The University of Magic. Year 1

4. Settling in

Lucy

Lucy and Elvira helped each other into their new student gowns, and waited for the boys by the fountain in the formal gardens.

"Can you believe we're going to live here," commented Lucy incredulously.

Elvira grinned at her. "This is the stuff of dreams isn't it." She agreed.

The boys rejoined them and they made their way back down the expansive gravel driveway.

It felt good to not have to carry heavy suitcases or bundles of clothes. They were beginning to feel a little footsore, but at last, they felt like they fitted in amongst their new peers at their new University. 

Riding away in a horse and carriage completed the fantasy feel.

As they approached the brightly coloured marquees for the second time that day, Lucy felt a tinge of fear. What would happen inside the next one?
She was questioning the need to continue the exploration, but got tugged along by the flow of her friends. Inside, the noise was cacophonous.
Unlike the previous marquee, disorder prevailed as people moved quite randomly between the lines of tables. A student behind the nearest table waved them over. "Ever tried archery?" He asked, his eyes alight.
They shook their heads mutely and he launched into a description of the art so enticing they gave their names and room numbers there and then to join the mailing list.

They wondered away, excited to try out archery.

"Wow!" Shouted Jack above the noise. "A real life ninja!" He pulled them eagerly to a table halfway across the room.

The girl behind the table smiled coyly. Jack was a barrage of excited questions. As she answered, the rest of the group found themselves drawn in by the idea of learning martial arts. Unlike archery, this society had a try out class. If you made the grade you could buy entrance for the year. It was a bit expensive, but it included a black gui and a white belt. 'Gui' was the name of the ninja outfit the girl was wearing. They signed up eagerly.

Sam was the voice of reason as they walked away. "But where are we going to get the money from?" He and Jack rarely argued, but Lucy could see this one building.

Other students tried to get them to join an array of other societies. Lucy steered them out of the noisy, disordered tent before they got themselves into any more trouble. She breathed a sigh of relief as the fresh air and relative quiet greeted her.

The next marquee was far more ordered and more serious. To Lucy's surprise, it was full of adults offering employment opportunities. Lucy felt she had enough on her plate already with the university degree and the archery and the martial arts. She would have walked straight back out, but it was Sam's turn to pull the group along with sheer force of eagerness. He looked around with great interest, and spoke at length to a few different strangers. Of the group, only John shared even a shred of Sam's interest. Jack's patience wore out, and he started to wonder away. Lucy followed after him. Sam saw and hurriedly signed up for an interview for a position as a part time nanny.

"Are you sure you'll have time?" Lucy tried to caution him.

"I'll make time," he replied, his voice held such conviction that no one argued any further with him.

The next marquee held a multitude of shiny trinkets and brightly coloured posters. Jack's head whipped round trying to take it all in.
He ogled at a glowing collection of gem stones, laid out enticingly across a long table. He grew even more excited as assistant explained how each one could be inscribed in different types of runes to enhance different aspects of elemental magic. An excellent learning aid, she encouraged. They all gulped when she told them the cost.