New Desk Mate

After waiting for half an hour, the gates finally opened. Aiden entered the academy with the three wisps hovering over his shoulders, each and every one of them on a different agenda.

"My, my!" Caelum said. "This is exhilarating. I remember the good old days at Gold Moon Pavillion."

"You mean the days when you'd always get punished for dozing off in class?" Lucius said. "You're right. I always rejoiced whenever you got punished."

Unlike the two wisps, Riven was in serious business, his eyes searching for the strongest student among the crowd. Finding the perfect brute to punch his benefactor in the abdomen.

"That guy looks strong. I bet he'll put out some good punches," Aiden recommended ever so seriously.

Riven gave him a smug look. "Wow, you're even giving out suggestions as to who punches you, huh?"

"It's not like I have a choice," he said. "So, I gave up easy."

All the students gathered in a quadrangle. Aiden wore a black robe with the academy's emblem, and he stood in a line with students wearing the same color as his. There were three other colors of robes. White, Silver, and Gold. Those wearing gold robes were obviously older, more powerful. Most of them seemed to be in their early adulthood. Those wearing silver robes were teens, and at one glance, Aiden knew he was peers with the white-robed students. All of them appeared to be ages ten to thirteen.

In his black robe, however, he was taller than his classmates, and obviously older. Most of them were entry-level 8-year-olds. Even the boy who approached him earlier stood in front for being on the shorter end of the spectrum. Just when he thought he was the oldest and the tallest, a big burly kid stood last on the line beside him. This one seemed to be his age. About eleven or twelve.

"I guess we found him," Caelum nodded. "And he's your classmate. Perfect."

Riven disagreed with a slight dim of his light. "No. We need someone with inner force. The book said to tap with inner essence. That boy obviously don't know any magic at all."

Aiden let out an exasperated sigh, already accepting his destiny. "Great. I can't wait to get punched by an upperclassman."

The students began to sing the academy's hymn. All the students from different cohorts sang their hearts out, but only a few knew the lyrics from Aiden's batch. The toothy boy wearing glasses, and three other kids.

Right at the end of the commencement, Lord Greyson stood at the podium to give his speech. He gave some inspirational whatnots and encouraged the students to grab the chance to be stronger every single day. For only a second, he glanced at Aiden's direction, before immediately looking away. Of course, he didn't want to be associated with a screw up.

The commencement finished after Lord Greyson's speech, and the students dispersed to their respective halls. Aiden, on the other hand, was led to the dean's office with three other newcomers.

"Hello, young ones!" A beautiful woman greeted them. She spread out her hands, urging the students to sit, and Aiden chose to sit on the farthest one he could find. The dean began to babble, her manner of talking as if she was talking to kindergarteners, in her sweet-sweet voice.

"Her name's Martha," Riven said, relaying the words of the mortal female to Aiden. "She says it's nice to meet you all, blah blah."

Caelum bobbed himself up and down. "She's welcoming you all on your first day." he laughed. "Would you look at that? All your classmates are babies!"

Aiden held a bland look on his face. "They're obviously eight-year-olds."

"Ba-bies." Lucius seconded.

Dean Martha gave a final announcement that a certain Mr. Beauregard must stay behind before dispersing the students. The students began to stand, following the lead of a teenager who would usher them to their classroom. Aiden followed the flock, as the dean could be heard repeatedly calling out for a Mr. Beauregard from behind.

"Hey!" Caelum pulsated. "She's talking to you!"

Aiden stopped in his tracks. "Me? I'm Mr. Beauregard?"

Riven flickered in agreement. "Well, she's literally looking at you."

"Urgh, right." Lucius said. "You mortals have this surname stuff."

"So, my name's Bastardsson Beauregard?"

Riven almost fainted while the two wisps burst into laughter. "No! Your name's Aiden, not Bastard's son. You're Aiden Beauregard."

"Well, sorry!" Aiden said. "That's what you've been calling me all this time."

Aiden immediately turned his body and walked toward the dean who examined him from head to toe before granting yet again another sweet smile.

"Well," she clasped her hands together. "Thank you for staying behind, Mr. Beauregard. Even if I had to yell out your name several times. Please have a seat."

The wisps relayed her words before Aiden could even ask, and for a moment, Aiden was actually impressed of his new company. Gone were the rowdy wisps who called him trash names. These wisps were now in for some serious business.

"You're a special case, she said." Caelum said.

"And your father, that Lord Greyson guy," Lucius continued. "Gave special instructions for you."

Riven nudged his shoulder. "She's making you promise never to tell anyone you're associated with the Master in any way."

The dean looked at Aiden, waiting for him to reply, and without any more second to think of any response, the boy simply nodded his head while giving a thumbs up.

The dean continued.

"Oh," Caelum said. "Turns out the surname Beauregard is your mother's. That's what you'll be using because your jerk father hates you."

Aiden gave a flat smile. "Thanks for the reminder."

"And Dean Martha right here, was a good friend of your mother," Lucius said. "No wonder she's treating you not-so-gnat-sy."

Dean Martha looked like she had a lot to say but thankfully, the bell rang, interrupting her on her litany, finally giving the three thorough translators a break.

"Come now, child," the dean said. "It's time to meet your classmates."

When they arrived at the room, everyone had already settled down. There were only two seats available. One beside the toothy kid with glasses, and another one at the back of the room beside the big burly kid.

"So..." Aiden consulted his companions. "Where do I sit?"

"Obviously you can't sit in front," Lucius said. "You're taller than these babies, remember?"

Caelum nodded. "Just sit beside that dude then. He doesn't matter anyway."

Aiden obliged, making his way toward the burly kid. Before he could even sit, the boy summoned a fireball in his hand, his glares piercing through Aiden.

"If you cross this line--" the boy engraved a line on the middle of their table with his blazing finger, "You're dead."

The three wisps almost burst from excitement. "Oh, he matters!"