Chapter Two-The First Day
Selene pushed open the gates to the main courtyard, much to her pleasure it was full of students so she didn't have to worry about whether or not she was late. Sighing she made her way to the smaller section branching off from the courtyard. This section contained students as well but it was the entrance to the fourth year hall so of course only fourth years bothered to come here. Selene couldn't help but yawn, she had hardly gotten any sleep last night and the idea of an entire day of school where teachers would be talking about the same things over and over again only mad it worse.
Geez, not even an hour into school and I'm already bored. Selene thought heading towards the Fourth Year Entrance to the school. It was too bad that she would have no one to talk to, Selene was really wishing Crescent and Celeste were older when she was distracted from her thoughts by someone shouting her name. Glancing up she saw a grinning figure approach her.
"Morning Selene and Happy Birthday!" Xelloss chirped as he produced a small package and held it out to Selene. "All ready for the first day of your fourth year experience at Slayers Academy?"
Selene looked at the gift-wrapped present and then at Xelloss. For the third time that morning she sighed and stepped around Xelloss. "It's not my birthday and no, I'm never ready for school."
Still smiling, Xelloss began walking with Selene. "Tsk, tsk, aren't we grumpy this morning. What's wrong? Are you homesick or something?"
"No," Selene growled, "I just didn't get any sleep because my roommate was laughing in hers…goddess, she had a laugh that could beat hyenas." At this Xelloss stopped and pulled on Selene's uniform forcing her to stop as well. "What!?" Selene shouted.
"Well, This roommate of yours…" Xelloss replied, "Is she tall, long-dark hair, stacked like a brick house, and wears barely qualifying clothing when not in school uniform?"
Selene nodded. "And?"
"You mean you've never met Naga before? Consider yourself lucky."
"Yeah well now she's my roommate and I'll never be able to sleep again."
Xellos smiled and forced the gift he carried into Selene's hands. "There, your birthday gift will make you feel all better."
"It's not my birthday." Selene muttered. There were plenty of student's around so she quickly stopped one. "Here, take this present and go open it way over there. You can keep whatever's inside." She told the student who nodded and walked off tearing at the paper on the box. Xelloss' smile quickly turned to a frown.
"You know it's not polite to give away birthday gifts." He pouted.
"It's not my birthday," Selene replied and resumed walking towards the school building, "And besides…" She trailed off as a small explosion took place behind both Xelloss and Selene. Turning they could see that the space where the student with the present had earlier been standing was now occupied by a small pile of ashes, "….It's not really all that polite to put a bomb in a gift either." Xelloss grinned and both approached the large double doors that led inside Slayers.
"After you." Xelloss said.
"That's okay, I'd rather walk behind you."
Xelloss smirked, "Darn. Well, let me know if you change your mind." He stepped forward and pulled open the doors.
Selene followed suite shaking her head, "Why are you always trying to kill-" she stopped. She had finally looked into the hall, which was crammed full of fourth years trying to get to class. Selene found the scene oddly familiar and realized it looked exactly like registration day except in a hallway. "Oh hell."
"Come one, Selene, You didn't think it'd be over yet did you?"
"Urk." Selene responded. "Oh well, shall we?" She grimaced and the two began to push their way through the hall occasionally shoving a student or two into a nearby wall. They had almost made it to their first class when a student stopped them.
"Hey. Can you two help me?"
Selene was forced to stop because Xelloss already had so she face the student and saw why Xellos had become so interested in him. He was tall with Aquamarine hair and a horn in the middle of it. Selene wasn't positive but sensed that there was defiantly something interesting about this student. Surely Xelloss had felt it too which is why he had stopped.
"Umm," the student said again, "Can you help me?"
"Sure…" Xelloss grinned.
Uh oh, Selene thought, she recognized that look. It was the same one he had given her when she had first met Xelloss. Quickly she put herself behind Xelloss and began to frantically wave the student away.
"I'm Xelloss and this," He turned to Selene who smiled, "Is Selene." She resumed her warning.
"I'm Valgaav. So do you know where the Chemistry class is?" Xelloss nodded and Selene shook her head. She groaned, aware that she was probably confusing the student terribly.
"Why," Xelloss replied, "As a matter of fact me and Selene happen to have that class next, would you care to join us?" Selene frantically shook her head, mentally screamed at the student to run away, and mouthed the word 'NO' but Valgaav seemed intent on blundering on into acceptance.
"Sure."
Sighing Selene listened as Xelloss said the magic words and they were transported to the Chemistry room. The room had been empty except for Eris, teacher of chemistry and calculus, who was currently stomping towards Xelloss.
"Xelloss!!!! You know better than to use magic on school property without teacher permission!"
Xelloss shrank back in mock fear, "But Ms. Eris, this student forced me too. He saw that I was much weaker than him and made me bring him here to avoid all the hassle of the halls."
Valgaav realized that Xelloss was referring to him and began to protest. "That's not true, why would I force this skinny wimp to do something like that!?"
"See!" Xelloss shouted, "He calls me a wimp!"
"Why you little-"
"Enough!" Eris shouted. "Selene, why don't you tell me what happened."
Selene said nothing, to do so she would either have to turn Xelloss in or say the new student did it and normally she didn't mind making people's life crap it was just that this guy hadn't really done anything to her.
"Very well." Eris huffed, she went back to her desk and began scribbling furiously on three different sheets of paper. "All three of you will have detention this afternoon." She handed a slip to each student and sat down at her desk. "If you don't show up you'll be given detention for the rest of the week, do I make myself clear?" All three students nodded and glumly sat in their seats, except for Xelloss who smiled broadly. He turned back to face Valgaav and gave a thumb's up sign. Valgaav just grimaced in return.
