Alpharic Academy

Chapter 2

Morgan could hardly believe the day had arrived. The last few days had been a whirlwind of preparation, but now he stood at the bus station, a large duffel bag slung over his shoulder. The morning air was crisp and cool, and the platform buzzed with people, but all Morgan could focus on was the growing sense of anticipation building in his chest.

A few feet away, Steven Walsh was already waiting, leaning casually against a post with his usual easy grin. His wild red hair was as untamed as ever, and he gave Nathan a quick nod when he saw him approach.

"Ready for this?" Steven asked, his voice light but with an edge of excitement.

Morgan shrugged, though the nervous energy in his stomach betrayed him. "I guess. Still feels kind of unreal."

"Unreal?" Steven smirked. "Mate, we’re about to go to a school for people who can talk to animals and control the wind. Unreal doesn’t even begin to cover it."

Before Morgan could respond, a sleek black bus pulled up to the station. It looked like no ordinary bus—the design was elegant, almost otherworldly, with silver accents and windows tinted so dark you couldn’t see inside. The door hissed open with a soft whoosh, and standing in the doorway was Madame Lee, her expression as unreadable as ever.

"Board the bus, gentlemen," she said crisply, waving them forward.

Morgan exchanged a glance with Steven, then stepped onto the bus. Inside, the seats were arranged in plush rows, far more luxurious than any bus he’d ever seen. A few other students were already seated, some staring out the window, others looking just as nervous as Morgan felt.

As they made their way down the aisle, Morgan spotted a familiar face. Conor Thompson, the tall, awkward boy Nathan vaguely recognized from around town, was hunched over in his seat, staring at a book. Next to him, Charlie Jones, who Morgan knew as Conor’s loud and somewhat annoying cousin, was talking animatedly about something.

Steven slid into a seat near the middle of the bus, gesturing for Morgan to sit beside him. "This is going to be one hell of a ride," Steven said, eyes twinkling with excitement.

Morgan wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not, but before he could dwell on it, Madame Lee stepped onto the bus, her eyes scanning the group. "Everyone, take your seats," she ordered. "We’ll be departing shortly."

The door hissed shut, and the bus pulled away from the station with a smooth, almost eerie glide. The world outside seemed to blur slightly as they picked up speed, and soon, the familiar streets of Plymouth vanished, replaced by winding roads Morgan had never traveled before.

The journey to Alaric Academy felt timeless. Hours passed, but it was impossible to tell exactly how long they’d been on the road. Every so often, Morgan would glance out the window, only to see unfamiliar landscapes—deep forests, rolling hills, and the occasional distant mountain range. There was a strange, magical quality to the scenery, as if they had left the world they knew behind.

Eventually, the bus began to slow, and Madame Lee stood at the front, her voice commanding as ever. "We have arrived."

Morgan’s heart skipped a beat as he peered out the window. The bus rolled up to a towering set of iron gates, intricately carved with swirling patterns and symbols he couldn’t quite decipher. Beyond the gates, the grounds of Alaric Academy stretched out before them. The school itself was a grand, sprawling structure, a combination of ancient stone towers and modern buildings, all blending together as if it had stood there for centuries.

As the bus pulled through the gates and came to a stop, Madame Lee turned to face them. "Welcome to Alaric Academy," she said, her voice firm but laced with a hint of something else—pride, perhaps. "From this point forward, you will be students here. You will train, study, and grow in ways you cannot yet imagine. But first, you will be assigned to your rooms."

The students began filing off the bus, and Morgan stepped out into the cool, fresh air. The courtyard in front of the academy was vast, lined with ancient trees and statues that seemed to watch over them. He could feel the weight of history in the air, as though this place had seen countless generations of students before them.

Madame Lee wasted no time as she led them toward the main entrance of the academy. "There are several dormitories on campus," she explained as they walked. "You will be assigned a room and a roommate. These assignments are not negotiable, so I suggest you learn to work well with whoever you are paired with."

Morgan’s stomach churned at the idea of being thrown into a room with someone he barely knew. He hoped it wouldn’t be too bad.

Once inside, they entered a grand hall with high ceilings and chandeliers that flickered softly with a bluish light. The walls were lined with portraits of past headmasters, their eyes following the group as they walked. Headmaster Matthews, a tall, thin man with a sharp gaze, stood at the far end of the hall. Madame Lee stopped in front of him and gave a slight nod.

"Headmaster Matthews will now announce your room assignments," she said, stepping aside.

The headmaster cleared his throat, his voice cold and authoritative. "Wright, Morgan and Walsh, Steven."

Morgan felt a wave of relief wash over him. At least he’d be sharing with someone he knew. Steven shot him a grin, clearly just as pleased with the arrangement.

"Jones, Charlie and Thompson, Conor" the headmaster continued.

Charlie let out a loud whoop, throwing an arm around Conor, who looked less thrilled but didn’t protest. Morgan couldn’t help but smile. Those two seemed like a pair already.

The headmaster continued down the list, assigning the rest of the students to their rooms. Ryan Maher was paired with Josh Martin, while Lucy Shaw, Sienna Flood, Niamh White, and Martha McGauley were assigned to the girls’ dormitory in separate pairs.

Once the assignments were done, Madame Lee addressed the group again. "You will have the rest of the day to settle into your rooms. Tomorrow, your training begins." She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "Alaric Academy is not like any school you have attended before. Here, your abilities will be tested and pushed to their limits. Failure is not an option."

With that, she dismissed them, and the students began making their way to their respective dormitories.

Morgan glanced at Steven. "Guess we better find our room."

Steven grinned, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Let’s hope it’s got a good view."