Leo woke up, and checked his surroundings, where am I? After a few minutes of day dreaming he heard rustling above them, and instinctively realized where he was. He was at some sketchy magic school he didn’t even know the name of. Great, Fantastic even! Leo thought sarcastically. Leo wondered what he was supposed to do in this school anyway, what this “Welcoming” was about? Leo shrugged and decided to wing it, that’s how he lived life, why change it now?

  Leo’s stomach growled, he grimaced. He hasn’t eaten anything since at the orphanage, and that was over 9 hours ago, maybe 8. Maybe there will be food at the “Welcoming”, well he hoped there will be food, otherwise, he may have to get food by “other” means.

  Leo walked out the door, sunlight from the window shined upon him, too bright to see properly so Leo provided shade by using his arms. After walking a few steps, Leo felt a hand grasping his shoulder. Leo grew shocked, how did he not hear them. He quickly turned around and kicked the stranger, pushing him back to gain a few feet, just in case he needed to run. Turns out he didn’t, all he saw was an angry girl, Iris, staring at him with intent.

  Leo felt a wave of relief wash over him, then guilt. Leo stared as Iris dusted herself off, and stared back at him. They stared at each other for a few seconds until Leo broke the ice.

  “Look, you don’t just-“

  “I know, don’t like people touching you. Scared they’ll beat you up. Been there…” Iris intercepted.

  Leo looked at her, with a gaze of surprise, and a hint of sadness. “Glad you understand” was all he could say. They awkwardly avoided each other’s gaze for a few seconds. Leo tapped his foot on the concrete floor, trying to fill to void of silence.

  “Do you know where we’re supposed to go?” Iris asked.

  Leo thought for a few seconds,

  “Yeah, I guess, follow me…”

  A few minutes past before they reached the front gate, Leo led the way into the building, Iris following like a shadow. As they walked in, the sheer size of the room astonished Leo, wider than the dorms combined, easily covering thousands of acres of land.

  Leo stood in shock for a few seconds, until he smelled something. Something edible, something fragrant. Near the door stood a buffet of food, rows upon rows of rich man food, something a slum dog like Leo couldn’t ever eat! There was one catch though, no one was there! Leo was self-conscious, how would the rich, and the teachers think of him if they saw him munching on food! With his stomach rumbling, Leo quickly choose through his opinions and decided. He started to slowly walk towards the buffet, trying to make it seem like he wasn’t dying to starvation. As Leo slowly shuffled to the deserted, he felt a tug on his shirt. Like a bubble of realization popped, he forgot that he was leading Iris. A warm sensation creeped up his face.

  “Ah, umm, the classes are over there” Leo whispered trying to hide his burning face.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “I can’t read” Iris replied

  Leo mentally slapped himself on the head, looked longingly to the food.

  “Here” Iris held out a plate. It was filled with food like she read his mind.

  Leo grabbed it by instinct, not even savoring the food, he shoved it down his throat. The void in his stomach filled with treats, renewed with energy, Leo thanked her.

  He placed the dirty dish on a table and continued to the booths.

  “To… your… left…” The voice said

  Leo looked over to the left, a short line was formed. He ushered Iris to the line, and waited for their turn.

  Soon after, it was Leo’s turn. The attendant smiled,

  “Hello! How can I help you?”

  Leo asked about the classes and the attendant helped him pick out classes for him.

  “Basic Magic and Survival Training are the best for beginners! I would recommend them to you!”

  Leo waited for any interjection from the voice, nothing.

  “Ok, I’ll choose those classes”

  “Perfect!”

  Leo remembered about Iris.

  “Oh, can you do the same for the girl behind me, she’s a beginner too.”

  Iris silently nodded.

  “Ok! What are your names?”

  “My name is Leo, and this is Iris”

  “Any surnames?”

  “No”

  “What about her?”

  Leo looked over and Iris glanced somewhere else.

  “No”

  “Ages?”

  Leo surprising knew his age, weirdly enough for an orphan.

  “Nine, and she’s … umm”

  “Nine” Iris responded

  The attendant typed the information into a computer.

  “Perfect! For Basic Magic, it’s in the 300s and the survival is in the 500s, I also got your sister in the same classes as you, perfect! No need to thank me, I know!”

  Leo looked at the attendant confused, sister? She called next and ushered Leo out. Leo decided to not care and left. With nothing to do, he started to search around the large room.

  Grand arches held up the ceiling, the walls were decorated with painted gold, or maybe real gold!

  Leo looked around a saw a guy cooking in a pot, with the generic green bubbles boiling in it. Singing a happy lullaby, the guy took his pot and poured it into a tray. The moment the green gel touched the tray, they turned into muffins! Perfectly baked muffins, the fresh fragrance peaked Leo’s appetite. The tray was put under a try one sign, and Leo helped himself. Leo took a bite and immediately regretted the decision. He spat out the muffin, which turned back into green gel. Leo backed back to the senior, half-expecting him to slap his knee and laugh at him. Rather, all Leo saw was a frown.

  “What did they taste like?” The senior asked

  Leo studied the guy, he seems like a genuine guy.

  “Like copper” Leo said bluntly

  The senior walked back and forth, and asked another question.

  “But they smelled amazing right!”

  Leo agreed, which put a smile on the senior’s face. The senior turned back, and decided the change the recipe. Leo decided to explore the room even more.

  The room was filled with booths that varied, from crafts to weapons! Leo spotted a ball of fire, with a sign stating that it’s harmless. People walked in and out of it, not even their clothes burned! What is this magic!? Leo ran through the fireball, amazed on how it worked, it wasn’t even hot! Just a little lukewarm.

  Leo continued the search the room. After a while, he decided to go back to his room, as he felt a little bored. He walked out of the room into the open field, which still had many booths outside and continued back. After walking a few feet, he heard a noise,

  “All those who want to participate in the yearly competition, please sign up here! The prize this year is anything the head-master approves of! New books! Free tuition! You name it!”

  Leo got shocked by the rewards and became greedy. What if he won the competition, what should he ask? Leo decided to join, since there’s nothing to lose! Leo lined up but saw that everyone had a partner.

  “Partner… Required…” The voice read off a sign.

  Leo sulked, he didn’t know anybody at this school. Then he felt a tap on his shoulder, Leo flinched and turned around, just to see Iris, where did she come from?

  Iris stared at him, and pointed towards the booth,

  “Do you want to sign up?”

  Leo looked at Iris, and back to the booth.

  “Will you be my partner?”

  “Partner?”

  “This competition requires one.”

  Iris thought about it and agreed.

  Leo excitedly pulled Iris into the line and they both waited.