The Lonely Thoughts of a Snail in Soil

Tour

Chapter 13: Tour

The heroes have schools to train the youth. They are very old, and have a rich history centered around them. However, the oldest one's were never built as schools. Even I could see that.

--Excerpt from 'The Guide to the Realm of the Hidden.'

Hannah

"This way everyone!" Hunter said. The magi was big, wearing the staff shift and jeans, and was brimming with joy. Hannah was wondering what he had to be so happy about, except that she'd probably be happy too if her job was showing the newbies around. "Alright, first things first. We are going to the very center of campus! The Spring Mall."

The group walked up over stone steps and past thigh-high walls and entered the Spring Mall. It was as the name described: A very large spring. At the center was the spring, a perfect circle of blue water, that branched out into multiple streams. Within the spring was a perfect circular platform, where Hannah saw a plaque sitting on a black stand. There were four stone bridges, as flat and smooth as a river rock, leading to the platform.

Surrounding the mall was the rest of campus. There were different shaped and sized buildings either standing by themselves or built within the mountain side. The mountains circled everything like a bowl. Above floated more structures, including what appeared to be a giant stadium. The group of students found themselves watching everything else that they missed while their guide moved on. "Come now, we've got plenty to see!"

He went straight, heading for the center spring. Lilly glanced around as if for the first time seeing the world. "I must say, if I get to fly to class, that would be amazing."

"Or climb," Bill added.

"Or... nothing," Hannah said. "I guess I'll just walk."

The group of about fifteen crossed one of the bridges and stood on the center platform, adjusting so that Hunter stood by the plaque and everyone else was around him. The magi stood there, waiting for attention. "This right here is the seal of the school. There are four important pieces of information that are inscribed on the seal."

Hunter moved and Hannah got a good look at the steel plate. It was in the shape of a shield, with the school's bridge placed in the center of the seal. He pointed to the left of the bridge. "Here, you can find the date of the school's founding. This school, founded over ten thousand years ago, during the Crying Period, has been a home of heroes ever since. However, don't let that number deceive you. This place is much older than that. Some scholars believe this place was one of the first buildings built by the Hidden after the Great Immigration from the Light Layer."

The Great Immigration. Over seventy-five thousand years ago, the Hidden lost a war to the magi. And as they were losing, the Hidden, united against a common foe, decided it was time to abandon their ancient home and head for the Earth Layer. Here, the place where they would take refuge, would become their new beginnings. With the Spirit Layer unusable, and the Dark Layer home to the demons, there was little choice in the matter.

And it was this event that sent Hidden all over the world to begin a new life. Cities were born, culture was created, erased, and retreated, all before the humans even built their first wall. Then, once it was made clear the humans could build, could create, could think, could imagine, the Hidden decided to hide themselves and their cities to let the early creatures develop and define themselves.

Some now say that was a mistake. Others say let the humans take matters into their own hands. Hannah wasn't quite sure which side was right.

"Then, on the right," Hunter said, now pointing to the right of the seal, "you can find the schools motto: Defy all, and become one. It's as cryptic as it is clear. Defy expectations, and become who you are. Defy yourself, and you could succeed to greater heights than you could dream of. Or you could die, and become one with the earth."
He placed his hand at the top. "At the point we have the school's alma mater title: With Doors, comes Secrets. It's played at every spotting event, as well as sung at formal events."