It's a lovely day today and the birds are chirping, everything is right with the world. Except one thing…. it's a Monday. They recently finished with the construction of the academy and today is the first day. The Guardians and the elders have a whole event planned for today so there's not really any classes, more party and opening ceremonies then anything. So the first day is a breeze, for everyone else that is. I don't want to get up. I just want to stay under my blankets and pile of pillows, staying warm. What is it with schools being active during the winter, aren't reptiles less active in the cold anyway? Ughhh. I used to like winter, but now it just makes me grumpy in the morning until I warm up. I might just skip out on today….

'ya, no. Get your lazy ass up'

'aww Susan, but I don't want to….'

'don't give me that, get up and go see your friends.'

'Uggghhh Fiiiiiine, you win…. party pooper'

I start to roll myself out of my warm bundle of blankets and pillows into the cool air of the morning. I immediately regret it, but I do need to go today. The guardians wanted me there today and I also want to go to make sure Spyro and Cynder aren't alone during the grouping part of the ceremony. I guess I just have to deal with it.

It's still weird though waking up in the mini mansion, the main temple was refitted to hold mostly classrooms so I was asked to just move into my garden house. I kinda expected it, so good thing I prepared the place ahead of time, but I don't know what I'll do with all this space. It feels so empty sometimes. Anyway, aside from me, Spyro and Cynder had to move too so no one could say they were being shown favoritism. They were put in the dorms, which are separated by gender, so they are spending less nights together. They are still doing well though. I just hope that doesn't change when all of the students move in.

After I finish my morning routine I head out to meet up with Spyro and Cynder. We never actually agreed to meet, I just know which way they walk so I meet them along the way. It wasn't even that hard to find them either, considering they pass by here together around this time. Ah, to be in love…., ewwww. Anyway I meet up with them relatively quickly. Cynder has herself pressed tightly up against Spyro, probably trying to stay warm. I don't blame her one bit

"How are you two this morning." I say with a light smile.

I just get a glare from Cynder

"Don't worry about her, she's like this when it's cold."

"Heh, don't worry about it. If I didn't secretly have the fire element I would be a freaking monster right now."

"Why do you think I have myself squashed against Spyro, Sam.."

Oh ya, she doesn't like the cold at all.

I changed the subject, "So are you guys excited for the first day?"

Cynder just shriveled up into Spyro's side some more so he speaks up, "well I'm excited to talk to kids our own age again, Cynder on the other paw would rather fight a hoard of grublins." He shakes his head slightly, "I get why though, she doesn't want to deal with all the hate that they are going to throw our way"

I raise an eyebrow, "then how come you want to meet them if you know there is going to be hatred."

He smiles a bit, "because I hope I can find more friends like you. Who aren't so concerned about what we are, but rather who we are."

I smile a bit too, but I can't help but feel like that's going to be easier said than done.

We continue on toward the main courtyard where the main ceremony is supposed to be held. It's a really nice courtyard, it was set up with festivals in mind so it has a large amount of space to easily hold over 100 dragons.

On the ground are nine large circles, with eight surrounding one of them, each one holds the symbol of one of the elements. Except for the one in the center, that one has the face of a dragon in it. Before the opening ceremony, all of the new students are supposed to gather in the circle with their elemental alignment. The center one being for the special few that have a rare power, or multiple. So you can guess where we're supposed to stand the whole time. Yup, right smack in the center. I'm just glad I can be here with them. It would be hard to be here alone surrounded by people who might hate you for just existing.

We actually got here early, mostly to avoid the crowds, but we wanted to see if we could help set up. We helped build the place, we want to make sure the first day goes off without a hitch, but, to our surprise, everything was already set up. All of the banners were out, all of the streamers were up, the food was all laid out and the stage was set up on the north side of the courtyard. I guess the guardians were up before the crack of dawn setting everything up. They've been stressing over this school for a while now, they probably couldn't even sleep last night.

I look over to Spyro, "I'm assuming the guardians set everything up, but where are they?"

"I know just as much you man"

Then Cynder grumbles, "they probably got out of this damn cold."

"Makes sense"

So we waited and watched as dragons of all kinds trickled into the courtyard. We shared some decent conversations with some of them. All though, most of them were just asking when the event was going to start. This is where it started getting hard. We had several that were giving us curious glances and a few others glaring. It was already getting uncomfortable just standing here. I wonder how they're holding up? I go to ask, but I notice something. They both have a slight glaze over their eyes and way to cheerful smiles. They're both cutting themselves off from the world, but they don't want the other to worry.

"Hay, are you guys excited for the special elements class? I overheard Volteer saying that it was going to be super tough." That caught their attention.

"Oh come ON! We save the world and he throws his library at us", they say in unison.

"Awww, that was cute you guys" I get glares, "what! It was. Anyway what do you mean he's going to throw his library at us?"

Spyro slouches a bit "*sigh* Volteer has been gathering books and artifacts on magical works for years. He's probably going to give the entire thing to Treevus to use on us."

"Honestly, we should have seen this coming. We have combat training, we know most of the advanced spells out there and we have quite a bit of power at our disposal. The only thing left was to throw literally everything about the magical arts at us and try and turn us into masters."

