite. Can't say the same for Nestra...but I suppose you can't see her anyways so that dose not matter."

"Was that a first year joke?"

Looking down to her side she replied jokingly, "No that was a Nestra joke." It must have seemed odd to see a grown woman standing up in front off all these students talking to the ground, but they would find out soon.

"Now you all must be so baffled as to what happens next. Well I shall tell you just that. First off we need to get you all magically functioning so you can finally see and hear your guardians. You have all in some way seen then and you may hear them when you dream, but never the way you are about to see and hear them. Think of them as you consciousness, they were their on the day you were born and shall be their the day you die. Consider then magic’s gift to you."

She was not going to explain that even normal people had then, they just never took on a form. Once they could see their own guardians they would see everyone else’s as well. For normal people they would always stay a dark shadow that slipped silently behind then, but for everyone in this room, they would become something more.

"After that we are going to sort you into houses so that we don’t have a jumble of students looking for their dormitory. Oh which by the way dorms are on the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh floor depending on house. Someone older in your house will show them to you after supper which brings me to my final announcement before we proceed. No one is to leave school grounds after midnight, and first year students may not go into the section of the library called 'Ancient Scroll Work and Dark Text.' That is for the older classmen's defense and magical history. So then...lets get started shall we. Stay close together...and don't blink."

If the students didn't think of her as crazy before, they would now. Standing back she let an older woman take her place as she went to join the students at the bottom of the staircase. In her hand the woman had a mirror hanging from an old twisted tree root that looked like a staff. On her head was a bent pointed hat and her cloths were gray and dull. Her curly graying hair fell loosely over her shoulders as she walked over to a doorframe. Their was no door, just a stone frame with gray wall behind it. Stopping her foot she announced, "One two three all eyes on me."

Stomping her foot again she continued, "In time when witches were young a great many spirits broke free onto the earth. Sent to guide them and keep them from harm these spirits hid in the Shadows, but then great Merlin found a way for use to speak with them as I speak to you now. Behold the powers sent down since druid days. Set your sight to that of one who sees the world in truth." Tapping the stick on the wall all the brick swirled until it molded into a swirling blue light. Faint see through glass doors opened up and showed a world that could not bee seen by human eyes, only a swirling vortex of light.

Pointing at a boy in the front she said with a grumble, "You...yes you come forth and see." He stepped forward and looked into the door trying to figure out what she was blabbing on about. Before he knew it a burst of golden dust flew from the door and scampered around on the floor. The dust flying off the figure until he could make out a small dog. The other students could see a burst of dust, but the shadow still remained in their eyes rather then the scampering mutt.

Bending over he patted it on the head and smiled. "Hello", he said, "I’m Mattus."

"I’m Lyrus." replied the dog jumping into his arms.

"It is not that your spirit comes from the other side, their soul has always been their, but their form dose come from the door and through them you can truly see." Said the woman as she picked the next person to go.

[Sam]

Sam walked up to the lady that was calling on her and the rest of the first graders, it surprised her how many they really were before she looked up on the woman that most likely was a teacher. When she talked about someone called Nestra and then looked down on the floor she could only see a shadow on the floor but she was not afraid of it anymore, at least that was what she tried to tell herself.

"Now you all must be so baffled as to what happens next. Well I shall tell you just that. First off we need to get you all magically functioning so you can finally see and hear your guardians. You have all in some way seen then and you may hear them when you dream, but never the way you are about to see and hear them. Think of them as you consciousness, they were their on the day you were born and shall be their the day you die. Consider then magic’s gift to you."

Sam could feel how she got more and more curious about what she called guardians and she wondered about what kind of animal hers would be.

"After that we are going to sort you into houses so that we don'have a jumble of students looking for their dormitory. Oh which by the way dorms are on the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh floor depending on house. Someone older in your house will show them to you after supper which brings me to my final announcement before we proceed. No one is to leave school grounds after midnight, and first year students may not go into the section of the library called 'Ancient Scroll Work and Dark Text.' That is for the older classmen's defense and magical history. So then...lets get started shall we. Stay close together...and don't blink."

A little light turned up in Sam's eyes when she heard about the forbidden area, it was not for the books itself but just the chance of some exploring, either alone or with others. The teachers last sentence made her turn her attention towards the staircase when the lady walked down and joined them and a old woman took her place.

She looks just like the witches in the movies!

Sam took a couple steps back, she was not completely scared of her but there was something about her that made it slightly scary to be standing in the first lane and she would rather seek cover in the crowd for a while, as long as she could.

