A Claim to Magic

The Houses

          CHAPTER SEVEN

Muta

They reached the school at six thirty, excited and exhausted. From the outside of Muta looked amazing, there were six buildings, one much larger than the rest.

Corrie was taking in the sight, she could not believe that this would be where she would be living for the next six years. They entered the warm, softly lit school. It did not really look like a school at all, it felt more like a home. It reminded Corrie of her own home, nice, but not quite formal. She thought this with a pang of regret, her parents were angry with her, at least, her father was, her mother did whatever her father told her, and she and her sister were not neccesarily on good terms either.

"Wow." Elizabeth's face reflected her delight, "this is amazing! I mean, who wouldn't want to be here? It's so..." she gestured to the room in which they were standing.

"I know," Corrie said, "It's wonderful." And it was, it already felt like home, it felt like Corrie belonged here, like this was where she should spend the rest of her life.

"Alright everybody," Corrie had not seen the man standing in front of the arched double doors, "I will take you to breakfast, now, follow me!" He led the kids through the massive archway behind them into a broad hallway. The entire building was lit with fire, torches, candles, and fireplaces. They walked, occasionally passing small doors, Corrie guessed that these were classrooms, and tapestries which made the hall seem cozy and unique.

The hall reached a dead end, Corrie looked around, there were no doors anywhere near where they were standing, rather, there was only the wooden wall. Mr. Pestan, this was the name of the man that they were with, reached forward and pulled the largest tapestry, it was embroidered with flowers, to reveal a sliding door, he pulled it open. Corrie's jaw dropped. It was beautiful, the room was painted with sunrise color, and tables and chairs dotted the room. There were hundreds of people in the room, but still plenty of space. In the back there was a longer, marble table on which was the food. There was every breakfast food imaginable, from blueberries, to chocolate chip cookies, to pancakes and waffles drizzled with syrup and butter.

As they entered the room every head turned towards them, everyone was staring at them, all different ages, from eighteen year olds, these would be leaving the next year, to those who had just begun their first year at Muta.

Elizabeth grabbed her arm, "Come on, don't just stand there gawking!" She pulled Corrie towards the table laden with food. Corrie followed her, trying to ignore the people watching.

"Why are they looking at us?" Corrie asked Elizabeth, "It makes me feel uncomfortable."

"Well, we are the newest kids," Elizabeth said, "why else would they be looking at us?" she said the last word with emphasis.

"Everybody!" Corrie looked up, setting down her waffle, there were more people coming through the sliding door, not more thirteen year olds, rather, eight teachers, "I would like to welcome all those who are new," it was a man speaking, "and welcome back those who have been here before. Now, as many of you already know, those who are new here will today be tested and picked for a different school building." He paused and looked towards the thirteen year olds, "For those who are new here, I will explain, each building offers something different, sports, friendship, knowledge, and so on. You will all take a test, the heads of each of the houses will pick whoever they think would be best for their house. Once picked, you stay in that house the rest of the time in which you attend Muta. You will take the test immediately after breakfast." He left the room.

"Hello," The speaker was a short, round old lady, one of the seven teachers that were still standing before the sliding door, "I am Miss Elkton, head of the house Cairdias, we only pick those who show interest in friends, we offer extra time free to socialize with your friends." She smiled and stepped back.

"Hello, I'm Mr. Moakanst, I only accept those with the highest of knowledge, I offer extra classes to increase your intelligence." The skinny, bald man stepped back.

"Hello," now it was a Native American woman addressing them, "I am Mrs. Tellanston, I accept those who enjoy animals, I offer extra on magical creatures and languages." She stepped back.

"Hello, you may call me Professor Colman, I only accept those that are highest in everything, and show interest in learning, I offer extra classes in everything related to magic." Professor Coleman stepped back, but did not stop talking, "I am not kidding when I say that I only accept those with the highest probability of success in this school."

"Hi," a woman stepped forward, "I am Mrs. Kohnsondole, I run a house with my husband Mr. Kohnsondole, he explained the tests to you a couple of minutes ago. Our house basically is just for those who are not happy with the house they've been placed in, we don't have any extra subjects." she smiled, then stepped back and finished, "you may now continue eating, the test takes place in twenty minutes, get ready!" The teachers all left the room.

"Okay," Elizabeth sounded confused, "So there are five different houses, each offers something different, and we do a test to see which one we're in?"

"That sounds about right." Corrie confirmed. They continued eating.