The Realm Protectors

Chapter 37 - Carter

"You'll be going with Ciana today," Enya tells me later that week. "I'm tunneling back to Fajro to check up on my sister, and I thought Ciana could use something to do."

"That's fine." I nod. "I think she's been to every bubble multiple times now." Enya bobs her head in agreement.

"I'm ready, I'm ready." Ciana huffs, rushing into the room. "Is this professional enough? I had to raid my closet because I want to seem professional–"

"It looks great, Ci." Enya laughs. Ciana looks down at herself, examining her white pants and top and sunshine yellow blazer.

"Okay great." Ciana straightens the blazer and nods to me. "I'm ready to go."

I smirk at her, motioning to the elevator. "After you."

It doesn't take long to get downstairs and walk across the street to the Glasstrain station. The floor forks into four branches in the station, making room for four Glasstrains to be loading at the same time. Only one is set to go to the School of Time, so Ciana and I hurry over to it before it leaves. There's an empty car reserved at the end of each train for the High Arches, so we get some privacy from the hustle of the other Tijdans.

It's a decently short ride to the School of Time. Soon enough the glass dome of the main campus rises over the rolling hills around us. Dark blue flags fly from the ring of flagpoles around the campus, copper hourglasses shimmering in the sun. The Glasstrain pulls into the station with the light screech of breaks. The station itself is beautiful – crystalline with tinted blue glass windows. Mr. Sallow is waiting for us as we disembark, his pristine blue robes brushing the polished floor. Other students flock off the trains, hurrying to class.

"Good morning," Mr. Sallow greets us with a bow, bending at the waist and pressing his fist over his heart. "It's a pleasure to have you on campus your Highnesses."

"The pleasure is ours, Mr. Sallow." Ciana says. Her eyes flick to me when she says his name, making sure she said it right. I give her a slight nod and she grins. Sallow rises from his bow with a flourish.

"Let's begin our tour, shall we?" He asks.

"After you," I smile politely. Mr. Sallow leads us out of the station, revealing the rest of campus. Every building is painted a deep blue while hourglass-shaped windows are framed with copper. Doors are impressively carved with images from different time periods, and every building seems to be straight from its own time period. One building is bedecked with shining bronze pillars, while another is laid with a brick pattern to imitate a castle.

"Your campus is beautiful, Mr. Sallow," Ciana says as she looks around in wonder.

"Thank you, Arch Leonide." Mr. Sallow replies, turning back to look at her. "We take great pride in our campus. It's polished weekly to maintain its unearthly wonder."

"Unearthly wonder indeed." I reply.

Mr. Sallow leads us through each of the buildings, introducing us to the teachers. We sit and observe each one for a few minutes, watching to make sure the learning environment is adequate. Some teachers are excited to see us, pausing class to shake our hands or ask how we're adjusting to our new roles. Other teachers couldn't care less, rolling their eyes when we walk in and making passive aggressive comments while we're there. Some teachers flat out ignore us altogether.

The students have mixed reactions as well. Some are excited to see us – specifically the children – while others stare in jealousy or hatred. What we could have done to earn such glances is beyond me.

Ciana does her best to bounce back from it. She looked taken aback after the first rude teacher. I assured her that this has happened at every school I've been to so far, and to not take it to heart.