Snippets of Writing

3.

First Day of School

The first day of school can be a daunting occasion. Especially if it is your first year at high school, and even more so if you are a high elf attending a school largely populated by demons, dragons, and dark elves.
Which, of course, was why Finan Finakana clutched his satchel close as he walked through the massive gates of Fenaro Carafannwah High School. The gates were shaped like folded dragon wings, and their frames were made of twisted spires of black iron. All in all, it was a foreboding place.

Most of the students that hurried around inside the fenced compound were dark elves and demons, with only a few dragons mixed in. The demons were fairly short, nowhere as tall as Finan and other elves. They had skin that was marbled black, white, and red and eyes that glowed - usually red or purple, though there was a demoness with hot pink eyes. Finan understood that this was the result of some or the other cosmetic. Only the twelfth graders had horns, and they were still small - nothing like the spiralling crowns of Finan's demon neighbors. Still scary. He hurried past a group of older demons that glared at him and muttered 'High Elf' behind their hands.

The dark elves were majestic creatures, with skin in shades of purplish black and grey. Instead of silver or golden hair like the High Elves, they had raven hair. Some had died white and gold streaks into it, Finan had to admit that the effect looked particularly good on a male Dark Elf, who was tall (even by elven standards) and laughed with his group of friends.

Dragons were rare in this school, as only the ones with the most control over their fire were sent to public school. The rest were tutored in an all-dragon school, usually located at the edge of the town. Finan stared at the one he saw: her scales were a polished purple, edged with gold, and her horns gleamed in the dark sunlight. Finan glanced up. The black sun was nearly over the fence, class would start soon. He hurried on.

"Hey! High Elf!"

Finan turned partially, afraid that it would be a Dark Elf. It wasn't, the elf had golden hair that shone.

The other elf strode over on long legs and Finan tensed. He was older, maybe in eleventh or even twelfth grade. But the elf greeted him with a friendly smile. "We High Elves should stick together," he said, sticking his hand out. "I'm Carnav Eschar."

"F-Finan Finakana," Finan stuttered, tentatively shaking Carnav's hand.

A roar sounded in the air. Carnav tilted his head to the side. "That would be Professor Nightbringer," he said. "Ever since the bell broke, he's been the bell."

Lysanthie gaped at him. "There's a dragon professor?"

Carnav nodded, gently shoving Finan. "You better get to homeroom. They don't like late students."

Finan nodded and scurried off to the Obsidian Wing. He located Room 666 and dashed inside just as the warning roar sounded in the air. The room, like the other rooms in the Wing, was carved out of actual obsidian. Finan panted to a stop and took a seat near the back.

The teacher here was a Dark Elf, with deep purple skin, yellow eyes, and pure black hair. "Well, well, well," he said with a sneer, looking at Finan. "Look who we have here. A... High Elf." He gave Finan a mocking bow as Finan tried to look as small as possible. "I do hope that us... Lower beings do not offend your presence."

Finan winced, trying to hide behind his silver hair. A Dark Elf sitting at the other end of his row - he was the same elf that Finan had seen earlier - gave him a sympathetic look.

The teacher resumed his pacing, swishing a long staff through the air. He tilted his head to the side as another roar rang out, them gave the class a rather nasty grin. "Has anyone told you freshmen what we do on the first day of school?" he asked. The staff tapped against the ground.

A murmur of "no sir"s rang out through the classroom.

The teacher grinned again. "Wonderful. The first day is always more fun when they don't know what is to happen." The staff paused its tapping and the teacher grasped its end and pulled a long, thin sword out of it. "I am Crathanir Morafan. Welcome to Fenaro Carafannwah High School." He gave Finan a sharp grin.

The class was in an uproar as Sir Morafan's eyes began to glow and he focused his gaze on Finan. Finan knew what would happen next. He would summon Dark Fyre from the black sun and channel it through something at him - probably the sword since it had glowing purple gemstones along the hilt. But Finan was petrified with fear. The demons in the class streamed out the door and the dark elves left behind them.

Then someone tackled him, sending them both flying out the window and into the grey shrubbery beyond. Finan's shirt was torn and his face was scratched by the thorns and he quickly wiped away the blood as the other person sat up, groaning. It was the Dark Elf with the silver strip dyed into his hair.

"Sorry," he said, running his hand through his dark hair to remove the leaves and twigs stuck in it. "I'm Mathros Hrasandal."

"Finan Finakana."

The dark elf nodded. "My older brother goes here. He says that on the first day of school, everyone - students and teachers - are after the freshmen." Finan gaped at him. "They try to kill us. If we survive until the bright sun rises, then and then only are we deemed worthy to be taught."

"T-they try to kill us?" Finan stuttered.

Mathros nodded. "You look like a smart person. I figured we could work together."

Finan frowned. Was this a trap? Had his parents know about this? "But... I'm a high elf!"

The other elf shrugged. "So is my mother." He fingered the silver in his hair. "This is natural, you know."

Finan gave Mathros a tentative smile. "Well then... I'm stuck with you until nightrise, am I?"

Mathros grinned back. "Apparently so." He glanced toward the obsidian classroom. "Let's get away from here. Morafan is a real bastard."

Finan nodded and turned to leave. But an elf with purple skin, raven hair, and glowing yellow eyes was advancing toward them, holding a long, thin sword in one hand and a staff in the other.

"Not so fast, High Elf," Crathanir Morafan said with a sneer.

short story originally published elsewhere.