There is a persistent chill in the air on this foggy morning here in the Hida Mountains. It is quiet up here too, the early morning greeted largely by the call of various bird species and the strange but harmonious chirp of insects. The mountain range straddles the city of Nagano, which lies in the central Chūbu region of Japan. The city, while nothing like Kyoto or Tokyo, is fairly sizable and populous in its own right; with just under four hundred thousand residents. Nagano also happens to be the city with the highest elevation in all of Japan, being 371.4 meters above sea level. But the mountains here in the region reach much higher, with the tallest of these mountains, Mount Hotakadake stretching up to almost 3,200 meters or 10,500 feet into the horizon. There also exist smaller villages dotted in and around the Hida range; some of which are very ancient, but even these villagers will only travel so high. Making the only human visitors to these extreme elevations, the occasional explorer, government operation, or mountain climbers; yet even then the regular streaks of dense low floating clouds limits an in depth observation of the surrounding area.
These mountains therefore make for a perfect route for those who wish to remain unseen from the prying eyes of the world. There would be no nearby residents who could perceive the grand but nearly silent train cutting its way through the thick morning fog. Japanese citizens would find it hard to believe that any train could operate regularly up here, streaking noiselessly from mountain to mountain, not only for the elevation but due to treacherous weather conditions which are present throughout most of the year. Generally those citizens would be correct in their instinct to laugh off the rumor of an ordinary train making its way across the mountaintops as an absurd notion. But the Mystic Mountain Express is in fact no ordinary train; for this train does not rely on tracks, but seems to glide up and around the peaks and valleys effortlessly, hovering along so smoothly almost as if the flora and fauna move out the way for the train to pass; and perhaps they do just that. Such a train and route would seem to defy the very laws of nature itself, a mere village rumor to enchant the minds of children living in the region.
Yet myth is so often steeped in reality, and perhaps never has this been more true than with the legend of the Chūbu mountain train. Because the Mystic Mountain Express does exist and four times a year the living legend drifts speedily across its mountain path. But what does such a train even carry? You may be surprised to find that such a spectacle exists for the sole purpose of carrying children to school. But these are not ordinary children, and their destination is one of the most extraordinary places on this earth.
Inside the fourth to last train car is precisely where we will find one of these special children right now. A young boy, only eleven years of age sits quietly in a cabin, his eyes practically glued to the large window to his left, and the abundance of nature beyond it. Leaning so close to the frosty glass that his breath forms a hazy circle in front of him, threatening to cut off his vision before he wipes it with the sleeve of his kimono. There is an expression of amazement on the features of this child's face, clearly not wanting to miss a single moment, he seems to almost be searching for something among the dense mountain forest. The boy's features are nearly as striking as the view itself. A massive tangled tuft of chocolate brown hair, to match his large milky brown eyes. His skin was especially tan compared to many of his peers. Perhaps due to genetics, perhaps due to regular outdoor activity, or perhaps both of these explanations. One could hardly tell under his unmistakable, bright orange kimono, but the boy was especially athletic for his age.
Even more striking than the boy's features, are the features of a young girl snoozing gently against his shoulder. With the silence of the cabin you would be forgiven for thinking the young boy is all alone here in his travels. However, a quick glance to his left would reveal a short and somewhat messy head of reddish orange hair. Attached to the hair, was the peaceful slightly drooling face of a child who seems to feel very comfortable around this boy. Her sleepy eyelids conceal a pair of unusual ruby brown eyes. Her features are much paler than his, but like him the girl has a tendency for athletics and adventure. And right now, the two are embarking on what might just prove to be the greatest adventure of their lives. Two children speeding their way towards the next great chapter of their story. The boy's mind is so enraptured and filled to the brim that he cannot bring himself to sleep like his companion. It is at this quiet moment that the large wooden door to their cabin begins to slide open.
