Chapter 5: Virĭdis


The end of the afternoon went calmly and was spent chatting, predicting the school year's program, with the usual bickering between Nathan and Kenna. When the sun went down, they decided to go inside the castle. They were on the second floor, the one where the common room was, when they walked into a little girl with blond hair put in two braids who looked like she was panicking. Mina thought she must have been a new student, and this was proven right when they got closer to her and saw a white badge on the little girl's coat.

"Hey, do you need help?" Mina asked with a gentle voice and a reassuring smile.

"I'm- I'm lost," the little girl said – she really was panicking. "I'm looking for Miss Gardner's office, I have to give her a letter from my mom."

"Well, her office is in the C building, fourth floor," Sebastian said nicely.

"I don't think that's gonna be of any help," Mina said. "Come with me, dear, I'll show you where it is. Go ahead," she told the others, "I'll be right back."

With her hand Mina instructed to the little girl to follow her, and the little one looked relieved. The two girls went down to the first floor, which had a shortcut, and walked through the long corridors which were silent for now. Mina looked discretely at the little girl, and saw that the latter was staring at her with impressed and intimidated eyes.

"The castle can seem big," Mina said, "but you'll see, with time it will look small. Don't worry, all students get lost at least once," she reassured her with a small smile. "And I'll admit that the maps they gave the first years don't help much."

The little girl nodded shyly and looked a bit more confident. On their way, Mina indicated several shortcuts and smiled when she saw the little one taking notes. They arrived inside the B building, indicated by a big brown letter next to the big wooden doors, and then took the stairs to the fourth floor. They went through a long corridor and arrived in front a door which indicated that it was the Head of Discipline's office.

"We're here." Mina said. "Oh, before I forget it. If you happen to be lost, go up all the stairs until you arrive on this floor – see that big, red plant over here?"

The little one nodded.

"Use it as a landmark. Then go to the administration – it's that door over there – and the ladies will help you. And if someone ever bothers you, go the older students' common room and ask for Mina. Most of them know me. I'll make sure you're left alone. By the way, what's your name?"

"Modesty," the girl answered.

"Very pretty. Alright, you arrived safely, I'll let you there."

Mina knocked on the door, and was invited to come in. She opened the door, and, with her hand, told Modesty to come in. Modesty, who stayed behind Mina, approached slowly. Mina put her hand on her shoulder to give her courage.

"Don't forget, ask for Mina if you're in trouble," she whispered.

"Alright. Thank you, ma'am!"

Modesty entered Miss Gardner's office, and Mina closed the door behind her.

"Hold on a minute. 'Ma'am'!?"

While on her way back to the common room, Mina saw that night had already started falling. She walked as fast as her lungs allowed her to, and cursed her asthma for not being able to run. Catching her breath, she slowed down a bit, and almost hit someone when she turned to another corridor.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I- Oh, it's you guys."

The others were standing there, on their way to go eat.

"Well, Mina, better be careful out there," Nathan mocked her.

"It's what you should do instead of gazing at your navel," she retorted.

"We wanted to wait for you, Mina," Sonia spoke while Kenna gave Nathan a deadly stare, "but it was time for dinner."

"We sent you a message," Raphael added.

Mina took her phone and saw that she indeed got a new message.

"Sorry, I didn't look at my phone. I took the little one to Gardner's office before coming right back here. Well, we better be going, I guess."

"Exactly," Sebastian passed an arm around her shoulders and they continued walking.

They walked through the long and silent corridors which became shorter and more noisy when they started approaching the canteen. They waited in line to come in, and sat at a free table. The whole school was soon here, and they were given a true feast, like they did on special occasions like Halloween or Christmas. Mina noticed Max, who was sitting on the other side of the room, and waved at him. Mina talked with Sonia and Roxanne about a book they read during summer, and when nearly all students had finished, Miss Gardner stood up to speak to them.

