Pantheo High: Enrollment

Hiding with Second Introductions

As the four of them were on their knees, in between the bookshelves and laying low, the stomping and barking of the Shih Tzu can be heard from the halls and felt from the tremors of the marble floor. The chandeliers from the white dome ceiling swung from side to side, turning the fluorescent-like light in the library strobe and spin around. In between the bookshelves of the Fiction section were all four of them: Psyche, Bragi, Loki, and Rose, tired and sitting on the ground, leaning on the bookshelves for back support. While Psyche was still trying to get her bearings, she looked around: 

The library was BIG. One large concave hallway, with columns and columns of tables and chairs. The hallway was illuminated by the six crystal chandeliers that hung from the dirty white ceiling, decorated with Renaissance-style art of different gods of different pantheons: a bird-headed guy with a long beak reading multiple books all at once, a woman looking away using a telescope, and the head of bearded bald man just floating about in the cloudy background, with an expression that made him look tired of floating aimlessly. On the sides of the hallway were columns of bookshelves, illuminated by chunks of diamond crystals that seemed to grow out of the dark corners of the bookshelf aisles. The glow of the crystals seem to mimic the light from a cloudy day: illuminating, but with a certain dimming quality. 

As she looked around in awe, the three others were already arguing under their breath.

Bragi: Really?! A giant poodle?! You can shapeshift, once a day, and the first thing you change into is that?!

Loki: Oh, I'm sorry!! I wasn't aware I can't turn into a giant canine with some class!!

Rose: Yes, sure, argue some more! I think the GIANT DOG DIDN'T HEAR YOU!!!

Bragi: ROSE!! LOKI!!! COULD YOU PLEASE CUT THE BREAKS ON THE SARCASM AND SHUT UP!!!

Loki: NO!! I WON'T SHUT UP!!! I'M FREAKING OUT, THAT THERE IS A GIANT DOG LOOKING FOR US AND WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!

Bragi: NO!!! WE'RE NOT GONNA DIE IF YOU JUST SHUT UP!!!

While the three of them were arguing, Psyche looked at all three of them. Was she scared? Yes. Tired? Very. But, with being left out of the chaos, Psyche seemed to adjust more easily. At first, she saw them as the average, run-of-the-mill delinquents. But now, they seem more complex. Most delinquents run away after causing trouble, but these guys, they're trying to fix it. No average delinquent would help an entire room of people to evacuate, let alone distract a large monster for someone else. Once the arguing died down, Psyche cleared her throat.

Psyche: Ooookay. Quick question, why am I here?

The three looked at her.

Loki: Yyyyeah, why is she with us?

He said, pointing her finger at her while looking at Rose, who then glances at them before continuing to stare up the ceiling. 

Rose: It had its eyes on her and I had no choice.

Bragi: Yeah, right. That's the ONLY reason you brought her here.

Rose: Speaking of reasons, Psyche, why didn't you escape with the rest? I thought my running around and yelling at you all to run was very clear.

Psyche: I... fell into the bleachers. Everyone was just pushing and, uh, yeah.

Bragi nods a bit as he slung his ax to his lap. Now that Psyche was able to look at it up close, it wasn't just an ax. On one side, four thick steel strings were attached to the starting end of the handle, secured by metal tuning keys, and attached to a steel bar on the base of the ax. On the other side, the entire neck/handle is made of light brown wood. Frets lined the handle in shiny silver as the chipped edges of the ax glistened with a dark greyish steel hue. The rest of the ax blade was ebony black, a darkness that's only seen in obsidian. Bragi looked at Psyche for a bit with his piercing blue eyes: the kind of blue that you would see when lightning strikes during a rainstorm.

Bragi: They were a bit panicked. Her story checks out. 

Loki: Wait, hold on. We forgot to introduce ourselves. 

Bragi rolled his eyes.

Bragi: Please, not now.

Loki: It's as good a time as any. 

Loki puts his right hand on the left side of his chest.

Loki: I'm Loki, a freshman.

 Rose smiles at Psyche and nods to her.

Rose: I'm Rose, also a freshman.

Bragi lazily raises his hand.

Bragi: Bragi, freshman. 

Psyche: I'm Psyche. Also first year. Wait, if we're all first years, then how come you guys know each other? 

Loki: Pantheo High has a daughter school called Erebos Middle School. Most Pantheo High students are from there, so more or less, everybody knows everybody. Bragi, Rose, and moi have been a group ever since.

Psyche: Oh, that's cool. So, I'm assuming the giant furball wasn't part of the orientation.

Rose: We had a.... slight miscalculation.

Bragi scoffed at the remark.

Bragi: Chalk it up to our sharply-dressed mastermind. It was his idea.

Rose: It was. But talking about what happened won't solve anything.

Loki chimes in.

Loki: N-n-no. Tell her how this happened. I'm curious about what YOUR thought process was when you decided to strike a deal with the Principal.

Psyche waves her hands in confusion.

Psyche: Hold on. The Principal allowed this?

Loki did the see-saw motion with his left hand.

Loki: Eeeeh, not exactly. It's better if someone explains it.

He then looks to Rose, pointing with his head.

Rose: FINE! Okay. Here it goes...