ARTEMIS ACADEMY

THIO ( δύο )

Nixie's Point of View

"Do you believe in magic?" Serafina suddenly asked after she introduced herself.

I lifted my eyebrows again before removing my arms across my chest.

"Yes, I believe in it. When I was little my father always brings me to carnivals, magic shows and stuff despite my Mom's disapproval." I said.

"So do you believe me when I say that this place is magical?" she asked again which made me interested.

I had always love magical stuffs. Even if people always told me that magic doesn't exist, I still couldn't help but be faithful with it. I just feel like there really is magic somewhere in this universe.

"I can, if you prove it to me well." I said trying to lure Serafina in doing some magic tricks.

She said she's friends with fire and time. Does that mean she can make fireballs just like those superheroes in movies? What about time? She probably can control them.

"I'd appreciate it if you move back a bit. I don't want casualties while proving to you my powers."

I voluntarily obliged and took a few steps back before giving my attention to Serafina. Suddenly, she started staring at her palms and a flicker occured before a fireball appeared on top of it. My eyes bawled in amazement. This is amazing! I knew magic existed.

"What about time? Do you----" I wasn't able to finish what I was saying when I felt my body froze.

I tried to move but my body just don't want to cooperate. I stayed frozen for a couple of seconds before I could finally feel my body. I looked at Serafina who was now wearing a smirk.

"I can do anything with time. Forgot your tools at the dormitory? No biggie, I can just stop or rewind the time for you." she joked to which I only smiled at.

"Does everyone in here have powers?" I asked and she shook her head to my disappointment.

"Some doesn't have powers." she reiterated which piqued my curiosity.

"Do you have someone that can say what my power is?" I asked her and she frowned a little bit.

"I suggest that you go to the middle class. They have one person there." she said. Middle class? Where is it?

"Middle Class?" I asked out loud and Serafina looked at me.

"Yeah. The one between The elites and the outcasts." she answered and I couldn't help but furrowed my brows.

"What are those?" I asked her. But when she was about to open her mouth she stood straight and looked like she was going to pee any time.

"Are you okay?" I asked her but she just faced down and lowered her head.

What is wrong with her?

"What is ha---" I didn't have the chance to ask her because a deep and husky voice talked right behind my back.

"The elites are those students who have two or more Arts. They are those students who are sent to missions. Missions outside Artemis City. They're the most important people in Artemis Academy." he started saying and his deep husky voice frightened the hell out of me.

"Levi, I'll ex---" Serafina tried to talk but the guy behind me didn't gave her a chance.

"The middle class. They are the average one and has only one ART.   Sometimes they become the back up of the elites in missions if and only if you are the best in all the middle class. More often the Outcasts are the one who becomes the sidekick of the elites."

Sidekicks? Back ups? Why am I sensing unjustifiable roles in that academy? Where is the equality?

"The outcast. Students in the outcast doesn't have any power. When you're on the outcast you'll be receiving a training with weapons. You will use that skill to defend the elites on some missions if something goes wrong. Once you become the strongest and if you're great on fighting you'll be sent to missions with us. Find your luck, Miss. So that you won't be joining those Outcast." he said. The outcast?

I think they don't have a fair curriculum in there. Why would they treat those powerless as if they were poor people or beggars that has disease or something? I thought equality is a must but why isn't it practiced here? It is so not fair for the outcast to be treated that way. They should treat everyone equally. Well that's utterly ridiculous.

"Who are you anyway?" I mumbled to the guy.

Getting the courage, I looked at him.
He's handsome and all but his eyes are scary that if stares could kill, I'll be lying on the ground right now. His jet black hair is so messy but it suits him. He's wearing a black ripped jeans, black long sleeves, a pair of boots and a black coat.

"I'll take care of her, Levi." Serafina said amidst my staring on that guy--scratch that! On Levi.

I saw Levi just nodded at her and left us. He's totally a jerk and I wouldn't like him. My instincts are telling me that he's someone I shouldn't mess up with. He seems pretty dangerous and is well respected.

"So, as you can see, he's the recent winner on the Artemis Cup and he is the strongest of all the students here in Artemis Academy. We call him by the nickname, Levi. He's Levington Cray." she said to me while pointing at the guy with her pouted lips.

"What is the Artemis Cup?" I asked her and she faced me with a big grin.

"The Artemis Cup is done every year to find the student that can rule over Artemis. It is a battle between Arts of four elites and one student from The middle class and the outcast. Once you win for five consecutive times you'll have a chance to rule over Artemis city!" she exclaimed with great joy.

It doesn't sound fun though. In my imagination, the Artemis Cup is just like those decathlons at school which tests students knowledge but here, they test students' arts. It seems to be unhealthy and not student friendly. Might put that one on the must not do list.

"Why is it done?" I asked her while raising an eye brow. Her smile faded and sadness was painted on her face.

"As you can see, there should be a Queen and King to rule. One day, they just suddenly disappeared from the kingdom and couldn't be found at all.  Some folks gossiped that both the King and Queen had flew away to a far away place. Some also said that both of them had committed suicide because of too much problems. Elders also passed on to each other that the King and Queen had died after an unexpected killer came to the palace. If that is true? We wouldn't know unless the Queen shows up or her dead body emerges." she said and sighed.

Suddenly Serafina's wrist glowed. It was a red light and was very bright.

"What the! I told them to just talk to me by telepathy. Why can't they do it? Ugh!" she said while stomping and covering her wrist.

"Sorry, Nixie. I gotta go. Come on! Let's go inside the school." she said and started pulling me inside the school while running.

I couldn't protest anymore because she got my wrists. Her grip is so hard that I was worried my wrist would be swollen right after. When we got inside my mouth fell. Is this really a school? It's like a luxurious mansion or a freaking five star hotel!

"Is this the academy?" I shouted and Serafina suddenly halted which almost made me trip on the tiled road.

"What, Nixie?" she asked and I fixed my disheveled hair first before asking her again.

"Is this Artemis Academy?" I asked and Serafina smiled again. She must really like smiling.

"Right. I should welcome you properly." she said and started wiping the imaginary dust on her clothes. Her wiping took a couple of seconds before a bell rang all over the place.

"Welcome to Artemis, where every Art is special."