Evergreen Mountain Academy

Chapter 1: The First Day

Basil steps out of the office, her bag of belongings slung over her shoulder and a small slip of paper with her dormitory and classes locations messily scrawled across it. So, Principal Fluffycatboi was quite a character.

I hope everyone else here is a bit less intimidating.

The weight of their bag is beginning to make their shoulders ache, so it'd be best to first drop it off at the dorm and then make their way to class. She glances at the slip of paper.

"Dorm E."

Of course. It doesn't give a location, not even a floor number. Going back into Principal Fluffycatboi's office to ask for directions doesn't seem appealing, maybe some wandering around will work fine, plus she'll familiarize herself with the school's layout.

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An hour has passed.

Basil is very lost. A few turns ago, they apparently took a wrong turn, because now every hallway looks exactly the same. She has no idea what floor she's even on or how she got there. Where is Dorm E??? Does it even exist?? They turn a corner and groan, finding that they've been walking in a giant circle for the past twenty minutes.

The bell goes off and students flood the halls. She panics slightly as the stream of students shoves her through the halls as others hurry to their next classes. Maybe they should do that too, since dormitory hunting has been unsuccessful so far. She isn't completely sure what period it is, but her best guess is that she's supposed to be in science class. Basil does not know where that is. She lets out an exasperated sigh, close to bursting into stress tears. Maybe she just needs some fresh air. Yeah, it can't be healthy to be lost and wandering the halls in this giant school. To their luck, the flood of students washed them right by a staircase. Exits are on the first floor, so downstairs first, outside next.

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Miraculously, they are able to find the courtyard. Fresh air feels wonderful, but they sigh. Her first day hasn't gone as well as it could have. Would this even count as a "first day," given that they haven't attended a class or even found their dorm?

Basil sets her bag down under a willowy tree, and sits down under the branches. A strand of leaves falls nearby and they stretch over to grab it. She rolls it in her fingers as she tries to work up the courage to march back into Principal Fluffycatboi's office and ask for directions.

Nova? Are you there?

"Hey," a voice from somewhere in the treetops calls down.

That wasn't Nova.

She glances up. A lean, pale green dragon perches on one of the higher branches. His midnight blue hair nearly covers his brilliant orange-gold eyes, which would have been a shame because they looked like they could pierce through the night like a sunrise blazing through the sky. The subtle changes in shades of green speckling his snout, forearms, and tail contest the beauty of dappled light from sunlight streaming through foliage.

"H-hi," she replies, stunned by his alluring demeanor.

"You're in my landing spot, move outta the way— I'm coming down!"

Basil barely manages to scramble back as he leaps from the branch, landing with a thud on the courtyard grass and tumbling awkwardly for a moment. As he regains his imposing presence, flailing around a bit and getting to his feet, his wing lightly brushes against her arm. She sharply inhales as a shiver runs down her spine.