“So there is a shortcut here.” Echo’s mouth gaped at the giant door before her.

  It was not a normal door made out of wood, but rather it beamed with blue shades of light. The magic door, known as an advanced teleportation spell, which was a rare sight to see, was located just a little further down the main road near the Midwood Manor. The rest of the first years showed Echo the magic portal when they set out for their morning classes.

  “It’s only opening when the class hour is ongoing though,” said Marigold, the girl with orange curly hair. Her eyes were big with light yellow pupils, enchanting anyone who looked into it. Her skin was very pale, the signature of the witches. “The academy grounds are so big, with some buildings far from each other. I like to think of the academy as a small town. The teachers are so thoughtful that they prepare shortcuts for us. I’m not going to walk far every day just to go to my classes!”

  “Every dorm has one magic portal near their place.” Ursa walked near to the portal while pointing at it. “Once we go through the portal, you will see tons of other students there since we are all teleported in the same area.” When Ursa walked into the portal, she immediately disappeared.

  The glasses girl joined next. “But just make sure you are back before the portal closes, or else you will get tired from the walking just like yesterday.” Azula then vanished as well.

  “Let's join them as well.” Marigold jumped into the portal and Echo became the last person there.

  Echo stared at the magic portal. The blue light with different shades flowed together to form the silhouette of a door. When was the last time she saw a magic spell like this?

  “Go there, child. Search for your own strength.”

  That elegant voice of an old lady suddenly echoed in her mind. The respectable old lady was a person that she only met for one time. However, her presence and words somehow became a backbone after she left her homeland. As if the words were capable of pushing her back, Echo jumped into the blue light.

  She could feel the cold sensation that tasted like her homeland caressing her skin when she passed through the light. However, it lasted only a few seconds. The next thing she knew she was at a plaza where a mass of similar-looking uniforms gathered together in one place.

  “Come on, Echo. We’ll show you around!” Marigold excitedly waved her hand for Echo to follow her. The rest of the group was waiting. “Come on!” Marigold called her again.

  Echo quickly walked to her dormmates. When she caught up with them, they started walking slowly together. Marigold, being the bubbly one among them right now took charge to explain things to Echo.

  “This is the entrance plaza. As you can see, every magic portal here is connected to every dorm and everyone will end up here when they are going to attend the classes.”

  Echo observed the magic portals that were placed together like a circle. She counted each of them. “So there are six dorms here?”

  “You’re correct.” Marigold quickly responded. “Three for boys, three for girls. Each of them was specialised in something in common. For example…” Marigold gestured for Echo to come closer. In a low voice and subtle finger point, she showed at the group of students who appeared like a sore thumb with the noises they made. “Those guys over there are from Greystone Manor.”

  Echo observed the students Marigold referred to. The boys were physically strong from the looks of their body figures. They were talking loudly and all energetic, unlike the students around them. Everyone else was looking like their souls were still floating somewhere else.

  Marigold continued back her story, “They are usually hailed from families of knights. Whenever there are sports competitions or something similar, they always steal the spotlight. They are pretty much a bunch of attention-seekers as well. You’ll find yourself in the middle of attention if you get involved with them.” The last one was whispered slowly as if she was relaying the mindful warning to the new girl.

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  Echo only nodded. As far as she knew, Echo was never the type of person who liked people’s attention. Since she was little, she always behaved carefully when in public. After all, not every place was friendly to the witches like her. They had their reasons. The witches also had their own too.

  “Those guys might be loud but in here, the ones with the most attention are those people from Emerald Manor and Fairbell Manor.” Ursa’s indifferent voice suddenly joined in. Though she sounded cold, there was still a trace of friendliness hiding behind her aloofness. “Usually the children of important lineages and extraordinary talents are placed there.”

  Marigold hummed in agreement. “But getting along with them is hard though.” She closed her eyes as if she tried to reminiscence about something. “I still don’t understand how obsessed they are with big achievements one after another. It looks so suffocating to me!” She huffed in dissatisfaction and crossed her arms on her chest.

  Echo was eyeing the orange-headed girl. A thought crossed her mind, 'That’s sound too personal.’ However, she never conveys them directly to her.

  “Her neighbour is in Emerald Manor actually,” Azula explained in her soft whispering voice. “They are quite close so they always exchanged letters. Other than that… Let’s say Marigold is quite annoyed with the amount of boasting whenever she reads his letters.”

  “I see.” Echo continued to observe Marigold. It looked like she was still in her own zone, not noticing the stares from her side. A huge smile curved on Echo’s lips. Specifically directed at Marigold, although she didn’t see it herself. “I look forward to meeting him.”

  “But, he’s always busy though. He only can send letters after he enrolled in this academy around two years ago.” Azula then paused a little and pointed at something. Echo followed her gesture.

  They had arrived at a big building, U-shaped if they looked from above with five floors within it and amazing architecture carved inside. The hallways were big as they were accommodating a large number of students at the same time.

  “This is where we will have most of our classes.” Azula introduced the place to Echo. “This place is pretty big, so please make sure you don’t go the wrong way. Even we are not familiar with this place yet.”

  Echo only nodded in understanding.

  When they walked into the hallways with high ceilings, Echo couldn’t help but let her eyes wander around the areas. The big double doors were found from both sides with students went into them. Then Echo followed the group to climb the stairs. The large stairs with statues were placed in between the floors. The large and majestic interior along with the students somehow managed to throw her off. She couldn’t push away the feeling of confusion and loss even though she already prepared before she entered the building. Being in a large public space was something Echo rarely set her in.

  She tried to keep up with the group and was careful not to be separated from them. When she was about to turn into the corner, her eyes immediately picked up a figure who came from the other side. Shocked as she was, she managed to pause herself from ramming into that person.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” Echo spoke first. What she saw initially was the chest of a man, as he was taller than her. When she looked up, she saw a beauty of a man who she had seen before. It was the silver-haired guy she saw yesterday.

  The gentle smile never left on the guy’s lips. “Forgive me as well, my lady.” The words muttered from him enough to make an angry person calm down. Such a beautiful voice that could melt any heart.

  Echo quickly snatched away her gaze from him. She immediately walked past the guy and picked up her pace. Not far from there, her group was waiting after they noticed Echo had been left behind. She left in a hurry. Something about his gaze made her overwhelmed. It made her want to escape those indescribable feelings.

  “Did you get into an accident?” Ursa asked her first.

  “Not really.”

  Echo looked at her back again. The boy had already walked away from the previous spot. She finally noticed the group of friends walking together with him. The whole group was filled with an air of confidence. Enough to make the other students notice them and pave the way by instinct.

  Marigold noticed what Echo was staring at. “Oh, that must be one of the Atlas.”

  “Atlas?”

  “They are the ruling lineage in this empire.”

  Echo looked back at Marigold. “So he is like a prince?”

  The orange-head shook her head. “No, this country has a different way when it comes to its government. It’s hard to explain that right now. But don’t worry, you will understand that when you are here.”

  Echo didn’t get the answer. But at least she got the assurance for it. After all, there was no need to feel rushed. Experience needed to be savoured, not swallowed all at once.