Her parents had told Phoenix the School for Good was jaw-droppingly gorgeous, but seeing it in real life was nothing compared to the stories! The faculty gave the air of people not to mess with. Together they lined the four spiral staircases of the cavernous glass foyer, two of them pink, two blue, showering confetti upon the new students. The female professors wore different-coloured versions of the same slim, high-necked dress, with a glittering silver swan crest over the heart. Each had added a personal touch to the dress, whether inlaid crystals, beaded flowers, or even a tulle bow. The male professors, meanwhile, all wore bright slim suits in a rainbow of hues, paired with matching vests, narrow ties, and colourful kerchiefs tucked into pockets embroidered with the same silver swan.
The teachers tried to disguise their nudges and whispers upon seeing the dripping-wet, misplaced student. As the girls glared at the black-haired one, Phoenix approached one of the professors.
“Excuse me, professor.” Phoenix held up the passed-out fairies. “They passed out in the hall. I don’t know where I should put them where they’d be safe.”
“I’ll take care of them.” The lady smiled, gently taking the fairies off of Phoenix. “Thank you, young lady.”
Phoenix curtseyed and re-joined the other girls.
“Where are the boys?” she heard one ask another, as the girls filed in in front of three enormous, floating nymphs with neon hair and lips, who handed out their schedules, books, and robes.
As Phoenix followed the line behind them, she had a better look at the majestic stair room. The wall opposite her had an enormous, pink-painted E, with lovingly drawn angels and sylphs fluttering around its edges. The other three walls had painted letters too, spelling out the word E-V-E-R in pink and blue. The four spiral staircases were arranged symmetrically at the corners of each wall, lit by high stained-glass windows. One of the two blue flights had HONOR tattooed upon its baluster, along with glass etchings of knights and kings, while the other read VALOR, decorated with blue reliefs of hunters and archers. The two pink glass staircases had PURITY and CHARITY emblazoned in gold, along with delicate friezes of sculpted maidens, princesses, and kindly animals.
In the centre of the room, alumni portraits blanketed a soaring crystal obelisk that reached from milky marble floor to domed sunroof. Higher up on the obelisk were gold-framed portraits of students who became princes and queens after graduation. Phoenix spotted her mother in all her glory. Beautiful long blonde hair, smiling beautifully as flowers fell into it. In the next frame over stood her father, a handsome prince, grinning cheekily. A phoenix was in the background behind him. In the middle were silver frames, for those who found lesser fates as jaunty sidekicks, dutiful housewives, and fairy godmothers. And near the bottom of the pillar, flecked with dust, were bronze-framed underachievers who had ended up footmen and servants. But regardless of whether they became a Snow Queen or a chimney sweep, the students shared the same beautiful faces, kind smiles, and soulful eyes. Here in a glass palace in the middle of the woods, the best of life had gathered in service of Good.
The blue-haired nymph handed Phoenix a piece of parchment.
Phoenix of Firebirch
GOOD, 1st year
Session
1: BEAUTIFICATION
2. PRINCESS ETIQUETTE
3. ANIMAL COMMUNICATION
4. HISTORY OF HEROISM
5. LUNCH
YOU ARE READING
Fire Princess
Fiksi PenggemarYears ago, once her fairytale had ended, Rapunzel married a prince who's entire family possessed the powers of phoenixes. That same power was passed onto her children. This is the story of her daughter, Phoenix of Firebirch, who attends the School f...
