Agamemnon's Dowery

chapter 3

Aggy and Toff navigated through the long, crowded hallway together, the torrent of bodies around them like a relentless current. The floor beneath them shimmered like polished emerald, each tile reflecting the light in a way that made the ground seem almost alive, pulsating with an eerie green glow. Above them, the ceilings soared to dizzying heights, adorned with magnificent golden chandeliers. These chandeliers weren't just ornate fixtures; they were a blend of ancient craftsmanship and modern technology, with gems that radiated an otherworldly light intertwined with traditional light bulbs. The glow from these chandeliers bathed the hallway in a haunting mix of warm and cold light, creating shifting shadows that danced across the walls like specters.

The grandness of the space was undeniable, yet it carried an unsettling air, as if the building itself was watching, waiting. The high ceilings, while impressive, seemed to compress the sound of footsteps, conversations, and distant laughter into a low, constant hum—a disorienting echo that made it feel as though the walls were whispering secrets. The hallways were both majestic and oppressive, designed to awe and intimidate, reminding every student that they were small in the face of something much larger and much older. As they walked, the overwhelming scale of the place seemed to press down on Aggy. The grandeur was not just in the size or the decoration, but in the way it made you feel—like you were intruding on a place that demanded respect, and perhaps even fear. The transition from the hallway to the classroom felt like stepping from one world into another, where the opulence of the corridors gave way to the more focused, though no less imposing, atmosphere of the classrooms.

The door to their classroom loomed ahead, a heavy, ornately carved slab of wood that seemed more suited to a medieval castle than a school. As they approached, the weight of what lay beyond pressed heavily on Aggy's shoulders. With a deep breath, he pushed open the door, which let out a low, resonant creak that echoed through the grand hallway, reverberating off the walls like a distant rumble of thunder. The classroom beyond was just as imposing as the rest of the school. High, vaulted ceilings loomed overhead, adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to twist and coil like the roots of ancient trees. The walls were lined with tall, narrow windows, each one framed by dark, heavy curtains that allowed only slivers of daylight to filter in, casting long, narrow beams of light across the room.

The students inside had been engaged in a low, buzzing hum of conversation, their voices mingling in a chaotic symphony of sound. But as the door creaked open, a few heads turned, their curious gazes momentarily interrupted their conversations. The moment they saw it was only Aggy, the weak and feeble human, their interest waned. Eyes quickly shifted away, and the classroom returned to its lively chatter, as if his presence was nothing more than a brief, insignificant disturbance.

Desks were arranged in neat, rigid rows, each one carved from the same dark, polished wood as the door. The chairs, too, were tall and sturdy, but they seemed almost too large for Aggy, as if they were designed to dwarf those who didn't quite fit the school's standards. The room felt cold, not just in temperature, but in the way it seemed to silently judge its occupants, the grandeur of its design serving as a constant reminder of their place within its walls.

Aggy felt the weight of the room's indifference pressing down on him as he quietly made his way to an empty seat near the back. The whispers of his peers faded into the background, but the tension in his shoulders remained. The teacher, an older man with a stern demeanor, entered the room and walked to the front of the class. His long, silver hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, and his robes, dark and flowing, added to his imposing presence. He cleared his throat, signaling the start of the lesson.

"Good morning, class," he began, his voice carrying the authority of someone who had seen much in his lifetime. "Today, we will continue our discussion on the Great War that occurred fifty years ago, after the portal to the Other worlds opened and the World Tree collapsed, changing our world forever."