The Summoner's Mark (First Draft) (Book One)

A Blooming Intrigue

After Sierra had sorted through the students that had potential for magic flowing through them, she led them further into the Academy and eventually she came upon a part of the institute that looked more residential than the others. "This is where you will be staying during your time studying within Kanerra and while classes won't be starting for another two weeks those of you who do not have a place to stay during this period of time will be allowed to stay in the dorms while you wait for classes to start." Sierra explained as she started moving towards the entrance of the dorms that they stood before.

From where they stood, Sierra was able to bring the new students to the building rather quickly though having all of them enter was another story since the group was rather large. Though once they were all inside, Sierra motioned for them to stand in straight lines as they were back at the second test. Once this was done; Sierra pulled out a ledger that was like the one that Sin had wrote his name inside of when he was registering for the Academy testing and when she started calling out names, Sin learned that his original thoughts on what the item could be was proved correct.

Currently, since the names that were being called out were pointless to him since he doubted that he would be befriending anyone that studied here; Sin had a hard time paying attention to what names were being called though he was able to tell that the names that didn't have anyone responding to them were being crossed out.

Since Sin had been one of the last to register for the Academy, he assumed that it would be a moment before he would hear his name and as such, he waited patiently for his name to be called.

As time continued to pass, Sin was able to see that most of those that were accepted into the Academy had already had their names called which left him and one other waiting. The other individual that was waiting for his name to be called was a pale skinned elf that had fire red hair unlike any that he had ever seen on any of the race that lived within the Zesian Dynasty and though most portions of the elf's body looked like pristine porcelain; Sin could notice that there were a few scars that lined his body from a life that he knew nothing about. As Sin was staring at the individual, he came to realize that the male's features appealed to him and since he was now intrigued by this elf; Sin wished to know his name which caused him to pay attention to the words that Sierra was saying.

Sin's determination to learn this student's name came at the perfect time considering that this elf answered to the name that Sierra called next. "Is Castien Dorris present?" Sierra inquired of those who were within the room.

This prompted the elf that stood a few paces away from Sin to respond back to the Mage that oversaw their initiation into the Academy. "I am present Miss. Ranam." The now named Castien called out as he raised his hand to allow her to see who he was.

Upon hearing Castien's voice, Sin was slightly surprised by the accent that he heard within it and though he was able to understand the words regardless of the accent; he was now more intrigued by the elf known as Castien. "Where could he have come from? Is it possible that he immigrated from Verian?" Sin asked himself as he continued to watch the other male from his position in the room.

Though Sin wanted to keep watching Castien, he knew that his name should be called shortly and since he didn't want to miss it and cause himself to be left out of the Academy; he turned his attention back to Sierra.

"Very good. It seems that there is only one name left on my list and considering that there is only one of you that haven't responded to any of the names I have called then I must assume that you are Sin Estiri?" Sierra inquired as she gazed directly at where Sin was placed within the room.

Due to the many reasons that Sin wasn't comfortable responding to Sierra's words vocally, he thought that it would be best to just give a nod of his head which thankfully the older Mage allowed. Now that Sierra had finally gotten through the list of names that were within her ledger, she moved on once more. "Alright. Now that one more of our tasks have been crossed of my list of things to complete. I must find out which of you are wishing to stay within the dorms during the weeks before your classes start though I must warn you that there will be many times that you are required to be within the Academy even if you are not staying here. If any of you are wishing to make us of the dorms, then please step forward and we will pair you with another new student who will be sharing that space with you throughout your time in the Academy." Sierra informed the gathered students.

Since Sin didn't have any family that he knew of living within Athesa and the distance between the village of Caso which was the location that he was raised in, and his current location was too far to walk back and forth on a moment's notice; Sin felt that it would be the best course of action to take Sierra up on her offer to stay within the dorms for the two weeks before classes start. With this thought spiraling through his mind, Sin pushed his way out of line and started making his way towards Sierra.

From the movements that he heard behind him; Sin knew that he wasn't the only student who had chosen to take Sierra up on the offer she gave them. Hearing the noises caused Sin to hope that Castien would also choose to stay within the dorms and though he wished to know what the elf had chosen to do; he didn't want to risk having his hopes dashed and as such choose to keep his head forward and not face the line to see if Castien still stood within it.

It didn't take but a few short moments before Sin was standing before Sierra and a few moments longer before the other students who decided to stay were standing behind Sin. Once Sierra was sure that every student who wished to stay was standing before her, she started the process of sorting them into the pairs that would share a dorm with one another.

*

Considering that only fifteen students had been accepted into Kanerra, Academy for the Arcane; it was bound to happen that one of them would be left rooming alone or sharing a dorm with students that were older than them. Add on the fact that many of the students thought that sharing a dorm with the half-breed known as Sin would be to frightening or slight on their honor; the student that was left on his lonesome was Sin himself. Though this wouldn't be the first or last time that his heritage got in his way, Sin decided that it would be best if he didn't force someone who didn't wish to be near him to do so and as such; informed Sierra of his decision to live in a dorm on his own.

Before being escorted to the dorm that he shared with only himself; Sin was able to see that Sierra had been conflicted with the treatment that Sin was going through since as far as she could tell, he has done nothing to earn the fear and treatment that he had been dealt.

Once Sin entered the area that was to be his dorm for the time that he studied in the Academy; he learned that it was much larger than only one person could ever make use of and from the multiple doors that he saw within the dorm, he knew that at least four people were meant to be sharing space with one another.

Since there was no one around him, Sin decided that voicing his thoughts would be something he could partake in and eventually did so after looking around at his environment once more. "The original Mages of Kanerra must have thought that they would have more students than they were able to find...though now with the war over and other races given permission to train in Academies in different kingdoms; Kanerra may get the students that they originally thought they would." Sin contemplated as he made his way across the room to see which room would be best for him.