A/N: Wow! Another fanfic! And I still haven't continued writing Living a Lie!
(I am a procrastinating pro)
Anyways, I wrote this on a whim and thought, hey, it's pretty long. Let's make another story!
As usual, updates will be once a week, usually on Thursday (but may be earlier by accident or if I can't get online)
I'm also at Camp NaNoWriMo writing a KH fic, so I probably won't be very busy for the rest of the month.
Disclaimer: I don't know Tales of the Abyss. It belongs to Namco Bandai (I think)
The girl walked through the large doors into the academy. She clutched her bag to her tightly, gazing around nervously.
Students walked around her, ignoring her except for the occasional odd look. They held themselves stiffly, and turned their noses up at her. She clutched her bag tighter, feeling the animosity of those who believed they were better than her.
Someone banged into her, sending her sprawling to the floor. Looking up, she saw a girl with blonde hair and curled lip looking at her.
"Oh, sorry," she drawled sarcastically.
"Um..it's okay," she replied, standing up, head lowered. Her tan hair covered one bright blue eye, hiding it from view.
"And who are you?" the girl asked, eyebrow raised.
"Tear Fende...miss," she replied, instinctively curling up.
"Hmph. Make sure to stay out of my way next time," she snapped, before striding off. Tear watched her go, then looked back at the school. She didn't belong here...This was a place for smart and rich people. She'd only gotten in because her older brother put in a good word.
'I want to go home...'
she thought to herself, keeping her gaze locked firmly on the floor.
She entered the large hall, looking around in fascination. Everything was intricately decorated, with marble columns and statues lining the walls. The other students passed through it without so much as a sideways glance, though Tear didn't understand how anyone could get used to such grandeur.
She pulled the letter from her pocket, rereading the directions. Looking around, she started for the hallway which should lead to the Headmaster's office. Finally reaching the door, she reached up and knocked, feeling her nerves catching up to her.
"Come in," a voice called, and she swallowed thickly before pushing the door open and entering.
The man who stood staring out of the window didn't look anything like she had imagined. He glanced back, and she felt a blush coming to her cheeks. His hair was a flaming red, coming to his waist, and his eyes were the most brilliant gold.
He looked her up and down a moment, then suddenly smiled. His face seemed to light up, and she forced herself to stay calm.
"Ah, Miss Fende. We've been expecting you," he said, turning and walking to the chair. He sat down, motioning to the other chair. She crossed over to it, sitting down hesitantly. He looked at her, considering her.
"Why are you here, Miss Fende?"
"Huh?"
"Why did you want to join our school?"
"Oh, um...I don't really know. I just came because it's a really good school."
"So you haven't planned ahead or anything?" the man continued.
Tear shrank in her seat. "No."
The man stared at her a moment longer, and she wondered if she was about to be kicked out, when he smiled again. "Excellent. I think we'll get along well. My name is Lorelei, the Headmaster of this school. Be good, and we won't be meeting that often," he said.
'Aww...'
she thought to herself.
"Is there a particular dorm you'd like to be part of?"
"Huh?"
"We have three different dorms for people to choose from. Malkuth, led by Peony, Kimlasca led by Ingobert, and Daath led by Vandescelsca."
Tear was about to say Daath, then hesitated. "Which one is best?" she asked.
Lorelei shrugged. "They're all pretty even. Daath has a lead at the moment, but Malkuth and Kimlasca aren't too far behind."
Tear still hesitated, not sure which one she wanted to go for. Lorelei seemed to notice her nervousness.
"How about I choose for you now, and then if you want to swap, you can?" he suggested.
"You can do that?" she asked, surprised.
"Oh yes. Most students don't swap ever, but some do. It's perfectly within the rules to just change teams, but you lose all the points you gained for that team, so it's not suggested."
Tear nodded. "Alright," she agreed.
Lorelei considered her, looking her up and down. He noted her still red cheeks, and then an evil grin crossed his face.
"Kimlasca. You can be in Kimlasca."
Tear nodded again, trying not to look disappointed. 'If you want to go to Daath later, just ask him,' she reminded herself.
"Here's a map of the school grounds, and a copy of your timetable. Any other equipment you need, we have a stationary store near the cafeteria, so you can buy it there. As you're not here because of your parents, you'll get a monthly allowance of fifty Gald, though that amount can change depending on your attitude in school, understand?"
Tear nodded mutely, having not expected to actually get money from the school.
"Alright, lessons have already started, but I'll just ring up your teacher and tell her you're likely to be late. I'd suggest heading to the dorms first; I'll send someone down to show you around."
"Thank you sir," she murmured, standing up.
Lorelei grinned. "Come back if you have any problems," he called to her as she left the room. As the door shut, he sat back, gaze travelling to the door hidden in shadows that was slightly open. "Now, why on Auldrant didn't you show yourself, Yulia?" he asked.
A figure stepped through the door, her golden brown hair sweeping to her hips and bright blue eyes looking at the door which Tear had left through.
"...She doesn't need to know I'm here yet," Yulia replied quietly, and Lorelei shrugged.
"That's up to you. Though considering her reception from this morning, she'll probably need to know soon," he replied, standing and looking out of the window, watching as Tear hurried across the grounds to the dorm.
