The weekend is a time of lying in bed catching up on much needed sleep and not getting up until midday. Well Nagisa was proved wrong on that account, as someone was shaking her firmly awake. Tired half-closed eyes slowly opened, noticing the new day through the window and the smiling face of her roommate, Tamao looming over her.
"What time is it?" muffled voice asked
"Seven. Remember we have to go to the meeting today."
"Ten more minutes" and snuggled back into her duvet.
Tamao looked on and wondered how to get her up. Finally having decided to go with the brute force approach. She grabbed the duvet and yanked it off. Unfortunately neither was prepared for the outcome. Nagisa was so entangled in the sheets that along with the duvet, she came with it. Knocking into Tamao and both tumbled to the floor in a heap. After a daze both were laughing loud and Nagisa, now fully awake, prepared to face the day. Having informed Nagisa that breakfast would be served in the Warren since she was asking about food, they walked out and into the sun.
"Tamao-chan, where's the Warrens entrance?" asked Nagisa as they were strolling along.
"In the library, since the three schools were founded, they needed a place open to all and not arouse suspicion, so naturally it was connected to the library." informed Tamao.
"Naturally." rolling her eyes, making Tamao giggle "So how long have you and Rokujo-sama been together?"
"Just a little over a year. Has Nagisa-chan got someone special?" blushing a little at the direct question.
"No. I haven't met the right one yet. I thought I did once, I loved her very much, but it kinda didn't work out. She had to go away. That's the way it works out sometimes hehe" a sad smile and wet eyes, was all Tamao needed to give her a hug.
"You'll find someone Nagisa-chan. I'll warn you now, beware of Etoile-sama; she's a huge playgirl and flirts with everyone. I don't want to see you hurt because of her."
"Thanks for the warning Tamao-chan, I'll keep it in mind. But don't worry your cute self over it; I'm not looking for a relationship."
The library was a giant, domed circular building. And like everything else on Astraea it was surrounded by trees. Inside was what you would expect, quiet, shadowy and full of books. Tamao led Nagisa to the furthest corner, just past a beautiful stained glass window; it seemed the only nice thing so far about the place. The blue haired girl stopped in front of the nearest books, and pointed to a symbol. It was carefully carved into the wood, a symbol of the yin and yang. Looking about her, Tamao pressed against it, the symbol turned black and started to expand. It took less than a few seconds, for it to be big enough for someone to pass into, with Tamao giving her a polite shove thru with her following closely behind.
"Welcome to the Warren Nagisa-chan"
Deep underground lays a secret kept hidden from the world above. Through tunnels, winding and long, through traps that disable and lead astray, through barriers seen by certain people, there lies a series of rooms. These may seem to normal eyes, well normal, unless you look a little closer. The library hosts books on a wide variety of herbs and potions, alchemy, transformation, spell casting and so forth. Another room is the gym area with a large space for sparing with locker rooms leading off and equipment lining the walls. When I say equipment, I mean equipment; it's not your usual boxing gloves or punching bags. Oh no. There are weapons on all styles, with guns, swords and spare wands if you need one. Even barriers can be set up for that all powerful summoning. What more could you ask for? Then there's the cafeteria with simple kitchen area and seating. Nothing un-normal about this. There's bunks in another room too if you're too tired to get back to the surface. The other rooms are the cage room and the conference room. Self-explanatory in that regard.
Here only the few can enter. To learn their control with guidance and understanding. Here can they be themselves in total freedom.
Everyone else was already there so the two girls quickly sat down. 'I hope this doesn't happen every weekend, I still haven't had my breakfast.' Nagisa was not a morning person by far. So it was a good thing that they were in the small dining room, where Chikaru and Yaya were preparing something to eat. Nagisa thought it smelled heavenly and of course it tasted just as good too when they served it. After everyone filled their stomachs they traipsed off to the conference room, everything was done in its proper place. Sitting down with the three Presidents on the further end and everyone else scattered in the seats available.
"Now everyone's full and awake let's get started shall we?" Miyuki said starting off the meeting.
"The only thing on the agenda is the wraiths. Do any of you know much about them?" Shion addressed them.
"Only what the records say Shion-sama." Tamao voiced out "Their summoned creatures of darkness, obeys every whim of the master and they are deadly."
"It's not much to go on" Chikaru put in. "Is that all what the records tell us Tamao-chan?"
"I'm afraid so Chikaru-sama. Most of the knowledge was destroyed; they didn't want a repeat of the Shadow Wars."
"They could have left us something to work with, especially on how to destroy them" Yaya huffed. Clearly she wasn't happy on the lack of information.