"One two three all eyes on me.In time when witches were young a great many spirits broke free onto the earth. Sent to guide them and keep them from harm these spirits hid in the Shadows, but then great Merlin found a way for use to speak with them as I speak to you now. Behold the powers sent down since druid days. Set your sight to that of one who sees the world in truth."

She almost jumped out of her skin and in the same time she wanted to move a little foreward just to get a better look. That door had not been there before, how did she make it appear? That had to be something special about that staff she was holding onto.

The boy, Mattus was his name had walked foreward and looked into that strange door and after something that seemed like an eternity he started smiling and talked to something only he could see. Sam watched as several other kids did the same thing until the old lady pointed her finger at her.

"You...yes you come forth and see."

Sam was not sure if she dared to walk up until a shove against her back made her take a couple of steps foreward and she walked slowly up to the old woman and the strange door, her legs felt like jello and her heart beated even faster than what she had thought was even possible.

She looked into the door, first she didn't see anything until she saw something glowing in it and before she had the chance to think about what it was something that in her eyes almost was being bowed out in the room by some invisible force and made her take a couple steps back. Curiousness filled her eyes while she looked on as it took the shape of a fox. What should she say to it? It was not a normal red fox.

"Ummm... hi, my name is Samantha, but you can call me Sam."

The fox looked upon her and it was almost as he was smiling before he walked up to her.

"My name is Kenai, nice to meet you."

When Sam walked back to the others she suddenly understood that instead for only shadows she now saw what kind of animals the other students had. She smiled when she saw Mattus's little dog, it was so cute.

[Mrs. Felix]

Felix saw the girl with the raven step back from the door as another student took her place. Moving forward through the crowd of children talking excitedly to their guardians as if they were long lost friends. In most ways they were, they were the imaginary friends from childhood for infants and young children could see everything that really was, but the adult world comes to tell you they are not real, thus they all forget.

Spirits liked to be noticed, and they liked being social which was hard when you could not bee seen, but now...now they were being seen. She stood behind the girl with the raven as Nestra stopped at her side. "Hello, I am Mrs. Abigale Felix, and this is Clytemnestra but please call us Abby and Nestra."

Nestra bowed her head politely and added, "But Abby dear also goes by the name of eccentric as well."

Looking down at her Abby asked with her hands on her hips, "Was that a Piximinx joke?"

"No." replied Nestra, "That was a Mrs. Felix joke."

With a smile on her face Abby looked back up at the new student and offered her hand to her. "I am the history teacher, you may have me in class, I always have first year students at the beginning of the year."

[Sam]

Sam turned her head and looked at him, and soon it was like she had been able to see him her whole life, he did seem familiar but she could not say exactly how she knew but she did not have time to care much about it, there was so many other things that was trying to catch her attention.

"Hello, I am Mrs. Abigale Felix, and this is Clytemnestra but please call us Abby and Nestra."

Sam turned around and looked up on the same lady that had talked to them in the staircase.

Hi, nice to meet you Abby and Nessa. My name is Samantha Worthington, you can call me Sam if you want to. This is Kenai."

Sam looked down on the black panther and smiled when she heard what Nessa said to Abby. It was something about Abby that made her like her already, she was so different from other teachers she had met earlier, they had all been grey, just like that old lady.

"I am the history teacher, you may have me in class, I always have first year students at the beginning of the year."

Sam smiled again, bigger this time.

"I hope I get to have you as my teacher. You seem like an interesting person. If you don't mind me asking. How do we get divided into the different houses? Is Piximinx a house?"

[Mrs. Felix]

"Oh, you get sorted by your values and personlaity. That way you can get along wit everyone in your house...Oh and Piximinx is also a house, I am the head of it."

She explained with an upbeat chipper tone. Nestra licked her paw while she listened to the conversation. "Don't forget, the true way people are chossen is with thw Witches mirror."

Turning her attention on Nestra she had almost forgoten, That mirror on the staff told the witch which house was best suited for a student. One by one it would sort them, and one by one they would join their tables in the grand hall.

"Yes there is that as well."

[Melanie Hart]

It was almost as if Melanie had been holding her breath all summer. When she walked into the entrance hall of the school, she could finally exhale. This was her one true home. She belonged with people that where like her.

Boreas trotted beside her as she made her way through the crowd of new students. It was hard to ignore the glances she was getting from them. Even Melanie had to admit that she looked imprissive in her designer outfit. She was wearing long black pants and a flowing cream colored satin and lace top, complete with a bow around the middle.