"Ok I see, so what if I've already studied most of it?"

"Ya right", They did it again. Now they're getting visibly embarrassed. "Did you guys forget that I spent some time with the Chronicler before I came to warfang? AND that I like to read?"

Then Cynder, without a second of hesitation, pops off, "oh ya, you ARE a nerd."

Spyro just looks to the side and tries to stifle a laugh.

Ok, no holding back now, "you're one to talk, Mrs. Shadow Tiger." She stalls and Spyro just looks at me like I signed his death warrant.

"How'd you find out about Spyro's pet name for me, silver boy." All the time she's glaring at Spyro.

"Oh, I just cond Spyro for it." Checkmate. I know how to beat a tag team.

Right about that time Terridor's voice booms over the crowd signaling everyone to get into the circle that represents their element.

Great, here we go.

Everyone wandered to their circles within about five minutes, but now that everyone was grouped up by element. I noticed something a little strange. There was an extreme difference in the amount of dragons in each element. I did a full 360 spin a couple of times to double check. Every other circle had only a handful of dragons in them. Then I noticed it. The circles that were lacking were the shadow, wind, fear and wind circles. They laid them out like the compass rose. Fire is North, Ice is South, Earth is East and Lightning is West. Then Shadow is North East, Fear is South East, Poison is South West and Wind is North West. It was a good way to show integration of all the elements, but I fear this is nowhere near enough. The war left too much of a negative impact on those elements.

Why do I feel like there are just a bunch of problems gathering up. Am I forgetting something, is something bad going to happen.

Before my thoughts got a little too dark someone shouted, "Hay! Wind Chick! Get into your circle already!"

Hold up, "wind, Chick!?" I look around for who they were talking about and I didn't see any that weren't in a circle

Then another voice shouts, "Don't just stand there looking around like an idiot! Get out of the center and into your circle!"

Spyro and Cynder both just start snickering. I get ready to snap at em and start a shouting match at whoever called me a chick, but Terridor calls everyone attention to the stage and starts up the ceremony.

"Ok everyone, settle down. He is we're he's supposed to be. He's a hybrid, his second element is Nature." Oh, so that's the cover story they went with. "With that out of the way. Let us begin the official opening ceremonies of Warfang Academy!" Several cheers rang out and a fee whistled. Then Terridor raised a paw and had everyone calm down. "Now then, let me start with how the classes are structured. Each elemental group will have their own instructor to help you learn your elements and their applications. Other than that, you'll be learning everything you need to be an upstanding citizen." He sighs and takes a deep breath, "I cannot stress this enough, but you are the next generation of this city. It is up to you to shape it and give it a future. It is time for us to recover after the war and it starts with all of you. We, The guardians, and the elders will do our best to teach you everything we can, but it is up to you to better yourselves." With that Terridor steps back and gives the floor to Treevus. "Now then! Before we begin. I have one more thing, or rather someone to announce", that's when I noticed someone standing behind him, "she's a little shy, but everyone welcome Lumus!" Stepping lightly out from behind Treevus was a white, almost silvery dragoness. She looks uncomfortable up there, I can't really say much, I know I would be too. She gives a slight wave to the crowd and Treevus takes over again, "she's the first light dragon to have been born in over a thousand years, and yes, she'll be joining the special elements class too." She leaves the stage and joins us in the center. "Now for the exciting part. We know how much the youth like to prove themselves so we added a ranking system and a point system. Let me start with the points first. Students can earn points one of two ways. Either by earning them academically or by doing well in the quarterly tournament, or test for those of which who don't want to fight. I'll tell you what they can be used for in a second. Now for the ranking system. Now as you might expect, it's mostly just superficial. Your rank doesn't actually get you anything besides bragging rights. However! If you have a high enough rank AND enough points. You can buy days off from school." Everyone cheered. "Now now everyone, there are some rules." Booooo, "it's not that bad, just no skipping tests" everyone grumbled, but no one could say it was an unfair rule. "Other than that, just make sure you don't put yourself behind!"

After that Volteer and Cyril each got a go explaining some other things, but I was distracted by Lumus. Ever since she's joined us she's been off to the side just sitting there quietly trying to act like she wasn't there.

I approach her and sit down by her, "Hay, are you ok?"

She jumped a bit, "oh! Didn't see you there, ya I'm fine. I just don't like being the center of attention is all"

I gesture with my wing over to Spyro and Cynder, "well why don't you come join us, that way the attention will be split among the four of us instead of focused on just one of us."

She nods lightly, "I guess, but aren't you afraid of them? Everyone says their evil"

I scoff, "these two?" I point at them, "I'm more afraid of Cyril's lectures then of them"

She chuckles a bit, "ok, if you say so." So we go and join them.

Spyro, being his usual cheerful self, greets her first, "hi Lumus, I'm Spyro and this is Cynder" "hi there" "and just a little warning" c'mon dude bad first impression, "don't share any secrets with Sam there, he'll use em on you later" He winks.

She laughs a bit, "I'll keep that in mind"

I give Spyro a glare, "I'll get you for that later then" he just rolls his eyes.

Lumus relaxed a bit and didn't seem nearly as uncomfortable as before. Our trio might have just turned into a quartet. The only question is, who's side is she going to be on?