It takes a brief moment for the sound to truly register with the child captivated as he currently is. Once it does however, his focus is pulled back from the window for the first time since they entered the mountain range itself. With the door shut, an enchanted quiet had been present in the small roomette for the past several hours. Now opening, conversations, laughter, and a general sense of merriment can be heard up and down the corridor. Another new student, a bit smaller than the ones currently occupying the room now stands bashfully in the doorway. The brunette observing this stranger, finds a slight boy in a purple kimono with reddish brown hair, seeming to be perhaps a year or two younger.
The brunette was about to inquire about his presence, when the younger boy finally spoke up. "Greetings, I'm Izumi Koushiro…" He began rather loudly and nervously, probably in an attempt to compete with all the commotion from the hallway.
The brunette quickly shushed him however with a finger, then gestured to the girl still leaning against his shoulder.
The younger child, apparently named Koushiro, seems to have not even noticed the orange haired girl at first, looking taken aback and embarrassed for his intrusion. He is about to close the door again when the brunette stops him.
"You can stay in this cabin, if that's what you were trying to ask." He spoke in a hushed but firm tone. "Just please keep your voice down."
Koushiro appeared to be relieved as he flashed a semi-anxious smile. Entering the room then closing the door behind him before finally taking a seat across from the brunette boy.
"Sorry for shushing you like that, but Sora here was a bit too anxious to sleep before we left home, so she was exhausted when we boarded. We all have a big day coming up, I wanted her to get a few hours rest at least, hence why I found this quiet cabin towards the back of the train. But you're more than welcome to join us." He finishes his thought when it suddenly dawns on him that he forgot something very important. "Apologies, I'm Yagami Taichi, eleven years old, and a new student at Yamashiro. Yourself?"
Koushiro meets Taichi's unusually informal greeting between strangers with a slight bow. "Izumi Koushiro, ten years old, also a new student. Thank you for letting me share this cabin with you Taichi-Senpai. The last cabin I was in was getting a bit rowdy."
Taichi smiles warmly. "Ten huh, most students start at the age of eleven like Sora and myself, but I know they make exceptions, often to keep families together. My younger sister was supposed to come as well, but she has been ill as of late, and my parents wanted her to get her strength back first. So can I assume you have an older sibling at the school?"
Koushiro seems to hesitate somewhat. "Uh no…I don't have any siblings, my parents asked to have my aptitude tested early, I was interviewed and I was approved for the first year…advanced course."
Taichi jumps in his seat slightly. "The advanced course? And a year early? You must be some kind of genius huh?"
Koushiro blushes while putting his hands up, but before he can respond a sleepy voice disrupts the current conversation. "Taichi? Who are you talking to? Are we at the station? I guess I must have nodded off."
Taichi, now realizing that his reaction and tone likely woke her, turns to his best friend who has not yet opened her eyes. "Sorry Sora, I didn't mean to wake you. We aren't there quite yet, we are up in the mountains."
"I suspect we must be getting close though, we passed Nagano probably twenty minutes ago now." Koushiro adds to Taichi's observation.
Noting the distinct sound of a stranger's voice, Sora opened her eyes and slowly sat up straight in order to observe her surroundings. It did not take long for her gaze to land on Koushiro, sitting across from her and Taichi in the otherwise empty cabin.
"Takenouchi Sora meet Izumi Koushiro; ten year old wiz kid and first year student like us." Taichi said, giving about as formal an introduction as he could muster.
"Wiz kid? Sora pondered in a voice still heavy with sleep. It takes her a few more seconds to snap out of her haze, recognizing that she is currently being introduced to the first student she has met from her grade, well aside from Taichi of course.
Sora attempts to fix her matted hair with her fingers before standing up and bowing briefly. Not used to the movement of the train, she nearly stumbles, but Taichi reaches out, steadying his best friend.
After giving an appreciative glance to Taichi, Sora turns back to the new student. "Apologies Koushiro-kun, I was not expecting anyone else in the cabin. It is very nice to make your acquaintance."
Koushiro bows in kind. "Taichi-Senpai here was kind enough to welcome me into the cabin. I must apologize however, as it was our conversation that woke you."
"Oh please don't worry about it, it wasn't my intention to nap anyway. I was looking for…" She pauses suddenly. "By the way Taichi, did you see any while I was asleep?" Sora turns her attention back to her best friend.
