Ouranio Fantasy High

Chapter 3

        I sat down on my bed with a creak. I was given the all clear and left the hospital about four hours ago, and miraculously managed to keep the necklace hidden from sight. My parents just sent me up for bed so they shouldn't walk in on me.

I pull the chain out of my pocket and admire the pendant, a shield divided into four sectors, each with an animal symbol in each and a ribbon underneath with the words 'Ouranio High' engraved on. It's pretty, but anyone who didn't know the experience I went through, even if it was just for a few minutes, would have just put it aside. Hesitating, I think.

'What if this is a trap...what if they were lying?' I know it is more than likely a possibility, but after a few seconds, I slip the necklace over my head and turn off the lights. I pull up the covers and pray that nothing will happen and that I'll wake up tomorrow and continue with life. It wasn't long before I slipped into unconsciousness...but only momentarily.

I jerk myself upright, hoping to see my messy bedroom as usual, but instead I'm met with the room I encountered before...at least they had the decency to let me wake up on the chair instead of the floor. Before I can make a move, a hidden door swings open and Annais steps in, this time, her hair in a long plait and wearing a more respectable white T-shirt and skinny jeans, and actual shoes this time.

"Good to see you're awake!" She smiles, "Lets get going. We need to be in school soon." Almost literally dragging me out of the room into the hallway beyond.

"Where exactly are we now?" I ask.

"The Dimension Tower." She answers, continuing to power on down the winding staircases. "About ten minutes walk from School."

She grabs my wrist and drags me through the door

"That's the only place where we are allowed to enter different worlds and dimensions, although there are certain exceptions" She pauses, "Like your necklace." We reach the bottom of the tower and Annais opens the door. Immediately the light pours into the space. Stepping outside, I straight away find that there are subtle differences already in the scenery. The colors appear more vibrant and the meadow that we currently sprint our way across seems bustling with movement, even though there's not an animal in sight.

Before long, the school came into sight. It wasn't the modern classrooms and buildings I'm used to, but instead a magnificent old monument, much like a palace or a mansion, that sat on a hill surrounded by seemingly endless fields of green. Even from that distance, the stained glass windows clearly depicted different scenes and people, and as we got closer, I was able to make out the shapes of multiple students busting about, mainly through two  gigantic doors.

"The opening ceremony should be starting soon." Annais leads me through the doors and through a maze of corridors. Through another set of doors, we reach a massive hall with four tables set up, two to the left, two to the right, all lit up with candles and mysterious glowing specks that seem to have no source, which don't seem to be needed for lighting as multiple beautiful high windows line the walls. I feel a tug on my hand as my friend pulls me towards a small crowd of students sitting at a fifth table at the front, presumably the first grades' table. I settle down next to her and face the front, where a small stage is set up.

"Welcome Students." A booming voice rings out across the hall, and everyone falls silent. "I hope all of you enjoyed your break and are ready to take on another year of learning!" A woman in a long, navy blue dress with an equally long train waltzes...wait...floats past the tables and up onto the platform in front, followed by all the other professors and teachers. The lady herself is not as old as Professor Kendra, but not exactly youthful either.

"That's Professor Protona-Nox." Annais whispers in my ear, "She's the headmaster."

"How do you know all this? You're a first year like me." I whisper back.