Chapter 2 (b): Hidden Staircases (...Contd)

James clapped his hands calling for their attention, and once more causing the mad giggling rush to crash to an abrupt halt. Turning to face the students he continued his lecture.

"For the next three years", he began, "This class will be your starting point, Homeroom, Homebase, or Point Zero if you will", he explained, "All twenty-five of you are each other's family, you will find people with common interests, common goals, or some of you will hate each other on sight and become either eternal rivals or life-long enemies!" he informed then and smirked.

He continued into the startled silence;

"Well too bad", he quipped, "You'll just have to get over it", he said. "All classes are divided into five sections: Class A to Class E. That's not to say Class A is filled with geniuses and Class E are all stupid, don't be insipid, we're not idiots—we don't want anyone to discriminate on those qualities", he rolled his eyes and continued, "No... each Class has an average student, a really bad student, and a genius", he listed, "There is however a Best Class Award so, each year you will compete against the other classes to win this award and make your homeroom teacher proud", he explained in detail.

"Sir", a hand shot up from the back.

"Yes Ms. Annabelle", he called upon and Rinzen finally had a name for the girl in the back row.

"Are you our Homeroom teacher?" she asked interest clearly reflected in her tone.

"No", he answered a bit terse, "Unfortunately today that idiot is late", he huffed irritably, "Mr. Edwards is your homeroom teacher, you'll meet him soon", he huffed shaking his head minutely, "Now, as I was saying, as students of Class C I'm sure you will make your teacher proud", he said sounding entirely too aggravated at the mere idea.

It caused Rinzen to bite down on another bark of laughter.

"Sir?" another voice at the back asked.

"Yes Ms. Nail?" he asked.

"Is there a point to winning the award, I mean do we get anything out of it except bragging rights?" she asked curiously.

James nodded, amused "Yes, the class that wins the award is exempt from certain mandatory extracurricular activities, like cleaning the school or exams, and any mistakes that could get you expelled, will be wiped clean. So I suggest making friends, loyal people, willing to stand beside you, even in your darkest times, mostly then. Because if someone is willing to take a bullet for you, I'd rather you learn quickly how valuable that is", he said quietly.

There was a small lull before a boy in the back raised his hand;

"Sir", he paused, "How exactly or what exactly pertains to winning the award?" he asked curiously.

"Matches", he answered, "You will play sports, martial arts, music, art, games, etcetera", he stated, "Mr. Edwards will be giving you the details later", he informed them forestalling any interruption he raised his hand and continued, "One year comprises of twelve months, obviously", he muttered and then shook his head, "But at this school, one year is completed in nine months, you get three months off for your winter, summer and exam months. It's the first of April, so from the 1st of May when your classes officially begin that's when you have to worry. This month of April is afforded to you, to assimilate yourself to the school and each other", he said and walked towards the board and picked up a marker, he wrote down the months and the underlined July, November, and March. He took a breath and continued;

"Now, understandably except for Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Years, and other universal Holidays shared amongst several cultures that exist within these months, officially November will be your Winter Vacations, you can go home, stay here, sleep all day—though I would recommend against that as a semi-functioning adult", he stated much to the amusement of the students, "July is officially the hottest month in general, so you will be allowed to go anywhere cold during that month, or like your winter vacations stay in and sleep the day away, you little sloth monsters", he cheeked grinning at them. "However unlike other schools, you only have to give your final exams in March. Because in the next nine months, after every month you will have The Matches", he explained, enunciating the words deliberately.

"Sir", Red sat up gaining his attention, "About these Matches, suppose it's a sport, like a baseball game or table tennis, and we don't know how to play, like maybe in this class", she stated, "No one knows how to play that one specific sport, what do we do?" she asked worriedly.

"Ah", he nodded, "Ideally I would say you're well-versed in everything on the planet, but that would be expecting the impossible", he said, "So as I was explaining", he turned to the board in this month, he pointed at April, "You get at least two weeks to learn any and everything about the Match that's chosen. And since we're a magical school, the Academy herself chooses the match. Say it's ping-pong like you said, for the class to be remotely apt at it, two weeks to a maximum of 15 days will be allotted to your class for you to train for it", he explained shortly.

"Sir", Ray raised his hand, "Since you mentioned it's a magic school", he grinned, "Can time-loops be used to increase our practice time, or is that against the rules?" he asked warily.

"Well that really depends", he answered.

Ray frowned, "On what?" he asked baffled.

Understanding the man's expression immediately, "On whether we get caught or not. A debate against cheating would cost us time", Rinzen answered easily.

James smirked and turned around to wipe down the board, "And that's all", he announced, "Class dismissed", he announced. "You seven stay", he added sharply.

"I'm still hungry", Bell muttered to Ray and Red.

"Likewise", they answered in unison, both frowning.

Rinzen swallowed, "I'm hoping that when we get answers on Ascendants, we'll be having food too, that minor snack in the cafeteria did nothing to appease the beast clawing at my insides", he muttered dryly.

James rolled his eyes at all of them and as soon as the last student left, he closed the door, "My God, you people have no patience", he huffed rolling his eyes.

"We're teenagers James, what did you expect?" Rinzen answered rolling his eyes.

The man shook his head and then walking to the center of the class he knocked on Rinzen' desk again, he offered Rinzen a hand who took it confused, as the older man pulled him towards him, a steadying hand on his waist and subsequently pushing him behind, where he was further steadied by Zee, he blinked startled as his desk dissolved.

"What?" he asked no one in particular. 

"Magic", Ash huffed cheekily.

"But why my desk", he whined, "I liked that desk, I was attached to it, it was something I chose, you know", he mock-whined. "Myyyyyyyyyy desk..." he cried, sobbing dramatically.

James rolled his eyes whilst the others giggled at his dramatics;

"Anyway", he huffed again utterly exasperated. "It's not dead", he shook his head, "Or alive for that matter", he grumbled, "It sat on the nexus of ley lines", he paused and shot him a piercing look.

Rinzen frowned and vowed to ask him why later as he turned away and continued;

"This desk, no wait the entire classroom for that matter sits on a nexus of ley lines", he informed, "And since this class gets labeled differently every year, I didn't think it would be here", he muttered mostly to himself, "Whilst we were walking down the corridor, we passed Class A and B, and I felt that jolt I always get when I can sense the nexus. This school has three Nexus'", he informed, "And they're equilateral to each other, it's supposed to help the Ascendants work well and adjust better to their magic", he explained simply.

"Where are the other two?" Rinzen asked straightening.

"The dorms for one", he paused, "Well in one of the dorms, I still have no idea which one, and given that I'd have to sense it out first, you will not be placed in one yet", he muttered and then pricking his finger with a safety pin from God knows where, he drew a rune on the floor, where his desk sat.

"Open", Rinzen translated automatically, "Open what?" he muttered, "More hidden staircases?" he shook his head, only to stumble back and push Zee and Pajamas behind him, "What the hell?" he hissed as the floor opened, a gaping circular hole, and of course, a hidden staircase. "I mean I shouldn't be surprised and yet look, I'm surprised", he muttered dryly.

Ash snorted and the girls giggled, whilst Zee, James, and Ray rolled their eyes.

"Good grief you're such a drama queen", James huffed and then hummed, "Well then, you wanted to know about Ascendants"; he said and walked down the first step.

Almost immediately Rinzen scrambled to follow him, he took a step forward and swallowed as the final nail he'd sealed on his past resounded in his heart with a solid thumping beat.

"Well there's no going back now", he stated and followed him down.

*

TBC...