Academy of Elements: Earth

Chapter 20: A Meadow Among Mountains

Darkness embraces us, colours fly past us in streaks vibrantly as we pass into the mirror realm. The world pieces itself together, the limousine coming back into being. We drive down the dirt road for a few seconds before stopping in front of a small building. Guardians open the door and head into the cold world outside.

They wear their usual white tech suits, weapons in hand as they scan the contents of the car and let us drive away. As we leave them I embrace the beauty outside.

The pine trees are layered with snow, shining in the daylight like diamonds, an owl sits in a tree asleep, blended in with the snow. As we drive I notice Nora's smile and squeeze her hand. Her smile broadens as we exit the tree line and Flarea Estora: The Academy of Elements, comes into view. The large building is covered in snow, the tin roof barely visible. Snow coats the world like a blanket, and as I step out of the car I embrace the cold. My powers grow strong, the frigid air fueling me like gas in a machine. Despite the landscape, the most beautiful thing is still Nora, a smile on her face as she takes in my home.

"It's beautiful." She smiles. I nod taking it in. The fountain is frozen into a statue of Nicolas Claus, a past member of the Gifted Six, the lush gardens in front of the school are covered in snow like everything else, roses and lilies buried. Beyond that is the lake which is completely frozen over, icicles dangling from the cliff on the far side. The academy has gold and silver Christmas lights decorating it, ice hanging from the windows. In the center of the expansive garden is a large Christmas tree, almost the same height as the Academy itself. Unlike last year's rustic look, this year the school has gone for silver and gold, tinsel looping through the rich smelling pine tree. Golden bobbles hang like moons in the sky, and on top is a large crystal star, shining like a literal star in the darkest of nights. The large spruce doors to the building each have reefs hanging from them, coloured silver and gold like the rest of the world.

The trees around the valley are all frozen, ice hanging from their branches, snow covering them like a blanket. It was perfect.

Our bags are taken to our dormitories, the limo driving away into the distance. I was eager to see the changes to the Academy, the changes to my home. After lasts years events with Kassadern Darath, the cafeteria had been destroyed, though the plan was to actually destroy the Academy we had diverted him away from the building long enough for Guardians to get there.

After taking it all in we decide to head for the dormitories, deciding to go to the Ice one since everyone was eager to see Elise, Sarah, and James. We walk along the path into the forest, the trees hanging over us majestically, lanterns with dancing flames inside them lighting the branches.

I hold Nora's hand, our bodies close together. Near the end of the cobblestone path, we turn and cross a bridge, a frozen creek beneath it.

The gates to the Ice Dormitories stand there, welcoming me home. I press my hand to it and it swings open slowly. In the center of the area lies a towering Christmas tree, decorated with similar ornaments.

Each house is decorated with lights, the window sills gathering snow. I step onto the porch and open the door to my home.

A rich and warm smell I had never noticed before fills me, the scent of pine trees and vanilla, like roasting chestnuts, and though cliche, it truly was the scent of home. The other carry on into the living room after removing their shoes but I open the first door on the left and walk in.

My room greats me. It is the same as it was an almost a year ago, nobody had been in it since the day before Kassadern Darath attacked. A book lies open on my desk, a layer of dust covering it much like the snow covering the ground outside. My bed is made neatly. The room felt empty though. I cross over to the cabinets on the wall picking up a picture of Rose and me.