"It is late, I will ask you all to go directly to your rooms as soon as you've finished eating. If I see any of you in the corridors in our hour, they will be punished."

Mina and Roxanne, followed by the others, got up and followed her orders. Once they arrived on the floor where all rooms where, Kenna kissed Nathan good night, and Mina stood on her toes to kiss Sebastian on the cheek, and he kissed her forehead.

"Good night, kitten. Good night, boys."

"Good night, corazón."

"Good night, girls."

"Sleep well."

The boys walked away to their room and the girls came into theirs. They all put they pajamas on, Mina took care of closing the shutter, and all laid in their beds. Mina and Kenna read a Harry Potter book again while Roxanne was focused on a Spider-Man comic book and Sonia was starting the biography of a famous witch who lived a few centuries ago. They chatted a little, and then heard Miss Gardner in the corridor declare "lights out".

"Good night, girls."

"Have sweet dreams."

Ding! Ding! Ding!

"For The Three First's sake, can someone turn off that damn alarm?" Kenna grumbled, sitting on her bed.

"We can't, Kenna." Mina answered with a sleepy voice, rubbing her eyes. "It's in the corridor."

Kenna sighed and laid down again on her pillows. At the same time, Sonia got up and yawned. Mina imitated her, trying to come back to reality.

"Get up, Kenna. I'd like to be able to use the bathroom, and I think the same goes for Sonia and Roxy too."

"Coming, coming."

But she didn't make the slightest move. Mina took one of Roxanne's pillows and throw it with all her strength on Kenna's messy blond hair. The said blondie was startled and sat, and looked for the person responsible of the attack. It didn't take her long to guess who was guilty though. Sonia and Roxanne laughed and Mina giggled.

"Alright, move your ass."

Kenna sighed and finally got up form bed. The girls let her use the bathroom first, as she was famous for spending a considerable amount of time in it. While she was there, Mina, Sonia and Roxanne got dressed up and prepared their backpacks and Mina also prepared Kenna's. When the latter came back, they were all in their school uniform – white shirt, black skirt or pants, a tie, and the grey jacket everyone wore the day before – and they went in the bathroom to prepare themselves.

"Here, your bag."

"Aw, thanks, hun."

Once they were fresh and ready, they decided to directly find the boys at the canteen. They were already all here, all seated around a table that was close to the one where they had eaten the day before. On her way, Mina and Sonia went to say hi to their brothers, and coming back to the table, Mina kissed Sebastian on the cheek before seating between him and Kenna.

"Slept well, kitten?"

"," Sebastian answered with a sleepy voice. "You?"

"Not enough, she laughed. "But it's the first day of class, it's exciting."

"Totally," Sonia approved while serving drinks.

Nathan, sat between Kenna and Raphael, rolled his eyes despite having that "grumpy-and-sleepy-in-the-morning" look.

"Agreed." Alden added. "I can't wait to start class. Oh, Mina, by the way, the green lock of hair looks super cool."

"Huh?" said Mina, raising her eyes from her plate.

"The green lock," Alden repeated. "In your hair."

The entire table turned to her and Mina suddenly felt uncomfortable. Roxane leaned to observe her friend's hair, and gently touched a lock.

"He's right, it's pretty."

"I really like the shade," Kenna said in an extremely serious tone, leaning as well. "How'd do you that?"

"Hum, guys," Mina said in a confused tone, "It wasn't on purpose. I can't stand green."

"You're saying you didn't cast any spell?" Raphael said.

"Yes, exactly," Mina answered in a patient and a bit scared voice. "I didn't do anything."

"What was your dream about?" Sonia asked. "I read somewhere that a particularly horrific nightmare can provoke enough stress to influence someone's looks – A wizard's, I mean."

Mina frowned, and tried to remember her dream.

"I dreamed that we were here, and that we were playing basketball on the field."

"And the night before?" Sonia asked. "I also read that it can take two to three days."

"Is that anything on this damn Earth that you haven't read already?" Nathan mumbled.

