James

After the eventful tour, of which I got lost no less than 3 times, we finally made it to the Zeus House dorms. He showed me to my new room and explained the flooring system to me. Each floor was based on one of the gods. The first floor was Zeus, so I got pretty lucky. Floor 2 is Poseidon and 3 is Hades. It goes up from there in the typical fashion with Hera, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Ares, Hephaestus, Hermes, Hestia, and Dionysus. The other dorm housed the Titans, minor gods, and staff. It seemed to be a pretty cool set up. 

With so few of the Zeus students, I get my own room and bathroom. According to Malcolm, there are only 15 students claimed by Zeus. This hall can house 100 or more if we double bunk. That seems insane, but I get the concept. This is a school for all ages to study their deity. I walked into my new room and got settled. Everything I needed was provided for me, but would take a day or so to be supplied. I did just arrive after all. 

Once I got settled, I went for a walk to try and find the dining hall for lunch. I got a little lost at first and found the Apollo building instead. It appeared to be the music hall which is great, but I distinctly remember it being on the opposite side of campus from my destination. I turn around and begin walking back. While I am on this journey, I let my thoughts wander and I think about the cool things that I saw on my way through here. There was this really pretty garden that I wanted to visit at some point. Not to mention the planetarium for Zeus's students. There was a cool – 

"Hey, are you ok? You look a little distracted." I was very suddenly on the ground because I walked into someone. I looked over my poor victim. He looked young. He had red hair that was almost a natural ruby shade and green eyes. He appeared to be around 17 or 18 years old. His mark was on his chest and looked different than mine, so he wasn't in my house. 

"Yes, I am fine. I'm sorry for running into you. I didn't mean to! I'm James, from Zeus House."

"Rory, Hestia House. May I see your mark?" I hold out my wrist and let him look it over. "Oh this is perfect! You are a high priest. Your lightning bolt mark is different from your peers. I am trying to get all of the high priests together. Would you be up to meeting with the rest of us after dinner at the Hestia House?" 

"Uh-uh-uhm, sure I guess. Do you approach everyone like that?" 

"Sorta. Sometimes I can be a little abrasive. I am trying to complete my first task and you will be one of the people I need to do it! How does 7 sound?" 

"I guess I am going to be at Hestia House at 7 tonight. But in the meantime, can you take me to the dining hall for lunch? I am starved!" 

Rory takes me to the other side of campus to get my lunch. Along the walk, I got to know him. He is 5 foot 10 inches, 18 years old, with red hair. His eyes are green, but not seafoam, more like emerald which was odd to me. He has a dusting of freckles and almost appears feminine in demeanor. He likes to stitch, knit, and read. The thing that struck me most was the fact that he wanted to be my friend. It was a new sensation. I didn't have friends back home unless they were hand chosen by my parents. 

Once we arrived at the dining hall, he left me and I went to find my house tables. The food is amazing and my house mates, though few, are really cool. I really like this one girl, Caliphe, and she seems to be into me too. She asked me to walk her to her next class, Meteorology: Clouds and Skies, to which I happily took her. 

She told me some of the lore with our house and why most people don't like us. "Many of our High Priests and heroes die gruesome deaths. They die because they are the leaders. But, some only die because others are jealous. I heard the last priest died because the priest of a minor gods' house didn't like him. That's just a rumor though!" 

"Are you sure? I feel like there is more to that story than you are telling me. Which deity was it? What happened? Should I be concerned?" 

"I think it was the minor deity of Oizys which is the goddess of misery. Go figure honestly. According to the rumor I heard, the priest was driven into a dark emotional state and ran the last guy through with a sword during training. The last words were 'so you thought you were better than me?' but that is just a rumor." 

I started to sweat a little from stress. There are vengeful people here? Why would we combine the villains in the same school as the heroes? It does not seem safe for us here. As all of these questions cycle through my head, I drop Caliphe off at the Zeus' building. I turn and head to my first class, History of Zeus's Heroes. 

Once I arrive, I sit in the back row and get settled in for a dull course of study. To my surprise, the professor is sitting in a La-Z-Boy recliner with a coffee mug and a story book. He starts by asking us "Have you ever looked at the constellation Orion and thought 'what a jerk'?"