She felt Boreas nibbling affectionately at her fingers. She looked down at him at stroked his white feathered head.

"Yes, what is it, Boreas dear?"

"Don't you remember? We where aqquainted with each other exactly six years ago. We met just over there."
He tilted his head to where a number of first years where standing. Melanie couldn't help but wonder who was going to be placed in her house.

Fresh blood.


And then, coming from out of nowhere, a cluless-looking first year boy ran into her. Melanie didn't get knocked over, but the boy staggered a bit. She shot an expression of malice at him, sparks dancing at the tips of her fingertips, and Boreas hissed in surprise. But then her face softened, and she drew the charge back within herself.

Now Melanie, she thought to herself, there's no point to being mean to a helpless first year, now is there?

[Sam]

Sam got even more exited and forgot for a moment her own nervosity and silently she wished she would be a student in Abby's house.One reason was perhaps that Abby was the fist teacher she had met, hopefully Abby's house was the one for the more creative students, and not for the one that was either good with books, magic or both.

"Don't forget, the true way people are chosen is with thw Witches mirror."

She was about to ask what the Witches Mirror was when noises or more the lack of it made her turn around. One boy on her own age was looking up on a beautiful older girl. When she saw something that looked like sparks on the girls fingertips she felt a knot in her stomach, what was that girl doing?

"Don't be afraid Sam. I will protect you."

Kenai's voice made her smile and she could feel his snout against her hand. When the girl changed her mind she felt relieved, not only because of the boy and but also because that meant that Kenai didn't needed to involve himself.

"Who is that girl?"

[Mrs. Felix]

Looking over to a first year student and a seventh year she felt as if it was nearly time she step in and stop something horrible from happening. Thankfully the older student changed her mind and calmed herself down, but that just didn't make Felix feel any safer. Looking down at Sam she replied with a quiet voice. "That is Melanie, best be careful around her, she is Dragoni and can be very bitter at times. Looks sweet but even vipers are pretty before they bite. Still she is one of my best students."

Nestra moved forward and looked at the swan beside the girl. "Old Boreas hasn't changed a bit, I like to see that. You know we guardians are just as social as you humans with one another. "

Behind them the old Witch moved into the center of the room and took hold of the mirror on her staff. "For those of you with your guardians house sorting has begun. For those of you still needing your spiritual friend please wait your turn."

Felix tapped Sam on her shoulder and said, "Well looks like you get to figure out what house you are going to be in. Good luck." She didn't need a mirror to know where Sam belonged. She was a Piximinx all the way, from head to toe.

[Prof. Vivian Ketcher]

A wiles away from the many first years stood a tall imposing woman. Her hands folded delicately in front of her chest as her guardian sat on her shoulder. With a slight gaze towards the students she decided to join in the meeting that was taking place. She smiled pleasantly and yet Prospero seemed quite biter in having to be there.

"Really now why must we be subjected to these insolent children..." Arching a brow Vivian turned her face slightly to look at her guardian and smirked. "It is the welcoming feast... are you not excited to see who will join our house Prospero...." "Only the worthy dear..." was his sole reply.

She watched silently as one by one the children found their guardians... not found but rather noticed them for the first time. She remembered when Prospero had been revealed to her and smiled at the fond memory of the over protective golden monkey bowing slightly and being a constant reminder and companion throughout the years. He had helped her make the best decisions and hoped that her students would take the same advantage as she had.

She moved slowly towards Mrs. Felix.. the enchanting yet odd woman. She fit perfectly, her mannerisms and train of thought making the history class on the school one of the best. Children always adored her even though they could find Nestra a bit intimidating.

Walking closer she smiled warmly at the children and noticed they seemed to give her a bit of an odd look. Prospero on the other hand seemed to roll his eyes at them. "Really can you not behave Prospero..." "But Of course my dearest I can behave..." he then turned and looked at a first year student that was close by and added... "For now..."

Shaking her head she decided a slight introduction was in order for the children to begin to get to know her. "Welcome to the Arcane School of Magic my darling students. I am Professor Vivian Ketcher you Ancient Lore and Fairy tales teacher and I look forward to seeing each and everyone one of you in my class in the future. " she then looked at Prospero and smiled at him. "As for my guardian... Prospero please be so kind as to ignore his petty and rude ways... he is just being himself..." This won a growl from the golden monkey but a bit of a giggle from a few first years.

[Melanie Hart]

Melanie smiled at the boy as he walked away, slightly startled. Boreas calmed down also, rufling his feathers to smooth them down. Melanie looked over toward the first years again. Some of them seemed to be stairing at her, and it was tough to read their expressions. Awe, maybe fear.