He responds with a shake of the head. "I've barely taken my eye off the window since we entered the mountain range, but no nothing yet unfortunately.
"Darn, well this will hardly be our last opportunity to spot some. In fact, I'm sure we'll meet some soon." Sora says with vigor.
"Excuse me, but what is it that you two are hoping to find?" Koushiro asks, his curiosity piqued.
"Why monsters of course!" Taichi says with a wide grin.
"And mystical creatures!" Sora adds with a shared enthusiasm.
"Monsters?" Koushiro says, taken aback. "Why would you want to have a run in with a monster?"
"Taichi and I are both from Tokyo, there aren't many magical creatures in the city, they get scared away by all the humans everywhere."
"When we were little we saw a phoenix though!"
"Well we think we did anyway." Sora clarifies. "We were exploring the outskirts of the city one evening when we saw what looked like a glowing bird dart across the night sky."
"And people say that the mountains surrounding Yamashiro are absolutely brimming with strange and magical creatures." Taichi finishes excited.
"But aren't monsters dangerous?" Koushiro counters. "There are countless tales of them tricking or even killing children like us from across Japanese history."
"Sure, some of them are probably evil like in the tales." She responds with a shrug.
"But Sora and I believe that perhaps some monsters are just misunderstood, I mean don't forget that there are also myths where people formed strong friendships with those creatures of legend."
"Besides" Sora continues. "The only way we'll know for sure is if we get out there and meet some right?"
"I suppose" Koushiro responds a bit nervously. "Though I'm not sure the school rules allow for such reckless…"
The young boy does not get to finish his thought however as the cabin door slides open once again. A thin older boy in a gray kimono with short dark blue hair and glasses swifty enters the room with a clipboard and a feather pen floating just above his shoulder.
"Greetings students, glad to see everyone is awake. My name is Kiddo Jou, one of the prefects here at Yamashiro." The prefect gives a slight bow, Sora and Koushiro do the same. "I will be responsible for the students in the last few cabins on the train and this includes the three of you. We will be approaching the school soon, I would advise that you keep your eyes on the windows for the next several minutes, seeing the school for the first time in an experience former students say that you will never forget."
He watches as the three young students in front of him turn excited towards the window.
"Before that however, I need each of your names so I know who precisely I am to be responsible for."
"Naturally Jo Senpai, forgive the lack of introductions. My name is Takenouchi Sora."
"Yagami Taichi here."
Izumi Koushiro, pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Excellent, very nice to meet the three of you. I will be here to guide you through your first year…"
"You seem kinda young to be a prefect, aren't they usually older kids?" Taichi blurts out suddenly.
"Taichi!" Sora calls out in a reprimanding tone, before grabbing her best friend sharpy by the ear. "What have you been taught about speaking to your elders?
"Owww Owww, my apologies Senpai, I was just curious as you do not seem much older than us."
Sora lets go of her friend's ear with a groan. "Sorry about that Jou Senpai, Taichi doesn't mean anything by it, he sometimes leaps before he looks if you know what I mean."
The younger students can see that Jou's eye twitches slightly in frustration. "Yes well, no harm done. He is not incorrect, though he could stand to be more polite in his observations. As a second year, I am the youngest prefect currently attending Yamashiro: School of Magic. The youngest in quite a number of years according to the headmaster. But prefects aren't selected based on age, they are selected based upon academic achievements and a general sense of responsibility."
Sora raises her hand respectfully. "If you don't mind me asking Senpai, what does a prefect do at a school as special as Yamashiro?"
Jou smiles at this. "Nothing too special, we help to guide new students and enforce the rules in order to ensure everyone's safety. When necessary we can also assign basic punishments for more minor infractions. In general we help to maintain safety and order within the school."
"Sounds kinda boring." Taichi mumbles but not quietly enough as Sora ribs him.
