We seemed to move in a rush, yet I couldn't help but take in the sights as I went along, only staying on track because Radwin kept me on task. We walked past at least 12 separate Greenhouses, all focused on different crops of some sorts. My favorite, before we'd gone past where they were in view, was what looked like berries made of pure crystal with a natural juice swishing inside.

  The sights just didn't end, and I had a feeling I wouldn't be bored here. This was just the side close to the crafter’s quarters to the north. We walked past what looked like all forms of Art Affinities, and more than a few Crafter Cultivation Paths. So far it was certainly fitting up to its name, and I was certain it'd be perfect for someone like Radwin.

  “It's very colorful here, not a single building is the same color.” My eyes were awash with genuine interest.

  ‘It's like a tropical town inland,’ I thought to myself.

  We pulled short just outside the brightest pink building you could imagine, in the style of a large Pagoda with three visible floors.

  “You'll be staying here at Pony Pavilion. Mr. Flykra is in room 14b on the first basement floor. Mr. Roal will be on the third floor in 7c due to his proclivity to Alchemy,” he said, placing a key in either of our hands that changed color on contact, and he was off.

  “You know, he kinda looked like him and the coachman could have been related, but I might be wrong.” Radwin brought their appearances to my attention, and when I thought about it he was kinda right, but the hair was all wrong unless they were separated by more than just a few years.

  I simply shrugged. “Well not like it matters too much, since he works for the Academy. Want to check out our rooms and meet back up later?” I was preparing for the worst before we'd even gone in. He only nodded, we both swallowed, and then pushed our way through the doors inside.

  It was stunning, and entirely not what we expected. Unlike the outside that was almost entirely pink, it was only an accent and a finish inside. The floors were a rich dark brown wood throughout the visible areas, and there were marble swirls through the walls and counters. The first floor mostly consisted of a colorful collection of different themed sitting areas filled with who I assumed were other students in our dorm. From the front entrance, there were three other staircases in the other cardinal areas of the building. The stairs to the right only went down while the other sets of stairs only went upwards.

  “I guess we meet up here later, maybe in the green sitting area. I like the plants over there.” We both nodded, and while I headed for stairs down, Radwin went for the set that said floors 2 & 3 Sections A-C.

  I made it to the door way down to the first basement floor, when I pulled short just past the threshold. There were two color coded slides, a blue slide for the first basement floor, and a red for the second. Next to both slides was a dial with the letters A,B,C. It appeared to be a fast travel to your part of the building but only one way.

  I approached the blue slide, changing the Dial from A to B. The slide shimmered and changed to a lighter shade of blue before a green light lit up above the slide.

  ‘Guess that means go,’ unceremoniously I hopped on the slide and pushed myself forward. Staring into the slide below I'd realize it was already too late to regret my actions, the slide was nothing but a sea of black once I was past the lip. As soon as I plunged into the black I felt a pulling sensation, something uncomfortable but not unfamiliar, my gut twisted for all of a minute and then light blossomed at the end of the tunnel.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  I was thrown out of a purple slide, unlike the blue I had entered, onto a haphazardly placed pile of pillows in a small rectangular room. The walls were a combination of teal and seafoam bricks, and a floor that looked like flowing waves hitting an iceberg. It felt like I was stuck in stasis, a scene stuck in time.

  I didn't allow myself to linger long, there were only two options to get in and only one out.

  The standard brown door was rather misleading to the rest of the aesthetic. The door opened up to an office in the same colors as the slide room, but going as far as influencing the furniture as well. A man, maybe 26 or 27 by appearance alone, was sitting behind the desk reading a rather thick and ornate book. He paused to look up from his reading, actually seeming surprised to see someone, and grimaced. Unceremoniously he grabbed a mop and bucket stormed over to the slide room to just return not much later confused. “You did take the slide right?” He seemed almost unsure how I could be in here if not the slide, but I wasn't sure why he'd think I didn't.

  “I most certainly did take the slide sir, turned the knob to B and everything.” I returned respectfully.

  This just confused him more, before a look of realization hit him. “You must have some form of space Affinity then. Most new students try the slide and end up puking before they realize where they are or that there is already a trough for them to puke in.” He stared through me for a moment, then shivered. “But that doesn't have to do with you anyhow. I'm Dominic, the First Sub-floor Caretaker and Disciplinary Head of the two basement floors.” He held his hand out for me to shake.

  “Pleasure to meet you, Dominic.” When we shook hands, there was a cold shock for all of a moment before we released our hands.

  “And you're a fellow Ice boy too.” He smirked and went back to his desk and pulled out an envelope and handed it to me. The shape was the same but slightly larger than a Card. “I like you already kid, mostly on account of not cleaning up puke today. But that's a gift. I don't remember what I put in each of the envelopes, so it's a gamble, but each one has one Card in them that's either a repeat of a Card I already have my static 3 copies of, or Cards that don't fit me or my Soul Card.”

  I just stared at the envelope for a moment. “Are you sure? Cards are valuable.”

  He held up his hand to stop me. “And others are a dime a dozen. Now you took the B slide and my key marker says you're in room 14. You're two doors down on the right after taking a left leaving this room. Unlike what you think, I'm also still a student like you, but chose to stay for a few more years.”

  Taking the dismissal for what it was, I left the room and took off in the direction he mentioned. The hallways were nothing like Dominic's office and the slide room, the hallway was very utilitarian unlike the rest of the building with the occasional sconce with light crystals and maybe a few pieces of flavor art on the walls. All the plaques for occupied rooms seemed stylized though, for some reason.

  When I came up to room 14B, the plaque on the door was just as utilitarian as the hallway. ‘I guess everyone else got tired of the plain look.’ The key in my pocket pulsed for a moment, and so did the lock on the door. Taking the hint, I put the key into the lock and the first thing I noticed was my plaque had started to shift and change shape. It now looked like a snapped off piece of ice, with stylized purple writing still saying 14B. ‘Guess that's how they keep track of the rooms.’

  I opened my door and was shocked at what I saw. I had the equivalent of a 2 bedroom apartment all to myself. I had a bedroom, workroom, and living area to make use of during my time here. Everything was styled up in blues and purples. The floors and walls had designs of planets and stars and moons, the ceiling hid constellations. All the furniture had a dark ice look going for it.

  “Wow, magic school comes with tailored living. If I had a place like this in college, I wouldn't have dropped out.” There was a note on the table in the sitting area

  ‘Welcome to your new accommodations, Syilten Flykra. All dorms here are individual and are tailored to each student's affinities. Only promising students get a dorm in the Pony Pavilion. Your student badge will be available the following day.

  With our eyes and hopes on you.

  Academy staff.’

  I was only a little worried that the Academy was already keeping an eye on me, but that would have to be a concern for later. I quickly made my way to the private shower in my bedroom, where I soaked in the hot water for about half an hour before I crawled under the plum colored comforter and lost myself in the softness of the light blue pillows. I dreamed of riding comets in space that night.