I'll have to be careful not to let my emotions run away from me. First impressions are always the most important.

Melanie noticed the teacher that was with them, it was a teacher that she had had a few times before. Certainly an odd personality, and yet she always seemed to see straight through Melanie.

"Look, Boreas, it's that Felix woman. I have her again this year for senior history class."

Her panther Gaurdian walked toward them. Before Melanie and Boreas could wonder what she wanted she was speaking to them.

"Old Boreas hasn't changed a bit, I like to see that. You know we guardians are just as social as you humans with one another. "

"Oh? I didn't know that you two where really aquainted with each other." Said Melanie while trying to figure out if this was meant as an insult or not. She studied the panther and realized that she had never really looked at her before. She had seen her certainly, but never really paid much attention. Boreas seemed to be doing this too, and also seemed to be compairing his white feathers with her black fur to see whose was shiner or softer. Melanie had to admit it was a close call.

[Mrs. Felix]

Looking over her shoulder she could hear the sweet voice of Vivian Ketcher. With a smile she turned to see Melanie as well. "Professor Ketcher, it is a wonder you showed up, now we can hopefully get these confused children together. Oh and Melanie nice to see you again. Ready for a new year?"

Nestra walked up to the swan and bowed her head slightly. It was her sign of respect, not much was ever said by her unless she deemed it necessary. Nestra, the guardian of few words and many insults. A very strict thing she was, the total opposite of Abby of course. Still the pair worked beautifully together.

Looking at the ape perched upon Vivian’s shoulder Abby bowed her head slightly and addressed him, "Prospero, nice to see you again." Mrs. Felix, the woman with a heart big enough to love everyone in the world. She could be a bloody wonder and on top of that sometimes a little backwards in terms of her teaching, but it was effective, and helped her make a lot of friends.

[Sam]

"That is Melanie, best be careful around her, she is Dragoni and can be very bitter at times. Looks sweet but even vipers are pretty before they bite. Still she is one of my best students."

Sam nodded her head and prayed silently that she did not have to be in the same house as that pretty but dangerous girl.

"For those of you with your guardians house sorting has begun. For those of you still needing your spiritual friend please wait your turn."

"Well looks like you get to figure out what house you are going to be in. Good luck."

Sam looked up on her and smiled.

"Thank you."

She was on her way up to the old lady when a voice got her attention and she turned and looked on a beautiful woman that had a monkey on her shoulder, his fur almost looked like gold and she started to giggle when she heard what Professor Ketcher said about her guardians behavior, prospeo was his name. Sam liked it,it was special.

"Come on Sam! We don't have all night.

Sam could feel Kenai pulling in her jeans trying to get her to move foreward and turned her attention back to the old woman and walked fast up to her and found a place in the line. Many names were called before it finally was her turn.

Please let me come in Piximinx. Pretty please!

She looked into the Witches Mirror and almost held her breath waiting for the answer, hopefully it had heard her pray and would put her in that house but if not she had to do her best anyway.

"Pixminx!"

Sam wanted to jump around in pure joy but she was not sure if that was a appropriate thing to do but she knew one person she just had to tell it to.

"Come on Kenai. Let's tell Abby."

She almost run to where she had left Abby and where she hoped she was still standing. When she got closer she could see that she was talking to Professor Ketcher and the girl named Melanie. Sam almost stopped for a minute and thought about if she should walk up to her or not before she decided and walked as calmly as she could up to them. Kenai sat beside her and looked on Boreas and Prospero, if he studied them in case they would make trouble for one of them or just because he was curious was hard to tell.

"I got into Piximinx."

She was still filled with the urge to jump and dance around but her mother had thought her that it was not nice to do that in situations where it was not proper behavior and she was unsure if she was allowed it now.

[Melanie Hart]

Melanie smiled when Mrs Felix spoke to her. Yes, she could tolerate her. Melanie figured that if she just kept her distance then everything would be fine.

"Oh yes, i've been looking forward to this year. I can't wait to graduate, but i will still be still sad to leave. I have many memories here."

Boreas greeted the other two Guardians. "Prospero and Nestra. Good to see you both again."And then, glancing at the Fox Gaurdian that had just entered the group, and at his Human "And just who might you be?"

Melanie looked at both Gaurdian and girl, the Fox didn't look any more impressive that the girl did. Melanie recognized her as the one that had been speaking to Mrs. Felix before.

"Oh, hello, What's your name? You're a first year, aren't you?" Said Melanie with a smile.