"I just remember that it was night," Mina told them, "and that there was a tower with a clock. I thought I was alone, but I heard that horrible laugh who wouldn't just stop."

"Are you sure it wasn't your brother?" Sebastian asked. "You two love teasing each other."

"Maw has an idiotic laugh," Mina said in an impatient tone, "not a laugh who sounds like it's from a horror movie. But, honestly, it's a just a lock of hair, no need to panic."

The others approved and the conservation changed to some other subject, but Mina saw Raphael discreetly taking notes. When they all had finished their breakfast, they left the canteen and walked through the courtyard to go their first class of the day.

"Magic class," Sebastian said, quickly looking at their schedule, "B building."

Magic class's room was on the second floor. The door of the room was already open, so they came in. Some of their classmates were already here, seated basically everywhere around the room, and the teacher, Mrs. Walcott, wasn't here yet. Mina sat next to Roxanne, Sonia besides Kenna, Alden shared a table with Nathan, and Sebastian got Raphael as neighbor. The latecomers arrived, and they were taking their note books out when their Magic Teacher entered the room. Irene Walcott was a very pretty young woman with long, wavy brown hair put in a bun, and warm blue eyes. She had barely entered the room when she gave the students a sweet, sincere smile and put her bag on the wooden office.

"Morning everybody."

"Morning, ma'am."

Mrs. Walcott was very liked by most students, even if her colleagues considered she was too nice with the students.

"I'm delighted to see you again for a new year," she continued, "and I do hope you all a wonderful summer break and that you got to get some rest. Alright, I'm gonna give you guys this year's book for the class."

She turned to the wooden locker in the back, where were two stacks of rather thick books, and had a hand gesture towards it. As soon as she did it, the books lifted up in the air and put themselves in front of every student. If most of the students weren't much impressed, Mina did remain impressed by most spells, even the simplest ones, even after four years spent studying magic. Mrs. Walcott told them the year's program for the class, answered a few questions, and they started working on the first chapter of the book when the school's ringtone was heard. Mrs. Walcott didn't give them any homework, and the students showed their appreciation loudly. They got out the class, and went to their next class, which was in the C building. Language classes were part of the options class, therefore every student could choose to study either Italian, German, Spanish, and Latin. Now on the third floor of the right building, Mina, Sebastian and the others each went to their respective classrooms after Mina kissed Sebastian's cheek. Roxanne and Mina had chosen Latin and they never regretted their choice, as it was a fascinating class, and Mr. Norwood was one of the most liked teachers among students. It was a man in his fifties, tall and not-well shaved, with pepper and salt hair and eyes hidden behind glasses. Coming in the class, he casually asked the class how they had been doing, and then, just like Mrs. Walcott, if they had a good vacation before giving them their books for the class.

"Alright, so here's this trimester's semester," he said, standing before the board. "Mythology again, verbs, and real-life people that you're gonna forget after the test. Please, let's get some order," he added sarcastically. "Questions?"

The program was very similar to the one they did for the last two years. No one raised their hands.

"Good, open the book page forty-seven. Circe."

Everyone obeyed their thin book at the right page which showed the gravure of a woman in profile. Mr. Norwood started the explications and everyone took notes.

The rest of the morning's class – Science and Potions – went completely smoothly. At lunch time, the eight of them went down to the canteen, and Mina waved at Max, seated at a table and a girl Mina that didn't know. Sat around their usual table, they chatted about their Language classes – Spanish for Sebastian, Sonia and Alden's German and Italian for Kenna et Nathan.

"The dress Mrs. Stanton is wearing is really pretty," Kenna said energetically. "I gotta ask her where her bought it."

Mina turned around towards the teachers' table, and saw the dress worn by Mrs. Stanton – a tall woman with green eyes and long, straight red hair. The dessert – chocolate cake – appeared in front of them, and as usual, was delicious. Raphael filled everybody's glasses with water, when suddenly, the earth started to shake.