Dear Diary,
This is it. My official first day of school! I know it’s going to be a blast, but I’ve got to admit, I’m pretty nervous.
Whatever happens, you’ll be the first to know!
Thwap, thud, roll-roll-roll, squish.
So began Xerena’s first day of school at the Academy of Omniosophical Arts & Sciences.
Her skin crawled, and she basically wanted to melt into the floor and dissolve. “S-s-sorry,” she stammered, cringing as she heard herself apologize to her tormentors who had knocked the books and bag out of her arms.
They then proceeded to stomp on the mango her mother had given her as a start-of-school treat. Xerena wasn’t sure which was cringier, her stuttering or the fact she was the person who apologized when the others were clearly in the wrong.
“S-s-sorry,” repeated Kadra, the comely and clever student who all but ruled the lower grades at the interdimensional school.
As Xerena made a move to stoop to pick up here things, she instantly realized her back brace ensured bending down wasn’t going to happen.
Stupid back brace! Stupid meanies!
Meanies was the term she used for people who treat others unkindly or make fun of them. And Kadra certainly matched that description, making snide remarks not only about Xerena, but about others within Kadra’s field of vision who were on their way to class.
Once Kadra’s Cadre (as her group of minions was known) had marched by, Xerena attempted to lower herself to the ground to pick up her strewn belongings. She’d been wearing a back brace for two weeks and still had four to go. The reason for the brace involved a riding accident.
Since the school had outlawed dragons on campus four years prior, Xerena had made a point to spend her summer break with her dragon, AstraCore. Not that doing so was all that unusual. The two had been all but inseparable since the Occidental dragon had emerged from its shell two years earlier. She was petite and opalescent purple—just the right size for Xerena, as well as her favorite color.
The accident (brought about by lightning exploding a tree) had resulted in numerous injuries for Astra whose tender young hide was pierced in multiple places by the force of the shattered tree limbs. She was projected to have a long road of healing ahead of her, and it was uncertain if she’d ever fly again.
Xerena’s injuries were more straight forward. She’d broken her back, and received a blow to the head that left a nasty gash and caused her to develop a stutter. Between the bandages on her head and the stiff back brace that looked more like a full-torso cast, Xerena was terribly self-conscious about her appearance.
Having meanies immediately make fun of her didn’t help the situation.
It also didn’t help that she had missed school orientation while convalescing, and instead of going through the thrilling (albeit grueling) experience of Appraisement when students are assessed and placed into dormitories where they’ll live throughout their time at the school, Xerena was “assigned” without her input.
~ space inserted here to give young readers a break ~
While she regretted missing out on the first-week festivities, she was happy with her living assignment. It’s exactly where she hoped to end up—in Ignis, the fire element. The other element domains were comprised of Terris (earth), Arbis (wood), Nitris (air), Platen (metal), and Aquis (water). Like most Ignins that had gone before her, she bore a dislike of Aquins based on an Ignis-Aquis feud that went back millennia.
I bet that meanie girl is in Aquis!
She put a hand to hear head to check for blood and was pleased to pull her hand away clean. Still, her head throbbed, and she felt woozy.
“Let me help you with that,” said a boy a couple years older than Xerena. He made quick work of gathering her things and putting them back in her bag, then hooked the handles over his arm.
“Th-th-th-thanks,” said Xerena as she peered up into his warm smiling face. His hair was honey blonde, his eyes heather-blue, his nose and cheeks sun-kissed. He wore midnight blue trousers, a white long-sleeved shirt, a white cable-knit sweater, and a necktie covered in a periwinkle cloud pattern. “Y-you … you’re from Nitris?”
“I am. Although I can’t tell where you’re from.”
“I’m in Ig-Ignis. B-but I just g-got here after being laid up with an in-injury.”
“So I see. Do you know where you’re going? Or could you use some help?”
“I h-have no idea where I’m g-going. And c-c-could really use some h-help.”
“Come on. Follow me … Ya know, my cousin used to stutter.”
Xerena felt her cheeks color in mortification at the mention of the speech disorder.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to embarrass you. The thing is, he did some exercises that helped break him of it. He’s actually on the debate team at his school now.”
“Really?” Xerena’s face instantly brightened.
“Mmm hmmmm. I could teach you a couple if you want.”
“Yes, p-please!”
“Have you always stuttered?”
She shook her head.
“Okay, the main thing is to take your time. Don’t rush. And breathe. Breathing to calm yourself and get into a rhythm can make a big difference. Also, if a word doesn’t feel right in your mouth, use a different one instead.” He chuckled. “If nothing else it will help build your vocabulary.”
