Elemental Academy

Orientation

Orientation Day was by far the greatest and worst day for all of the Cosmic's freshmen students. For some -like Quinn- it meant say goodbye to a bad situation and hello to a chance to have people actually care about you. For others, namely Aria and Raquel, it was the exact opposite; saying goodbye to paradise and hello to Hell.

For Phoenix, it was neither; she's lived here for ten years as a ward and now she'll a student. It made no difference to her. She was in the faculty quarters with Alister -who helped her pack the last of her belongings. The ex-headmaster, headmaster Grimm, gave her permission to miss the freshmen orientation as she's been to a few since living on campus.

Instead, Phoenix planned on going to her new room to unpack then waste the rest of the day at the cemetery, with her parents. Unfortunately, freshmen weren't allowed to leave campus on the first day so she was stuck with figuring that out. "Maybe you could get acquainted with your roommates," Alister demanded more than suggested.

"What if they're a bunch of princesses?" She began seriously. "Or worse," she paused briefly, "they're a bunch of bitches!" The room was silent after Alister sighed in defeat. "But, I still wonder what they're like," she murmured thoughtfully.

Quinn was excited as she could finally be free of her absent parents and build a functional relationship with someone other than her pet owl -who was perched on her forearm- and Smithers. She held a heavy maroon duffel bag over her opposite arm while Smithers drew two matching suitcases.

Her excitement made the water features on the side rush more furiously. The water feature was made from six huge marble women -on either side- with bowls in their outstretched hands. From the bowls, water poured down into a stream that was on the inner part of the barricading. Some of the women had moss on them and their bowls while others just had it on their bases.

Not far behind her was Aria and her father, admiring the mere scenery of the bridge and the two arches. The bridge was connecting the steep hill to the flat hill -where the school was. One arch, the one on the sleep hill, was the portal that led to different places while the one across the bridge led into the school.

The greenery around the bridge was in full bloom; summer and winter were the only seasons in the upper Cosmic. The upper Cosmic consisted of Scorch -obviously- and Veil. The lower Cosmic, Earth and Oceanus experienced all four seasons.

"I can't believe it, dad," Aria started with excitement, "I'm not a legacy or an honor student and yet..." She sighed gleefully. "How?"

Her father hummed a chuckle as he studied her awestruck expression. He was so proud of her, her accomplishments and her character as a whole. Even now that he had to say goodbye, he couldn't get over the fact that his little girl -his only child- was a student at the most prestigious school in the entire Cosmic.

He started slowly, "I guess the department of education really saw your potential as an earthly being. The placement council too." Aria froze as they reached the shade of the huge arch. The school was barely visible through the murky portal. "Aria," he called gently as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"What if I don't fit in?" Her father sighed ruefully. "Dad, this school for the best of the best. I've only used my power for fun; I've never trained it. I've never had to focus it in a life or death situation. I don't even know how strong I am."

"You're strong enough to get into the 'school of excellence'-" he gestured to a table with a sign reading those very words. "-and that's what's important. Earthly or celestial, you are an amazing elemental and if the 'brat pack' gives you grief; remember that air is your domain and its everywhere. Specifically in their lungs," he whispered into her ear, making her hum a giggle.