immortality [wizarding world] | ⚐

十八

Sancho Clave woke with a start. His eyes darted out of the window. The night was still, the stars bright. The young twelve year old boy with his out-of-place golden curls rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as he looked around him. There was a strange feeling in the air, a feeling that wasn't necessarily good or bad, but it lingered, taunting him. He didn't think much of it as he drew the curtains — they had somehow been yanked open: by what invisible force, he didn't know. He made himself comfortable in Castelobruxo-assigned sturdy wood bed, and fell asleep, without a care in the world. Just as Sancho was lulled back to his peaceful slumber, a majestic creature's wings beat against the hot Amazonian air, rising from the trees near Sancho's window. His lion's mane rippled in the wind as he began his journey back to Cheops to deliver an important message.

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"C'mon Sancho, it's the first day of classes, let's go!" His roommate, Felix, flung the windows open, taking a deep breath of the warm forest air. It was swelteringly hot, but the school somehow stayed the perfect temperature year round. Sancho was just beginning his second year at Castelobruxo, and finally felt like he belonged. The first years were always harassed and teased by the older students, but that time had passed. Now he could participate in the harmless jokes that were often performed on the newcomers. To say he was excited was an understatement. He got dressed hurriedly as Felix bounded around the room, chatting Sancho's ear off.

"I can't wait to take Transfiguración and Defensa and maybe I'll be lucky to have Headmistress Praelia as a Mentor it's so guay that she's Headmistress now don't get me wrong Headmistress Lucera was excellent but —" Felix rambled on as Sancho chuckled and did the laces on his shoes. Felix was his closest friend at Castelobruxo (as well as María Luz, a third year from the Andes who had befriended in the both of them last year), and his energy was limitless. Some found this overbearing, but no one ever dared to tell him to pipe down, mostly because Felix was the best Potions student Castelobruxo had seen in a while (he was extremely humble about it, usually insisting that he had a ridiculous amount of luck and not skill).

"I hope she's my Mentor, too." Sancho said wistfully, knowing that his chances were slim. Second year was also important because it was when the students at Castelobruxo got their Mentors, which were members of the faculty that were assigned to them and would provide guidance throughout their education, and even their lives. A Mentorship bond was incredibly valued in the Castelobruxo community, and surpassed the student-teacher relationship. Paloma Lucera had been Isadora Praelia's Mentor, and now Isadora was Headmistress. But Felix did not allow Sancho to dwell on the thought for too long as he dragged him out of their room, making a beeline for the Hall, where breakfast was being served. They waved to María Luz as they took their assigned seats at a round table amongst their fellow second years, their schedules already waiting for them. Sancho's eyes flew down the parchment and landed on a small post-scriptum:

Mentors will be assigned this evening; schedules will be posted for first meetings.

Sancho turned to Felix, who was already squirming in his seat.

"I can't wait!" Felix announced, snatching Sancho's schedule up to compare their classes. "Oh look — we have Potions and Transfiguración together... shame we don't have Defensa or Historia, but at least we'll be together Wednesday evenings in Música... don't give me that look!" Sancho grinned at Felix — Castelobruxo had required music lessons for all students up until their fifth year, and the two had chosen Voz, or singing lessons (music magic was an old type of magic that only Castelobruxo still taught). It turned out to be an excellent decision for Sancho: much to his surprise, he was pretty good at it. However, and rather quite unfortunately for him, Felix's luck seemed to come at an abrupt stop when it came to his singing. Maestra Allegra, the fifty-something musically-gifted witch who taught their classes, often compared Felix's voice to that of a dying toad. And yet, much to Sancho's relief, Felix refused to switch to an instrument, instead having a vehement desire to prove to Maestra that he sounded at least like a frog with a bad cough.