The clattering of carriage wheels could be heard in the background and a coach of House Velan rode through the guild gates. A youth clambered out the back alongside his parents who made their apologies to the Administrator. The youth joined the queue of novices at the back. The Administrator strode in the Guildhall, announced they were ready to begin and took his place as the novices entered the vast building.
Once inside, the Administrator's assistant Lord Doren, travelled down the line revealing the name, family, house and home country of each novice. Administrator Yelon then asked if anyone claimed guardianship and none did, which was usual in the first year and so the ceremony concluded.
The next day lessons began. The new novices arrived in class in their brown robes. The first lesson would have been Alchemy but they first needed to master control which meant normal lessons were suspended for two weeks. They bowed to Lord Margen before waiting for their control teachers to arrive, then they travelled to individual rooms to begin training.
The first Novice mastered control in three days. It normally took 1-2 weeks so Lord Margen was surprised to see the Kyralian boy there. Another Novice mastered it the next day. The first leant back in his seat whistling and just being generally irritating whereas the other sat studying a book as quietly as one can flick the pages. On the sixth day the boy who had first mastered control got out of his chair and walked over to sit beside the other boy.
"Hey, What are you reading?" He asked.
The other boy glanced up, looking surprised that he was being spoken to.
"Erm, Six Lessons For New Novices," The boy answered.
"That▓s a bit dull, isn▓t it?" The first boy asked.
"I guess, I▓ve read it twice already," The second replied.
"Wow. I read it once and gave up. What▓s your name?" He asked.
"Lorlen. What▓s yours?"
"Akkarin." The first boy answered with a smile.
The pair chattered away for the rest of the day. When the Midday gong rang they walked to the Foodhall together and ate at the same table. The rest of their class joined them. The class seemed to get on well which was more than could be said for most of the classes at the guild.
The rest of the novices mastered Control within two weeks as normal. Then began the proper lessons. The novices' first proper lesson was Healing with a newly graduated Magician, Lady Vinara. She was a powerful Healer and had her name down to become the next Head of Healing.
She strode in early in her green robes and looked around at the class, counting only nine pupils. They waited an extra five minutes before hearing footsteps running toward the classroom. The door burst open and Akkarin skidded in, bowed to Lady Vinara and apologised for sleeping in before taking the seat next to Lorlen and noisily unpacking his notebook and pen.
Lorlen listened to the entire lesson with great interest and took down as many notes as he could. He had decided that he liked the healing lessons. He glanced over at his friend who was leant back in this chair with his feet on the desk and his notebook closed over and sighed. He couldn't help but think how much this boy was going to be a distraction. So why do I talk to him then? Duh, because he makes you laugh.
"Lorlen, What is the technical name for your kneecap?" Lady Vinara suddenly asked, cutting of his train of thought.
"Erm," Lorlen couldn▓t remember. "Cranium?"
"No, that▓s your head┘" Lady Vinara grinned. "Pay attention in class."
He wondered why she hadn't asked Akkarin. He was obviously not paying any attention at all. Lorlen realised. He is going to be the kind of person who gets away with EVERYTHING he does, isn't he?.
Lorlen watched Akkarin out of the corner of his eye. He did nothing all lesson. When the gong rang for Midday, Lady Vinara dismissed the class but kept Akkarin behind. Lorlen waited outside the classroom for his friend. Akkarin stepped out of the room with the unreadable expression he almost always uses on his face.
"Hey Lorlen, thanks for waiting." Akkarin stated, regarding his friend.
"No problem, what was that about?" Lorlen asked.
"Erm, she▓s a family friend, asked after my parents." Akkarin replied.
So that's why she didn't pick on him for not paying attention. The pair walked into the Foodhall and joined their class to eat.
"So how come she kept you back?" Marala, the Elyne girl asked.
Akkarin gave the same reply that he had to Lorlen. Lorlen had noticed how all three girls seemed to have taken a liking to Akkarin and probably by association to himself as well. Selene and Tani, the Kyralian girls had begun following Akkarin and Lorlen around, which annoyed Akkarin quite a bit.
When they had finished eating, Akkarin disappeared for about ten minutes as he had everyday. Lorlen had grown used to his friend being secretive about his life and anything to do with himself or his home and family. Lorlen had also grown used to the teasing the two were getting from some Fifth years, Garrel and Yikmo.
The next day they had their first Warrior skills lesson with another newly graduated Magician, Lord Balkan. Lorlen found this dull. He hated the idea of Magicians using their gift to harm each other and other people. Akkarin, however was writing down everything Lord Balkan said.
At Midday break, Garrel and Yikmo, sat at the next table to them. This worried Lorlen, but Akkarin didn't seem all too bothered by it. Akkarin took their plates over when they had finished and Lorlen sat talking to Tani. Akkarin came back and sat down quickly before taking a large mouthful of the water he had left on the table for Lorlen to mind. After he swallowed the drink he gasped, running out of the Foodhall. Lorlen ran after him, wondering what was the matter with his friend. Whne he caught up with Akkarin, he was gasping and sweating, leaning against a wall.
"Vin..ara..." He panted to Lorlen, before slipping down the wall and passing out on the floor.