Yulia sighed, hugging herself. "I know," she whispered.
Tear reached the door and hurried inside. She looked around, wondering who this person was likely to be.
"Are you Mystearica Fende?" a voice asked behind her and she jumped, keeping herself from shrieking out loud.
"U-Um, yes," she replied, turning to face the newcomer. Then blinked, confused. "Mr Lorelei?" she asked.
The boy blinked before laughing. Tear stood there, a little put out, and he calmed down. "Ah, sorry, sorry. It's just, everyone always mistakes me for Dad, but no one's ever asked me out loud," he explained, meeting her gaze with a grin.
Tear felt heat coming to her cheeks. His flame red hair came down to his hips, the tips a golden-orange colour. His emerald eyes sparkled with his laughter, gold flecking them, and he had an easy grin.
"So, I'm Luke. I'm going to show you around, okay?" he said. Tear nodded, her cheeks growing even redder, and he looked concerned. "You okay? Got a fever or something?" he asked, reaching out to touch her forehead.
"No! No, I'm fine," she said, jerking away and hurrying ahead. Luke watched her go in surprise then smirked, before going after her.
"The girls' side is this way!"
"...And this is your room."
Luke finished their tour, stopping outside a room. Tear looked at it hesitantly, reaching out and opening the door.
The room had two beds, and while one side was plain, the other was lavishly furnished. It looked extremely expensive; a plethora of blues, whites and greens, and Tear felt her shrink into herself.
"W-Who am I sharing with?" she asked Luke.
He glanced in, nodding slowly. "Natalia Lanvaldear. She's the daughter of Ingobert, so she's pretty rich."
'Great...'
Tear thought to herself as she stepped inside, suddenly noticing her bags on the other bed.
"Was my stuff brought up?" she asked, surprised.
"Uh huh. Part of the service," Luke explained, leaning against the doorframe as Tear looked around in interest. She sat down on the bed, surprised at how soft it was. The covers were a plain white, but soft, and she smiled as she ran a hand along it. "You like it?" Luke asked.
Tear nodded. "I've never felt anything so soft," she murmured.
Luke grinned, giving a bow. "Glad to be of service," he said grandly.
Tear looked at him in surprise. "You...um, cleaned this?"
"Yup. Dad gets me and Asch to help around the school because we pretty much live here, and it's hard on the staff when they have to clean like, a hundred bed sheets."
"Dad...you said that before. Who is your dad?" Tear asked.
Luke raised an eyebrow. "You mistook me for him, but you don't know?"
Tear considered, then blushed. "M-Mr Lorelei is your dad?" she asked hesitantly.
"Bingo. Though don't mention that to Asch, he gets irritated enough by all the stupid girls fawning on him and teachers trying to suck up to him because of it."
"Guess it would be awkward, with your dad as the Head teacher," Tear mused.
"You don't know the half of it," Luke muttered, rolling his green-gold eyes.
Tear smiled, and Luke glanced at her before closing his eyes. "Anyway, what have you got first lesson?" he asked.
Tear frowned, pulling out the timetable Lorelei had given her. "Um...Mr Upala."
"Tactics, huh? Cool, looks like we're in the same lesson. Show me your timetable, we'll compare," Luke said, holding out his hand.
Tear raised an eyebrow. "There's such a word as 'please'," she said icily.
Luke blinked, then grinned. "Right, sorry. Please can I have your timetable?"
Tear handed it over, and Luke scanned his eyes over it.
"Mmmkay...So we've got Fonic Artes, Tactics, Short Range Weaponry and Escapism together." Scanning it a bit more, he blinked. "You do Fonic Hymns? Wow..That course has barely anyone in it, I've never actually met someone who wasn't in Daath and could use them."
"Why are most of them in Daath?" asked Tear.
"Because Van is the Dorm master of Daath, as well as the one who teaches it. People just go to Daath to learn more," Luke replied with a shrug.
He handed back the paper, and Tear took it. "What classes do you do then?" she asked.
"Fonic Artes, Tactics, Politics, Short Range Weaponry and Escapism. Pretty much the same," he replied. He pulled a face. "I have a friend who does Fon Machines. I don't understand how he can stand it, the teacher's a weirdo."
"Who teaches Fon Machines?" asked Tear, curious. It sounded interesting, at least.
"Dist Saphir. He refers to himself as 'Dist the Rose' and wears makeup of all things," Luke replied with a shiver.
There came a sudden ringing and he pulled a phone out of his pocket.
"Hello," he said as he answered. He was silent, then sighed. "I'm at the dorms. Showing round the new girl." Silence. "Yeah yeah, I know. We'll be there in a minute." Another silence, and Luke smirked. "So you say. They won't care as long as I'm there. Anyway, I'll see ya. Bye." He tucked it back in his pocket, looking at Tear. "Okay, we're pretty late for lessons. Want to skip this one and I'll show you around? Or have half hour left of lessons?"
Tear considered. "I don't mind, really."
"Alright then, thirty minute speed tour, coming up," Luke replied with a grin.
A/N: So, how'd you like it? Good? Bad?
Review?
