Equilibrium

Arrival

I feel myself being jostled uncomfortably and groan, squeezing my eyes shut tighter as I roll onto my side.
"Hey, big guy, get up! We're here!"
My eyes slide open, and I rub the bleariness out of them, uncertain where I am or what's going on. Looking up, I find myself staring directly into the dark brown eyes of someone I don't recognize immediately in my groggy state. Then, as if I've been struck with a cattle prod, I jolt up, adrenaline forcing the last of the fog from my brain. The older boy from last night is standing above me looking exhausted, but smiling.
"Rise and shine sleepy head, we're here."
He reaches up above me and slings my bag over his back. As he does this, I catch a hint of woodsmoke and chocolate, and I realize how hungry I am.
"I told you, I can carry my own b- wait, what're you wearing?" I interrupt myself suddenly, realizing he's changed out of his jeans and t-shirt and into long, flowing black robes that looks almost like a dress.
"Oh shit, you're right dude, you've gotta change into your robes too, and we're running late! Hurry up, I don't want to be late for the sorting, and you don't either," he says, tossing my bag next to me. Rushing, I tear into it and start rummaging, looking for the box that has my new robes. The boy turns and slides the carriage door shut, and says "here, give me the bag, I'll find your robes. Hand me your clothes and I'll put them in your bag for you."
I lift my shirt up halfway before the nature of the situation strikes me, and I start to blush. He doesn't seem to notice this though, as his head is buried in my bag. Quickly glancing around to make sure no one else was around, and the he wasn't looking, I quickly pull my t-shirt over my head and start unbuttoning my jeans, my cheeks growing redder. After a moment I stand there, in nothing but my briefs, shivering from the cold and nerves, and hop from foot to foot while he rummages through my bag.
"Ahah, got em! Throw these on, Chase," he says, turning and looking me in the eye as he hands me my new robes. I take them and throw them over my head as quickly as possible, getting tangled up hopelessly in the process.
"Jesus Christ kid, that's backwards and all twisted up, lemme just-" he mutters to himself, and from inside the straitjacket of robes, I feel him tugging and pulling at the clothes. Before I know it, my head pops out the top and I'm free. I quickly lace up my shoes, still blushing slightly, and follow the impatient older boy out of the carriage.
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I chase after him as quickly as my legs will take me, and for the first time I notice the massive castle looming in front of me. Terraces and turrets unnumbered sprawl over the mountain side, and I can see thousands of lights reflected in the water of a Great Lake. As we approach the gates, the boy stops so suddenly I walk right into his back, stumbling on my robes, and find myself on the ground. The boy extends a hand and hoists me up, unslinging my bag from his back.
"Here big guy, you'll need this," he says, turning away.
"Wait, where are you going? Where do I go?" I ask quickly, and he turns to face me again.
"I'm going in to get warm and see my friends, since you're a first year you get to ride across the lake though, and I can't come with you. Just follow all the other first years to the lake, and I'll se you inside for the sorting, ok?"
"Uh,  ok?" I say, unsure of what he means by sorting but too excited by the promise of a boat ride to bother asking. All the other first years were piling into boats anyway, and I didn't want to be left behind. As I get closer, I notice a faint shimmering at the front of each boat. Looking closer, I can see faint, almost invisible lines of... something, running from the front of the boats into the darkness of the lake.
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I clambered into the last boat alone as all the others were full, and begin looking for an oar or motor of some form when I feel a pressure building in my navel. The boats seem to respond to this, as they begin sliding forward on their own, following the strings of light across the lake. The cool autumn air stirs gently over the water, making my hair flutter and my robes stir. I feel a sense of awe like nothing I've ever felt before, staring up at this massive castle full of nothing but undiscovered wonders, and I genuinely can't hold back the smile that breaks out over my face.