The Lancaster Chronicles: A Knight's Honour.

Chapter 2.- Novum Familiam

Darius was quite tall for his age, his most noticeable feature was his dark coloured skin, bearing evidence to his African heritage. "Pleasure to meet you, Darius", Sebastian replied," I'm Sebas-". "Yea, Yea Sebastian Lancaster, Headmaster Regulus' grandson", said Darius cutting Sebastian short, while fiddling with the comb stuck in his hair. "I was told that you would help guide me to my lodgings", said Sebastian with a tone of surprise. "Uh, yeah that's why I'm here", replied Darius with his eyes wide open, "now Your Majesty, shall we leave?". Sebastian hesitated for a second before responding," Sure, after you".

Darius led Sebastian outside The Headmaster's lobby and into the main hall. Magnificent arches of marble lined the halls as well as many other statues bearing the forms of mythical beasts and men. "Behold, The Main Hall", said Darius as he gestured to the great sight before them, "built in 1498 under the command of the last remaining Templars". Darius kept walking on in the halls, Sebastian paying every bit of attention towards him. "When The Knights Templar were disbanded in the 12th Century many of them fled to the British Isles, where they laid permanent roots", Darius continued as they exited the main hall.

Darius led Sebastian through several other corridors and halls, before getting to the base of the clock tower; which overlooked the entire campus. "Why are we stopping here?", asked Sebastian. "This is where you'll be staying", remarked Darius, "Your lodgings are just above the face." Sebastian looked up at the grand monument, its hands ticking meticulously to the beat of time. "Turre in Caellis", said Darius breaking the silence, "he stands as a reminder that time will go on forever leaving man in his wake of destruction". Sebastian stood with his face filled with a gander of amazement. "Come on now, let's not stray", remarked Darius as he held the door open for Sebastian.

As they both entered the dark hall, Sebastian rubbed his eyes as they adjusted to the contrast in brightness. As he looked up he noticed an 19th Century style elevator. Darius jerked the rattling cage like door open and stepped inside, "Up we go". Sebastian nervously walked in the bronze coloured lift, Darius closed the door and pulled the control lever. The lift groaned quite loudly before violently jerking upwards. They ascended to what seemed like the depth of hell. Darius leaned against the wall and started to comb his hair with a smirk on his face. Sebastian thought nothing of it and just focused on passing the time.

As they ascended, deep into the tower's innards; the meticulous clanging of metal rang throughout the entirety. Slowly coming into view, was the beating heart of Turre, all of his delicate gears and cogs, churning to the command of fate. Sebastian admired the sheer complexity and craftsmanship of the gears, interconnected with each other for the sole purpose of bringing a clocktower to life. The bronze, rusted gears soon faded back into the darkness of solitude. The elevator groaned on before coming to a halting and abrupt stop.

Darius opened the door with a flair, and immediately walked out, followed by Sebastian.They soon came to two tall, magnificently arched doors. "Your lodgings", Darius indicated as he opened the doors. The mahogany doors gracefully opened unveiling its treasure. Sebastian walked into the the room, and was greeted to a familiar sight; one which he never thought he'd see in a lifetime. Sebastian paced the room in disbelief, "Impossible...", he muttered. "It's all the same!", he said as he walked to the large bookshelf in the heart of the room. "Something wrong?", Darius asked with a grin. "This room, it's exactly like mine at my old home", responded Sebastian, "but why?"

"Oh did I not tell you?", Darius smirked, "your grandfather thought it would be a great idea to have a familiar sight around you to help settle in". "Why this room ?", Sebastian demanded. "Who knows?", Darius asked quite rhetorically. They both knew the answer to their questions. The room laid out to Sebastian was his own bedroom, the one which he lost his mother, murdered by the hands of her own peers. Sebastian witnessed the entire tragedy, crying, hiding under his desk at the time.

Sebastian shrugged off the nostalgia and proceeded to the master bedroom of his new accommodations. He pushed the doors open, with a flourish and was greeted by yet another familiar sight. The dark red curtains, the brown floor, the black silk sheets. Sebastian was transported to yet another memory, his father and himself sitting on the bed learning about knights, dragons, angels, magic and even demons. "I thought I would need to be unpacking ?", asked Sebastian. "No no no", replied Darius, "I took the pleasure of doing that myself". "Then why are we here ?", asked Sebastian. "To brief you on anything you need to know", replied Darius "however, I think you already know the workings of the school you've visited all your life".

"Tomorrow, the first Assembly of the trimester will be called in Magnus Hall, there you'll be placed into your house and be placed among your house-mates", said Darius as he sat down on the leather sofa. Right after Darius completed talking a loud, baritone knocking came from the door. "Ah, she's here finally!" remarked Darius as he bee-lined for the door. He opened the doors and greeted the guest, "It's about time you came, things were about to get awkward". Darius ushered in the visitor, "Sebastian, this is Arielle Descartes."

Arielle, her light brown hair complimented her hazel eyes. She stood as confident yet regal as any other princess and brought with her the crisp, airy feeling of an autumn breeze. She wore a a black jacket top, with a white undershirt, while sporting red plaid skirt. Arielle was the daughter of Antoine Descartes, a rival to the Lancaster's. "It's a pleasure to meet you Sebastian", Arielle shook Sebastian's hand and looked at him directly into his dilated green eyes with a fond look. Sebastian stood awkwardly shaking her hand for what seemed to be too long. He gathered himself, "Pleasure, now what would the heir to the Descartes name be doing in my chambers?" "Oh c'mon Bastion, don't pretend like we didn't grow up together", smiled Arielle,"anyway it seems like you're settled in nicely." "Yes, it's all quite nice here" responded Sebastian, "will you stick around a bit?" "I would like to but I have to get ready for tomorrow, as a matter fact I'll take my leave now", replied Arielle as she looked at her watch with a worried look on her face.

"Well it was nice to see you again", said Sebastian "The pleasure is all mine" smiled Arielle as she made her way to the door. Sebastian showed Arielle out and just as she was about to walk away she walked up to him and pecked him on the cheek. Sebastian now completely flushed, looked at Darius. There was a silence before Darius said, "You know what, I have to go as well, I'll see you tomorrow", Darius made his way out quite awkwardly, leaving Sebastian alone. 

Sebastian still couldn't believe that Arielle managed to kiss him, he sat on his bed and kicked off his shoes. He looked around and saw a poster on the wall, it was the University's monogram; a shield with a griffin and pegasus beside it, with the wings of an eagle. Sebastian sat for a while before he proceeded to the shower. He took off his grey suit jacket and threw them onto the ground, revealing his athletic-toned body. Just before he removed his trousers, Sebastian looked at his reflection, turning around to look at his back. Alongside his shoulder blades were two long scars in the shape of a sort of crescent. He payed no attention to them and went ahead and showered. Sebastian retired early that evening, optimistic about his first day at a new school, especially in light of recent events...