"If you know how to destroy, you know how to create." Nagisa spoke up and looked to everyone; her eyes had darkened a little. "Wraiths can be killed like anything else, they hate the sunlight, and they come in two categories the brawn and the sly. The brawn use their muscle, makes them rather slow but powerful. The sly are quick on their feet and are smaller in size. Yet each can use a small amount of power mainly an elemental attack." Glancing down now she added "yet to stop the wraiths completely you need to stop the Master."
Eyes like saucers fixed on Nagisa. Mouths were hanging open too. 'It seems like they didn't expect that. Not like I could keep it from them, they need to know as much as I do. Well, most of it.'
"How the bloody hell did you know all that?" Yaya blurted out.
"I'm brilliant that's why, can't you tell by just looking at me?" Nagisa teased with a smile. That got the girls giggling and shaking their heads.
"If what Nagisa-chan says is true, we can only do so much. Me and Kagome-chan can put sensors around parts of the school, which will give us some warning." Chikaru said and Kagome gave a quick nod of head to agree.
"I'll draw up some group patrols and get them to everyone as quick as possible" Shion announced.
"Until then business as usual" With that the meeting was finished. "Tamao would you mind giving Nagisa-chan a tour of the place"
"I'll come along too, I want to see Nagisa let loose" Yaya jumped in slinging her arms around the girls, leading them off around the Warren.
When the mini tour was done, with much laughing and teasing, the three fast friends found themselves once again in the sparing room. There was a question that Nagisa was itching to know, and vice versa; what abilities does she have? About to speak another two voices jumped in too, it was a three way Japanese standoff. Who goes first? With a giggle Nagisa sat down on the mats, motioning for them to join too.
"I'm guessing great minds think alike, since we all want to know the same thing. What abilities do I have? Am I right?"
"Definitely! I'm a werewolf" announced Yaya and backed it up with a wolfish grin. Pun intended.
"I'm an air elemental" continued Tamao looking to Nagisa
"Wow! You're both pretty powerful. What are the others?" Nagisa evaded slightly. She was a terrible liar and it shows.
"Let's see now . . . Shion-sama is a Valkyrie, weapons mastery is her forte, sharp and cold like her image. Chikaru-sama is a witch, powerful one at that, mostly sticks to defensive spells and healing, though don't judge her on that, she can kick ass when she needs to. Little Kagome-chan is a fairy, great at setting up barriers of illusion. And lastly is Miyuki-sama, the medusa. Even when doesn't intend to she can freeze you into silence. That's everyone"
'I'm impressed, such powerful Mythical souls all in one place, that's rare indeed. Organized too, though who wouldn't be with these Presidents.'
"Bet you learn loads here. It must be nice to be such good friends as well." Nagisa sighed "I didn't have much of a childhood; I was always off flying around, never staying in one place long enough. It's hard to make friends that way. 'Oh boy. Did I just say flying?'
"Well unfortunately you got us now" Yaya declared flipping her long hair back over her shoulder. "So what's your class?"
Instead of saying anything, Nagisa clenched her fist. Popping sounds were heard; she slowly opened her fist, releasing multicolor sparks of red, yellow, orange and an occasional blue. Tamao and Yaya enjoyed the mini sparks show.
"Nagisa-chan must be a fire elemental I'm guessing if you can influence fire sparks that way." Tamao said impressed.
"Well tomorrows free, shall we and a few others get together and have some fun?" asked Yaya, knowing that Tamao would agree to. The look of pure joy on Nagisa's face was worth it, a big bright smile and all bubbly with suppressed joy.
Tomorrow was going to be fun, whilst the rest of the current day was spent in idle musings, as Nagisa met friends of Yaya and Tamao. There was a spitfire called Tsubomi, a quiet girl named Hikari along with Chiyo, who was announced as their room attendant. They sat around talking in one of the large rooms at the Strawberry dorms, sipping on tea that Chiyo made. As the time got nearer to dinner Chiyo and Tsubomi went their separate ways, leaving the other girls to walk slowly to the dinner hall. As they approached there were a crowd of excited girls crowding around a figure, which had just went in. All of them had a look of pure adoration and wanting, Nagisa thought it strange and slightly silly to be acting like that. 'What on earth is wrong with some people? It's like a celebrity just walked on in. That girl must be real popular. I wonder if. . .'
"Hey Tamao-chan, what was that all about?"
"Oh, that's just the Étoiles fan club and admirers. It's always the same." Tamao explained, but with the disbelief on Nagisa's face, she thought to explain a bit more "The Etoile is the most favored among the three schools. It's a high position."
"Not to mention the fact that she's a playgirl and a looker" Yaya butted in.
"That's a title, it doesn't mean anything. She could be a different person underneath" Nagisa optimistically put in. They sat around the same table and waited for the evening prayer. 'I wonder if I'll ever meet her. Nah! Someone like me doesn't stand a chance. Eat now fun tomorrow' with that said she tucked in heartily and never knowing what was to come.