Now it is exactly 6 a.m. and I have done preparing all the things that I need for the first day of school, which is mostly class schedule distribution and most prominently, orientation for freshmen. Still pondering and packing my bags, a voice came to me.
"You have prepared? That was fast and way too early"
With unimpressed and somehow mocking tone.
That is my cousin, Celine. She also happen to be enrolled in the same school as me, which I almost forgot that I was supposed to go with her today.
"Only thirty minutes left before the school start," I reply, while turning slightly to face her.
"Yeah, yeah I know it already, ten minutes is already enough for me to prepare myself."
There she goes to the bathroom. I've been with her for almost ten years, yet she doesn't seem to understand my knack of early preparation.
Luckily, she kept her promise. Within ten minutes, she has prepared everything from the things in suitcases to semi-formal clothes she wore for today, and her hair has been kept tidy with piggy-tailed, all set. "You ready to go?" She said to me who is sitting by the front yard.
"As ready as you are" I replied. Though my hair is not as tidy as her, since I prefer to leave my short dark brown hair naturally, "You sure?" She asked again.
"No need to mention my hair, it looks good this way"
"Whatever you say" Unimpressed as always, though I know she means well.
As soon as we walked through the front yard, the school bus arrived. We bring our suitcases and bags and ride into the bus. It seems she is right, we were too early and the bus still empty with the exception of the driver.
We sit in the back-seat by the window that allow us to see other enrolled students as soon as they ride the bus. Familiar faces, I expected. Still drowsy, I choose to have a short nap during the journey. Celine seems to be sleepy as well, as she slowly starts to close her eyes to have a nap.
Until a loud voice wake me up.
"Hey, it's Master Jason! How're you doing? It's been a long time, is it?"
That loud and clumsy voice is so familiar. As I expected, it is Roland, or should I say Master Roland out of respect. He might appear clumsy and innocent, but don't let them fool you. I knew him since I was ten years old, by then he just arrived in Ashenville. Appeared as an innocent and chubby kid back then, he joined my class group during elementary years and guess what, as a new student he was pretty smart, and only in one year managed to become the best in most of subjects in our class group. A little childish, but he is not a bad guy.
"I'm good, Roland. How's your vacation going? Still keep in touch with the others?" I replied. Celine seems to be aware of our conversation, but she chooses not to care as she always do.
"Nice to hear that and yeah, still in touch with the rest." Roland said, while sitting next to my seat row. "We're going to have a study in one of the best school in this country, and everyone should be prepared for that. Mentally and physically." With passionate tone as always, Roland said. He's always very enthusiastic with the arcane arts.
"By the way, where're the others?" I said, wanting to countinue this small chat, as I notice that although this bus is getting crowded, it is still quiet. Very quiet. I also haven't found my friends here, besides Roland.
"They're on the other buses. We might find them as soon as we take off from this bus. Their houses are on different route, remember?"
Ah, I almost forget that. Ashenville is not a huge town, but not a small town either. In fact, the town is famous by having the most residents, almost as many as the city of Highmont, the capital of Brighthollow. It is acceptable that more than one bus deployed to pick the new students. I nod to him silently to him. It seems the rest of the passengers in the bus are sleepy, which explains the quietness.
This journey is quite long, as the school is situated literally near the border of Ashenville, while its residential area is in the center of the town. I figured that the short nap would be valuable, given the distance, but I soon lose my interest in napping after having a short talk with Roland.
Finally, we arrived at the ASAC, the institution that we should call home for the next years. The other buses also has arrived. There are three buses in total, with each bus is holding at least forty students . Looking at the school, I feel the magic is so thick in the air, and everyone does seem to realize that too. What do you expect? it is a magic school. One of the best magic school in Brighthollow to be precise. We're going to learn much things here, I suppose.
