3. Elijah Feriador
All five of them spun round, startled by the interruption. A tall, dark skinned, middle aged man with short black hair and thick eyebrows was the speaker. His black skin was mainly smooth, but laughter lines were imminent on his face. His eyes were a startling blue-purple.
The glowing blue metal bars had retracted and the man walked into the room followed by four others.
There was a woman in a suit with ginger hair and calculating eyes. Her mouth was a set line, serious and steady. Behind her was a man with army-cropped hair, large, gorilla-like arms and a tattoo of a viper on his left shin. Muscles rippled in his arms and legs. Charlie suspected involvement in the army, especially given the long scar on his right arm. Next to him was another older woman with frizzy black hair and multiple deep wrinkles. She grinned at them, walking surprisingly upright given her age. Finally, beside the dark skinned middle aged man, a third man stood slightly hunched. He had wispy blond hair and wore a medallion of a person with two faces. He reminded Charlie of a withered plant, which would fall apart at the faintest touch.
At their entrance, Charlie sprung to his feet. “Who are you and where am I?” He blurted.
“All in good time, child.” Chimed in the old woman. Her voice was surprisingly strong for one who appeared so old.
Charlie ground his teeth. “But...”
“No buts.” She waggled her finger at him.
That was the most annoying phrase ever. Charlie sat down sourly, scowling at the floor.
“Welcome to Merlin's School for Foundlings. Usually people just shorten the name to Merlin.” Smiled the middle aged man. “I am Elijah Feriador, headmaster. I hope you settle in well... I know it can be... difficult.” The man seemed to emanate power as he spoke. His voice was deep and rich. He gestured toward the four assembled men and women. “Ida Ilino,” - the woman with wrinkles and black hair - “Noah Merryweather,” - the blond man with the medallion - “Marcus Maximus,” - the large man with the serpent tattoo - “and Janice Jiplock.” The last was the ginger woman wearing the suit. “They will be some of your teachers this year, and your individual tutors. I know that two of you know what this is all about, so I’m asking you to bear with me on this. For the other three, you have a lot to take in.”
“You still haven't told us what's going on.” said Phoenix sharply, the moment he had finished speaking.
“Patience.” Elijah Feriador had a strangely calming voice. “You have become part of the Founded world, and there is much to teach you, both about it and what your future holds now.
“What is the Founded world? It is a world that is very much part of your world, the Unfound world - we are all people. We live in parallel to Unfoundlings, and are equal to them – although some... may I say snobbier Foundlings believe that we are above them, because we are more ‘enlightened’, so to speak. However, that is only because the people of the Founded world keep themselves secret from those of the Unfound world.
“Every person has a core - not your heart, as many Unfoundlings might imply, but in your chest nonetheless, protected by your rib cage. This is, as the name suggests, the core of your being. All that you are, all that you have been, all that you ever will be, and all that you love is contained in your core. When your core explodes-”
“Sorry, WHAT?!” exclaimed Peter. “Your core explodes?!”
“Well, I should say implodes, but yes. However, it reforms, and you are never damaged by the explosion, only the consequences. Say, you implode walking across a road, the implosion wouldn’t kill you, because it happens within your body, but a car coming may. When your core implodes, your being is unleashed, and this sets out a remarkable chemical change in your body. This is when you become officially part of the Founded world. Once this change has completed, it is very hard to turn back... nigh on impossible, in fact.
