Fragmented Grace

Fragmented Grace~ Chapter 1

Fragmented Grace

Chapter 1

Arielle Wright

 

The lady attending to me pressed a medium sized package into my arms, and layered a couple papers on top of it. A key ring with one key quickly followed.

 

"These are everything you'll need to get started for this year, Miss Wright. Your room number is 649, which is printed on both the key itself as well as your schedule, and you'll be rooming with a pleasant young man named Haden Boles.

 

"I placed a map on top of those papers, but just in case, you'll turn left there and go out the double doors at the end of the hall." She paused momentarily to point me in the correct direction.

 

"Once you get outside, you'll be in the second building out of our four on the top floor. Professor Crimson is your dorm supervisor, so if you have any trouble you can see him. I'm sure he'll be making visits to all of his assigned rooms later today, so you'll meet him then.

 

"You're temporary schedule has all of the classes you are likely to be taking this year printed on it, but it is possible for things to change tomorrow during the assembly when we perform the A.P.T.'s. Speaking of which, you are to report to Gymnasium 3 tomorrow at 1pm so that first years can do their A.P.T. If your schedule has changed after that, they will issue a new one immediately. Classes start on the twenty-ninth in four days at 8:45am and you must be dressed in the uniform in that box." She paused once more as she regarded me calmly. I imagined she expected me to feel a bit overwhelmed, and I was, but not enough to show it.

 

"Any questions?"

 

I nodded confidently. "A few. Is Professor Crimson the one who recruited me?" I watched attentively as she shuffled through several papers before answering.

 

"That would be correct."

 

"What is A.P.T?" This one I was more outwardly cautious on. I was to be a first year, and while Mr. Crimson had explained a little of what this place would be like, he hadn't mentioned anything about A.P.T.

 

"Ability Performance Testing. It will test you for the most common abilities progressively to the less common ones. Most of those attending are already aware of their abilities, and there are those who can sense the abilities of those around them, but we have the test as a safety precaution as well. Anyways, we will have stalls so that the assessments will be conducted privately as well." Her gaze flicked down to my hands for a moment, and I glanced at them as well. To my surprise, they were trembling and shaking the things they held. It took a bit concentration, but I managed to still them before returning to the conversation. The test wouldn't be hard; I doubted there was a way to fail it. There was nothing to be afraid of.

 

"Do you have any other questions?" She asked tentatively, closely examining my face for any further fear I might show. I kept my expression passive so that nothing could show through.

 

I shook my head. “None that I can think of.” She smiled at me for the second time since she had first greeted me. Her face had been pleasant the rest of the time, just a tad more fake than I might have appreciated. However, I did know that she had to give this entire speech to every student that walked up to her, so I understood.