“Th-that’s all? That c-cured your c-cousin?”
“That and hugs. Lots of hugs.”
She regarded him quizzically.
“Sounds strange, I know. But with my cousin, that’s what really did the trick. Whenever he got anxious and started to stumble over his words, his big sister would wrap him in a hug. It took away all of his anxiety and he was able to speak in a relaxed way – no stutter.”
“O-k-kay.” Xerena stopped walking and opened her arms. “I’m read-d-dy.”
“Ready for …”
She breathed out slowly. “A hug.”
“Oh, I didn’t … That wasn’t what I …. Okay then!” He approached her haltingly, jerking his arms as if dancing like a robot. “I’m not exactly sure where to put my …”
When she closed her eyes and took another breath, he silently stepped toward her and enfolded her in the most soothing embrace she’d ever experienced. He smelled like a combination of freshly laundered linens and crisp mountain air. She inhaled deeply, and as she did so, she felt her back relax for the first time since before the accident.
She returned the hug and stood still, breathing in this stranger’s scent and feeling a euphoria she’d never known.
~ space inserted here to give young readers a break ~
When at last he disengaged, she opened her eyes and realized she’d drifted off mentally to somewhere mystical—somewhere she’d love to return to one day.
“How are you feeling?” he asked quietly.
She paused before answering and breathed out steadily. “I … ffffeel … fffine … I … feel … fine … I feel fine! I can’t bbbelieve it! Thththank you!”
“My pleasure … umm. I’m afraid I didn’t get your name.”
“Xerena!”
“Pleasure to meet you, Xerena. I’m Finn.”
Finn … That’s the most beautiful name I’ve ever heard. Wait a minute, Finn sounds like someone from Aquis … No, he already said he’s from Nitris. Whew!
“We should pick up the pace,” he said. “Almost there. Don’t want either of us to be late for class so close to the start of the term.”
He quickly led her down an alcove into a small shop. Over the door hung the sign: Museum of Yore.
“A museum?” she asked.
“Doubles as an information center slash gift shop since they don’t have much in the way of museum exhibits.”
Within a matter of minutes, he’d seen to it her class schedule was on the way and that her roommate had been alerted to her arrival.
“I don’t know how to ththank you. I can’t believe someone from another elllement would be so helpful.”
“You may want to get used to it. The tide is turning here at the Ocademy. People are making friends across the elements, not just sticking to the people in their own element. Of course, Perennial Sterling hates it.”
“What’s Perennial Sterling?”
“A purist group that is dead-set against inter-element fraternizing.”
“Oh. Does that mmmean we won’t be ttttalking after today?”
He gave her a kind smile. “It means nothing of the sort. I don’t buy into that elitism. In fact, my best mate is from Ignis.”
“Really?”
“And here comes your Warden now. That’s the person who will be your roommate and look out for you as long as you both go to school here. It’s a pretty intense relationship, so I hope you two get on great. It’s tough when you don’t.”
Xerena gulped at the thought of the kind of person she might be saddled with for years on end.
~ space inserted here to give young readers a break ~
An outdoorsy-looking seventh-level student approached them, taking confident strides in her ankle-length skirt. She was smartly put-together in her long-sleeved high-collared shirt and red, black, and gold rosette tie, with a tri-flame brooch pinned on her shirt above her heart. The girl extended her hand to Xerena. “Tanna. You must be Shereena.”
“Yyes, but I pronounce it Zaeraenuh.”
“As well you should!” the girl said with a smile. “I see Finn has welcomed you to your home of the next few years. What say we pick up some supplies for you then get you into your element.”
While Tanna went to the museum’s front desk to collect Xerena’s schedule, Finn put out his hand to say goodbye. “Welcome to Omni, Myss Xerena. Looking forward to getting to know you.” With that, he made the slightest of bows, gave the back of her hand a whisper of a kiss, crinkled his eyes in kindness, then turned to head off to class.
Xerena stood transfixed as she watched him cross the enormous indoor space known as The Hub before he stepped onto an escalator and disappeared.
She sighed, the feeling of euphoria even stronger than before.
“Got it!” Tanna announced as she returned, waving Xerena’s class schedule. “I hope you’re not allergic to hard work or homework. You’ve got a full class load, and I see you have some tough instructors this term.”
Xerena groaned internally.
First bullies, now a tough schedule. Where did I get the idea coming here would be fun?!
🔥