Jou sighs audibly. "Well it's not for everyone. Anyway I have a few more cabins to check in on and the three of you should be keeping an eye out for the school. Once we arrive at the station, make sure to collect all of your belongings. Last thing you want is to leave anything important behind. Then find me on the station platform, I will guide you and the others in this group to the sorting ceremony. If you have any questions, all you have to do is ask me or one of the other prefects on the train. You can't miss us with our hats and badges." He says proudly pointing to the golden pin on his kimono.
"Thank you for your guidance Senpai." Sora says cheerfully.
Taichi and Koushiro follow in Sora's footsteps with a respectful bow. With that Jou leaves the room and closes the cabin door once more.
As soon as the door is fully shut, Sora grabs her best friend roughly by the front of his orange kimono and pulls him close. "Taichi, what the heck was that about?. One of these days you're gonna get yourself in trouble, and what if I'm not around to help get you out of it?"
Seeing that Sora is rather serious, Taichi lowers his gaze apologetically. "I'm sorry Sora, I didn't mean to say anything rude. I'm just eager to get to the school I guess, and wasn't thinking."
"Ugh that's the problem. I know you didn't mean anything by it, just please watch what you say." Sora says with an already softened tone. She releases him and helps to fix his kimono. Then pulls him into a half hug. "You're pretty outgoing and good with people, just remember that we will be at this school for seven years. First impressions matter. It's like your mother told us when she dropped us off, friends we make here will likely be friends for life. Jou Senpai seems nice and will be showing us around as first years, it wouldn't kill you to show him some respect. And just maybe we can count him as one of our first friends."
"I suppose, though Jou seems a bit stiff and proper compared to us doncha think?"
Sora simply glares at Taichi in response.
"You're probably right Sora…" Taichi starts defeatedly.
"Probably?"
"Ok you're definitely right. Happy?"
"Yes, in fact I am." She teases. "Just try to keep an open mind, Jou may not seem our type at first but you never know what might happen. Isn't that right Koushiro?" Sora says, suddenly pulling the younger boy into the conversation.
Koushiro, who had of course been listening, had been doing his best to stay quiet and let the two friends hash it out between themselves. "Well yes that certainly sounds like sage advice. Though to be honest, I'm not really the one to ask, I've never had much in the way of friends myself." The boy admits somewhat bashfully.
"Well, we can be your friend Koushiro." Taichi expresses rather bluntly. "That is if you would like to be friends."
Sora smiles at her best friend now. "Now that's the Taichi I know."
"You guys can't be serious can you, we just met a few minutes ago and you already want to be friends? I've never had it so easy in my life. Does it really work that way?"
"Who's to say it can't work that way!" Taichi explains excitedly while extending his hand to Koushiro. "You seem nice and really clever for your age, like Sora just said friendships at this school might last a lifetime."
Koushiro is silent for a moment, truly speechless over the gesture of instantaneous friendship.
"So what do you say?" Sora continues for her friend, while extending her hand as well. "I know Taichi and I might make for odd company. But we always do our best to be honest, kind, and loyal to our friends. Do you want to be our friend Koushiro?"
The younger boy stands up from his seat and begins to approach the outstretched hands of these rather strange two eleven year olds. His hand is half a meter away from theirs when he hesitates suddenly and pulls back.
"What are the odds that we are even sorted into the same house?"
Taichi tilts his head sideways inquisitively. "What do you mean?"
"You're talking about the student houses mentioned in the acceptance letter we all got right? Honestly Taichi and I don't know much about them, neither of our parents went to Yamashiro, so this is all new to us."
Koushiro nods slightly. "I don't know all the details myself, I am also a first generation student, but I do know that there are four houses, all named after mythical creatures native to Japan. Students are sorted into one of the four houses. I am not sure how it works, I would have liked to research it more, but those letters showed up so shortly before the start of the school year that I never got the chance."
He pauses briefly as if hesitating then continues. "A family friend who had been to Yamashiro told me that house selection is a matter of fate. I'm not sure what she meant exactly, but she said that students tend to make friends from within their chosen house, as those are the people that they will spend most of their time around."
Taichi and Sora look at each other a little anxiously. It is evident to Koushiro that they had known even less about the sorting process than he had at the start of this journey.