Valgaav left the class quickly hoping that the Xelloss character wouldn't catch up to him. In his haste he bumped into another student who went sprawling to the ground. "Sorry," He muttered as the girl stood up, "I wasn't-"
"Watching where you were going." The girl finished, glaring at him. She was short with shoulder length blonde hair, "Look, just next time be more careful and less clumsy."
"Sorry," Valgaav repeated, "It's ,my first year here and since you're a first year I'm sure you must understand." At this the girl looked ready to explode, fortunately another taller girl approached with a smile on her face.
"What's up Manda?" The second girl asked.
"Well first this jerk bumps into me and then he calls me a first year, can you believe that, Celeste?"
The taller girl smiled at Valgaav, "Sorry about Manda, she's just very temper-mental but I'm sure you apologized and everything, right?"
"Yeah."
"But-!" Manda protested.
"Well then everything's fine, I'm Celeste," The taller girl greeted Valgaav, "And this is Manda. Can we help you with something?"
"Uh," Valgaav frowned, he wasn't sure whether he should ask for help or not, he didn't want to get any more detentions on his first day. The appearance of a girl that resembled Celeste remarkably kept him from choosing and he noted quickly that she had wings. Valgaav couldn't help but stare.
"Hi Manda, hi Celeste, what are you guys doing?" The girl asked. Celeste noted Valgaav's gaze and quickly introduced her sister.
"Crescent this is Valgaav whom we've just met, Valgaav, this is my twin sister Crescent."
Crescent smiled weakly and murmured hello. Manda looked furiously at Celeste who shrugged. "Anyway," Crescent murmured, "I've got to go back to Milgasia's class. Cya guys." She left quickly and Valgaav followed her with his eyes.
"What are you staring at!" Manda shouted, "She's not a freak yah know!"
"I didn't mean it like that." Valgaav replied, "It's just you don't see anything humanoid or monster breed-like very often, and well…" He trailed off and gestured to the horn resting on his hair.
Celeste smiled, "I understand, but Crescent's really completely human like me. It's just we've got this curse thing and well, it's not a good thing. Anyway, I'll explain it later if I see you again, we've got to hurry to our next class."
Valgaav nodded, "Sure, umm, do you know where the First Aid Class is?" Manda and Celeste smiled.
"Yes, we have it next." Valgaav had a flash of deija-vu and a sudden increasing need to run away, but before he could indulge it he was being dragged to his next class.
Selene as sure she'd never make it too the end of the day but was surprised at how quick it had been when she got to her last class. She was also surprised at how many friend she had in that class. Crescent and Manda were there but they were both talking to a redhead and Selene felt rather not like meeting yet another new student at the school. She was also surprised that Valgaav was in this class as well and a little dismayed when she was paired with him.
The class was weapons and more specifically Swords. Selene's favorite had always been the Saber so she grabbed one quickly. Each student was paired with another student at their experience level and the two would then practice sparring. Unlike most teachers, Gaav did not feel the need to explain anything since most of the students had been to Slayers before, and therefore placed them in sparring position quickly.
Selene wasn't worried about losing to Valgaav but more so about putting him on even worse footing with herself. She knew that Xelloss would make it a point to torture Valgaav for the rest of the year like he had done her so in turn all three would have become friends, sort of. She just hoped Valgaav realized it.
As both students got into sparring position Selene was sure she had heard Valgaav muttering something.
"You have something to say to me?" She challenged.
"Just don't' cheat," The new student replied.
"Like I'd need to."
"Well, I'm assuming that anyone who hangs out with a wimp like Xelloss would be a wimp herself." Valgaav retorted.
Selene grimaced, "Look, Xelloss isn't actually much of a wimp. And yah know that whether you like it or not he's gonna torture you for the rest of the school year."
"We'll see about that, for now, let's just get this over with so you can lose."
By this time a crowd had gathered around the pair and many of the students were watching eagerly. Selene couldn't help but like standing there in the spotlight. "Fine then, if your so sure you're going win why don't we bet on it?"
"Sure, when I win you have to tell Eris what really happened."
"Sure, what about me?"
"Name your price."
Selene thought, there was nothing she really wanted from this guy, well, maybe… "Okay. If I win then you have to take all of Xelloss' torture with no complaining and give him a fair shot at being your friend. Not like he'll really need it."
"Right then. Let's go!" Valgaav flung himself at Selene who sidestepped. She had the advantage of having trained in Martial arts since childhood and most people had and will never see that kind of footwork. She dodged all of Valgaav's blows and struck back with her own. At one instance their blades caught and Valgaav tried to force Selene to her knees. "Give up little girl, you're not that strong."
"Go to hell, jerk." She jammed his hand with the hilt of her sword and and rolled away. The two squared off again. This time they matched each other step for step and Selene felt herself getting tired. Come one, just open up once. She pleaded silently. Finally she noticed it. Valgaav tended to cross his legs when he sidestepped, with a little martial arts she could sweep him and tag him with her sword. Quickly she closed the space between them, Valgaav tried to swipe his sword upwards but missed and Selene jabbed at his side. He sidestepped and Selene quickly dropped and kicked her leg out effectively collapsing him to the floor. As fast as possible she slashed his protective gear in three places, winning the fight.
A large number of cheers went up from all the girls in the class. Selene beamed and put a hand out to Valgaav. He pushed it away and stood on his own.
"I said I'd be friend with Xelloss but you didn't say anything about you." Valgaav growled and turned away, pushing his way through the crowd.