The dimmed sunlight of the early morning was blocked out by the ashen clouds, giving the sky a somber look like an old, long forgotten painting. Crowded lines of people started filling a train station as the doors of the train creaked opened. The sudden flourish of bright colors surrounded the station by the opening of umbrellas; no one trusting the darkened sky. Behind the rushed footsteps of all the people, a petite boy was last to depart the train, pulling a rolling suitcase as he made his way along the aged path that lead into town.

"Bienvenue en Bretagne" He quietly read aloud to himself, stopped in front of a blue sign that held directions of the area. He took a deep breathe before heading back along the path with many others who were heading into town. The first thing the boy noticed in the town had to be its rustic charm. The townhouses built together were made out of old brick and venders with fresh produce lined throughout the cobblestone roads. After stepping off the train, it was like he was transported into another world from a previous era.

Farther into town, a old fashioned library and bakery neighbored each other; the sweet aroma of sugar and baked goods filling the air. A girl stood captivated in front of the sweets store, golden ringlet curls pulled up into twin ponytails. The sound of footsteps drew her out of her daydream as the boy approached. Her bright emerald eyes lit up excitedly before a smile grew on her face and she threw her arms forcefully around him, almost knocking him over.

"Ciel!" She exclaimed, pulling back slightly after a moment to look at his face. "You finally made it! I was starting to worry you missed the train." The blonde started walking again while holding onto his wrist, not waiting for a response back. "Mother was sad you couldn't catch an earlier train so she could have seen you before winter break ended..." A childish pout formed on her lips before she quickly became cheerful again. "It's okay though; we get to go home for spring break so you can see her then."

Ciel glanced over his cousin as they walked; the blonde seeming exactly the same from the last time he saw her over four years ago. Back when he was eight, both of his parents got into a fatal car accident by a drunk driver. For the past five years after the accident, he was shipped around at schools in England. His cousin, Elizabeth, started a new boarding school in Bretagne last school year. Hearing her rave about it, her mother decided to enroll her nephew in it as well to keep him closer with family.

"I'm so excited you decided to come to school here. It feels like forever since I've seen you! To bad school starts again tomorrow, but we can definitely catch up on the weekends. I just know you're going to love it." Elizabeth continued eagerly, stopping their walking once they reached the door of one of the townhouses.

"We're staying here for the night. We'll take the train to the academy in the morning. It's not far from here." Unlocking the door, he followed her inside.

After what seemed like hours of catching up over a cup of tea, which consisted of mostly Elizabeth chattering with simple responses from Ciel, they both retired to their bedrooms for the night. It was already halfway through the school year and he wasn't thrilled about starting a new school yet again. Unlike his cousin, he couldn't be farther from a social butterfly and always got nervous around people. The thought of having to share a dormitory with one or even two other boys gave him butterflies. At his other school, his quietness had him earn the title stuck up which had the others simply ignore him after awhile. That was how he liked it.

X-X

Getting up early the next morning, Ciel was ready half an hour before they had to catch the train. Elizabeth had given him his winter uniform the night before which she had gotten from her mother. The uniforms consisted of a navy blue jacket with a tie and black pants, skirts for the girls. The students were given new ties each month; the pattern representing the zodiac signs during that given month. After a quick breakfast, the two headed out into town to the train station.

Setting their luggage next to them on the train, the girl only having a small bag of necessary things since majority of her things were already in her dorm from earlier in the year, the two sat in mostly silence which gave comfort to him. The nerves were starting to build on the boy as they got closer and closer to the school. Before long, the train glided into the next station. Passengers filed out, many in uniforms like theirs.

"It's only right around the corner from here." Elizabeth announced cheerfully as the two got off the train, following behind another large group of students. She started chatting happily with one of the other girls, leaving Ciel to his own thoughts. As the minutes ticked by, Victorian-style stone villas lined the grounds. It didn't take him long to figure out that they were the dorms. There was twelve villas; six on the left and six on the right. Each one named for one of the Zodiac constellations. A large building soon came into eyesight. It resembled more of a palace than a school. 'Académie des étoiles' was written right above the two white columns towards the entrance of the grand building. Still following the group in front of them, they made their way up the long alabaster stairs and finally inside with many other students.

Elizabeth left him at the main office with the promise of meeting up later for lunch. Standing quietly at the door for a few minutes, he finally headed inside. The receptionist glanced up while talking away on the phone.

"Transfer?" She asked dully. He nodded silently. "Last name?"

"Phantomhive." The boy replied in a hushed tone and the receptionist handed him a packet after rummaging around in a bright yellow filing cabinet.

"You're in the Sagittarius dormitory; it's the one farthest from the main building. Room 113. Your schedule is in the packet." With that, the woman started back on her phone call.

Opening the packet as he walked out of the office to get his schedule, he walked straight into someone. Ciel stumbled back, just barely catching his balance to prevent himself from falling. His eyes locked with a pair of light cerulean eyes belonging to a blonde boy. The first thing that shocked him was the way he was dressed. Unlike everyone else in their uniforms, the blonde had on a pair of jet black short and matching thigh-highs while still wearing the navy jacket and tie. At that moment he knew that no matter how many other schools he transferred to or how many people he met, no simple glance could ever affect him that strongly. A strong mixed expression of self-assurance,and cockiness, yet a hint of childish playfulness blended darkly in those icy orbs.

A brief moment of silence spread between them before the blonde turned and continued to stride down the corridor; figuring the boy wasn't worth his time. Ciel slowly kneeled down and picked his schedule up from the floor after he was out of sight. Irritation waved over him, but he quickly brushed it off. Sapphire orbs scanned over the paper once more before he headed off to find his first class. Minutes started passing as he wandered through the halls like a mouse in a castle. Every turn he made seemed to just take him farther away and even more lost in the labyrinth of a building. An old staircase led down into darkness at the end of what seemed like the 100th hallway he had searched. Curiosity won over his hesitation as he peered down the pitch black staircase. Gripping the railing tightly, Ciel steadily descended the steps.

Frigid air brushed up against him as he got closer to the bottom; it feeling colder with each step he took. A glint of red caught his attention as he reached the last stair. Not paying attention as he took the final step, the boy felt his body lean forward as his foot slipped. Ciel instinctively squeezed his eyes shut and braced himself for the impact. He felt a pair of cool hands on his lower back, stopping him from falling.

"Students aren't supposed to be down here, now are they." A deep voice chastised in his ear. Ciel froze before whirling his petite self around, coming face to face to a pair of deep, cardinal eyes. Seeing the boy's lose for word, the man continued.

"Last name?" He added, trying to get at least some response from him.

"...Phantomhive." Ciel mumbled back after a moment.

"Oh you're the new transfer aren't you? You're in my first period romantic lit class if I remember correctly. Come, if you're lost, I can help you find your way." He made sure to let the boy go first up the stairs just in case he decided to trip again.

Ciel's eyes locked on his schedule again as the man took the lead in front of him. 'Professor Michaelis' He thought as he glanced back up from the paper. Obsidian hair as dark as night paired with skin as white as freshly fallen snow, not to mention those neon crimson eyes, the professor definitely stood out. But to all his knowledge, maybe all the teachers were like this here.

"Ciel, was it? Right this way." Professor Michaelis spoke softly, sensing the boy had slowed down. Knocked out of his daydream, Ciel quickly nodded and hurried after him down the hall. What a first day this had turned out to be already.