"I appreciate the offer, truly senpais. But perhaps it would be wise to wait and see where we end up."
The older pair watches as Koushiro slowly makes his way back to his seat and turns towards the window.
Sora notices that Koushiro seems guarded all of a sudden, as if they had somehow, despite their good intentions, struck a nerve. She looks over at Taichi who looks confused and perhaps slightly put off by the rejection. He stares quietly at the younger boy who now stares out at the mountains.
Wanting to ease the tension now dominating the room, Sora taps Taichi on the shoulder. "Come on Taichi, we probably came on a bit too strong, let's give him some space. Besides, like Jou Senpai said, we don't want to miss our first sighting of the school.
Taichi nods, but struggles to conceal a saddened expression from his best friend. They take their seat then begin their vigilant watch for their new home.
Sora watches the treeline for any changes, but her focus is broken when she hears her friend muttering under his breath.
"A matter of fate huh?" He utters at a barely audible tone, so quiet that Sora doesn't quite hear him.
"Taichi?"
"Sora." Taichi whispers now, hoping that only his best friend will hear him. "It just occurred to me…what happens if we aren't put in the same house?"
Instantly sensing the concern, she attempts to put his mind at ease. "Taichi…that will never happen, I don't know what house we will be in, but we will be in it together."
"Koushiro said houses are a matter of fate though, and that students mainly have time to hang out with other students from the same house. I'm just worried, what happens if they split us up?"
Taichi's expression is heavy with concern. Sora tenderly cups his chin and looks him in the eyes. "Taichi, listen to me, I promise you that…"
"Taichi-Senpai, Sora-Senpai!" Koushiro interjects excitedly. "You're going to want to see this!"
The two best friends rush up to the window pressing their faces against the large pane of glass. The fog outside has suddenly become so thick that they can not even make out the trees which run adjacent to the train's path.
"I've read about this. The founders of the school cast a powerful illusory barrier, protecting the school from the prying eyes of any curious Mahoujanai who get too close (Non-magic individuals). We must be getting close!"
The three first years wait in a stunned silence for the barrier to subside.
After a few moments, Sora's voice pierced through the tense silence. "I think I see something up ahead!" She said, pointing eagerly towards a bright spot in the fog.
At high speeds the Mystic Mountain Express soon burst its way through the cloud barrier. What the children saw next left them utterly speechless. The fog gave way to a vast valley. Unbelievably green and vibrant towards the base, with several snow covered mountain peaks reaching up into the sky. At the center of the largest valley sat a massive glittering lake. Lush vegetation and crowds of animals made the rest of the mountain range seem practically barren by comparison. By appearance it was impossible to tell what time of day it was exactly, stars and galaxies spun and swirled around the mountain rain, whizzing past their window like fireworks across the night sky. A massive moon hung low in the sky and was fully reflected and refracted by the lake. Even though the sun was nowhere to be seen, the valley was illuminated as though the entire area was under some massive spell.
There was almost too much to be observed all at once. It is clear to the children that there are different regions and biomes which could be observed as the train floated across the valley. The students could clearly make out a translucent forest glowing with a strange bioluminescence. There seemed to be a large field strewn with ancient ruins as well. There were towns and a small industrial zone. Taichi even pointed out an out of place desert looking area.
Sora gasped and squeezed Taichi's shoulder as a massive crane-like bird the size of a pterodactyl flew past their section of the train.
"Mythical creatures!" The two friends shouted in simultaneous excitement.
Truly the sites of this valley were overwhelming, but nowhere did the three children spot anything that could be mistaken for a school. That is until the train rounded one of the taller mountains. Nestled into the side of a mountain was a massive Japanese castle. So grand and marvelous that it even made Himeji Castle look small. It seems that the complex was somehow built right into the mountain, jutting out in several areas and spanning the entire width of the mountain.
It quickly became apparent that this was the destination of the Mystic Mountain Express and that of her passengers. As the train pulled closer, a massive protruding stone platform could be observed, with dozens of individuals dressed in kimonos bidding the children welcome. There was no doubt about it. This was Yamashiro: School of Magic.